Burmester which audio files for best results

[Rik_CT4s]

Hi all,

Which files are recommended to play on the Burmester audio system? Currently, I mainly use standard Spotify and those files output is just average in my opinion. It can be much better. AppleMusic seems slightly better but not sure.

Is there a way to get the most out of this system by downloading files in a typical format and perhaps use USB connection?

Thanks!

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[Midlifecrisis]

I am pretty sure that wireless CarPlay messes up the sound. Better to get it direct to the PCM than scramble it through Bluetooth. A wire is probably better. Beyond that, I don’t know

 

[f1eng]

I use lossless compressed (ALAC or FLAC) files I ripped myself and stored on a USB stick.

That is as good as it gets (higher than 44/16 files contain nothing extra audible, just more money and bigger files though they may be a nicer mix).

In a car with a background noise level of around 70dB it may be better to have dynamic range compression too so the quiet bits aren’t lost in the background noise, but I don't rip like that myself since I mainly listen in a room with a background noise level of around 25 to 30dB.

 

[Perry]

I am pretty sure that wireless CarPlay messes up the sound. Better to get it direct to the PCM than scramble it through Bluetooth. A wire is probably better. Beyond that, I don’t know

Note that CarPlay actually uses WiFi for data beyond the initial handshake. It's still compressed AAC, but it should be better than Bluetooth.

Wired CarPlay however encodes audio as lossless LPCM.

See page 57
https://devstreaming-cdn.apple.com/...22_developing_carplay_systems_part_1.pdf?dl=1

 

[Rik_CT4s]

Note that CarPlay actually uses WiFi for data beyond the initial handshake. It's still compressed AAC, but it should be better than Bluetooth.

Wired CarPlay however encodes audio as lossless LPCM.

See page 57
https://devstreaming-cdn.apple.com/...22_developing_carplay_systems_part_1.pdf?dl=1

Anything for android? Or can I download FLAC files somewhere and use USBc connection to the PCM to play the files??
Hope there is a better way to make good use of the Burmester.
Thanks

 

[utsteve98]

Hi all,

Which files are recommended to play on the Burmester audio system? Currently, I mainly use standard Spotify and those files output is just average in my opinion. It can be much better. AppleMusic seems slightly better but not sure.

Is there a way to get the most out of this system by downloading files in a typical format and perhaps use USB connection?

Thanks!

You should likely be using wired CarPlay for best results. Apple Music has several titles that are Apple Lossless. Tidal also has many options that are FLAC for their premium service. I thought I also read that the Apple Music app in the built in car interface worked with burmester for playing beat quality audio and other format such as Dolby Atmos.

 

[Rik_CT4s]

Hi all.
I downloaded some FLAC files and I must say it does sound better overall.
Currently, I am playing around with the Burmester settings, and it is hard to find a commonly agreed overall setting as my music choice is wide.
Bass is a bit much for my liking, so may go negative on this (perhaps -2 or -3), high tones perhaps +1 or +2. I may play around with the other settings either live or aura.

It is not that easy to find a good setting.

If anyone has suggestions please share.

 

[f1eng]

Hi all.
I downloaded some FLAC files and I must say it does sound better overall.
Currently, I am playing around with the Burmester settings, and it is hard to find a commonly agreed overall setting as my music choice is wide.
Bass is a bit much for my liking, so may go negative on this (perhaps -2 or -3), high tones perhaps +1 or +2. I may play around with the other settings either live or aura.

It is not that easy to find a good setting.

If anyone has suggestions please share.

I don’t have the Burmester but understand how difficult it is to get good sound balance in the car. If you want accuracy it is worth doing some tests with human speech as the source since it is the sound we are all most familiar with. If the sound is convincing on speech it will be uncoloured on music too.


Presumably because of the low frequency of the background noise most car stereos have ludicrously excessive bass IME. This may not be too awful on some music but high fidelity it ain't!

Personally I leave serious listening to my home where I am lucky enough to have a dedicated room. In the car if I set the sound as neutral as possible when parked the bass is soon lost once driving and I haven’t found an ideal solution in 50 years as a music loving driver, so it is trying to get least bad rather than expecting good IME.

 

[Rik_CT4s]

I don’t have the Burmester but understand how difficult it is to get good sound balance in the car. If you want accuracy it is worth doing some tests with human speech as the source since it is the sound we are all most familiar with. If the sound is convincing on speech it will be uncoloured on music too.


Presumably because of the low frequency of the background noise most car stereos have ludicrously excessive bass IME. This may not be too awful on some music but high fidelity it ain't!

Personally I leave serious listening to my home where I am lucky enough to have a dedicated room. In the car if I set the sound as neutral as possible when parked the bass is soon lost once driving and I haven’t found an ideal solution in 50 years as a music loving driver, so it is trying to get least bad rather than expecting good IME.

Thank you.
I will try that as well.

Now I decided to put the balance a tiny bit more to the back instead of a centered setting...also that helps in my opinion as it sounds a bit too loud upfront otherwise.

the Auro 3D setting sounds good to me and I put it at 7 (out of 9). To me it is a tiny bit better than the other settings alhough "live" setting comes close. The other settings sound a bit "empty" to me
Bass -2...high tone +1.
Still playing around.
Getting there.
But the sound is clear, good quality system. I had Bose before on my 4s and bow the Burmester on the TSCT, and I find the Burmester better as long you get the settings right. Is it worth the extra 5k, not for my liking but the car came with this option. Good to have but would settle with the Bose as well I reckon. Having said that, now I start playing around I start to value it a bit more.

 

[andb]

I test some songs on quality headphones and try to match the sound in the car.
Auro 3D effect is basically surround sound and is pretty bad IMO, the voices sound very unnatural over level 4. For EDM sounds good.
To raise sound stage at dashboard level I use Live settings and 2 levels balance on the back.
Bass -2.
The Burmester system is powerful and clear but the doors vibrate too much so sound deadening material would improve it and indeed not worth 5k over Bose.

 

[Genau]

Currently, I am playing around with the Burmester settings, and it is hard to find a commonly agreed overall setting as my music choice is wide.
Bass is a bit much for my liking, so may go negative on this (perhaps -2 or -3), high tones perhaps +1 or +2. I may play around with the other settings either live or aura.

It is not that easy to find a good setting.

If anyone has suggestions please share.

Have you tried the Burmester app? It includes tutorials and curated music for testing/setup.

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...iphone-now-supports-the-porsche-taycan.16733/​

 

[Rik_CT4s]

Have you tried the Burmester app? It includes tutorials and curated music for testing/setup.

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...iphone-now-supports-the-porsche-taycan.16733/​

Tried is, but no connection to Taycan PCM. Pretty useless but appreciated the tip.
Step by step, the Burmester does what it suppose to do for me.

 

[ThaJamez]

@Rik @andb Bass at -2? I have bass set at +5 and sometimes it feels like there is almost no bass

Or my BM subwoofer is broken or not functioning correctly?

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