Audiophiles- what are you doing to get the most out of burmester option?
02-11-2019, 03:29 PM
#1
Audiophiles- what are you doing to get the most out of burmester option?
I’m trying to get the best possible quality and wondering what others are doing. So far, I believe I get the best quality streaming Tidal through a cable via CarPlay. I tried using sd cards with files at cd quality (1411 kbps) but per attached info from manual I think the system may be lowering the quality to 320 kbps which is a noticeable difference. I would rather run my files through an sd card or drive so I don’t have to plug in the phone every time. I welcome any ideas!
02-11-2019, 04:42 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
I played FLAC files at a range of resolutions (usually 24 bit 48kHz) and had no issue. But like you suggest, that doesn’t mean it keeps it that way. Perhaps their input processor has a DAC acting as a bottleneck.
My last personally built car stereo sounded quite a bit better than the Burm system but it was a full active system with TA and mic based auto-eq tuning. And it was probably $3-4k in components despite not being anything top of the line. So I guess I thought Burm was nice but not otherworldly good and my expectations caused me to treat it more as a nice stereo than an audiophile sanctuary.
If you want to emphasize the GT traits of the car you could add some MLV/dynamat to quiet the tire roar and really improve the dynamic range of the system. I couldn’t bring myself to add the weight, but I’m sure it would have had a huge positive impact on the stereo system performance and my wife’s enjoyment riding in the car.
My last personally built car stereo sounded quite a bit better than the Burm system but it was a full active system with TA and mic based auto-eq tuning. And it was probably $3-4k in components despite not being anything top of the line. So I guess I thought Burm was nice but not otherworldly good and my expectations caused me to treat it more as a nice stereo than an audiophile sanctuary.
If you want to emphasize the GT traits of the car you could add some MLV/dynamat to quiet the tire roar and really improve the dynamic range of the system. I couldn’t bring myself to add the weight, but I’m sure it would have had a huge positive impact on the stereo system performance and my wife’s enjoyment riding in the car.
02-11-2019, 06:29 PM
#3
Did you try using carplay and if so, did you notice any difference? As you indicate, my suspicion is that the porsche DAC has a 320k limitation, so while it reads the files, the quality is not the best. My guess is that If I use Tidal with carplay, I am using the iphone DAC which, while not outstanding, does seem to have a noticeable difference to my ears (mainly in the form of higher dynamic range, lower bass notes and higher trebles).
02-11-2019, 07:36 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
Did you try using carplay and if so, did you notice any difference? As you indicate, my suspicion is that the porsche DAC has a 320k limitation, so while it reads the files, the quality is not the best. My guess is that If I use Tidal with carplay, I am using the iphone DAC which, while not outstanding, does seem to have a noticeable difference to my ears (mainly in the form of higher dynamic range, lower bass notes and higher trebles).
Reading the manual section you posted, it looks like that may apply only to the mp3 file format. You might do an experiment. Check a sensitive audio file in 320 mp3 format and then go back to back with the same track in CD quality or better using SD/USB/CarPlay. (Pink Floyd is good for that!) I liked CarPlay but don’t like to need to plug it in every time.
02-11-2019, 09:59 PM
#5
Advanced
We talking 991.1 (PCM 3.1) or 991.2?
About to geek out here...hold onto your hats!
While everything at the house is FLAC I have a duplicate library of AAC/M4A ripped with QAAC using the iTunes encoder inside of dBpoweramp's CD Ripper for CD's. I keep my distance from Apple but iTunes's encoder is as good as it gets at ~320 kbps / Constrained Variable Bit Rate (cVBR). I use JRiver Media Center 24 with the same encoder/settings to squash my (non-brickwalled) Hi-Res digital library down to 44.1/48 KHz files (PCM 3.1 plays either sample rate). I just use the CD rip version if it has better Dynamic Range.
https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/
https://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-m4a.htm
About to geek out here...hold onto your hats!
While everything at the house is FLAC I have a duplicate library of AAC/M4A ripped with QAAC using the iTunes encoder inside of dBpoweramp's CD Ripper for CD's. I keep my distance from Apple but iTunes's encoder is as good as it gets at ~320 kbps / Constrained Variable Bit Rate (cVBR). I use JRiver Media Center 24 with the same encoder/settings to squash my (non-brickwalled) Hi-Res digital library down to 44.1/48 KHz files (PCM 3.1 plays either sample rate). I just use the CD rip version if it has better Dynamic Range.
https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/
https://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-m4a.htm
Last edited by trevorlj; 02-11-2019 at 10:31 PM.
02-11-2019, 11:41 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
While everything at the house is FLAC I have a duplicate library of AAC/M4A ripped with QAAC using the iTunes encoder inside of dBpoweramp's CD Ripper for CD's. I keep my distance from Apple but iTunes's encoder is as good as it gets at ~320 kbps / Constrained Variable Bit Rate (cVBR). I use JRiver Media Center 24 with the same encoder/settings to squash my (non-brickwalled) Hi-Res digital library down to 44.1/48 KHz files (PCM 3.1 plays either sample rate). I just use the CD rip version if it has better Dynamic Range.
02-12-2019, 01:14 AM
#7
Yes, and no. Usually I used an SD cars with FLAC files though.
Reading the manual section you posted, it looks like that may apply only to the mp3 file format. You might do an experiment. Check a sensitive audio file in 320 mp3 format and then go back to back with the same track in CD quality or better using SD/USB/CarPlay. (Pink Floyd is good for that!) I liked CarPlay but don’t like to need to plug it in every time.
it seems that the 320kbps apples to ALL file formats, not just mp3s. As you suggest, it seems that while the car can read all formats, the dac is only good for up to 320kbps.
Trending Topics
02-12-2019, 01:18 AM
#8
We talking 991.1 (PCM 3.1) or 991.2?
About to geek out here...hold onto your hats!
While everything at the house is FLAC I have a duplicate library of AAC/M4A ripped with QAAC using the iTunes encoder inside of dBpoweramp's CD Ripper for CD's. I keep my distance from Apple but iTunes's encoder is as good as it gets at ~320 kbps / Constrained Variable Bit Rate (cVBR). I use JRiver Media Center 24 with the same encoder/settings to squash my (non-brickwalled) Hi-Res digital library down to 44.1/48 KHz files (PCM 3.1 plays either sample rate). I just use the CD rip version if it has better Dynamic Range.
https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/
https://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-m4a.htm
About to geek out here...hold onto your hats!
While everything at the house is FLAC I have a duplicate library of AAC/M4A ripped with QAAC using the iTunes encoder inside of dBpoweramp's CD Ripper for CD's. I keep my distance from Apple but iTunes's encoder is as good as it gets at ~320 kbps / Constrained Variable Bit Rate (cVBR). I use JRiver Media Center 24 with the same encoder/settings to squash my (non-brickwalled) Hi-Res digital library down to 44.1/48 KHz files (PCM 3.1 plays either sample rate). I just use the CD rip version if it has better Dynamic Range.
https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/
https://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-m4a.htm
02-12-2019, 01:27 AM
#9
I wish I could be like you guys....but even though I have BM option, I don't use it. I just enjoy the sounds, smell and g's of the car so immensely that I just don't want to get distracted by anything not generated by the car mechanicals.
02-12-2019, 03:33 AM
#10
Rennlist Member
and acoustics are quite mechanical! 😉
The following users liked this post:
Paliknight (08-30-2019)
02-12-2019, 10:05 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
I copied all my CD's via iTunes lossless. I also disconnected the center speaker in the dash. However I disassembled the doors and added Dynomat and mass loaded vinyl between the inner skins. That made the biggest difference, before the road noise was coming from everywhere, now it all comes from the rear. The Turbo S has more than enough power that I can't even tell the added weight. I now hear notes that I never heard beforehand the bass is much stronger and clearer. It made such a difference that I plan to remove the entire rear interior and apply the dynomat and mass loaded vinyl to the rear area.
02-12-2019, 12:12 PM
#12
I copied all my CD's via iTunes lossless. I also disconnected the center speaker in the dash. However I disassembled the doors and added Dynomat and mass loaded vinyl between the inner skins. That made the biggest difference, before the road noise was coming from everywhere, now it all comes from the rear. The Turbo S has more than enough power that I can't even tell the added weight. I now hear notes that I never heard beforehand the bass is much stronger and clearer. It made such a difference that I plan to remove the entire rear interior and apply the dynomat and mass loaded vinyl to the rear area.
-Once you copied CDs via itunes lossless, did you run them via sd card?
-what is to mass load vinyl between the inner skins? I know of dynomat but had never heard that term.
-Why did you disconnect the center speaker?
02-12-2019, 01:23 PM
#13
02-12-2019, 04:12 PM
#14
UPDATED RESULTS
So the question was driving me crazy and decided to do a test with the following variables:
USB with 320k files
USB with 1411k files (apple lossless)
Aux with Pono player 1411k files (apple lossless)
CD
CarPlay with Tidal at CD quality 1411k
I tested the following bands to have a range of dynamic range: Bjork (debut), Pink Floyd (Dark side of the moon), Supertramp (Best of).
Here are my conclusions:
#1 Best Overall - CarPlay w/tidal connected via cable. Dynamic range is great and bass is punchier than all other options (very noticeable). It does not perform as well as CD on very high notes but it is certainly more convenient. 9/10
#2 CD - As expected sound is very balanced. There is very little difference vs Tidal via carplay. It excels on high notes (eg harmonica on logical song by supertramp) but I am not about to start carrying all my CDs in the car. 8/10
#3 Pono Player via Aux - overall good sound but you can hear a bit of hiss on quiet parts. The problem is that since it is going into aux you cannot control via car screen. 7/10
#4 USB - OK sound and, as predicted, there is NO difference in 320k files vs 1411 apple lossless files. It seems that as per the manual, the car maximum resolution is 320k (As an analogy to those not as familiar audio, it is like playing 4k DVD on a black and white TV.....the images will be black and white no matter how good is your source). 5/10
Hope this helps others to get the most out of their system.
USB with 320k files
USB with 1411k files (apple lossless)
Aux with Pono player 1411k files (apple lossless)
CD
CarPlay with Tidal at CD quality 1411k
I tested the following bands to have a range of dynamic range: Bjork (debut), Pink Floyd (Dark side of the moon), Supertramp (Best of).
Here are my conclusions:
#1 Best Overall - CarPlay w/tidal connected via cable. Dynamic range is great and bass is punchier than all other options (very noticeable). It does not perform as well as CD on very high notes but it is certainly more convenient. 9/10
#2 CD - As expected sound is very balanced. There is very little difference vs Tidal via carplay. It excels on high notes (eg harmonica on logical song by supertramp) but I am not about to start carrying all my CDs in the car. 8/10
#3 Pono Player via Aux - overall good sound but you can hear a bit of hiss on quiet parts. The problem is that since it is going into aux you cannot control via car screen. 7/10
#4 USB - OK sound and, as predicted, there is NO difference in 320k files vs 1411 apple lossless files. It seems that as per the manual, the car maximum resolution is 320k (As an analogy to those not as familiar audio, it is like playing 4k DVD on a black and white TV.....the images will be black and white no matter how good is your source). 5/10
Hope this helps others to get the most out of their system.
