Cayenne Burmester System
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 114
Likes: 86
From: TX
It’s like when I spent $5500 on a new MacBook Pro in January. I wanted the largest storage option and I knew there was no way to easily change the built in storage after purchase. So even though there was a tremendous premium charged by Apple, I paid it. To me, this is no different.
In both cases, I’m aware that I was overcharged but overall I’m satisfied with the outcome.
I tend to keep computers in cars for a long time. So the cost amortizes a bit.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 404
From: On a road to nowhere.
If adding Burmester as part of the Premium Package Plus option, it’s $5810, a minor savings.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 1,292
Likes: 1,065
I know there have been other posts saying if the Burmester was worth it or not, but I want to chime in on my opinion. I would consider myself an audiophile and truly enjoy sound systems of the vehicles I’ve owned. Buying my Cayenne coupe turbo, the burmester option was a MUST for me. I never heard it before purchasing (CPO vehicle) but in other vehicles I have always chosen the upgraded system. I’m coming from a 2021 M5 with the Bowers and Wilkins system. We also own a 2023 Alpina X7 with the bowers system. Overall, I would say the burmester system in the Cayenne is NOT worth the price tag when buying new. While the sound is powerful it is not precise. The door woofers are given way too much power and the highs are shrill. Door panels rattle and overall I can not get the sound “dialed in”. The Bowers system BMW offers, everything works harmoniously to provide great sound. However the system in the BMW could use a bit more power and does not get loud enough. The Cayenne has the opposite, too much power and no harmony. Overall, I would rate the system a B+ and at the price point it costs new, it should be exceptional. Would like to hear what others think?
Personally, I don't feel it's worth the bucks. I'm a bit of an audiophile too and have a bunch of pricey earbuds and speakers lying around.
Car audio systems have few problems
And of course, if you don't care about price tag, go ahead, it sure better than the bose.
Car audio systems have few problems
- Interior: Car interiors aren't built like rooms. They're complex and not really optimized for hi-fi audio.
- Noise: Cars aren't the quietest places. Road noise, tire sounds... they can drown out the best tunes and wreck the vibe.
- Tech specs: Sure, you might get some specs on the speakers and amp, like what Porsche gives for their Burmester setups in their Cayenne and Panamera. But where's the spec for the DAC? I've looked everywhere, and no info about it. The DAC is one of the most important thing in any hi-fi system. What chip are they using? Top-tier ones like the ak4499ex or ess9038pro? Even though they aren't that pricey relative to the Burmester system's cost, I have my doubts. And who's tuning these chips? Can the car's DAC really handle lossless files DSD512 -> DSD64 -> pcm etc? There's so much left unanswered.
And of course, if you don't care about price tag, go ahead, it sure better than the bose.
1) What setup do you have at home? You have mentioned you are audiophiles so I am really interested to hear more
2) More importantly: What "source" are you using the car?
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 218
Likes: 147
Turn on the "Auro 3D Experience" and set the intensity to 0. Makes a noticeable improvement.
The Burmester is very good. It's a challenging listening environment and manufacturers are under great pressure to keep the costs as low as possible. Is it worth the extra $$$. Depends on your needs. Bose sucks so if you like music then I recommend the Burmester.
My wife had a Grand Wagoneer (*had* until recently as the engine blew up). It had a McIntosh system. It was pretty good but even she remarked that the Burmester in my Cayenne sounded better.
The Burmester is very good. It's a challenging listening environment and manufacturers are under great pressure to keep the costs as low as possible. Is it worth the extra $$$. Depends on your needs. Bose sucks so if you like music then I recommend the Burmester.
My wife had a Grand Wagoneer (*had* until recently as the engine blew up). It had a McIntosh system. It was pretty good but even she remarked that the Burmester in my Cayenne sounded better.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 1,292
Likes: 1,065
With music this is more difficult to achieve since it is not the easiest thing to listen for many hours or have access to a top 2 channel system. Please note that top does not necessarily mean 50k or 100k, a 10k system can be more than excellent.
So if you have not much experience with a good 2 channel hifi then the only thing you can do is test a car with bose and a car with burmester.
- Please note - some people have better taste or better hearing ability than others and can easily compare and distinguish between 2 not so extreme levels in that specific sense- so these people even if they have listened to a high end 2 channel hifi system can differentiate easily between the bose and burmester, or let's say a good restaurant from an excellent restaurant.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 6
Likes: 8
Everyone’s tastes are different, but for me a big improvement happened when I set the Listening Position to “Rear” and set the sound to Auro 3D. This softened the harsh highs of the Burmester and made it much more enjoyable and less fatiguing to listen. I also reduced the treble.
Track Day
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 20
Likes: 9
From: Toronto
Home setup used to be a pair of 8331a + RME dac. Currently trying passive speakers, using a pair of dali menuet se + RME + a random audio lab amp. Struggling with amp selection now since there's not many audio shops here in Toronto lol, I can't try as many as I want with my gear. But that's the fun part of passive speaker system I guess?
Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 286
From: TEXAS
I have it. I love it. Would buy it again.
Who would buy insulated glass, upgraded wheels, roof-rack, upgraded lights, etc? That's why you can choose. I have Macintosh at home. I put my money where my ears are. Happy.
Who would buy insulated glass, upgraded wheels, roof-rack, upgraded lights, etc? That's why you can choose. I have Macintosh at home. I put my money where my ears are. Happy.
Rennlist Stories
The Best Porsche Posts for Porsche Enthusiasts
9 Features and Characteristics That Only Porsche People Understand
Verdad Gallardo
I've Written 500 Rennlist Articles: Here's How Porsche Has Changed Along the Way
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Unnecessary Porsches Ever Built (And Why We Love Them)
Verdad Gallardo
Porsche 911 GT3 S/C vs 718 Spyder RS: 10 Categories, One Winner
Joe Kucinski
This Builder Is Turning Heads With Its Slantnose 911 Creation
Verdad Gallardo
Porsche 911 GT3 Artisan Edition Pays Homage to Japanese Culture
Verdad Gallardo
Porsche Reveals Coupe Variant of the Electric Cayenne With a Fresh Look
Verdad Gallardo
10 Porsche Colors That Have More Personality Than Most People
Verdad Gallardo
Guntherwerks' Final Speedster Creation Is the Ultimate Porsche Restomod
Verdad Gallardo
Platinum Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 918
From: Portland, OR
@12v Nick is working on the answer for everyone
Nick and the guys at MusicarNW helped me give me recommendations when i was configuring my TGT. I cant remember the exact costs - but if I saved X dollars by ordering the base system instead of burmester, could i give those X dollars to him ... would his system exceed the burmester?
"absolutely indeed" was his response. fast forward, the custom system from MusicarNW is killer!!!
i'll let nick comment on the details/costs of the system ... because really, i just dont pay attention lol
"absolutely indeed" was his response. fast forward, the custom system from MusicarNW is killer!!!
i'll let nick comment on the details/costs of the system ... because really, i just dont pay attention lol
Sneek Peek:
Personally, I don't feel it's worth the bucks. I'm a bit of an audiophile too and have a bunch of pricey earbuds and speakers lying around.
Car audio systems have few problems
And of course, if you don't care about price tag, go ahead, it sure better than the bose.
Car audio systems have few problems
- Interior: Car interiors aren't built like rooms. They're complex and not really optimized for hi-fi audio.
- Noise: Cars aren't the quietest places. Road noise, tire sounds... they can drown out the best tunes and wreck the vibe.
- Tech specs: Sure, you might get some specs on the speakers and amp, like what Porsche gives for their Burmester setups in their Cayenne and Panamera. But where's the spec for the DAC? I've looked everywhere, and no info about it. The DAC is one of the most important thing in any hi-fi system. What chip are they using? Top-tier ones like the ak4499ex or ess9038pro? Even though they aren't that pricey relative to the Burmester system's cost, I have my doubts. And who's tuning these chips? Can the car's DAC really handle lossless files DSD512 -> DSD64 -> pcm etc? There's so much left unanswered.
And of course, if you don't care about price tag, go ahead, it sure better than the bose.
I had an aftermarket system in my 2008 Cayenne. It sounded fantastic. But, given the threats over voided warranty coverage I received when the dealer found I had hardwired a radar detector into my 2019, I am far less likely to put in any after market stereo equipment. When I got my 2019 back after battery service the dealer had yanked out the V1 hard wiring and left the mess on my passenger seat. This was a professional job they undid: not me being clueless. So I had to pay to have it installed again.
YMMV. I’m sure it will rock!
YMMV. I’m sure it will rock!
It's all relative to your experience and expectations. If you don't have much experience with 2-channel HiFi or high-end aftermarket car stereo systems, the Bose is probably more than enough and the Burmester would blow you away. If you do have some past experience with high-resolution listening than it's hard to go backwards and even the Burmester might not cut it.
I like to compare audio to wine — some people can taste the subtleties enough to justify spending $1,000+ on a single bottle. Me? I can't tell much difference once we get past the $200 price point. So, for me, spending anything more than that on a bottle is a complete waste of my funds.
Track Day
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
Your dealer sounds like a terrible operation to work with. No manufacturer can void your original warranty without proving the aftermarket parts caused the failure in question. There are federal acts that protect that sort of thing. I would have requested they pay for the re-install ¯\_(ツ)_/
I’m super excited for the upgrade. I hate the Bose in my car.
Brite highs and no lows, must be Bose!
Last edited by shadetree_prjct; Sep 29, 2023 at 02:00 PM.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 1,088
From: Texas
I know there have been other posts saying if the Burmester was worth it or not, but I want to chime in on my opinion. I would consider myself an audiophile and truly enjoy sound systems of the vehicles I’ve owned. Buying my Cayenne coupe turbo, the burmester option was a MUST for me. I never heard it before purchasing (CPO vehicle) but in other vehicles I have always chosen the upgraded system. I’m coming from a 2021 M5 with the Bowers and Wilkins system. We also own a 2023 Alpina X7 with the bowers system. Overall, I would say the burmester system in the Cayenne is NOT worth the price tag when buying new. While the sound is powerful it is not precise. The door woofers are given way too much power and the highs are shrill. Door panels rattle and overall I can not get the sound “dialed in”. The Bowers system BMW offers, everything works harmoniously to provide great sound. However the system in the BMW could use a bit more power and does not get loud enough. The Cayenne has the opposite, too much power and no harmony. Overall, I would rate the system a B+ and at the price point it costs new, it should be exceptional. Would like to hear what others think?
Last edited by Patriot; Oct 19, 2023 at 07:37 AM.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 404
From: On a road to nowhere.
I have a Cayenne S that just leaving the local port so taking delivery in the next few days. I spec'd Burmester for the new Cayenne mostly because the Bose in my 991.2 GTS was really not good. I thought of it as barely acceptable. I had always figured some of the Bose badness in the 911 was due to the crappy acoustics of a 911.
But I just took delivery of a new GT3 last week. Can't get Burmester with those, so got Bose. And I've been very pleasantly surprised by the audio quality vs the older Bose system in the last 911. Not sure exactly what changed (besides not having rear seats which might impact acoustics). But the new Bose system, at least between the two cars in question, is way better sounding than the old one. Night and day better.
I'm looking forward to seeing if the Cayenne's Burmester system is another big step up from the new Bose system. But if the audio quality of the Bose in the Cayenne matches that of the GT3, or is even better due to better acoustics of the Cayenne over a 911, then I'd have been perfectly happy with the Bose. So I'm very curious to see how it shakes out and will enjoy a laugh at my own expense if the Burmester isn't perceptibly better.
But I just took delivery of a new GT3 last week. Can't get Burmester with those, so got Bose. And I've been very pleasantly surprised by the audio quality vs the older Bose system in the last 911. Not sure exactly what changed (besides not having rear seats which might impact acoustics). But the new Bose system, at least between the two cars in question, is way better sounding than the old one. Night and day better.
I'm looking forward to seeing if the Cayenne's Burmester system is another big step up from the new Bose system. But if the audio quality of the Bose in the Cayenne matches that of the GT3, or is even better due to better acoustics of the Cayenne over a 911, then I'd have been perfectly happy with the Bose. So I'm very curious to see how it shakes out and will enjoy a laugh at my own expense if the Burmester isn't perceptibly better.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 286
From: TEXAS
If you don't know, and don't care, get the Bose.
For me, when I sat in both, listened to both, POW! No decision. I bought it, but it was about a $5 upgrade on the Turbo, worth it. Now if I had a Bose, and was looking to upgrade, build something nice using a good tech. You can outbuild the Burmester without too much effort. It's all in the amp. There are some gadgetry functions with the Burmester that really are a waste, but the system in general is exceptional.
That "MusicCar" guy above certainly has my attention, if I didn't have the Burmester, I would be calling that guy.
For me, when I sat in both, listened to both, POW! No decision. I bought it, but it was about a $5 upgrade on the Turbo, worth it. Now if I had a Bose, and was looking to upgrade, build something nice using a good tech. You can outbuild the Burmester without too much effort. It's all in the amp. There are some gadgetry functions with the Burmester that really are a waste, but the system in general is exceptional.
That "MusicCar" guy above certainly has my attention, if I didn't have the Burmester, I would be calling that guy.
Last edited by SilverSteel; Oct 20, 2023 at 11:06 PM.