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I'm already mad at Cox Cable because I've noticed that not only does HD video just BARELY get enough bandwidth to not pixilate in my neighborhood, but the sound quality coming out of HD channels is far from HD-like. It isn't even digital cable like! And I'm paying them a fortune every month! Something's gonna give soon!
That being said, higher quality source and output couldn't hurt! It can only help.
A Lexus is going to be far quiter at 65 MPH than your typical vehicle over rough noisy pavement, so some cars might fare better than others. Even the type of tires you buy can make a big difference with "driving" noise.
Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense" is one of the best sounding discs out there, and it's "just" DTS. On the other hand, I have some SACD's that sound like junk even though they're 24/192. The Police "Every Breath You Take - The Singles" sounds terrible.
Most of the time, I can barely (if at all) tell the difference between a Redbook CD and SACD even when listening carefully with headphones. In a car?!?! Forget about it.
The best thing about the Acura sound system is the surround sound. That's definitely worthwhile and is what truly makes it stand apart from the others.
Mark, do you have any Porcupine Tree DVD-A's? You must get some - they will blow you away!
I am guessing you have about twenty years on me (I am seventies baby)
If you have the internet on your smartphone- all you need to do is go to the Pandora site and create an account (free with limited commercilas- upgrades are available), you create your own stations (artist, songs, era etc etc ) and just sync it to the bluetooth feature in the car- Its that simple- I find it good for long trips with the kids, they create their stations we hit the road and they enjoy the ride.
If one is going to plunk down $40+ for a TL or G37 and pay expensive dealer maintenance(at least Acura, I'll find out about Infiniti, first two services are free) and put premium in the car, then what is another $150/year for an XM subscription. Makes no sense to me not to get it.
But I guess to each their own.
I find streaming to be the future of radio listening- who wants to pay to listen to the radio- I know I dont, considering the multiple FREE options available.
Secondly, the streaming sound quality is above average through the Acura speakers- cannot attest to the Bose.
I don't do either...but if you're paying for content it doesn't matter if it is called Radio, XM, streaming, or magnetic pulses...as long as the content is of high quality...and you place enough value on it to pay for it...it all equals the same to me.
I agree, the engineering of the recording and the quality of the mastering and mixing matters more than the source itself.
There are bum DVD-A and SACD's just like their are incompetent regular CD's too.
A well recorded and mixed DVD-A or SACD will still be noticeably better than a well recorded regular old CD. The potential is just higher, and of course allows 5.1 mixing.
Fleetwood Mac's Rumours DVD-A is an example of a high quality mixing/mastering on the medium of DVD Audio.
Best tires I've ever had.
9/10ths + of the performance of an EXTREME performance tire. (going beyond Max performance).
Lightyears better ride comfort and far superior minimal road noise. Quiet, comfortable, but with loads of traction.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
The recording (mastering/mixing) has a much bigger effect on fidelity than the bitrate.
Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense" is one of the best sounding discs out there, and it's "just" DTS. On the other hand, I have some SACD's that sound like junk even though they're 24/192. The Police "Every Breath You Take - The Singles" sounds terrible.
Most of the time, I can barely (if at all) tell the difference between a Redbook CD and SACD even when listening carefully with headphones. In a car?!?! Forget about it.
The best thing about the Acura sound system is the surround sound. That's definitely worthwhile and is what truly makes it stand apart from the others.
Mark, do you have any Porcupine Tree DVD-A's? You must get some - they will blow you away!
Trying to remember who told me, but from a reliable source.......the ELS sound system in the TL-Tech is made by Pioneer. Why they don't brand it, I really don't know. It might be Acura's choice. I know for awhile, Acura was using car systems by Clarion, but the current ones that come with the tech packages (not sure about the source for their standard stereos) are from Pioneer.
Long and short of it, I think Acura used to use Bose, and advertised that they did (requirement from Bose, perhaps?). But, that was several years ago. Since then, they never advertise who makes their car stereos (same for Honda).
It's still the best car sound system I've ever listened to. That includes the HK system in my 335i (which is no slouch) and the B&O systems I heard in the Audis I test drove.
BTW...agreed on Porcupine Tree. Also see if you can find the DVD-A disk from Dishwalla called Opaline. Don't get the "dual disk" one, but the DVD-A version.
YES-Fragile is probably the best DVD-A I've ever heard.
Too bad that format never really took hold. Also too bad my HK system in the BMW doesn't play DVD-A disks, either.
I find the HK system in the BMW to sound better streaming from my iPhone than it does when Sirious or HD RADIO is the source.
YES-Fragile is probably the best DVD-A I've ever heard."
I have Fragile on "Half-Speed Mastered" MFSL vinyl and MFSL "Ultradisc II" CD. I haven't seen the DVD-A but did see it on HDTracks as a 24/96 download. I will check it out!
I will definitely check out Opaline too. I've never heard of it but if you are recommending it, that's good enough for me.
Let me know what you think of Opaline.
nurse....I was never a George Michael or Metallica fan. Not sure I'll ever be one.
Was in Florida for work last week. Hertz gave me a Fusion. Those are nice little drivers. I was surprised at how well it drove.
Was very happy to get back into my 3 at the airport when I got home, though.
I've ripped all my DVD-A's for hi-rez 2-channel streaming, but for surround and SACD listening, I have kept all my discs as well (I have an Oppo too).
I will let you know how I like Opaline!
And to get back on topic - as great as they sound, if I had a TL, I don't think I'd risk playing any of those DVD-A's in the car unless I was just sitting in the driveway. It would be a shame to scratch something irreplaceable.
EDIT: My co-worker has a Fusion Hybrid for work. I drove it for a while while my Malibu Hybrid (don't laugh, I didn't choose it...LOL!) was at the shop for a battery recall. The Fusion is quick and handles well, but I didn't like the seatbacks (they pushed on my shoulder blades and created hotspots) or the unrefined engine noise.
I don't think I can trace the blame for any scratches on a disk to any of my car stereo's over the years.
One of the benefits of SACD and DVD-A was supposed to be that it was either scratch resistant or almost immune to sensitivity from minor scratches. They are supposed to be quite durable.
So far, I have none that cause any skipping issues, but then again, I have not seen any DVD-A or SACD systems sold for vehicles yet (other than factory Acura system).
Are these disks really irreplaceable? Maybe OPPO will come out with an SACD/DVD-A burner someday.
To underscore that point, my 2002 530i 5-Speed was just about as perfect a car for my needs, wants, and desires from a size, power, feature, and performance perspective as there could ever be, and the new 3-Series will (or should) have a tad more space inside, weigh about the same, have considerably more power, perform even better, get better fuel economy, and cost less. Could it be that the new 328i 6-Speed with the 2.0 liter blown mill will be even more perfecter for me than my 5er? From everything I've seen and read about the F30, it definitely looks like that may be the case. :shades:
This new 328 hopefully will usher BMW into a new era for the 3 series. I really like the styling, hits the nail right on the head.
I would say, at this point in my experience, that Infiniti is the Japanese BMW (praise for the Infiniti, that is) and that Acura is the Japanese Audi (praise primarily for Acura but actually some praise back at Audi, too.)
Courser engines? Well, at their RPM limits, Infiniti engines are not quite up to the BMW reputation of silky smoothness, but I would not think this is part of any kind of a mission statement. As to the comment jerky rides -- I will simply have to write that off as most likely coming from a position of ignorance or confusion. :confuse:
Given that the F30 328i will weigh roughly 200 pounds less than my E39 530i, have (depending upon the source) anywhere from 20 to 40 more horsepower and 45 to 60 more pound-feet of torque, one might make the case that the F30 328i will be able to give an E39 540i 6-Speed a run for its money. In my mind, other than the paper specifications of the 328i and 335i versus the competition, the new baby 3er is, if anything, too powerful (not that I'm going to complain mind you).
Heresy, I say.
- Ray
TQ junkie.....
So what is BMW doing? Instead of grooming customers to move up to the 5-Series, instead they are simply turning the 3 into a 5.
If I want a 5, I'll buy a 5. BMW, gives us back our beloved 3!
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Great album and sound - thanks for the recommendation! A worthy addition to my collection.
Secondly, I base my buying on my own experience with the car and the features that fits my needs. Not like the gullible ones that goes by what some magazine articles states. I say this all the time, back in 2000 when I graduated college, I got a decent job in a brokerage shop making a relatively good salary. I wanted a car and saw the Mazda Millennia, every research I did gave the car thumbs down. Me and my infinite wisdom test drove the car for about 2 hours- car was incredible and gave zero problems for the 36 months that I leased it.
I have no problems with Infiniti, I wanted the FX when they first came out, I went the NYC auto show to check it out and it was a big disappointment in terms of rear space accommodations. I wanted the G35x, same problem-space and in addition that awful growl that invades the cabin.
The TL has been very very good in the 27 months of ownership, the next stop for me are the Germans-if Acura upgrades the RL to a V8, I will stick with the brand. Here is the short list for next car hunt-
E550 4matic
E63 (Depends on the bonus and incremental base pay increase)
550 XI
What do you think SWEENYDOG?????
While the weather is still nice (high 60s....in November, no less), I'm going to have to do a "get ready for winter" detail. Of course, now that the time change occurred, I'm hoping the weather holds out for the weekend, since it's too dark to do after work.
After 4K miles, I'm averaging 23.4 MPG in my 335i xDrive. Pretty darn good. I'm pleased.
Hard to beat for the price and in the TL it is a tasty treat of tunage!
Try some of the DTS offerings, if you get a chance -- also quite a treat, usually.
The cabin was too big for me along with the turning radius.
The G37 is a very compelling package. A fully loaded car, except the tech package cost me what a basic 335 would have been. (The 2012 M is really sweet and the M hybrid is gorgeous.) Does BMW fulfill it's mission better, yep. Would I rather be driving a 550 yep or even a 335, yep. But there are always compromises in life.