Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround System in the BMW iX M60: Is this the best car audio system ever?

[@RedwoodGeorge]

I just took delivery of a pre-owned iX this week and the sound system is everything you've just described it to be. I told a friend: If I had known how good this audio system was, I would have bought a car that looked like a box van (inside and out) because I spend more time listening to music as I drive than I spend thinking about how it looks or how it drives. The precision of the localization is just astounding.

[@srilanka.paradise]

The main reason I chose this vehicle over many others I was looking at is the B&W Sound System. BRAVO!

[@igorgrunskyi]

That makes two of us

[@jamesnufc091]

Great review Phil. When you showed me the car i was absolutely blown away by the sound system. I could imagine myself listening to some heavy bass with the seats vibrating like they were. Easily the best sound system i have ever heard in any vehicle. You feel part of the music. As for the performance of the car completely blown away that such a big heavy car can accelerate like that. Very impressed. The navigation system as well was an eye opener using cameras instead of the usual overhead google map type display was very innovative. I would like to see more vehicle reviews.

[@x5toledo]

Fair review. The B&W system in the iX is absolutely superb IMO, there's not much to compete with the level of capability that the Diamond offers in this car. It's worth putting on the option list if you enjoy sounds.

[@scottmiller1129]

Wow!! I just bought that exact model. I cannot wait to stay docked for days. As a pianist, my mind is blown away by the notes I hear through the moving sound studio

[@olofdaisler9121]

Be careful about tinnitus, listening to IX b&w is addicting :)

[@Dashcamfailz]

You should make more of these videos by testing other sound systems, i like this concept of video 🙏🏼

[@H2TEN]

For me, after having had a plethora of different cars over the years, the tesla has had the best sound system by far. My iX is due to arrive in 3 weeks and opted for the HK as I didn't notice much difference to justify the extra cost implications.

[@jamiehoyles]

Thanks for the review. I have an M60 arriving in 2 months. Would be interested in a comparison between the Bower & Wilkins in this and the Burmester option in the Porsche Taycan.

[@scottmiller1129]

I got my M60. Waiting on an 840i convertible with the B&W😉. Would be curious about the Porsche too. Lifetime of waiting for this marriage of horsepower and high fidelity!

[@RainFansNatural]

For this year ia YES!

[@pdg1877]

I think I prefer Audio Physic Medeos over B&W 801 D4 but that’s just me.

[@nickfarrington2390]

Would love to overdub every time Phil says "iX M60" with "Angry Beaver".

[@nickfarrington2390]

Maths wrong somewhere - at 10:42 you say it would take 50 hours to charge on a 32A home wallbox (7KW) but in fact it's around 14 hours from dead flat to full. A more realistic 50% charge would take 7 hours, or overnight.

[@prawnstar9213]

Beats my klipsch surround 7 speaker Dolby atmos…

[@prawnstar9213]

In a car

[@randomguy3034]

​@@prawnstar9213 and in a house.

[@chriss8971]

I'm sure B&W enjoy the revenue from this arrangement, like all the other manufacturers that have sold out to car companies. Realistically, making any comparison between car "hi-fi" and a decent home system, let alone something with 801s in it, is just absurd.

[@igorgrunskyi]

I’ve auditioned hi-fi audio systems all the way up to $100k including things like KEF blades or D series BW. In my personal opinion, in Studio mode and all vibration gimmicks off / flat EQ this system is mindblowingly good for what it costs, easily hitting in a hi-if segment given a proper source material (say Qobuz). I ended up buying this car in m60 trim just for the sound system alone.

[@kiwi335d]

Just Like Porsche building high volume SUV’s in order to be able to afford building low volume sports cars, I’m happy for high end audio companies to generate revenue any way they can to stay in business. Most high end audio companies operate year to year at close to bankruptcy unfortunately, because their equipment is low volume and costly to manufacture and market. It’s just the way it is, and many a great high end audio company, sadly met their end in the past decade….

[@MBJ2023]

Nice car, shame about that ugly grill