2011 M37x centerpoint audio question

[Reifeltower]

Hello

I have the speakers in the seats in my new M.

What's the best way (if possible) to get surround from iPhone or iPod? Can they play 5.1 audio?

Is there something that can? Maybe a zune?

I dont want to carry around CDs or dvdas. I also just want to plug it onto the USB port.

Could I just load a memory stick with 5.1 audio on it and get the full effect?

Any ideas?

Thanks all

[EniGmA1987]

MP3 players and such devices only support stereo audio output.

As far as I know, the only place in the car that supports decoding of surround sound audio is the center console DVD drive. Other audio inputs do not run through the DSP that is required for the decoding of such signals. You can however enable centerpoint audio option in the settings and it will change the stereo audio sources to a horribly awefull quality, badly mixed, badly EQed, surround sound

[Reifeltower]

Well that sucks.

Thank you for your reply.

[bhrees]

its worth a try if the media on the USB is Uncompressed audio it should play it as expected ie. 5.1

[Tschanne]

I'm taking delivery of my new 2011 11 M37S Monday and had a similar question. Not meaning to hijack the thread but it is along the same subject.

Does the 5.1 surround only work with the special 5.1 cd's or dvd's.
Do you get sound from the speakers in the seats listening to FM, Sat. etc?


Thanks

[EniGmA1987]

You only get sound from the front speakers from all sources unless you are playing a DTS audio disk, 5.1 audio DvD, or have turned centerpoint on. However centerpoint makes the music you are listening to sound horrible and actually removes the stereo part of the music by playing the majority of the sound just from the center of the car, which also happen to be the lowest quality speakers in the whole car.

[Tschanne]

Enigma,

I apologize for beating a dead horse but I really don't understand what you mean in the first sentence of your reply, been a long week I guess.

Do you mean that I have to turn the seat speakers on in order for them to work then they sound like crap or they sound like crap and I should turn them off except when listening to the special disks.

thanks

[Tschanne]

Quite right!

Thanks for the link.

[torbach1]

OP: I know you want to listen to all of your music from your MP3 player or a USB stick, and completely understand that. However, one point I wanted to mention is that most 5.1 surround sound DVD's sound so awesome in these cars, that it's worth buying a good old cd/DVD carrying case again, and playing the DVD's every now and then (through the center console DVD player only as someone mentioned).

Also, when I first got the car, I was under the (false) impression, that it could only play DVD Audio (a standard that is really great, but there are only about 400 total DVD Audio's on the market, making this very limited) dvd's with 5.1 surround or DTS. In reality, it can play any DVD including rock concert DVD's. So what I've done to build up a nice collection, is purchased mostly rock concert DVD's that have been recorded using eitehr Digital Dolby Surroung 5.1, or DTS or both. DTS is the best quality, followed by the former. Some rock concert DVD's, even newer ones, are not recorded in 5.1 surround, so be sure to check the formats on the back of the DVD. How good the surround sound is also varies quiet a bit. The best quality surround sound I have is two DVD's from Bare Naked Ladies. I like them - they're not my favorite band or anything, but I find myself listening to their DVDs very frequently because the 5.1 and the way they clearly spent a lot of time ensuring that each separate track is coming out of the specific speaker they had in mind, etc. just makes it a huge pleasure to listen to. Some other recommendations:

* Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds - Both Live At Radio City and Live in Las Vegas are just so damn good in 5.1 surround, that I honestly find it impossible to do them justice in words. Trust me on these ones. If you like Dave Matthews even just a little, buy one of these two at least and listen to it in 5.1 in your car. You will not regret it! Try Gravedigger or Eh Hee... again, I just can't find the words - they mesmerize me. Take me to a different place if that makes sense. These songs in stereo are great, but in 5.1, they're way beyond great.
* Santana's Supernatural
* The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over (this is probably the 2nd best example of DTS as it should be done that I've heard, and The Eagles happens to be one of my favorite bands, so this is my favorite overall), and Farewell Tour Live from Australia - not as good as the former, but still very nice
* Michael Jackson - Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory - all have excellently produced 5.1 songs that in some cases just changes the whole dynamic of the song in a great way
* John Mayer - Where The Light Is - Live from Los Angeles
* Queen - A Night At the Opera - try Bohemian Raphsody in 5.1 surround. I can listen to that over and over again for about an hour without getting bored. Same with Innuendo on Queen Greatest Hits Vol 2 - both of these are not rock concert DVDs - they're music video DVD's (Greatest Hits) or DVD Audios (A Night At the Opera)
* Elton John - Rocket Man - Number Ones

There are many more (I think I have about 50 or 60 - that's probably why I can no longer afford my car ;-) and am selling it), and if others are interested, I'd be happy to post a list of my entire collection and also point out which ones, while remastered in 5.1 are not worth it, because they were not produced particularly well to take advantage of the 5.1.

Cheers
Tamir

[SteveTheTech]

The seat speakers do provide a little balance even on traffic reports. The output is not perfect but you have to remember these are targeted for a certain frequency range on analog sources they sound a little garbled. The processor in the Y51 is much better than the previous generation when it comes to upgrading sound.

I keep a dvd of Pink Floyds The Wall in my toolbox just to show people how just how amazing true digital audio sounds and what this car is capable of. I can imagine the Eagles would be great in there too.

If I had a new M37 I would seriously consider loading a few really good high quality cds or dvds onto the hard drive and playing them back through the music box.

The thing to remember is the larger the file the better the output.
http://www.infinitiusa.com/content/dam/ ... M37M56.pdf
The 4- section breaks down the technicals of every audio source.

It sounds complicated and mildly intimidating but a little homework will go a long way with the very complex very capable audio system.

[kluken]

I thought Centerpoint was just supposed to alter the sound stage to skew the center of the sound stage it toward the drive postion?

[SteveTheTech]

http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VI ... rround.jsp

I actually was not sure the difference between the Centerpoint (M w/ premium audio) and the Studio on Wheels found in the G and EX. There is also a special system for the convertible alone that has full range angled speakers in the headrests that uses the Audiopilot system. Every model basically gets something different.

[kluken]

Sad thing is the Bose system has potential, but the bass while powerful is muddy and boomy, if they coudl clean that up the system woudl actually be pretty decent. The ELS in Acura is cleaner, but lacks the low end punch that the Bose has.

[wingFeather]

iPhones & MP3 files do not support 5.1 nor DTS surround. It's not a limitation of the car, it's the source you are using.

To hear audio in 5.1 or DTS, pick up some DVD Audio discs or Music DVD's that are mastered in surround sound. The difference is NIGHT AND DAY DVD audio discs can play sound at up to 192 kHz & 24 bits. In comparison, an audio CD is limited to 44.1 kHz at 16 bits.

Whereas MP3's... well... the ones off iTunes are (on average) 1/11th the signal of CD audio. Might as well listen to a cassette tape at that point.