Burmester! but is there a simple Burmester + ?

[sbac0n]

I have a 2023 high spec BGTS that arrives in 16 days!

I had a 2018 BTGS w Bose, ugh. Although this is plenty for most, I could not hear it on the freeway through wind noise (yes, I get it, turn off the music and enjoy the sound of the car.... but, not all the time!) and at 70% + volume it distorts making it fairly useless for those times I really want to pump up the energy on the drive. Net is, I upgrade the Bose after market and it was sweet sound with great output/power, but it came with a lot of things that I regretted after I did it (odd 'base knob' added, some cutting into car/adding of subs behind the seats, not being able to use the pcm settings in any way to adjust eq sounds, etc.). This story turned out ok though as I bought the 2018 car at start of pandemic and sold it for 10k more than I paid a year later, basically covering all the good and silly after market mods I did to it (many of which I would not do again).

This time around for the 2023 BGTS, Burmester all the way. I have it in my 2021 Macan GTS and like it and have heard it in another BGTS and LOVED it. Hoping the MY2023 BGTS sound just as amazing and plan to play lossless through Apple carplay/wired. If it does sound amazing, no after market mods at all will occur on the system = WIN (and my hope)! If it is lacking something, however, I'm curious if anyone can share what you'd do to upgrade Burmester while keeping it as stock as possible. I was thinking the order might be:

1) Music car stage 1 = maybe their tweeters are still better than the Burmester?
2) Upgrade speakers in the door units and added sound deadening, like some nice Focal for example
3) Upgrade the rear speakers = to give some more punch and complete the sound stage

Also, I would not touch the center speaker as even a trim tool can put indents into the leather if you're not super careful and that speaker is good enough. And, I did not go for the Music car stage 2 or 3 route. I hear each is awesome but I just wanted as pure an OEM experience as possible and each is a little more custom than I want.

Any real life examples taking a Burmester in a 718 and making it better (but not too much better lol) to share?

[audi4t]

I can’t help on upgrade to the Burmester install as on both my former and current 911’s I purposely configured the “base” radio when I ordered each car.

I admit I’m no music officianado and just “enjoy” having something in the background.

I use Pandora on CarPlay 100% of the time and haven’t adjusted balance, treble or base on PCM since I took delivery of the car. What ever they were set at on delivery they still are

My wife complains I play the same tunes over and over, but to be honest I don’t really pay attention to what is playing- I just enjoy the background sound at a relatively low volume.

Maybe we should have a poll on sound system choices and reasons why ?

Good luck with your new car and happy listening !!!

[P_Coastal]

I have optioned Burmester on my incoming Cayman. The thought that it would need upgrades in any way never entered my mind. A little time and finding the right settings should be all that is required to be comfortable with it.

[sbac0n]

Ha!

92% chance what I'm asking really makes no sense at all but always the possibility I hear something like 1) I added xyz sound deadening for $12 and and boom, amazing. Or, 2) I bought the 123 tweeters and shazaam, or maybe a little 3) I work as a car audio expert and have done just this 11 times for customers who are mostly bonkers like you. Every time I put in the abc two way set and my audio measuring system + the smiles on my customers faces tell me this is the way to go... but, probably none of that is likely.

I guess this is really a 'what is the weakest link in Burmester' and what is the simplest way to maximize it.

I agree, the point of getting Burmester is to not have to do ANYTHING re: after market on sound. Love the comments so far, fun forum!

[blueline]

@sbac0n

I've always felt that achieving perfect audio in a car (however an individual might choose to define "perfect") to be a big challenge due to the many other sounds and activity while driving any vehicle, but especially a sports car and especially a Porsche! It's certainly not the same as configuring and enjoying a high-end audio system in a proper room of one's home.

Also, there are plenty of glorious visceral inputs already depending on the car, where you're driving and how you're driving.

Meanwhile, sounds and noise from wind, tires, engine, traffic, conversation, other loud cars, ambient sounds, etc. all make for a tough environment to achieve great audio sound. Also, if driving spiritedly (or not) the sounds of the car itself are often the perfect sound and all one needs, at least for me.

Having said that, it is great to have good music available. Often, much like audi4t, my music is in the background. (Although I will occasionally crank it up if a really good, inspiring tune comes on and if I'm in the car alone!)

Best advice I could give is to spend time with the new system and see what you like vs what you don't like and go from there. You might like the Burmester as is but if not it might be easier to determine what's missing and take it from there.

Whatever you end up doing, you're going to love your new Cayman!

[xcursion]

I have Burmester on my '23 CGTS as well. Same as P Coastal, I think that will be enough for me. But I am sure there can always be improvements since there is no perfect system. But I think it will be a diminishing return in terms of cost/time vs sound quality (ie the expensive Burmester system itself...). Best of luck on whatever you decide to do.

[sbac0n]

All great advice. I will report back on the impressions of BGTS. 17 days now…

[audi4t]

Steve

I just created and posted a very basic 'unscientific" poll to throw some light on what systems Carpoke's are choosing for their Porsche vehicles hopefully we will have some fun analyzing the data

Kevin

[Throttlesteer]

I managed to squeeze in to the premium package with Bose before the stop order. My biggest gripe with the Burmester is the listening environment. The Cayman/Boxster platform isn't conducive to taking advantage of high-end systems. I agree with blueline. Give yourself a little time behind the wheel and figure out whether it makes sense to upgrade. If so, you'll have a better idea where.

For the record, I find the Bose is ok. But I'm generally doing things where I'm not able to focus on the music when driving.

[blueline]

I managed to squeeze in to the premium package with Bose before the stop order. My biggest gripe with the Burmester is the listening environment. The Cayman/Boxster platform isn't conducive to taking advantage of high-end systems. I agree with blueline. Give yourself a little time behind the wheel and figure out whether it makes sense to upgrade. If so, you'll have a better idea where.

For the record, I find the Bose is ok. But I'm generally doing things where I'm not able to focus on the music when driving.

Agree! Especially to your last sentence!