[sn19]

Tried 3 DVD audio CDs.
1. Battles Love- unreadable
2. Gaucho- unreadable
3. Pet sounds, beach boys- plays but poor quality. This did not have 5.1 surround.
4. Plays DVD videos in parking mode.
I have a 2012 35i with premium pkg, tech pkg, premium sound, sports activity pkg, cold weather pkg. (USA).
My question is , has anyone been able to play DVD audio CDs in 5.1 channel?

[Radioactive]

I thought I would give this a shot, since I've never I tried it. The only DVD Audio I have is Blue Man. No, go on the '11 X3 with premium sound. "Unreadable Format".

[sn19]

That is disappointing! This was one of the things that I really wanted when I bought x3. Anyone else tried DVD audio?
Sorry for the typo on original post- its Beatles Love.

[BMWZ4]

Note the DVD audio entry below - says only plays video part only.

From page 155 in the Owner's Manual:

Playable formats:

▷ DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVDRW,
DVD+RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL, DVD
audio (video part only), DVD video*

▷ CD: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA,
VCD*, SVCD*

▷ Compressed audio files: MP3, WMA, AAC*,
M4A*

Dave

[sn19]

I could actually play the DVD- pet sounds by beach boys, which is an audio DVD. This was not in 5.1 ch. The other 2 were in 5.1 ch. Guess, I have to stick to CDs n mp3 now for music without 5.1 surround.

[sfax]

Can I just ask why you want to listen to music in 5.1? If you sat in a concert listening to an orchestra you'd be sat in front of them and would effectively be listening in stereo (unless you were sat amongst them playing an instrument and then you'd be hearing different sounds from different directions). Surround sound is great for gaming and movies but I don't see any benefit for listening to music in 5.1 personally.

[sn19]

I understand what you are saying. It is something I enjoy even when I play music on my home theater. It does make you feel like you are in the midst of an orchestra. Listened to the DVD audio in my friends MDX- was very impressed. Was happy to see it listed under premium sound when I was looking for X3. I guess there are not many admirers of this format when it comes just listening to music. New artists hardly come out with DVD audio now.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by sn19

I understand what you are saying. It is something I enjoy even when I play music on my home theater. It does make you feel like you are in the midst of an orchestra. Listened to the DVD audio in my friends MDX- was very impressed. Was happy to see it listed under premium sound when I was looking for X3. I guess there are not many admirers of this format when it comes just listening to music. New artists hardly come out with DVD audio now.

I might have to give it a go with my home theatre setup - I've never tried it with a Audio DVD. The other slight issue with getting this right in the car is all the angles of the speakers in relation to where you sit. You'll always be off-centre when driving so it won't be perfect but if you've experienced it and liked it in an MDX then maybe we're missing out on something here

[bluedevils]

One possible reason a person would want 5.1 over stereo is the illusion that you are in a concert hall and not in a car. When you listen to live music in a concert hall, the sound bounces of the walls all around you with different timing and intensity than your smaller X3. You cannot recreate that atmosphere faithfully in stereo.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by bluedevils

One possible reason a person would want 5.1 over stereo is the illusion that you are in a concert hall and not in a car. When you listen to live music in a concert hall, the sound bounces of the walls all around you with different timing and intensity than your smaller X3. You cannot recreate that atmosphere faithfully in stereo.

I'm not saying that "surround" sound or more speakers doesn't improve the listening experience. I think there's some confusion here with multiple speakers all playing the same sound simultaneously at different frequency ranges and positions and 5.1 which is a technology developed for cinema, not for listening to music. You can listen to music in 5.1 but you'll only benefit from it if something specific has been done to record the music so that it works in 5.1 and this is also the debatable part. What parts of a concert should you split so that they are heard behind the listener rather than in front and how should you use the front central speaker (used for clear dialogue in films)?

[sn19]

I think it is just a personal preference. Even with music, when you say 5.1, you still listen to the singer in the front and other instruments split between the front and back speakers. Like guitar in the back speakers. It is similar to the movie 5.1 surround. If you happen to listen to music in any of the new Acura vehicles with upgraded audio- easy to realize. But again I dont think everyone would like it.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by sn19

I think it is just a personal preference. Even with music, when you say 5.1, you still listen to the singer in the front and other instruments split between the front and back speakers. Like guitar in the back speakers. It is similar to the movie 5.1 surround. If you happen to listen to music in any of the new Acura vehicles with upgraded audio- easy to realize. But again I dont think everyone would like it.

I like the idea of the separate vocals in the middle at the front actually. I need to buy a DVD audio in 5.1 and check it out at home as I'm intrigued now