No Porsche is not going the "real fake" m5 active sound via speakers.

 

Good to know. So what is everyone talking about the "fake" sound.

 

I think that they are saying that the "sound symposer" pipes the sound into the cabin giving the illusion of a car that's louder than it is. While the sound is real (in the sense that it isn't a recording), it isn't loud outside of the cabin, which is off-putting to them.

I'm not sure if that's any clearer.

 

Porsche and many modern cars (Like the MX5 I have) route a bit of the engine sound, mostly higher frequency intake sound via a pipe to the inside of the car. Often there is also a valve in that pipe so the sound can be muted.
To some extent this is needed as sound insulation has become too good and the engine no longer has a sporty sound. Engine sound is a major part of the sports car experience.

BMW has stuck their neck out and ditched the complication and cost of the mechanical "engine sound" system and simply playes back synthetic sound through the car's stereo. It's not the real sound, it is synthesized sound. It's not even a recording of the real sound.

The mechanical sound system is not fake - it is real genuine sound made by the engine and routed to the inside of the car for the drivers pleasure.
BMW's solution ? Well, I'm seriously into high tech electronics and stuff due to my work - but I have to say, this just does not sound good. No pun intended.

Last time I enjoyed fake engine sound I was eight and was pushing my toy Porsche around with suitable "vroom - vroom" sounds.
The new BMW M5 is similar - except the stereo makes the "vroom-vroom" for you. Don't know what you think of it. I know what I think of it.

Rainier

 

Sticking their neck out is one thing but butchering what the ///M brand has stood for years is another. BMW in essence ripped the heart out of what made an ///M a different animal - engine and dynamics 1st. Nobody really needs a 500+ Hp sedan but the e60 (V10) roar made you feel like you were driving an F1 car when you were really in a sedan (yes SMG was crappy in the city). It was one of the best sounding cars I have ever driven. I drove the active sound card in Spain and you will not even notice it was being generated if someone did not tell you. It sounded burly and deep not bad for what they are trying to accomplish. Is it still a true ///M? I am not phylisophical enough to go into that; still deciding on whether to pull through my lease 3 months ahead of time or wait for the C4S.

 

Not sayin it's sounding bad - far from it. It's the principle of what is going on here that has my neck hairs standing up.
Yes, yes, I know, it's just the way things are going and I better get used to it. Like electric steering it's just the way it is.

Wonder if we're going to have engine sounds played back through the speakers once we all drive electric cars ? Now there's a patent worthy idea.

Rainier

 

Thank you for the description. I had a X5M and had no idea they did that. I am not how I feel about the new M5 with this sound generating. Those who have driven it, love it. The new TT V8 provides more power and better fuel econ but lacks sound. Time will tell.

 

I don't think the induction noise is "fake", they just duct it inside the car. I believe it's the real induction noise with a membrane to keep the smell out.

ChuckJ

 

It is called "Sound Symposer" coming soon to a Ford near you...

http://blog.roadandtrack.com/tags/engine-sound/

 

Crrap!
That Ford sounds like my 991.

 

In the "old days" of narrow tires (and thrilling oversteer) there was little insulation and little need for it. As the tire width grew as part of the taming of the oversteer, the road noise began to drown out the induction sound. What to do? More insulation made the tire song more bearable on long drives but it eliminated the sweet intake noise. Oh, I know: let's leave a little hole in the insulation, near where the intake noise is loudest, and insulate more completely everywhere else. In fact, a tube can transfer that sound directly inside the car where it will be most appreciated. But wait, what about the engine smells? Why, we can put a membrane there that will filter out the hot, stinky air.

Now that ought to work, right? I just hope the consumers don't confuse this with the method BMW uses for the same effect. They say that is cheating. Surely they can see the difference. Porsche drivers are smarter than that.

 

If my memory serves me right, I believe the speakers in the new m5 is used to generate exhaust or engine note inside the cabin.

 

Its the subwoofer system - someone actually disabled the system to do a test and it did not sound incredibly different just less pronounced. Anyhow like everyone said just get a 991 and make sure to include the PSE

 

The items I put in Porsches survey:
Reduce size of key Ferrari key much smaller
Decent hook and place to hang dress jacket in a zip bag
Better door storage espec for water bottles
More front storage
Spare

Otherwise a fantastic step forward

 

At least the 18-way power seats have coat hangers on the back...
I'll add "fix the PCM" as well.

Regarding the survey: does anyone know how "anonymous" these surveys are?