Can I install Bowers & Wilkins speakers in a Harman Kardon system?

f10andrii · 07-01-2025, 12:56 PM

I have an F92 M8 with the Harman Kardon audio system. I found some full leather door panels that come with Bowers & Wilkins speaker grills and speakers. Can I install these door panels and simply plug in the B&W speakers in place of my HK ones? Will they work with the existing wiring harness and HK amplifier? I'm not trying to upgrade the sound—just doing it for the ambient lighting.

JeffinOregon · 07-01-2025, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f10andrii

Can I install these door panels and simply plug in the B&W speakers in place of my HK ones?

Yes

Quote:

Originally Posted by f10andrii

Will they work with the existing wiring harness and HK amplifier?

If the speaker position is the same on the door card, the worst case is that the connectors will be different. You can either source the correct ones for the B&W’s, or snip the stock connectors off and solder the bare wire to the speakers. You will need to maintain the same polarity (+/-).

The most likely issue is that they will have a different sonic signature (they will sound at least somewhat different than the rest of the car), and they may have significantly different efficiency (they will play at a different volume level than stock). You can to some degree compensate with the fader control, but the results will be unpredictable.

IMO you’re better off switching the stock speakers out and retaining them rather than using the B&W’s while the door cards are off, as long as the mounting layout is the same.

M-technik-3 · 07-01-2025, 04:18 PM

Suggest you find out if they are the same ohm's

zx10guy · 07-02-2025, 12:19 PM

Outside of speaker impedance matching, I'd be concerned about the most probably use of EQ with the HK electronics that are matched to the HK speakers. Not only will you probably have a very different EQ curve that's not matched for the B&W speakers, you'll probably have issues with incorrect crossover/filter points; unless both systems have external crossovers at the speaker locations.

In my opinion, it's better to just leave the HK system in place if you're not going to go all the way and replace all the HK electronics too.

07-01-2025, 12:56 PM	#1
f10andrii Major 117 Rep 1,055 Posts Drives: BMW M5 - PORSCHE 911 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (3)	Can I install Bowers & Wilkins speakers in a Harman Kardon system? I have an F92 M8 with the Harman Kardon audio system. I found some full leather door panels that come with Bowers & Wilkins speaker grills and speakers. Can I install these door panels and simply plug in the B&W speakers in place of my HK ones? Will they work with the existing wiring harness and HK amplifier? I'm not trying to upgrade the sound—just doing it for the ambient lighting.
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07-01-2025, 04:18 PM	#3
M-technik-3 Lieutenant Colonel 3165 Rep 1,923 Posts Drives: E30 M3, E36 M3, 328iT, 335i Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: western Ma iTrader: (0) Garage List 1995 M3 [9.33] 2007 E91 [8.17] 1988 M3 [9.60]	Suggest you find out if they are the same ohm's
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07-02-2025, 12:19 PM	#4
zx10guy Brigadier General 5894 Rep 3,443 Posts Drives: 2013 135i Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: DC iTrader: (0)	Outside of speaker impedance matching, I'd be concerned about the most probably use of EQ with the HK electronics that are matched to the HK speakers. Not only will you probably have a very different EQ curve that's not matched for the B&W speakers, you'll probably have issues with incorrect crossover/filter points; unless both systems have external crossovers at the speaker locations. In my opinion, it's better to just leave the HK system in place if you're not going to go all the way and replace all the HK electronics too.
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