2023 Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige - shadow matte grey. 2023 Bolt EUV Premier.
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How is the Harman Kardon sound system? [Poll]
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2023 Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige - shadow matte grey. 2023 Bolt EUV Premier.
Joined
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591 Posts
EDIT: I take back this post, see later posting.
So, I deleted a post from earlier today because after changing settings, the system sounds great. I had been using the same TONE settings I have used in my previous Chevrolet vehicles. Those settings don't sound the same on the KIA. I like songs to have a more bass-y sound. I moved the mid and treble very low, near -10 and put the bass at +10 and the system sounds awesome. In my Chevys I kept the mid and treble just above 0 and the bass at all the way to the positive, but those settings don't work for this Kia. So, if you are not satisfied with the bass levels of this car, use different settings than you are maybe used to.
Changed my vote in the poll.
Changed my vote in the poll.
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I kinda want to fiddle around with the settings, but with my luck I'll probably forget to adjust it back and leave the base turned all the way up and my wife will attempt to kill me (and likely succeed) after her next drive
With all the base coming from the front doors you’ll develop rattles very quickly with base on 10. The rear subwoofer is still basically useless.
Does the sound change with Driver profiles?
2023 Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige - shadow matte grey. 2023 Bolt EUV Premier.
Joined
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591 Posts
The front speakers do provide quite a bit of bass. I don't feel like anything is being strained. I never like to turn up a system to the point that stresses speakers - I'm very careful with that. Need some more time with it to get a feel for it.
2023 Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige - shadow matte grey. 2023 Bolt EUV Premier.
Joined
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591 Posts
I'm so confused. I played a song with heavy bass (rap) and opened the hatch and put my ear to the subwoofer. It was like it was silent. I put a light to it and couldn't see movement. There is substantial bass coming from the system, what would like a lot for front speakers, but why would the sub emit no sound/vibration? I then put the location of sound to the back 100% and there is zero bass in the sound.
Has anyone taken it to the dealer to show them that the sub doesn't even appear to be working? So confused, because there is significant bass, but yeah if it's all from the front that wouldn't be good long term. Do you guys have sound/vibration coming from the sub? Can front speakers possibly output this much bass?
Has anyone taken it to the dealer to show them that the sub doesn't even appear to be working? So confused, because there is significant bass, but yeah if it's all from the front that wouldn't be good long term. Do you guys have sound/vibration coming from the sub? Can front speakers possibly output this much bass?
2023 Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige - shadow matte grey. 2023 Bolt EUV Premier.
Joined
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591 Posts
If you hold something light next to/against the subwoofer, the paper or whatever it is should move due to the vibration/air from the speaker. I can't do this now, but can others try and report?
I checked mine and it was producing sound, but extremely low... I had to put my ear right up to it to hear sound and I can hear very low Hz; I think this is the weakest sub I have ever heard. I had Weeknd on so it should have been thumping.
Something else I've noticed is sound quality/levels are different depending on what music app I'm using. For example, with Pandora, I usually have the volume to 50 to start hearing a little bass, but nothing really from the back. However, with Apple Music (lossless turned on, not sure if this makes a difference), the volume is a few clicks lower, and the bass is substantially more noticeable.
Overall, pretty let down with the lows/bass. Had a Juke with a Rockford/Fosgate sub built-in, and it absolutely bumped. Was hoping for more of that in this, but it will suffice.
Overall, pretty let down with the lows/bass. Had a Juke with a Rockford/Fosgate sub built-in, and it absolutely bumped. Was hoping for more of that in this, but it will suffice.
2023 Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige - shadow matte grey. 2023 Bolt EUV Premier.
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591 Posts
But does it even seem like the sub is working?
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Yes I think so, but my wife will also forget to change to her profile (because the profile doesn't change depending on the key like GM/Cadillac, you listening to his Kia?)
With Pandora, I report almost nothing coming from the sub. But with Apple Music, it is much more apparent. It does appear the sub is working, just at extremely low levels.
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Does Pandora have its own EQ settings maybe?
Nothing that I've seen, but there is a setting to turn on higher-quality audio, which I do have on.
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Actually, now that I think of it, I did notice a significant difference in sound quality when I jumped from Pandora to Apple Music
Are you using it through CarPlay Wired, CarPlay Wireless, or Bluetooth?
2023 Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige - shadow matte grey. 2023 Bolt EUV Premier.
Joined
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591 Posts
FYI I'm using wireless CarPlay and Apple Music.
Yesterday I was having an issue with the USB A port and used Bluetooth for music and nothing came out of the speakers, even though music was playing...haven't tried it since.
Yesterday I was having an issue with the USB A port and used Bluetooth for music and nothing came out of the speakers, even though music was playing...haven't tried it since.
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