[Koreanadian]

Are you using it through CarPlay Wired, CarPlay Wireless, or Bluetooth?

CarPlay Wired

 

[Baloo]

Wife has the car right now, but try this MP3 on a USB stick.
20-20k-sweep-track.mp3

 

[SoCal949]

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.

I take back this entire post. It dulls the treble and mids way too much, obviously. Ug. I moved it to +10 base and 0 mid/treble. Still not enough from the sub, but you can’t dull everything else out.

 

[Koreanadian]

I take back this entire post. It dulls the treble and mids way too much, obviously. Ug. I moved it to +10 base and 0 mid/treble. Still not enough from the sub, but you can’t dull everything else out.

It's obviously made for the boring side of Korean people who don't enjoy music with heavy bass (coughmywifecough) If I was the only one driving it, I'd have installed one of those bazooka subs (do they still make those?)

 

[SoCal949]

It's obviously made for the boring side of Korean people who don't enjoy music with heavy bass (coughmywifecough) If I was the only one driving it, I'd have installed one of those bazooka subs (do they still make those?)

But the sub doesn’t even seem to do anything. It should be functioning at least. Hopefully someone takes it to a dealer. What’s the objective way to demonstrate whether the sub is functioning?

 

[Koreanadian]

But the sub doesn’t even seem to do anything. It should be functioning at least. Hopefully someone takes it to a dealer. What’s the objective way to demonstrate whether the sub is functioning?

Maybe try to play this track in it?

Wife has the car right now, but try this MP3 on a USB stick.
20-20k-sweep-track.mp3

 

[Baloo]

But the sub doesn’t even seem to do anything. It should be functioning at least. Hopefully someone takes it to a dealer. What’s the objective way to demonstrate whether the sub is functioning?

I found other Kia boards talking about the HK Sub. They took it to dealer and was told that's the way it is or until Kia recognizes it as a problem they can't do anything. I need to take mine back to dealer for some touch ups and I'll mention it.

 

[SoCal949]

I found other Kia boards talking about the HK Sub. They took it to dealer and was told that's the way it is or until Kia recognizes it as a problem they can't do anything. I need to take mine back to dealer for some touch ups and I'll mention it.

Maybe try to play this track in it?

I play the track and hear the bass in spots, but I'd have to hear it in my wife's Bolt to hear how much bass there could/should be. I also can't tell what bass is coming from the front speakers...sounds like a lot surprisingly.

Okay, so if Kia won't do anything about this (they won't) then what is the fix? Is replacing the subwoofer enough? It seems to me there is something in the settings holding back the sub. When I play heavy rap, I notice more bass that seems to be coming from the sub (counterintuitive because I don't SEE the sub even moving or vibrating). When I play a song without deep bass, I notice very little bass compared to my wife's Chevy Bolt EUV that pumps significant bass for that same non-rap song. There's just no comparison to the Bolt EUV/Bolt/Volt premium sound system compared to this Sportage "premium" sound system - it's obvious. I feel stupid for going back and forth on this so much, but this system is not right with subwoofer bass, it's just not. Problem is I'm not sure what the problem is.

So my question is, okay this system has no (or almost NO) bass from the sub: why not and what is the fix?

 

[Koreanadian]

I think this can be a little project over a weekend or something lol. Play music from different apps through different methods like bluetooth, carplay, android auto, aux in. See which ones produces the best sound quality.

 

[SoCal949]

I think this can be a little project over a weekend or something lol. Play music from different apps through different methods like bluetooth, carplay, android auto, aux in. See which ones produces the best sound quality.

Regardless of app though, nothing sounds the way it should with a subwoofer. This is either an equipment issue or a system setting issue that limits the power to the subwoofer. I can play via anything to my Volt/Bolt/whatever and it sounds like an awesome system with a subwoofer, this is like it doesn't even have a sub.

 

[Brandong8man]

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?
[/QUOTE

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?
[/QUOTE

Regardless of app though, nothing sounds the way it should with a subwoofer. This is either an equipment issue or a system setting issue that limits the power to the subwoofer. I can play via anything to my Volt/Bolt/whatever and it sounds like an awesome system with a subwoofer, this is like it doesn't even have a sub.

This issue seems to be an HK thing more than just a Kia thing. I’ve seen audio reviews of newer HK systems from other manufactures(BMW) with the same lack of overall power and especially pertaining to the lack of production from the subwoofers.

 

[SoCal949]

This issue seems to be an HK thing more than just a Kia thing. I’ve seen audio reviews of newer HK systems from other manufactures(BMW) with the same lack of overall power and especially pertaining to the lack of production from the subwoofers.

I've seen a YouTube review of this exact system and they gave a B+ or something. I'm like - what?

 

[Brandong8man]

I've seen a YouTube review of this exact system and they gave a B+ or something. I'm like - what?

This is the one that’s found the issues with all recent HK systems. This particular guy tends to downgrade systems that are very base heavy such as Bose as they muddle the mids and highs. He’s spot on with his comments though. The system lacks power and thumping base. He also explains that HK and Kia wanted it this way.

 

[SoCal949]

This is the one that’s found the issues with all recent HK systems. This particular guy tends to downgrade systems that are very base heavy such as Bose as they muddle the mids and highs. He’s spot on with his comments though. The system lacks power and thumping base. He also explains that HK and Kia wanted it this way.

I just want to know the best way to correct it to get a punch from the subwoofer.

 

[SoCal949]

This issue seems to be an HK thing more than just a Kia thing. I’ve seen audio reviews of newer HK systems from other manufactures(BMW) with the same lack of overall power and especially pertaining to the lack of production from the subwoofers.

Isn't that the purpose of the tone settings? So that you can get less bass if you want less, or more if you want more? What's even the point of having the sub?

 

[SoCal949]

Can I Swap the Factory Subwoofer in My Car for Better Performance?

If your car or SUV came with a subwoofer from the factory, can swapping the driver for something better improve audio system performance?

www.bestcaraudio.com

 

[SoCal949]

KIA Motors - No bass from harmon kardon stereo 2023 kia sportage prestige

2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid Prestige:The bass is so low you might as well not even have a subwoofer. Its all over the Kia owners forums for those who paid extra for the Prestige model. The base system actually sounds better. Here is just one example of many bad write ups about this. I'm sending you...

www.complaintsboard.com

 

[stargate125645]

I feel like a simple solution would be to just use the existing wiring and have it lead out to a custom sub in an enclosure. Takes up cargo space but then you'd get the sound quality you want.

 

[SoCal949]

I feel like a simple solution would be to just use the existing wiring and have it lead out to a custom sub in an enclosure. Takes up cargo space but then you'd get the sound quality you want.

Yeah, I'm definitely not going to put something in that takes up more space. My hope is that perhaps removing the current sub with a new one would help? I don't know how much room is in there.

What I notice is that the subwoofer seems to only active with unusually low frequencies, compared to other systems I've used. That seems like a setting that just needs to be adjusted, but they don't let us. Quite a shame.

 

[stargate125645]

Yeah, I'm definitely not going to put something in that takes up more space. My hope is that perhaps removing the current sub with a new one would help? I don't know how much room is in there.

What I notice is that the subwoofer seems to only active with unusually low frequencies, compared to other systems I've used. That seems like a setting that just needs to be adjusted, but they don't let us. Quite a shame.

Is there a frequency adjustment option on the amp itself perhaps?