Under-Seat Subwoofer Issues

[AV8R]

A bit OTT maybe?

 

[Tazztattoo]

Let's keep in mind that some people are saying there is NO SOUND coming from these speakers. Let's wait to find out if they're even working before we spread the rumor that the Kia Stinger's audio system sucks...

I agree. I have a lot of experience with car audio and the system in the Stinger as far as a factory OEM product goes is very good. There is no problem with the overall staging and detail in the sound so I dont think anyone can/should say its a bad system and there are very few factory system out there that are better. It would just be nice if the subs under the seats at least produced enough output that you could actually feel something down there. So the sub-woofer performance can be criticized if what we are experiencing is actually how it is supposed to be, but there is no issue with the rest of the system and yes knowing how to adjust the parameters in your menu and using a good sound source does make a significant difference.

A good after market stereo will always have enough power to blow the speakers as this is the only way to achieve real high quality sound and an experienced user will always know to run it within safe limits without distortion / excess volume. However factory systems have to be somewhat idiot proof as they have to ensure an inexperienced user does not run it so loud that speakers blow hence why what we are experiencing with the Stinger I suspect will turn out to be as intended.

 

[AV8R]

So, your saying play around with EQ?
Would have thought that was obvious. I have to wait til my GT arrives before that can happen.

 

[Taimaishoo]

Man no way. I wanted this sound system to be stellar! Can't believe most people seem to be disappointed by it

After having the Stinger a week now, I can tell you the sound system is stellar! Depending on what you are listening too, I find that MP3s play better than radio, XM, bluetooth, etc. Now, depending on the source of the MP3, the MP3 may play softer or punchier than others. I've ripped Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette at FLAC 0 then 320Kbps MP3 and they play so much softer than other MP3s I have. /shrug

Remember, these subs sit on the floor of the driver and passenger seats and are only 8" I think and they have very little room to throw their sound around but I can definite feel it in my seat. Whereas, depending on the bass of the song I did feel air move around the subs. However, bass is non-directional, and these speaker really only provide "feel" though the frame work. My current favorite songs is from an anime named Deadman Wonderland, One Reason and From the Heart and they have very good highs and that kick drum. Pure eargasms. Now, of course they aren't designed to blow out windows, neighbor tells what song your listening to 5 blocks away. All these speakers are designed to sound best within the car cab.

If you to be able to watch your girlfriends hair get sucked in and out of the car at each bass hit, you my friend, have a lot of money still to be spent.

Styx Come Sail Away and Mr Roboto sound freakin' awesome in stage setting of the simulate 5.1 surround option the drum hits seemed to move around the cabin of the car. Maybe my next round of songs will be some Godsmack with their kick bass. I even listened to Don Dorsey and his Bachbuster album and it sounded decent though I wish they did move air more. But hey, I'm happy with it and when I'm not, I will have something beefier put in

 

[AV8R]

Onya!

 

[Taimaishoo]

Onya!

Sail Away, Sail Away! will have to search for that! And Mummer's Dance by Lorenna McKennitt

 

[AV8R]

Party rock, good bass there....

 

[Marco-Oz]

I might not have the best tuned ear but I’m really happy with the stereo.
I had a former sound engineer set up the EQ and I haven’t touched it since. Sounds so much crisper on Spotify than DAB.
I have attached a photo of my setup for reference/comparison.

 

[AV8R]

I might not have the best tuned ear but I’m really happy with the stereo.
I had a former sound engineer set up the EQ and I haven’t touched it since. Sounds so much crisper on Spotify than DAB.
I have attached a photo of my setup for reference/comparison.

Pretty much how I set the Optima. What about loudness and fade / positions settings?

 

[Taimaishoo]

One thing I dislike about the audio system. It takes a good 2-3 minutes to auto index the songs on the USB drive each car startup.

 

[Marco-Oz]

Pretty much how I set the Optima. What about loudness and fade / positions settings?

Just a little rear of centre but central between left and right.

 

[Marco-Oz]

One thing I dislike about the audio system. It takes a good 2-3 minutes to auto index the songs on the USB drive each car startup.

I haven’t tried it on USB yet, I’ll have to give it a go.

 

[AV8R]

If you pull it slightly forward it will sound better.

 

[Taimaishoo]

I haven’t tried it on USB yet, I’ll have to give it a go.

Well, I would factor the size of the USB thumb drives. The more you have on it, the longer it would take to auto index. I have 128G USB3.0 with about 7500 songs on each. Almost my entire library.

 

[AV8R]

Well...there’s your problem! I just have my driving tracks , about 400 songs.

Well, I would factor the size of the USB thumb drives. The more you have on it, the longer it would take to auto index. I have 128G USB3.0 with about 7500 songs on each. Almost my entire library.

 

[Marco-Oz]

If you pull it slightly forward it will sound better.

I have always thought that too as you want the sound concentrated on the driver and coming from in front. I think I’ll give it a try, but as I mentioned I haven’t got the best trained ear so I probably wouldn’t notice.

 

[AV8R]

I have always thought that too as you want the sound concentrated on the driver and coming from in front. I think I’ll give it a try, but as I mentioned I haven’t got the best trained ear so I probably wouldn’t notice.

And try moving it to your side so the sound appears to be coming from your dead centre not the car's dead centre. Never over do the bass, get it where you like it then cut it back a notch or two that way when songs that have mega bass come on you don't distort the sound. The mids are voice so they can be toned down and treble your can pretty much match base setting til you hear a crisp sound the ts ts ts so to speak.
I leave loudness on most of the time but it your preference. (used to be a club DJ so I have tuned a few)

 

[Never thought]

So the sound system is solid but lacks bass. Overall, I liked the Infiniti sound in my 2013 Optima SX better. That thing hit hard. It’s interesting because I read an article somewhere that Kia engineers upped the bass in the US bound Stingers...

So I just played some hard hitting bass songs. The speakers in the door are pushing some air but there is NOTHING from the “subs” under the seats. No way they are working. How can this be?

 

[AV8R]

Make be the subs are fake!

 

[Chris]

So I just played some hard hitting bass songs. The speakers in the door are pushing some air but there is NOTHING from the “subs” under the seats. No way they are working. How can this be?

What trim did you get?