Under-Seat Subwoofer Issues

[Ucinn]

Someone earlier said that they had to turn on the subwoofers on the amp when it wasnt working. Does nybody know if this is just a switch on the amp that we can just do ourselves?

 

[Ucinn]

Decided to try going through bluetooth and tried a subwoofer test video on there..They are definitely working and they thump pretty darn good..have to get it up to about volume level 23 to really feel it in your seat. made that dollar bill dance like crazy...lol The sound quality is without a doubt a lot different between bluetooth, USB and sirius/fm. I may be listening to pandora a lot more now BTW, I have the GT with the 9 speaker system.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

Decided to try going through bluetooth and tried a subwoofer test video on there..They are definitely working and they thump pretty darn good..have to get it up to about volume level 23 to really feel it in your seat. made that dollar bill dance like crazy...lol The sound quality is without a doubt a lot different between bluetooth, USB and sirius/fm. I may be listening to pandora a lot more now BTW, I have the GT with the 9 speaker system.

Which input did you find the best? I'll do some test with this the next time I drive my car (my oil arrived today, but dealer parts supply department is closed on Sunday). Do you find the sound system fatiguing? The upper mids and highs seem improperly EQ'd. I tried turning the treble all the way down, but it still hurt my ears. In my 2006 Saab Premium, I could cranks it for hours on end and my ears were fine. In the 2008 Saab (non-premium), I can't listen to it for a minute without fatigue. The GT sound system is better than the non-premium 2008 Saab, and I think the speakers are probably fine, but the EQ seems to be an issue for my ears. I have an audio/car friend who can probably help me due an EQ install. The base/mid/treble adjustment isn't working out for me. I miss those 8-band equalizers from the 80's.

 

[Ucinn]

Without a doubt, the bluetooth seemed to be the best followed by the USB. The sirius and FM is very tinny compared to the other two. I had to turn the highs down also when listening to radio sources. With the Bluetooth and USB, this base system really sounds good and can crank it out.

 

[MashBoss]

So it's practically May and still no good resolution to this issue?

Is there really no way to get to the amp to adjust the crossover (or have the dealer do it)?

The whole "breaking in" thing just doesn't pass the smell test. You break speakers in for tone, brightness, etc...not for literally working or not working.

I cranked my spotify (extreme quality setting) in a GT1 today at the dealership and there was *nothing* coming from the seats.

 

[Kazz]

So it's practically May and still no good resolution to this issue?

Is there really no way to get to the amp to adjust the crossover (or have the dealer do it)?

The whole "breaking in" thing just doesn't pass the smell test. You break speakers in for tone, brightness, etc...not for literally working or not working.

I cranked my spotify (extreme quality setting) in a GT1 today at the dealership and there was *nothing* coming from the seats.

Try an actual subwoofer test audio or video through bluetooth or direct USB connection.

 

[MashBoss]

Try an actual subwoofer test audio or video through bluetooth or direct USB connection.

That doesn't address the issue of getting them to work on any sort of *practical* level.

 

[Marc Collins]

That doesn't address the issue of getting them to work on any sort of *practical* level.

No, but it helps to know if they are connected or disconnected. If connected, because they work when a proper low signal is passed to them, then we know the crossover is the point to argue. It is then possible to find good quality source material (aka music) to test. I have my own favourite pieces of music to test all manner of an audio system output (CD or lossless equivalent to CD-quality on USB, since the Stinger has no CD player). When I play one of the songs that tests bass, it sounds good. When I play some lower quality sources, it does sound like the subs are just not there.

FWIW, I highly doubt that KIA will be playing with the crossover point on a Harmon Kardon system--only HK would adjust that, if they agreed it needed to be adjusted. Food for thought if you want to campaign to get something changed.

Overall, the HK system has surprised me that it is better quality sound than I was expecting. Even the surround options are sophisticated and relatively subtle. I think the system has been designed for high quality source material and in a somewhat snobbish manner similar to all high-end audio equipment, they have ignored everyday and mediocre quality sources--assuming that anyone using those doesn't really care about sound quality. It's no different than a home system...the better it is, the worse anything but the best quality recordings sound.

 

[AV8R]

Subs or no subs mine system is fantastic heaps of bass for me!

 

[iclicku]

So it's practically May and still no good resolution to this issue?

Is there really no way to get to the amp to adjust the crossover (or have the dealer do it)?

The whole "breaking in" thing just doesn't pass the smell test. You break speakers in for tone, brightness, etc...not for literally working or not working.

I cranked my spotify (extreme quality setting) in a GT1 today at the dealership and there was *nothing* coming from the seats.

The HK system in the Stinger won't rattle the fillings out of your teeth no matter what audio source you have. The subs work but the cone is too shallow to produce heart pounding base.

The issue is the system just isn't cut out for your taste. You'll have to add a bigger sub to get what you want. Hopefully it doesn't deter you from getting into a Stinger. If so the B and O system in the Audi S5 SB hits much harder than the Stinger.

 

[GTmike]

If anyone wanted to know, sub works with a $20 dollar bill too

 

[Leftlane]

The HK system in the Stinger won't rattle the fillings out of your teeth no matter what audio source you have. The subs work but the cone is too shallow to produce heart pounding base.

The issue is the system just isn't cut out for your taste. You'll have to add a bigger sub to get what you want. Hopefully it doesn't deter you from getting into a Stinger. If so the B and O system in the Audi S5 SB hits much harder than the Stinger.

Great point, cone depth and box design are limited when mounted under seats or in doors. HK is a good system but if you are expecting windshield rattling bass, you will need to consider a custom woofer powered by separate amp located in the hatch area.

 

[GTmike]

After reading a lot of posts on here and used your guys advice, I can really feel the bass and the sound quality is so much better!

I’m actually surprised how great this system is for OEM.

 

[WPJoe]

what advice specifically did you follow to boost performance?

btw I have emailed HK directly re: the crossover adjustment question. will report back if I hear anything useful.

 

[MashBoss]

The HK system in the Stinger won't rattle the fillings out of your teeth no matter what audio source you have. The subs work but the cone is too shallow to produce heart pounding base.

The issue is the system just isn't cut out for your taste. You'll have to add a bigger sub to get what you want. Hopefully it doesn't deter you from getting into a Stinger. If so the B and O system in the Audi S5 SB hits much harder than the Stinger.

No, the issue according to this thread is that there is literally no discernible sound or vibration coming from the subs.

 

[iclicku]

No, the issue according to this thread is that there is literally no discernible sound or vibration coming from the subs.

That issue seems to be resolved because those who had issues realize their expectation did not meet the reality.

 

[StingerNYC]

I am suprised you all are saying Bluetooth sounds good. I find it awful. Android auto from the same source sounds so much better. That and XM are best for me.

 

[Leftlane]

What source do you find sounds best on the Stinger HK system?
* A Strong local FM station
* Spotify from I-phone
* XM:Sirius radio
??

 

[StungBlueGT2]

What source do you find sounds best on the Stinger HK system?
* A Strong local FM station
* Spotify from I-phone
* XM:Sirius radio
??

My HK 15 speaker setup has been extensively tested, and my best overall sound experience is using HK “On Stage” QuantumLogic Surround mode.
Also best response from subs achieved with volume at 10-20 and EQ set to Bass-8, Mid-4, Treble-2. ClariFi mode off.

1) USB using lossless(1411kbps) or HQ studio quality recordings at 320kbps.
2) High Quality streaming option from Apple Music/Spotify at 320kbps.
3) Strong FM signal with HD radio enabled.
4) Strong FM signal.
5) XM:Sirius radio(Horrible, uneven and over boosted sound) for me at least.
Hope this helps

 

[Marc Collins]

My HK 15 speaker setup has been extensively tested, and my best overall sound experience is using HK “On Stage” QuantumLogic Surround mode.
Also best response from subs achieved with volume at 10-20 and EQ set to Bass-8, Mid-4, Treble-2. ClariFi mode off.

1) USB using lossless(1411kbps) or HQ studio quality recordings at 320kbps.
2) High Quality streaming option from Apple Music/Spotify at 320kbps.
3) Strong FM signal with HD radio enabled.
4) Strong FM signal.
5) XM:Sirius radio(Horrible, uneven and over boosted sound) for me at least.
Hope this helps

I like "On Stage," too, but be aware that it is a "distortion" of the original recording. Most of the time it will sound pleasant and provide a fuller in-car experience, but sometimes it wrecks a recording (often older ones). Caveat emptor.

Any settings other than neutral/0 for Bass, Mid and Treble are also distortions of the original recording. Honestly, unless you have a particular hearing loss at certain frequencies, there is no need to adjust these unless you think you know more than the recording engineers and artists who set those balances appropriately in the original recordings. At least for testing purposes, they should remain neutral. If you really think it sounds better imbalanced in some way, hey, it's your system and your ears. Really high-end stereo systems (for home) do not even provide these controls because a) no one would adjust them, and b) even allowing for an adjustment is a potential source of quality deterioration in between the source and ultimate amplified output to your speakers. Of course, this is just a mainstream car audio system we're talking about, but the principles are the same.

ClariFi--this is an important point. I never use any sources that require it, so haven't played with it. It should help clean-up crap quality MP3s (and all MP3s are crap, sorry to say), Bluetooth (also mediocre) and radio sources, but does it do anything when it is not needed? I would only turn it on if I was certain that it was not operating during the use of high quality sources. Does anyone know? Again, for any testing or comparison, leave it off.

Lastly, lossless USB is the ONLY source that is decent enough to test the quality and robustness of the system. A CD would be, too, but we don't have that option. Enjoy your other low quality music and streaming, as millions do every day on their phones and so forth, but it cannot be used to figure-out if a sub-woofer cross-over is working properly or if a stereo sounds good.

Don't shoot the messenger--it's just the reality that the public has come to accept crap quality music that would make a recording engineer even from the late 1950's cringe. Same thing with video...people watching postage stamp-sized often low quality YouTube, etc., while we have UHD screen technology that old-timers could only have dreamed about.