Wonder why the Stinger sound system is different from my Optimas?

[Mike_TX]

The H-K sound in my Optima SX-L's was excellent, and if anything I expected the Stinger's to be better. But IMO it's not. It's boomy and the bass is overdriven. I've even played with it by running the bass down to minimum and the treble up to max, and it's still kind of fuzzy on bass sources like certain songs and even people with deep voices.

Makes me curious why they didn't just lift the system from the Optima and put it in the Stinger instead of using something inferior. It's workable, but it's not as good as I expected. Am I missing something?

 

[brancky3]

It's funny that you say the bass is overdriven because it seems like 95% of people on here say the bass is almost nonexistent. It's definitely not a *perfect* system but it's really not bad. Might be worth it to look into some custom crossovers to fit your needs. What type of music do you listen to and what input source? Plugged in via USB over Android Auto / APple CarPlay is leaps and bounds better than any other source for clarity and quality.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Music source is the main driving factor here, I am thinking. Using the HK headphones is also enlightening on this point. Some tracks are lacking "body"; they are clear, crisp and distinct to the point of annoyance. Others (most) are normal and don't illicit a judgment either way. Some are strong, with extra "body" and fantastic almost overpowering bass. I've found the sound system in the Stinger to produce the same variance. I am really happy with my HK sound system in my Stinger.

 

[Mike_TX]

It's funny that you say the bass is overdriven because it seems like 95% of people on here say the bass is almost nonexistent. It's definitely not a *perfect* system but it's really not bad. Might be worth it to look into some custom crossovers to fit your needs. What type of music do you listen to and what input source? Plugged in via USB over Android Auto / APple CarPlay is leaps and bounds better than any other source for clarity and quality.

Maybe I have a bad speaker or something. I notice it more on singers or people talking who have deep voices, making them sound kind of muddy and vibrate-y (is that a word? lol). Just not crisp and clean. I'm not a connoisseur of music or sound systems, but my amateur ears just don't find the Stinger's system as good as its sister in the Optima. Not a deal-killer, just an observation.

 

[Revvdmedia]

I'm reasonably happy with the HK system in my Stinger. My Mustang had Hertz speakers installed which were hugely better than stock, but I could never get them to sound right, would have required an EQ that I never installed. I was disappointed that my wife's base audio from her 2013 Santa Fe sounded so much better than the Mustang's system in any configuration. With that said, the HK system is much better than her Santa Fe, and definitely more well rounded than the system in my Mustang.

The takeaway - the HK system could definitely be better, but it's good enough that I don't feel the need to change it out which was an important attribute in the car purchase decision when I was looking at the Stinger. I'm tired of ripping interiors apart to do sound systems. It always results in a rattle one way or another.

 

[brancky3]

Maybe I have a bad speaker or something. I notice it more on singers or people talking who have deep voices, making them sound kind of muddy and vibrate-y (is that a word? lol). Just not crisp and clean. I'm not a connoisseur of music or sound systems, but my amateur ears just don't find the Stinger's system as good as its sister in the Optima. Not a deal-killer, just an observation.

You very well might have a blown speaker as that is what the 'vibratey' sounds normally comes from. I know exactly what you're talking about

 

[nhcowboy28]

After some tweaking. I love the HK.

Using the “stage” setting, treble way down, mid and bass way up.

On iPhone, music settings = NO EQ.

BT Streaming (or CarPlay) local or prime music. Sounds great. Good bass and mid. More bass than any car I’ve had before.

 

[Doel]

treble up to max? do you hate your ears? the treble on these speakers is so high as it is, I have to adjust it down otherwise it hurts the ears.

 

[nhcowboy28]

treble up to max? do you hate your ears? the treble on these speakers is so high as it is, I have to adjust it down otherwise it hurts the ears.

Uhh. I said treble way down. Meaning like negative five.

 

[Doel]

Uhh. I said treble way down. Meaning like negative five.

that was for OP, sorry, he said he turned it up to max

 

[Callum]

@Mike_TX
You are not alone. For those have not spent a lot of time in the Optima with HK it's in another class. My '16 SXL was amazing. The Stinger may have more speakers, but the depth just isn't the same. If there is one thing I could carry over from the Optima, it would be the stereo and not having the tablet glued to the dash syndrome.

 

[Mike_TX]

that was for OP, sorry, he said he turned it up to max

Yeah, that was just trying to get the sound dialed in. I didn't leave it there. But it didn't hurt my ears even at that ... maybe my higher-register hearing is shot.

 

[Mike_TX]

@Mike_TX
You are not alone. For those have not spent a lot of time in the Optima with HK it's in another class. My '16 SXL was amazing. The Stinger may have more speakers, but the depth just isn't the same. If there is one thing I could carry over from the Optima, it would be the stereo and not having the tablet glued to the dash syndrome.

Glad to know I'm not by myself on this one. Not as clean a sound as my two SX-L's, and they were cheaper cars than this.

 

[Callum]

Glad to know I'm not by myself on this one. Not as clean a sound as my two SX-L's, and they were cheaper cars than this.

I was disappointed. I was really hoping/expecting the Stinger's HK system to be on par, or better than the Optima.

 

[Alagos]

Never checked sound system on Stinger .. will get the 2.0 with 15 speakers .. will Test then.. goes against my Lancer Sportback with a sound System I can’t even name .. no bass in the trunk or something .. I bet the stinger one will be way better ..Well okay I hope so ...
when the window in the back won’t vibrate while hearing "Slash - World on Fire"at Max i will be worried .. but I guess from what I read .. no maximum is needed ^^

 

[Waynerm002]

From having the 2018 and then a 2019, I can say the sound system in my 2018 didn’t play at the volume of the 2019 does and the mids and highs required some tuning to the + side to get it to sound decent. Recently I had a chance to compare my buddy’s 2012 Optima hybrid Infinity system to his 2018 Stinger and my 2019. The bass in the 2012 Optima is heavy with the settings flat, in my Stinger it is good but not the same and if you sit in back the bass sounds lacking, not so in the Optima with the deck mounted sub.

Yesterday on my drive home, the system sounded differently, like the highs dropped a bit, I’m guessing as the speakers break in, the sound signature is changing. Mike, you should go to the dealer and check out the system on other 2.0T and on a newer (build date) 2019 to see if there are any differences. Don’t remember if you got a 2018 or 2019 2.0T but from my old car and my buddy’s 2018, the sound system is certainly different on the 2019.

 

[Doel]

From having the 2018 and then a 2019, I can say the sound system in my 2018 didn’t play at the volume of the 2019 does and the mids and highs required some tuning to the + side to get it to sound decent. Recently I had a chance to compare my buddy’s 2012 Optima hybrid Infinity system to his 2018 Stinger and my 2019. The bass in the 2012 Optima is heavy with the settings flat, in my Stinger it is good but not the same and if you sit in back the bass sounds lacking, not so in the Optima with the deck mounted sub.

Yesterday on my drive home, the system sounded differently, like the highs dropped a bit, I’m guessing as the speakers break in, the sound signature is changing. Mike, you should go to the dealer and check out the system on other 2.0T and on a newer (build date) 2019 to see if there are any differences. Don’t remember if you got a 2018 or 2019 2.0T but from my old car and my buddy’s 2018, the sound system is certainly different on the 2019.

your 2019's speakers are louder? The only issue I have with the volume of my 2018's speakers is that they can't get low enough.... 1 is a lot louder than it should be and I never turn it up past 25.

 

[Waynerm002]

Based on what I've seen in the threads on the audio system, it seems some vehicles system can play louder and sound better. In the 2018 I could max out the system and still have a conversation. In the 2019, you don't want to be in the car with it at max level and it just sounds better overall. I had thought about taking off the doors on the 2018 to remove the felt between the speaker and cover to get better sound but now, I don't need to. I would suggest folks with systems that don't play well should start visiting their dealers and reporting the issue. Not sure if it's an amp issue or something in the head unit but it is an issue.

 

[Doel]

Based on what I've seen in the threads on the audio system, it seems some vehicles system can play louder and sound better. In the 2018 I could max out the system and still have a conversation. In the 2019, you don't want to be in the car with it at max level and it just sounds better overall. I had thought about taking off the doors on the 2018 to remove the felt between the speaker and cover to get better sound but now, I don't need to. I would suggest folks with systems that don't play well should start visiting their dealers and reporting the issue. Not sure if it's an amp issue or something in the head unit but it is an issue.

Much like the traction control and adaptive suspension.... very inconsistent between cars. Maybe it's just the first runs that have these inconsistencies. Anything above 20 in my car is way too loud for a conversation unless you're yelling at each other.

 

[brancky3]

Much like the traction control and adaptive suspension.... very inconsistent between cars. Maybe it's just the first runs that have these inconsistencies. Anything above 20 in my car is way too loud for a conversation unless you're yelling at each other.

But, all of this is completely subjective. There aren't any measurements on loudness with a dB meter, nor are there any measurements for traction control / suspension. I will have a different viewpoint of the car coming from an Audi S3 than someone that comes from an Audi RS5, for example.