HK Rear Seat Sound

[Ortiz7983]

I want to say that the October build doesn’t qualify for the HK system TSB. I believe it already has it.

 

[ashasha]

I want to say that the October build doesn’t qualify for the HK system TSB. I believe it already has it.

I'm thinking that may be the case because it looks like people who needed that particular TSB had little or no bass. I spent some time trying to EQ the sound and it sounds like I have a massive hole in the mids. I have way too much bass so I think that the sub amp's power is fine. I really sounds like the crossover frequencies are screwed up; almost like the sub is getting a lot of the mids and it just isn't made for it. The mid drivers throughout the car sound like they just aren't getting anything when I move the balance thingy around.

 

[SpeedyV]

I'm thinking that may be the case because it looks like people who needed that particular TSB had little or no bass. I spent some time trying to EQ the sound and it sounds like I have a massive hole in the mids. I have way too much bass so I think that the sub amp's power is fine. I really sounds like the crossover frequencies are screwed up; almost like the sub is getting a lot of the mids and it just isn't made for it. The mid drivers throughout the car sound like they just aren't getting anything when I move the balance thingy around.

In one of the many threads on this, @ExcursionDiesel (I believe) and a few others did some testing. If I recall correctly, they found the most accurate sound reproduction was achieved with bass at -5 to -6, mid at -2 to 0, and treble at 0 to 2. I think I’m running -5, -2, 2. The biggest drawback is that we have only three bands! We need the ability to tweak mid bass frequencies more than anything. A 5- or 7-band EQ would do wonders, as well as a ‘gain’ slider for the surround effect.

 

[ashasha]

In one of the many threads on this, @ExcursionDiesel (I believe) and a few others did some testing. If I recall correctly, they found the most accurate sound reproduction was achieved with bass at -5 to -6, mid at -2 to 0, and treble at 0 to 2. I think I’m running -5, -2, 2. The biggest drawback is that we have only three bands! We need the ability to tweak mid bass frequencies more than anything. A 5- or 7-band EQ would do wonders, as well as a ‘gain’ slider for the surround effect.

That's pretty much where I'm running my EQ as well. Problem is that it's "fine" for some songs, but not for others and the stuff I typically listen to still sounds like it's missing something in the mids. I noticed that there is an EQ version in the dealer menu. I am assuming that they use parametric EQ's so potentially they could shift the Q or even the frequencies for each band; but yeah, a 7 band would probably help considerably. Actually I think that just being able to adjust the gain of the sub separately may even help. I don't need it to be loud enough to split heads open, just balance the levels a bit.

 

[RamCares]

Just picked up a Limited the other day. It must have been sitting for a while because the build date was Oct2018....got a great deal, truck is fine other than the stereo. I have the excessive bass and poor mid problem as well. I have a service appointment scheduled for Tuesday, but it's sounding (no pun intended) like I'm going to be facing an uphill battle with the service center. It's weird because sometimes it sounds fairly decent; especially with modern pop, but for classic rock it is pretty poor. I had an HK system in a Mercedes a few years ago and it sounded much better than this does. I have to back the bass down to almost nothing and then it just sounds like a crappy 80's boombox. It's really boxy and boomy with smeared mids. The highs are there, but everything sounds off.

Has anyone managed to get to the bottom of this? Like what software and EQ version is supposed to be installed?

Hello ashasha,

We're sorry to hear about your sound system. Keep us updated on your dealer appointment today. If assistance is needed at anytime while you're there, don't hesitate to send our team a private message.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[ashasha]

Hello ashasha,

We're sorry to hear about your sound system. Keep us updated on your dealer appointment today. If assistance is needed at anytime while you're there, don't hesitate to send our team a private message.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

They updated the software and it sounds much better. It's still a bit heavy on the bass, but the main thing is that it's not as boomy or boxy and the mids are a lot better. Just took the old lady for an evening cruise and it's a hundred times better without hearing that weird compressed or phasey stuff that was going on.

 

[392DCGC]

Factory amp doesn't send a flat signal to the sub, and probably not for the other speakers either. The stock speakers are also not great at all. Check out some of the audio upgrade threads... upgraded my HK system and glad I did.

 

[RamCares]

They updated the software and it sounds much better. It's still a bit heavy on the bass, but the main thing is that it's not as boomy or boxy and the mids are a lot better. Just took the old lady for an evening cruise and it's a hundred times better without hearing that weird compressed or phasey stuff that was going on.

Great, ashasha. I appreciate you circling back. In the future, if a question arises, feel welcome to connect with me.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Berkley]

I find the sub to be completely overpowering. I have it cut all the way down on eq and it still is overpowering an otherwise reasonable audio set-up. My build is after the TSB cut-off so it's not that problem. Ridiculously boomy. Feels like it rattles everyone at the stoplights, including me

I totally agree. I just got my 2021 1500 Laramie Sport with 12 inch Uconnect on Halloween 20. SUB is WAY out of whack. Need to somehow gain control of the SUB so it doesnt drown out everything else. The equalizer is useless. Anyone done some kind of mod to put a gain control on the SUB AMP?

 

[William1034]

Just unplug the sub. The other speakers have plenty of bass.

 

[Berkley]

I totally agree. I just got my 2021 1500 Laramie Sport with 12 inch Uconnect on Halloween 20. SUB is WAY out of whack. Need to somehow gain control of the SUB so it doesnt drown out everything else. The equalizer is useless. Anyone done some kind of mod to put a gain control on the SUB AMP?

I figured it out. Swung the right rear passenger seat forward . Pulled a couple of tabs and pulled the lining forward. Sub sit right there attached to the rear wall. When looking directly at sub, ;ower right is where the connection is. AMAZING how much better the sound is now. Thanks for the help!!!!

 

[William1034]

It took the rest of my system about a month to break in.

 

[ramButz]

when i put in another subwoofer. i didnt disable the stock one.the new subwoofer is what i hear.as for the speakers else where,they have been replaced.some are still being run off the stock amp.but the doors and the new sub are being run off the aftermarket amp..and still sounds !

 

[392DCGC]

when i put in another subwoofer. i didnt disable the stock one.the new subwoofer is what i hear.as for the speakers else where,they have been replaced.some are still being run off the stock amp.but the doors and the new sub are being run off the aftermarket amp..and still sounds !

You put all that effort in and left the stock subwoofer hooked up? Dude, go disconnect that piece of garbage right now.