Second Generation 17 Speaker Lexicon Stereo System

[Gen-Eric]

Hi All,

I Just returned my 2012 3.8 for a 2015 3.8 fully loaded. Both Gennies have the 17 speaker Lexicon Stereo system but I have found that the system in the 2012 sounded much better than in the new one. I spent about an hour trying to adjust the sound but the new system just sounds muddy and not as crisp as the 2012. Did anyone else have the same experience? Anyone have any suggestions? Otherwise I am very pleased with the car.

Thanks

ER

 

[Mark_888]

Hi All,

I Just returned my 2012 3.8 for a 2015 3.8 fully loaded. Both Gennies have the 17 speaker Lexicon Stereo system but I have found that the system in the 2012 sounded much better than in the new one. I spent about an hour trying to adjust the sound but the new system just sounds muddy and not as crisp as the 2012. Did anyone else have the same experience? Anyone have any suggestions? Otherwise I am very pleased with the car.

Thanks

ER

So you have the 3.8 with Ultimate Package?

 

[Gen-Eric]

Yes, I have all three option packages.

 

[Alwaysforward]

Turn off the Surround Sound. It is like night and day difference in the quality of the sound (to me any way) with the Surround Sound turned off. Try it and let me know what you think!

 

[craigt]

Turn off the Surround Sound.

+1. Turned that off on day 1 (though not in a '15). Makes a considerable difference in the Gen 1 as well.

 

[Gen-Eric]

Thanks for the suggestions. I had hoped that turning off the surround sound might be an option and I will definitely give it a try when I get home this evening.

 

[DRS]

Thanks for the suggestions. I had hoped that turning off the surround sound might be an option and I will definitely give it a try when I get home this evening.

I think you will find that regardless of the Surround sound setting, if you liked the sound in the gen one Genny, you will never think the Gen two sounds as good. Bass is booming in the 100-250 hertz range (measured with sound analyzer), almost muddy. And the deep bass rolls off below that, where at 30hz it is -25db or more. That deep tight thumping bass is not there in the 2015. The crisp and clear mid and highs, show up with piano, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, voices and other instruments, on the first gen, are much less real sounding in my 2015 5.0 Ultimate. Since I own both a 2012 5.0 and 2015, I have taken the same DVD audio discs, and other high quality music, played them back to back in each car. The difference is large enough to notice on 128kbps MP3 and even sat radio stations. HD FM digital audio on the same stations and songs are not as clear in the 2015 (from the sound system I am guessing).

Oh, and deep kettle drums or concert timpani are not crisp and deep. Booming and mushy in the 2015. The Blue Man DVD audio shows that a bunch.

They changed the tuning, it seems to meet the auto tuned voices, full synthetic instruments, and over EQ guitar, and urban sounds. If this is what you also experience, tough cookies, no setting adjustments will fix it. Still, the 2015 is much better than many factory systems.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Everyone liked the stereo system in the first generation. Why would they change anything in the second generation? Did Hyundai "thrift" something out?

 

[Tpr5.0]

I must be in the minority. I think the surround sound sounds amazing in this car.

 

[DavidA5913]

I must be in the minority. I think the surround sound sounds amazing in this car.

Me too

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[2015GenesisNJ]

Same here, really like the Surround Sound option on.

Also, may be just me but the bass wasn't there at first but greatly improved over the first couple hundred miles, I figured the speakers needed a break-in period.

I am loving this sound system though my last car had a lot to be desired in the highs and lows department.

 

[Gen-Eric]

Thanks to all who responded to my question with suggestions and detailed info. Turning off the surround sound did help quite a bit but as DRS made clear, no setting adjustments duplicated the sound in my 2012 and I am glad that DRS had the opportunity to test the two systems side by side, which confirmed my original concerns. At least, in this respect, I know I am not nuts!! I know the 17 speaker Lexicon system is a great audio system and performs far better than many other factory systems (my wife's 2014 MKX is an clear example) but when you are used to such a high level of sound it was a big disappointment (indeed "tough cookies") that the new system did not meet the excellence of the old. Nonetheless, ALL things being considered, my new Gennie is a vast improvement over my 2012 and I loved my 2012!!!

ER

 

[DRS]

I must be in the minority. I think the surround sound sounds amazing in this car.

It is darned cool on both the 2012 and 2015, especially with DVD audio, or DVD movie. But, better speakers and tuning in the first gen 2012.

 

[DRS]

Thanks to all who responded to my question with suggestions and detailed info. Turning off the surround sound did help quite a bit but as DRS made clear, no setting adjustments duplicated the sound in my 2012 and I am glad that DRS had the opportunity to test the two systems side by side, which confirmed my original concerns. At least, in this respect, I know I am not nuts!! I know the 17 speaker Lexicon system is a great audio system and performs far better than many other factory systems (my wife's 2014 MKX is an clear example) but when you are used to such a high level of sound it was a big disappointment (indeed "tough cookies") that the new system did not meet the excellence of the old. Nonetheless, ALL things being considered, my new Gennie is a vast improvement over my 2012 and I loved my 2012!!!

ER

Amen brother Eric.. Concur on all points. And no, you are not nuts. 😇 I am lucky enough for now to have both and drive them for my biz. They each have their strong suits..

As mod mentioned, they may have cut some cost. I am not sure of that. They certainly changed the tonal quality to meet what Hyundai thought the modern sound is supposed to be. Maybe they hit the mark.. Good for urban and MP3 ear trained listeners. Bad for more accurate to original sound trained ears.

 

[Cap10obvious]

This might sound crazy, but I think the speakers need some burn in time. I've had the car (2015) for about 2 months now. Day 1 played with ALL the settings and complained on this forum about how the system just sounded so lifeless.

Well 2 months on, it's actually noticeably better. It's not great, I still stand by that, but I think after a few 100 on the odo, I started to notice the system sounding clearer, louder, all around more dynamic. Maybe it will get better for the OP in time.

Anyone else have a similar experience?

Ultimately though, I will have to add a bit more low end. It's performing better now, but still miles away from my what I'd be truly happy with. Good luck OP.

 

[Mark_888]

Given the MSRP replacement cost of the 2009-2014 Lexicon head units and amps (about $3000 each just for parts), and the need to frequently replace them under warranty, I would not be surprised if Hyundai asked Harmon International to figure out a way to make them a little less expensive.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Given the MSRP replacement cost of the 2009-2014 Lexicon head units and amps (about $3000 each just for parts), and the need to frequently replace them under warranty, I would not be surprised if Hyundai asked Harmon International to figure out a way to make them a little less expensive.

Yeah. How "unlikely" is this exactly what happened? I hate when brands cheapen things up but many of them do it. Even Lexus.

 

[Aquineas]

Given the MSRP replacement cost of the 2009-2014 Lexicon head units and amps (about $3000 each just for parts), and the need to frequently replace them under warranty, I would not be surprised if Hyundai asked Harmon International to figure out a way to make them a little less expensive.

They should have asked Harmon to make them more reliable.

 

[Mark_888]

They should have asked Harmon to make them more reliable.

That may have been part of the equation also. More reliable may have limited the power output of the amp to avoid clipping.

 

[craigt]

They should have asked Harmon to make them more reliable.

Perhaps I've been lucky so far (not real head unit issues), but from what I've read on the forums, this is the right statement. Cheapening the system is not the way to make it more reliable. The sound quality of the Gen 1 is really, really good. Anything less in the Gen 2 is a disappointment.

Hopefully a mid model refresh will address the sound quality and bring it back up to par.