Second Generation 17 Speaker Lexicon Stereo System

[DRS]

Sound is very subjective. Some here have suggested the system sounds better with Surround turned off. But to my ears, it is much better with Surround turned on.

I had a 2011 and now 2014. I cannot tell any difference. Maybe a little less bass in the 2014, but that might be because the Sub is new.

I agree on the SS being on sometimes.. Especially DVD audio, designed for that. Some SACD too.. And depending on mix, the simulated SS sounds better... However, it is designed for front listeners in SS.. Back seat passengers, do not get get full SS effect. According to those been in back seat with me.. Likely center channel in front being too distant compared to door and back speakers in rear.

 

[easton379]

I just bought a 2015 Hyundai Genesis with the Ultimate Package. My trade-in was a 2012 Hyundai Genesis fully-loaded I was able to play all my DVD-A and DTS 5.1 media on the 2012 model. However, on the 2015 I cannot play the DTS titles consistently and I also have problems with some of the DVD-A titles.

I thought Lexicon would, if anything, add support rather than take it away for music formats (SACD 5.1 would be welcome). The player on my 2012 is a lot more reliable as far as what it can play than the one on my 2015 Genesis.

I'd like to know if this is a problem with the player in my car (though I tested the playback of my DVD-A and DTS titles on 3 Genesis-Ultimate Package vehicles with the same results!), or is it that Lexicon has downgraded the player on the 2015 Hyundai Genesis?

Rick

 

[Mark_888]

I just bought a 2015 Hyundai Genesis with the Ultimate Package. My trade-in was a 2012 Hyundai Genesis fully-loaded I was able to play all my DVD-A and DTS 5.1 media on the 2012 model. However, on the 2015 I cannot play the DTS titles consistently and I also have problems with some of the DVD-A titles.

I thought Lexicon would, if anything, add support rather than take it away for music formats (SACD 5.1 would be welcome). The player on my 2012 is a lot more reliable as far as what it can play than the one on my 2015 Genesis.

I'd like to know if this is a problem with the player in my car (though I tested the playback of my DVD-A and DTS titles on 3 Genesis-Ultimate Package vehicles with the same results!), or is it that Lexicon has downgraded the player on the 2015 Hyundai Genesis?

Rick

Are you using factory burned DVD's or ones burned on your PC?

 

[easton379]

The Hyundai Genesis 2015 will definitely NOT play the media I burn on my PC while the Hyunday Genesis 2012 played everything without disappointing. However I also have a factory burned copy of Don Henley's The End of the Innocence in DTS 5.1. The 2015 Genesys sometimes will play the first song but it won't play the rest of the DVD.

I just got the car so I haven't tried all of the titles I have at home. I have a Meridian 598 which plays all my DVD-A and DTS titles whether factory burned or PC burned and my OPPO 105 will play all the above including SACD and Blu-Ray.

I don't understand why Lexicon can't do the same. Who cares about palying MP3s or regular CDs. That is such a limited music experience. If you're paying for the 17-speaker package you might as well get the same flexibility we had on the Genesis 2012 model.

Can we get a firmware upgrade that will correct this crazy situation?

Rick

 

[magic_man]

I traded in a 2012 3.8 with Tech Package on a 2015 3.8 Ultimate and have to agree with many of you that the sound is definitely inferior to the sound quality in the 2012. I was beginning to wonder if I had an actual problem with my system due to the middling sound I get out of the system. The most obvious thing I noticed in my 2015 is how thin everything sounds compared to the full sound of the 2012. It's not just a less active subwoofer, it seems to be the tuning of the system in general that is causing it. The only source that sounds markedly better in the 2015 over the 2012 is talk radio. The dialogue is more forward and center in the 2015 whereas in the 2012, the dialogue could get muddy or boomy at times. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of a supposedly top-notch music system. It obviously isn't a deal breaker for me since I don't spend a ton of time in it on a daily basis, but you can certainly count me among the disappointed when I tested out my new car's audio system.

 

[Mark_888]

The Hyundai Genesis 2015 will definitely NOT play the media I burn on my PC while the Hyunday Genesis 2012 played everything without disappointing. However I also have a factory burned copy of Don Henley's The End of the Innocence in DTS 5.1. The 2015 Genesys sometimes will play the first song but it won't play the rest of the DVD.

I just got the car so I haven't tried all of the titles I have at home. I have a Meridian 598 which plays all my DVD-A and DTS titles whether factory burned or PC burned and my OPPO 105 will play all the above including SACD and Blu-Ray.

I don't understand why Lexicon can't do the same. Who cares about palying MP3s or regular CDs. That is such a limited music experience. If you're paying for the 17-speaker package you might as well get the same flexibility we had on the Genesis 2012 model.

Can we get a firmware upgrade that will correct this crazy situation?

Rick

From reading various comments about the 2015 17-speaker system, it sounds like they may made a lot of changes, presumably to reduce cost (although I don't know that for a fact). As part of that, they may be using a cheaper DVD player that doesn't played DVD's burned on a PC, and sometimes doesn't play factory burned DVD's either.

But if you have a factory burned DVD that does not play correctly, I would take it to the dealer and try some other 2015 inventory or demos in stock and see if it is just your unit that is defective.

 

[DRS]

I traded in a 2012 3.8 with Tech Package on a 2015 3.8 Ultimate and have to agree with many of you that the sound is definitely inferior to the sound quality in the 2012. I was beginning to wonder if I had an actual problem with my system due to the middling sound I get out of the system. The most obvious thing I noticed in my 2015 is how thin everything sounds compared to the full sound of the 2012. It's not just a less active subwoofer, it seems to be the tuning of the system in general that is causing it. The only source that sounds markedly better in the 2015 over the 2012 is talk radio. The dialogue is more forward and center in the 2015 whereas in the 2012, the dialogue could get muddy or boomy at times. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement of a supposedly top-notch music system. It obviously isn't a deal breaker for me since I don't spend a ton of time in it on a daily basis, but you can certainly count me among the disappointed when I tested out my new car's audio system.

👆👍➕1⃣👏🏻 also chuckled a bit when you mentioned the talk radio voices (especially Sat. Radio. Mike Church sounds like he is in a cathedral. Mark Levin sounds better, less squeaky.). I agree with that. Also Bluetooth phone calls, to me, sound a bit better on the 2015. Same for the voice commands. Voice on the speakers and center speaker, not singing, can sound better.

 

[easton379]

Hyundai has definitely taken the low road. Just think about it, on the 2012 Genesis we had a 6 CD/DVD changer - replaced with single player on the 2015 Genesis. All the controls were aluminum on the 2012 Genesis - replaced with plastic on the 2015 Genesis. The car is nice, don't get me wrong. There are many things great about the new model. Unfortunately, they didn't build on what they had. They probably aimed for a price and some things had to go. Even the radio in the 2015 Genesis is not as good, selectivity and sensitivity suffer. Stations I used to get without a problem on my 2012 Genesis now I can barely listen to them on my way to work.

 

[amartz]

+1

 

[craigt]

...on the 2012 Genesis we had a 6 CD/DVD changer - replaced with single player on the 2015 Genesis.

I have a single CD/DVD in my Gen 1, though I never use it. Physical media is too clumsy. Everything gets ripped into 320kpbs MP3s on a USB.

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[ksoze]

All the controls were aluminum on the 2012 Genesis - replaced with plastic on the 2015 Genesis. The car is nice, don't get me wrong. There are many things great about the new model. Unfortunately, they didn't build on what they had. They probably aimed for a price and some things had to go.

Although there are omissions of some things in the 2015, the interior is noticeably better in the new model. I am not sure of the plastic count between years, but this new model clearly seems to have a more lush, higher end finish and look. Their aim for price delivered a car with an interior better or similar to cars $20K more.

 

[decoman]

I had the 2009 4.6 17 speakers and now I have the 2015 ultimate 17 speakers. There is a noticeable difference between the two. I was shocked that my 09 sounded better than the 15. I compared multiple songs, cd's, mp3, and the 09 sounded much better. Not sure what Hyundai did to the sound quality but the 2015 doesn't compare the first generation. Don't get me wrong the second generation sounds great but it's not up to the same standards as my 09. I was a little disappointed about that.

 

[ksoze]

Is it possible the 2015 system was dialed in to a flatter sound, which to most ears used to overly enhanced or boosted sound, seems to be missing something? I have admittedly only briefly heard both, with no ability to do a real A/B comparison.

What I do know, is that the advent of MP3's and compressed music have lead to sound playback systems which can be tuned to enhance and boost frequencies to appeal to today's listeners ear. Unfortunately, that may not be an accurate representation of the original source. For many who listen to high fidelity music on a good home system, having you ears get used to a flat response may be jarring at first looking for the missing sound, but is actually what the artist likely intended you to hear.

Back in the day, I had a pair of Cerwin Vega speakers that I used to blast 70's music through at parent-defeaning levels - I thought it sounded great, but in reality it had a horrible freq response capability, but filled a room with sound like no speaker could.

 

[Koolhaas]

Is it possible the 2015 system was dialed in to a flatter sound, which to most ears used to overly enhanced or boosted sound, seems to be missing something? I have admittedly only briefly heard both, with no ability to do a real A/B comparison.

What I do know, is that the advent of MP3's and compressed music have lead to sound playback systems which can be tuned to enhance and boost frequencies to appeal to today's listeners ear. Unfortunately, that may not be an accurate representation of the original source. For many who listen to high fidelity music on a good home system, having you ears get used to a flat response may be jarring at first looking for the missing sound, but is actually what the artist likely intended you to hear.

Back in the day, I had a pair of Cerwin Vega speakers that I used to blast 70's music through at parent-defeaning levels - I thought it sounded great, but in reality it had a horrible freq response capability, but filled a room with sound like no speaker could.

omg, i haven't heard those words in forever. Do they still make those? they were the best!

 

[ksoze]

omg, i haven't heard those words in forever. Do they still make those? they were the best!

Believe they do - at least they have a web site. Driven by a 70's Pioneer SX-1080, they provided years of crushing bass and piercing highs and never once faltered - bullet-proof against anything early Aerosmith, Genesis or Van Halen could throw at them.

 

[Alwaysforward]

...early Aerosmith, Genesis or Van Halen could throw at them.

Your talking my music now

 

[aw-1]

I have listened extensively to both the 2012 and 2015. The 2015 is definitely not flatter. It is more muddy in the upper bass as others have mentioned. The 2012 is more flat, yet full. I love everything else about the 2015, but can't pull the trigger now. Audio is too important to me. Very disappointing, Hyundai. Put the effort back into tuning a flat, accurate response. Why would you go this route with such a great vehicle? I also listened quite a bit to the 2014 Equus and it has excellent, accurate, flat sound, on par or even better than the 2012 Genesis (more powerful). The 2015 Genesis really is a disappointment and is keeping me from a purchase! Come on Hyundai!!

 

[daviderle]

for sound quality, it's 2009 > 2012 > 2015. ive owned the 2009 and 2012 and driven the 2015.... and the drop in sound quality with each helf-generation is significant.

+1

I have a 2009 4.6 tech and 2013 R-Spec and sampled the 2015 3.8 & 5.0 ultimate stereos and without a doubt the 2009 produces a more 'refined' sound.

I used a blind audio test to sample the different systems:

http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/06/02/411473508/how-well-can-you-hear-audio-quality

I did the test 3 times on each system:

The 2009 tech picked 6/6 uncompressed
The R-spec picked 5/6 , 1 at 320k (boomy base)
Both 2015 4/6, 2 at 320k. (Slightly more 'muddy')

All tests where done via iPhone 5, plugged in directly into the iPod adapter (/lighting adapter).

YMMV.

 

[ksoze]

YMMV.

Exactly. Enjoy your music. And the car.

 

[smirn0ff]

Last days I was inspecting the Dealer menu of the 2G Genesis and I found that regarding to the Audio system on my car, a function called "Power Bass" is turned off. I couldn't found any way to turn it on...
Maybe this is one of the differences.