Disappointed in Tech features vs base

[imfletcher]

I've searched through here enough to know its all been discussed. I just need to get it out there so i'll feel better, however

I just picked up my 2012 V6 Sedan w/Tech today. I happened to have a 2012 V6 Prem for a few days while i was waiting for mine to come off the truck (thanks dealership!). The base touchscreen nav/system is identical to our Kia Sorento, so it was familiar although more awkward to use (tuning stations repeatedly is just plain uncomfortable, its too long a reach).

I then picked up my Tech and noticed:
- No Bluetooth audio streaming (hoping they fixed that by 2012)
- No Received/Dialed/Missed menu in the Phone screen (on the base, you can hit the Phone button steering wheel twice to get to a screen with these options)
- Disappointing iPod integration (no search, doesn't fully work with my old iPod Photo)

In addition, the upgraded radio sounds better but, the bad rattling in the trunk area during loud music mitigates that (found other threads in here with possible solutions)

All in all its a nice car for the money, and I know i'll be happy in the long run but I was very surprised that the "upgraded" system was actually less functional. I absolutely prefer the car with Tech overall, however, so its a matter of tradeoffs i suppose.

[Edit]
Forgot to mention - the new TFT screen is gorgeous. but what a waste of potential. instead of a static graphic i have to look at every day for years, they could put multiple lines of information. my favorite view on my prior A8 was digital speedometer, outside temp, and range all on. Plus they could show which of the 8 gears i'm in.

 

[Mark_888]

There are three trim levels of the 3.8 V6 (not all feature differences listed):

• Base - No Nav and 7 speaker stereo system
• Premium Package - Touchscreen Nav and 14 Speaker Lexicon with simulated surround sound
• Tech Package - Nav and 17 Speaker Lexicon with true 7.1 surround (with the right source material) and DVD

 

[Seattle Genesis]

I had an 2009 Genesis tech and now have the 2012 R Spec. I feel that hyundai has made some significant improvements in the stereo setup. I think the volume adjustment is different. Before I could get it around 10 to 12 and that's about as loud ss I could stand it. In the 2012 I crank it up to around 20 to 24 and I'm cruising. Also they improved the bass response. There is a deeper richer sound to the overall sound. IMHO.

 

[imfletcher]

There are three trim levels of the 3.8 V6 (not all feature differences listed):

• Base - No Nav and 7 speaker stereo system
• Premium Package - Touchscreen Nav and 14 Speaker Lexicon with simulated surround sound
• Tech Package - Nav and 17 Speaker Lexicon with true 7.1 surround (with the right source material) and DVD

Yes sorry. I meant Premium rather than Base

 

[NYSpur]

There are three trim levels of the 3.8 V6 (not all feature differences listed):

• Base - No Nav and 7 speaker stereo system
• Premium Package - Touchscreen Nav and 14 Speaker Lexicon with simulated surround sound
• Tech Package - Nav and 17 Speaker Lexicon with true 7.1 surround (with the right source material) and DVD

My premium package has DVD playing capability, which I presume was a 2012 upgrade. I also believe that it is 5.1 surround, not simulated--sounds pretty good whatever system it is!

 

[Mark_888]

My premium package has DVD playing capability, which I presume was a 2012 upgrade. I also believe that it is 5.1 surround, not simulated--sounds pretty good whatever system it is!

My mistake, DVD playback is now part of the Premium Package. But I do not believe that the 14-speaker audio system is 7.1 or 5.1 discrete surround sound, in that it does not play source material that has been recorded with 7.1 or 5.1 channels (at least in the earlier Genesis model years it did not).

What the 14-speaker system does do, is to take stereo and then create the 5.1 channel surround from the stereo source (for example, to get rear channels, it takes the fronts and introduces a slight delay and feeds to rear channels to simulate how live music sounds in a listening hall). This is also how the 17-speaker 7.1 discrete system works when playing stereo source material. There is not a lot of discrete 5.1 or 7.1 source materal out there (it has to be recorded and played on DVD-A), and most people have large libraries of regular stereo recordings on their iPods, etc.

I agree with you that the 14-speaker systems sounds very good, even if it cannot play 7.1/5.1 discrete recorded source material. Not to mention that people with Tech Package seem to have had many more problems with their audio systems than Premium Package (or Base) audio systems.

 

[NYSpur]

My mistake, DVD playback is now part of the Premium Package. But I do not believe that the 14-speaker audio system is 7.1 or 5.1 discrete surround sound, in that it does not play source material that has been recorded with 7.1 or 5.1 channels (at least in the earlier Genesis model years it did not).

What the 14-speaker system does do, is to take stereo and then create the 5.1 channel surround from the stereo source (for example, to get rear channels, it takes the fronts and introduces a slight delay and feeds to rear channels to simulate how live music sounds in a listening hall). This is also how the 17-speaker 7.1 discrete system works when playing stereo source material. There is not a lot of discrete 5.1 or 7.1 source materal out there (it has to be recorded and played on DVD-A), and most people have large libraries of regular stereo recordings on their iPods, etc.

I agree with you that the 14-speaker systems sounds very good, even if it cannot play 7.1/5.1 discrete recorded source material. Not to mention that people with Tech Package seem to have had many more problems with their audio systems than Premium Package (or Base) audio systems.

I am not sure if you are saying that the 2012 14 speaker system cannot play 5.1 or that it does some sort of conversion to produce a simulated surround. I can tell you that I have tried DVD-A and DVD movies (Master and Commander with its impressive explosions!) and they have played in impressive fashion. Maybe we can hunt out a spec sheet to confirm? I admit that I was pleasantly surprised to have the DVD capability.

 

[NYSpur]

I am not sure if you are saying that the 2012 14 speaker system cannot play 5.1 or that it does some sort of conversion to produce a simulated surround. I can tell you that I have tried DVD-A and DVD movies (Master and Commander with its impressive explosions!) and they have played in impressive fashion. Maybe we can hunt out a spec sheet to confirm? I admit that I was pleasantly surprised to have the DVD capability.

Okay, the 14 speaker system is described as "Lexicon Logic 7® Matrix Surround Sound system with 14 speakers".

Lexicon Logic 7® is summarized as follows:

"Lexicon Logic 7™ Processing
As universal as Lexicon processing is to the audio industry, Lexicon engineers haven’t ceased investigating the complex phenomena of recreating and simulating true-to-life acoustics. Lexicon Logic 7 processing is a direct result of their efforts – a proprietary technology, Logic 7 derives a seven-channel surround sound experience from any two-channel or multi-channel source to realistically increase the perceived width, length, and sense of envelopment during the surround sound experience.

Based upon years of psycho-acoustic research, Logic 7 strikes a delicate balance between channel separation and surround envelopment. When Logic 7 is active, sound pans smoothly from the front speakers to the side speakers and finally to the rear speakers, creating a sense of motion flowing around the listeners and a sense of wide-open spaces. Signal variances between the rear and side speakers strengthen the sense of spaciousness and widen the overall listening area. The result is a more encompassing surround experience for multiple listeners."

Sounds good--literally and figuratively!!

 

[Mark_888]

Sounds good--literally and figuratively!!

Yes, it does sound good. In a discrete 7.1 system, the recording engineer actually records all 8 channels (7 plus subwoofer) separately, and a 7.1 discrete system plays them back as the engineer recorded them (more or less). In the Lexicon Matrix Surround Sound system, the 7.1 channels are created by the audio playback system from 2-channel stereo.

Most home theatre receivers work similar to the 17-speaker system in that they play discrete 5.1 or 7.1 sound if recorded that way on a DVD, or they can simulate surround sound from 2-channel stereo with sophisticated logic like the "Lexicon Logic 7® Matrix Surround Sound. Lexicon is primarily known for their high-end Home Theater systems.

 

[QuantumRift]

Yea, I definitely would also LIKE to have a TOUCH screen as part of the TEch package....the big fat roller-joystick is OK for some uses, but my wife (as a passenger) can more easily use a touch screen than the method employed by the not-so-joyfulstick thing when looking up destinations, phone numbers, etc.

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