High-end Lexicon Sound System - Anemic Bass?

[HeavyG]

I just got my Genesis sedan and I've noticed that also. Some of my playing around with the system resulted in the following remedies:

1) Don't use the EQ presets. I ended using the custom EQ settings to get the bass to my desired settings.

2) Play with the fader controls. I put a little more emphasis on the rear speakers.

3) I've noticed switching on the surround sound also helps.

These are just solutions that seemed to work for me-just tossing them out there.

 

[mkaresh]

Okay, I will repeat my measurments and post the results on this thread.

Did the results get posted to a different thread?

JPW: How long does it take to run these tests? If you ask nicely, a dealer shouldn't have a problem with this. Especially since you're seriously considering the car. You're not even putting miles on the car, right?

I have very little knowledge in this area. But if the tests are run with the car stopped, doesn't this fail to account for the impact of road and wind noise?

 

[msydnor]

I agree with the OP. I'm going to install a sub in mine.

 

[Yama1yzf]

I've not used a thumb drive as yet--no need to in my world. But, try a CD recently recorded. Make sure to set the EQ to your liking for this mode--it will rock your socks off. Mine certainly does--and I only have the 14-speaker version.

There is one thing I've noticed...when I start up the car (assuming I've left the radio/CD etc. turned on prior to shutting the car off), the gain level @ bass freqencies is fine. However, if I adjust the volume at all (not the EQ level, but the overall volume), the bass output will drop off somewhat. If I go to the screen that shows the level in that frequency range, it will show whatever level I left it at (Let's say 10, for example--I was really rockin' down the highway recently). I can achieve that intitial output by going back to the screen, activating the control for the bass frequencies, and turning it back up to 10--even though on the screen it never left the 10. There is a noticeable difference in output. Once I make that manual "adjustment", I can do whatever with the volume--it has no impact on any EQ adjustment. Thoughts, anyone? BTW, this same thing occurs regardless of the program material (CD, radio, etc.).

Dan :>)

Wow...I was going to open up a thread and ask about this. I have also noticed that sometimes the bass will rock you out of your chair and then you turn up the volume and it sounds like a transistor radio sometimes. Incredibly annoying! I then check the settings and bass is at +10. What I have NOT tried to do is re-adjust it because I assumed once it is set it is.....set. I will try what Dan is doing next time I go for a ride. I like a nice sound system and it's been weird how inconsistent the sound is on this one.

Anyone take it back to the dealer for this?

 

[Yama1yzf]

I've not used a thumb drive as yet--no need to in my world. But, try a CD recently recorded. Make sure to set the EQ to your liking for this mode--it will rock your socks off. Mine certainly does--and I only have the 14-speaker version.

There is one thing I've noticed...when I start up the car (assuming I've left the radio/CD etc. turned on prior to shutting the car off), the gain level @ bass freqencies is fine. However, if I adjust the volume at all (not the EQ level, but the overall volume), the bass output will drop off somewhat. If I go to the screen that shows the level in that frequency range, it will show whatever level I left it at (Let's say 10, for example--I was really rockin' down the highway recently). I can achieve that intitial output by going back to the screen, activating the control for the bass frequencies, and turning it back up to 10--even though on the screen it never left the 10. There is a noticeable difference in output. Once I make that manual "adjustment", I can do whatever with the volume--it has no impact on any EQ adjustment. Thoughts, anyone? BTW, this same thing occurs regardless of the program material (CD, radio, etc.).

Dan :>)

This happens to me as well....so I screwed around with it today and the bottom line is that if you use the volume control KNOB on the radio the custom EQ settings all change even if you just go up or down 1 spot on volume and you have to manually readjust them back. I knew something was wrong but could not figure it out. What I did figure out is if you adjust the volume using the steering wheel controls it does'nt happen.

So that's my work around I guess until the dealer can tell me either what I am missing in setting the EQ or they fix it. I have the 14 spkr Lexicon and when set correctly it rocks. Nothing anemic about the bass that's for sure.

 

[JPW]

This happens to me as well....so I screwed around with it today and the bottom line is that if you use the volume control KNOB on the radio the custom EQ settings all change even if you just go up or down 1 spot on volume and you have to manually readjust them back. I knew something was wrong but could not figure it out. What I did figure out is if you adjust the volume using the steering wheel controls it does'nt happen.

So that's my work around I guess until the dealer can tell me either what I am missing in setting the EQ or they fix it. I have the 14 spkr Lexicon and when set correctly it rocks. Nothing anemic about the bass that's for sure.

I started this thread and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if this is what I've seen (heard) that I thought was attributing to just an overall poor sound system. As it turns out the components are probably good but because of this bug it changed the settings giving me the impression the bass was poor. What a huge oversight by Hyundai when they went to all this trouble to deliver an excellent sound system. Can others verify what Yama is describing? If this seems to be consistent behavior amongst the owners then I would think this is one update Hyundai must resolve.

 

[tjc78]

MY EQ settings never change in my car. I have the midlevel 14 speaker. What I do notice (and like) is that the tone/eq settings are saved for each source. That is the way it should be as XM radio needs different adjustments than CD or IPOD. Are you guys maybe mistaking this "feature" as a problem, or am I misunderstanding you?

As for the system the bass response is there, it does require (with most material) the bass setting to be on +5 or better for the sound to be balanced. Also, the system is very dependent on the source. Some older recordings do not sound that great, however well recorded material simply rocks.

 

[Yama1yzf]

MY EQ settings never change in my car. I have the midlevel 14 speaker. What I do notice (and like) is that the tone/eq settings are saved for each source. That is the way it should be as XM radio needs different adjustments than CD or IPOD. Are you guys maybe mistaking this "feature" as a problem, or am I misunderstanding you?

As for the system the bass response is there, it does require (with most material) the bass setting to be on +5 or better for the sound to be balanced. Also, the system is very dependent on the source. Some older recordings do not sound that great, however well recorded material simply rocks.

You are misunderstanding.....my EQ settings never change either technically but as Dan points out even though the Bass says +10 (or mid range and treble for that matter) you must manually readjust it down and then back up to get the right setting that you thought you had programmed in in the first place. The EQ settings never take hold and stay where they are supposed to. Hard to believe this is only the case on a few vehicles but I am assuming it is a SW bug that can be fixed. It's a very strange thing to turn up the volume and have the sound completely change back to what must be the default settings that come with the stereo. Weird and annoying.

 

[DanTheMan]

You are misunderstanding.....my EQ settings never change either technically but as Dan points out even though the Bass says +10 (or mid range and treble for that matter) you must manually readjust it down and then back up to get the right setting that you thought you had programmed in in the first place. The EQ settings never take hold and stay where they are supposed to. Hard to believe this is only the case on a few vehicles but I am assuming it is a SW bug that can be fixed. It's a very strange thing to turn up the volume and have the sound completely change back to what must be the default settings that come with the stereo. Weird and annoying.

I've had the car back to the dealer to address this issue. After a review, they told me:

1. They checked other Genny's on the lot--they did it, too. (This seems to have been a 'default' logic for fixing (or trying not to fix) a problem).

2. They've supposedly checked "with Hyundai" (don't know exactly what that means), and found out that's the way it's supposed to operate so that adjusting the volume "up" (that is, louder), doesn't cause other audio/mechanical problems with the speakers (or your/my ears, I would presume) due to excessive bass frequencies in the audio spectrum.

Just so you know, I did presume they were correct about number 1 above. Regarding number 2....well, let's just say that any time you hear a "number two", it's time to flush, because that's the appropriate response! I didn't buy it! I haven't had time to investigate further. I've had a number of cars over the years, and tons of car stereos of numerous makes, and none of them performed like this. I would agree with the assessment that it was some kind of a bug, or a glitch that occurred as a by-product of something else--and it didn't get corrected in a QC procedure. It's really annoying to me.

Don't get me wrong--there are a ton of great features about this audio system--I really like how it rocks...but this annoyance bugs me!

Dan

 

[DanTheMan]

What I did figure out is if you adjust the volume using the steering wheel controls it does'nt happen.

Not so...at least on my car. Regardless of which control (steering wheel or on the radio itself) you use, the same response as previously described occurs.

Dan

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[Yama1yzf]

Not so...at least on my car. Regardless of which control (steering wheel or on the radio itself) you use, the same response as previously described occurs.

Dan

I stand corrected.......funny thing is that if the other cars on the lot did it and that is the "default" logic I am surprised more folks aren't experiencing the same problem. Either that or they are just doing what we are doing and changing the settings very time. I have a bad feeling this is a design flaw not easily fixed.

 

[DanTheMan]

I stand corrected.......funny thing is that if the other cars on the lot did it and that is the "default" logic I am surprised more folks aren't experiencing the same problem. Either that or they are just doing what we are doing and changing the settings very time. I have a bad feeling this is a design flaw not easily fixed.

That's why I do think it's a design/QC flaw that got by. The other issue (out of the dealer's/manufacturer's control) is the fact that some people have (how can I say this accurately, w/o being offensive) no sense of audio balance. Many people will never notice the change! They didn't buy the car based on the apparent quality of the audio system. There were other things that caught their attention. Quality audio can be measured against defined standards with various instrumentation. What any given listener hears (or thinks they hear) is another matter entirely. Any two or more people can hear the same thing and have an entirely different perception (defined as their version of reality) of what they hear (possibly a health issue--not hearing as well in certain frequency ranges, for example), or due to ear training (a schooled musician/singer, etc.). Both of these examples, and countless others, are indications that how we describe something w/o the ability in our heads to determine a predefined standard is very subjective; a result of an opinion that may or may not be the same as the person standing beside you. Neither person is "wrong" about what they hear--it's just that they hear things differently for any number of reasons.

To take on the task of defining a system such as the Lexicon system in our cars--it's akin to walking around a sports bar with a dart board on your back! Hope yours has a Kevlar coating!

Dan :>)

 

[JPW]

Does anyone have a clue who we would e-mail to at Hyundai to express the concern around this? It seems to me to be an obvious oversight and had they known of the issue they would have resolved it.

I guess before getting too far in to this I should make sure I understand what is happening because I see some differing opinions.

As I understand it you can change the settings on the bass and then adjust the volume with the knob near the dvd player and the bass mysteriously sets itself back at default. Is that accurate?

 

[LLT]

Wow - great diagnostic work, guys. I thought it sounded fine before, but I just turned the bass down and back up and WOW! What a difference.


Thank you for the tip. Yet another first model year bug... the price of being a guinea pig, eh?

 

[Yama1yzf]

Does anyone have a clue who we would e-mail to at Hyundai to express the concern around this? It seems to me to be an obvious oversight and had they known of the issue they would have resolved it.

I guess before getting too far in to this I should make sure I understand what is happening because I see some differing opinions.

As I understand it you can change the settings on the bass and then adjust the volume with the knob near the dvd player and the bass mysteriously sets itself back at default. Is that accurate?

When the radio is first turned on after you start the car whenever you touch the volume (whether on the steering wheel or the radio knob) the preset EQ settings that you have set default back to what seems to be a factory setting. You then have to go back into the tone settings and manually re-adjust them back to where you want them or set them previously. Once you do that you can then adjust the volume normally with no problems. But you have to do this EVERY time you get in the car and turn the radio on. And BTW it is not just the bass settings it is the same for Mid range and treble as well. If you have not experienced this you are probably not getting the best sound out of your system because it seems to happen on every Genesis. (At least the ones with the 14 spkr Lexicon).

 

[tjc78]

My 14 speaker doesn't do this. While washing the car last night I played around with it and the sound stayed consistent each time I turned the car off and then back on again. I am going to closely monitor this, does it do it on every source? I mainly use IPOD and XM.

 

[QCTLG]

My 17 speaker system does NOT behave this way.
In fact every setting (XM - FM - DVD, etc...) retains their individual settings.
I have a separate amp and sub installed in my car and believe me if it went to factory settings...I would know immediately!

What you are describing does NOT sound normal.

 

[crupp]

I would have to concur. I do not have this issue with the Tech package system. Seems like this should be looked at.

 

[dataguy]

I'm completely lost with this thread. I have the Tech package, don't have a problem with lost EQ settings, but my bass is practically non-existent, even with bass at +10. There's definitely a difference between 0 and +10, but it's barely thumping.

 

[proffunk]

Hi All,

I’m not having any issues with the BASS... fact is... I think it’s Great!! The treble as well! In fact I have to flatten my treble to "ZERO" as I find it to piercing for my ears! LOL.

I'm not sure if it’s mentioned here, but I do agree the sound quality of the stereo not the greatest when playing the radio or Satellite XM. I notice a "NITE AND DAY" difference when I play a CD or even an MP3 compared to the XM & radio, to the point that I don't play the radio that much any more. I think this has to due with the sound degradation that comes with the signal for the broadcast....

Music itself is an analog- wave medium. Digital mediums like CD (which is very very GOOD!) and MP3 (just a tad lower than CD quality) still don't cut the mustard when compared to an old skool record. The closest you'll get is probably DVD audio (yet to test).

Satelite XM is broadcast in stereo (so we’re told) but in ANY STERO (any car, any plug in stereo I play it in, I always notice a dip in quality of the music. The music doesn’t sound as deep…instruments in the background are barely noticed…and BASS is soft and distanced.

So in summary, try playing an MP3 (320 kbit/s-maximum encoding rate) and test the stereo. I think you'll find it’s a lot different!