440-watt 9-speaker harman/kardon premium audio system sound quality

[MTLOUTBACK]

So, the real door speakers are 4 or 2? If they only play 250Hz and above,really no need 4 , their 9 speakers are just to show the number. I have HK no NAV system, not bad if you feed them good CD. Classic has tight bass and acceptable sound stage, lack detail and high. Female vocal lacks detail. Rock and Jazz pretty pretty good if you turn up the volume.

[Bassman]

I've posted before in another thread, but I need to mention it here. I got a chance at our local dealership today to "A - B" the base stereo in my 2011 OB Premium 2.5i with another car's HK stereo. Suffice it to say that I was less impressed with the HK stereo than with the base unit in my car. I did add the tweeter kit to my stereo and that improved sound quality and imaging quite a bit, to the point that this is now one of the best sounding systems I've had in a car. While the extreme low bass is better with the HK, bass in my car was solid, strong (when necessary) and free of distortion even at high levels. I used a track from Paul McCartney's recent jazz CD, which has nice balance, a good mix of instruments and voice, and some decent transients where one can listen for distortion. Tone controls were set completely flat on both stereos. Playback was good in both cars, but more balanced with the base unit. Recordings of even pipe organ, full orchestra, and heavy rock sound excellent, though definitely not quite on par with an expensive aftermarket head unit, amp, and decent speakers.

In short, I'm fortunate enough to not have to spend a lot of money on an upgrade.

[lloyd123]

Originally Posted by MTLOUTBACK

So, the real door speakers are 4 or 2? If they only play 250Hz and above,really no need 4 , their 9 speakers are just to show the number.

The test I did only included 100 Hz and then 250 Hz so it's possible that they might have reproduced frequencies lower than 250 Hz. They didn't do 100 Hz but they may be able to do 125 Hz, 150 Hz, 200 Hz? My test was not high end - more seat of your pants.

[prulex]

I noticed last week that the front door speakers on my HK non-nav system became boomy and were not producing mid range bass. Basically, the stereo was sounding horrible, and I was actually fairly impressed with the HK system initially. I brought my car in for my first service at 3700 miles yesterday and told them about the problem. As expected, they said it sounded "normal", buy they would swap the front door speakers from another OB with HK from the lot. Problem solved, system sounds like new, but I hope they change out the speakers in the OB they swapped with before someone buys it. Somehow I must have blown the speakers becuase the difference is astounding.

[tim3320070]

My first post here. I own a very new (500 miles) 2012 Outback Limited with the HK. I also owned the 2009 Legacy Premium with the HK system. I consider myself an "audiophile" for whatever that statement is worth (I have nice gear at home). The HK system in both of these cars is adequate at best IMO. Decent bass but congested highs with no soundstage (sound that envelopes you versus comes from a point in front or the side of you). I have decent experience with car sound systems, stock and aftermarket and this so-called upgraded system is rather poor, again IMO. I owned a 2008 Accord and currently have an Altima with the Bose and both pretty much destroy the HK system.
Otherwise......I love my 2012 OB!

[Thai]

The sound should NOT envelope you because this is a 2-channel system, NOT a surround system (5.1, 7.1 etc). This is NOT a Logic 7 system that you get in other HK-equipped cars. The sound should mostly come from the front...as is the case if you are at a concert, right? This is why the rear speakers are "damped" because it is mainly for fill. The rear passengers should also only hear the front speakers predominantly. This is why fading the system to the rear does not improve much for rear passengers. This is STANDARD. This is the CORRECT way to adjust a 2-channel car audio system. JBL, HK, BOSE, etc. all do this on their new systems...and it is correct. The whole idea of a 2-channel (or any good stereo) is that you cannot tell that a sound is coming from a specific speaker.

Most 2-channel system (like ours and my Prius JBL) sound best in the driver's seat....that is how it is adjusted. The front passenger seat shows some lateralization of sound (sound field more so to right). But, this is due to lack of center channel speaker. Basically, our system tries best to emulate a center channel system by minutely increasing volume of the front passenger dash speaker so that the driver hear a centralized sound on the windshield. But, the downfall of this is that the front passenger will hear (right) lateralization of the soundstage.

I am still playing around with the system. But so far, this is my settings:

Bass -1 (left one box from center/flat)
Mid 0
Treble +1
SVC OFF
Volume mostly b/w 18-21

[D_J]

Has anyone installed aftermarket 8" Sub using stock enclosure? It looks like it is bare metal enclosure. I was thinking a bunch of dynamat would improve the acoustics...but not sure if it still would sound bad. Also I wanted to try to keep the stock HK amp.

[Thai]

I doubt that installing an aftermarket sub with the HK amp will produce much better bass (if not worst). In general, these OEM subs are more efficient than the aftermarket ones and are specifically designed for the OEM amp. Aftermarket ones will be severely underpowered by the HK amp. In other words, if you going to install an aftermarket sub, then you need another amp to power it.

[moombaToo]

I am very dissapointed with the stereo. We just bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee that has a 9 speaker Alpine stero and it blows this thing away. I love our Outback (3.6 Limited) but hate the stereo.

[D_J]

Originally Posted by Thai

I doubt that installing an aftermarket sub with the HK amp will produce much better bass (if not worst). In general, these OEM subs are more efficient than the aftermarket ones and are specifically designed for the OEM amp. Aftermarket ones will be severely underpowered by the HK amp. In other words, if you going to install an aftermarket sub, then you need another amp to power it.

Well my Kenwood HU has 22 RMS/channel + the HK amp...helps compensate. Currently have Alpine Type S in doors. I thought might as well put in a better Sub. Just not really sure about the stock enclosure. Hoping that dynamat will improve the housing acoustics.

However I understand your point that the Sub should be designed to accommodate lower-range RMS. And that ideally I should get dedicated amp to power the sub. I thought the HK amp already has higher output for sub channel vs doors.

Right now without the stock sub connected it sounds AMAZINGLY better than the HK HU / door speakers. And i'm just using the HK amp for the doors. The biggest improvement is XM radio sound quality in particular.

This JL 8" looks good: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1368W1V...-4.html?tp=111