2013 Outback Harman Kardon radio hiss

[kpk02]

Originally Posted by Georgeh

Here's how I set it for my preferences. FWIW, I tend to listen to high-quality recordings (low compression MP3) at moderate to somewhat louder listening levels, but never super loud. Lots of rock, jazz, Dire Straits, Paul Simon etc. Depending on your preferences, you may find other settings work better for you.

Attachment 26171


By the way, I definitely hear the whine when streaming BT. It helps to boost the signal using the "SVC" setting, but even when that is maxed, the whine is pretty bad. Basically makes the idea of streaming something like Pandora from a non-iPhone useless. Subaru really needs to pull there head out on this one, and find a contractor who can give them a competitive tech package.

Nice to see an EQ setting to compare with. I've felt stuck in a hopeless void of trying to find a good set of settings. I've been fighting a losing battle against the boomy mid-bass, so while my setting is similar I do have 160 turned almost all the way down trying to allow some of the deeper bass to sneak through. The "SVC" option I'm pretty certain is intended to mean "Source Volume Control". Though simply labeling it "Source Volume" would have been much more intuitive than SVC.

The hiss I hear is a constant one but it's easily covered up with wind/road noise or reasonable music volume levels. While easily noticed, it tends to blend in enough that I initially almost though it was a poorly implemented noise reduction system. I'll have to try out bluetooth sound to see if I hear anything different there.

[OBnube]

On some Gen4's headunits SVC refers to speed volume control where the volume automatically increases with speed. Some are adjustable.

[kpk02]

It sounds like there are a few different noises people are experiencing, but I believe mine is the common "hiss" one. I finally had some time to test some things out to verify the behavior on mine.

- I have a '13 3.6R limited with Nav and SAP. No RSE

- I don't have any cracks/pops/buzzes or anything other than the hiss sound.
- The hiss is there all the time but at a very low volume when no sound is being played. It's almost like white noise but softer.
- The hiss behavior is independent of source being used
- The hiss behavior is independent of sound positioning setting (front/rear/left/right)
- It's also the same regardless of engine on/off

- The hiss only ever seems to have two specific levels. It's either very low (almost inaudible) or slightly above moderate.
- The hiss stays at the low level whenever no sound is being played. It goes to the higher level whenever sound is playing. If I play music then immediately turn the volume all the way down, I can hear the hiss at the higher volume for a moment before it drops down to the low level.
- The easiest way to hear it is to have no sound playing, volume set normally, and go around in the various setup screens. Each time I press a button on the screen it causes the normal "beep" which also causes the hiss to be louder for a moment before dropping back off.


I'm surprised at how consistent the hiss behavior is, especially with respect to being independent of sound positioning adjustments. Is there some sort of fixed level amplification component that automatically turns on/off when it detects sound being played? I don't like that it's there, but thankfully the pitch of it doesn't bother me too much and I don't notice it at all during normal use while driving. Maybe the next time I stop by the dealer I'll ask about it and see what my dealer has to say about it.

I tried to take a video of it with my phone to capture the sound but the hiss doesn't come through at all when I played it back.. even with headphones on. Maybe I'll try with a laptop and better external mic.

[AnnieB]

Thank you so much for this info. I just got my new 2013 and didn't think the sound was as good as my previous Outback. I set the equalizer to your suggested settings, and I'm really pleased with the sound now. Really appreciate the help.