The muddy sounding Harmon kardan system

[Aldo512]

The Alpine in the level 0 was the best auto sound system I’ve heard. I compared it to the HK in a level 1 and thought it was noticeably better.

 

[Faze]

yea I too really like the Alpine one, good enough for offroad truck. Don't have much to compare it to though, it's better than in Challenger, Pacifica or Hyundai and it's worse than B&O in an old BMW

 

[INTIMD8R]

The Alpine in the level 0 was the best auto sound system I’ve heard. I compared it to the HK in a level 1 and thought it was noticeably better.

That is one of many reasons I went with level 0. I've had the Alpine system in couple other Ram's and they all thumped.

 

[JCarrithers]

My HK system sounded like pure ass when I first got it but it was mostly due to someone turning the bass and treble all the way up and it would overdrive everything to clipping. Reset it to flat and it sounded better. Did some minor tweaking after and it isn’t bad.

For reference, I started in car stereo building SQ and SPL cars back in the early / mid 90’s and graduated to high end AV / audio so have a decent idea what music should sound like. Have a moderate 2ch setup in my den with a pair of Meridian 5200SE’s as my current point of reference.

 

[rpr]

My HK system sounded like pure ass when I first got it but it was mostly due to someone turning the bass and treble all the way up and it would overdrive everything to clipping. Reset it to flat and it sounded better. Did some minor tweaking after and it isn’t bad.

For reference, I started in car stereo building SQ and SPL cars back in the early / mid 90’s and graduated to high end AV / audio so have a decent idea what music should sound like. Have a moderate 2ch setup in my den with a pair of Meridian 5200SE’s as my current point of reference.

And you would not characterize the HK system in your RHO as being muddy?

 

[JCarrithers]

And you would not characterize the HK system in your RHO as being muddy?

Mine is not that bad. Yes there are tracks with heavy mid bass that will make the door speakers sound a bit muddy but for most decently recorded tracks, it is not. Mine also has decent weight in the bottom end which it seems many do not. I seemed to have lucked out with this one. No real issies in almost $16k miles.

 

[CharlesL]

Mine sounds great. Much better than the Bose in my wife's new Tahoe.

 

[MGS172]

The alpine isnt terrible. I would say its a 6/10 for whats on the market. There are some songs where I am impressed it sounds so good. Others meh.

The HK Ram system didnt impress me . Its definitely better than the systems in the Tahoe , Silverados, and Expeditions. Not by much though.

Jump is a new electric BMW 7 series with the Bowers and Wilkins, or a Tesla Cyber Beast. (not sure if all cyber trucks are the same) The later was like you're at the real concert. I was most impressed .

 

[jaxadam]

I have no problem with the HK system in my truck, and a few trucks ago I had a JL/Hertz Mille setup with active crossover and time alignment.

 

[rpr]

Hard to believe these vast differences in opinion are all subjective. Especially since some of you who are happy with the HK19 have some experience with high end systems.

There was one member a while back who posted a vast improvement in SQ after his dealer installed some software updates (can’t find that post now).

So some of this could be software related. Would seem to go hand in hand with all the other gremlin inconsistencies with some having no issues at all with their RHO’s and others having a multitude of issues.

And why 3+ different part numbers for the factory amp despite none of them being listed as being superseded by the others?

Moot points for me just a bit inexplicable.

 

[25RHO]

First of all, I really love this truck, enjoying every aspect of it. I haven’t had all the glitches that people have however I’m really disappointed with the sound system. I have a Harmony card in system in my Jeep grand Cherokee, which I really enjoy the sound. However, in this RO, it sounds like the speakers are playing through mud. I’ve tried all the system settings surround sound lower the mid range that I can do and I’ve heard off the other forums but just can’t get any decent sound out of it. Has anybody done just a simple speaker exchange without going into amplifiers and equalizer etc.?. I just thinking changing the speakers in the doors might help and give it some mid range and highs. .

The premium HK sound system is actually very good in terms of the speakers themselves. The problem is the amplification that’s included. I had two independent amps added behind the backseats on the back wall and pulled all 18 speakers through one, dedicated the subwoofer to the other, and I couldn’t be happier. The clarity, highs, mids, and lows are spot on, and the overall sound is amazing! You don’t have to replace the speakers and you don’t have to spend a whole lot on decent amps. I spent a total of $800, $550 for the two amps and $250 for labor. The guys at my local audio shop are excellent, and they knocked it out in less than two hours.

 

[RiviantoRHO]

The premium HK sound system is actually very good in terms of the speakers themselves. The problem is the amplification that’s included. I had two independent amps added behind the backseats on the back wall and pulled all 18 speakers through one, dedicated the subwoofer to the other, and I couldn’t be happier. The clarity, highs, mids, and lows are spot on, and the overall sound is amazing! You don’t have to replace the speakers and you don’t have to spend a whole lot on decent amps. I spent a total of $800, $550 for the two amps and $250 for labor. The guys at my local audio shop are excellent, and they knocked it out in less than two hours.

That sounds like a good idea. I might do this.