[Lux700]

For those with HK audio...

I've been tolerating highish volume levels most times when I'm out in the car and it's already starting to sound better around the bass end. It sounds like the mid/low drivers are relaxing a tad, which has required me to reduce a couple of the low-frequency levels on the eq. It's not a bad system for the money!

I think I'll turn the volume down a bit now - give mi Donalds rest!

[Neo1130]

Still lacks the rolling and thumping bass in my opinion. I've got a Harmon Kardon in my other vehicles and sounds amazing, like my 2018 Hellcat... Something about European cars that lacks in the stereo department... Never had a good system in a Euro car.

[SROC3]

Originally Posted by Lux700

For those with HK audio...

I've been tolerating highish volume levels most times when I'm out in the car and it's already starting to sound better around the bass end. It sounds like the mid/low drivers are relaxing a tad, which has required me to reduce a couple of the low-frequency levels on the eq. It's not a bad system for the money!

I think I'll turn the volume down a bit now - give mi Donalds rest!

I'll be leaving my EQ flat and just adjusting the treb and bass 3 notches up. Then after a couple of weeks, after the speakers break in, then I'll start fiddling with the EQ. I'll post some adjustments afterwards so we can all share and get OCD over it

[BMWZ4]

Having made adjustments to the EQ, mine is awesome. Much improved over previous HK systems I've had in other bmws

[Lux700]

Originally Posted by Neo1130

Still lacks the rolling and thumping bass in my opinion. I've got a Harmon Kardon in my other vehicles and sounds amazing, like my 2018 Hellcat... Something about European cars that lacks in the stereo department... Never had a good system in a Euro car.

I agree. Also as a bass guitarist and consequently being a bit of a audiophile I do appreciate clear and dynamic systems. Most cars lack in the factory fitted systems they have, but, for the money, some are fairly good. I reckon one of the best factory fitted systems in a European car is the ‘top option’ system in the Audi A8 - it’s pretty good!

[bmtespar]

Which of you audiophiles care to share your eq settings?

[Neo1130]

Originally Posted by bmtespar

Which of you audiophiles care to share your eq settings?

I turn the treble and bass all the way up and the mid range down one or two ticks. It isn't the best setting for the loudest listening but it sounds good IMO at mid range volumes... Thing is, not everyone will have the same setting. People vary in the ranges that they can hear the best at so it's all personal preference. I wouldn't base your system on someone else's range of hearing.

After constant jet engine and gun fire I was exposed to in the military, I have to listen to my music fairly loud. Good thing the rest of the family loves loud music. LOL

[IXVXI]

Originally Posted by Neo1130

I turn the treble and bass all the way up and the mid range down one or two ticks. It isn't the best setting for the loudest listening but it sounds good IMO at mid range volumes... Thing is, not everyone will have the same setting. People vary in the ranges that they can hear the best at so it's all personal preference. I wouldn't base your system on someone else's range of hearing.

After constant jet engine and gun fire I was exposed to in the military, I have to listen to my music fairly loud. Good thing the rest of the family loves loud music. LOL

Great so above are the war-torn veteran's eq settings.

Where are the audiophiles eq settings?

[SROC3]

Originally Posted by IXVXI

Great so above are the war-torn veteran's eq settings.

Where are the audiophiles eq settings?

Try these as a baseline and see how it sounds:

Logic 7 - OFF
Treb +2
Bass +2
Balance 1 to the right
Fader 1 to the left

100HZ +2
200HZ +1
500HZ +2
1KHZ +3
2 KHZ -1
5KHZ +1
10KHZ -2

Hope that helps some.

EQ adjustments should really only be minor.

[MechX3M40i]

Originally Posted by SROC3

Try these as a baseline and see how it sounds:

Logic 7 - OFF
Treb +2
Bass +2

100HZ +2
200HZ +1
500HZ +2
1KHZ +3
2 KHZ -1
5KHZ +1
10KHZ -2

Hope that helps some.

EQ adjustments should really only be minor.

May I ask your reasons for turning off Logic 7 beyond personal preference?

[SROC3]

I've found central imaging to be way more "whole sounding". Logic 7 does give you the "surround feel" but at the expense of it NOT sounding like they are performing right in front of you. I definitely prefer the latter. Also - when you crank up the volume, the sound is cleaner when Logic 7 is off.

and I also did EDIT the above settings and added an adjustment for balance and fader - You asking me reminded me of this setting as well - depending on how often you ride alone in the car....it sets the imaging to be more "directly focused on the driver", as well as a small compensation to turning the Logic 7 off and providing a tad more "surround" feel by placing a little imaging behind the front seats.

[IXVXI]

Originally Posted by SROC3

Try these as a baseline and see how it sounds:

Logic 7 - OFF
Treb +2
Bass +2
Balance 1 to the right
Fader 1 to the left

100HZ +2
200HZ +1
500HZ +2
1KHZ +3
2 KHZ -1
5KHZ +1
10KHZ -2

Hope that helps some.

EQ adjustments should really only be minor.

SROC3 isn't your X3 still in production? If so how do you know these settings are good?

[SROC3]

Originally Posted by IXVXI

SROC3 isn't your X3 still in production? If so how do you know these settings are good?

You are correct - that's why I said to just "try" them out. For the most part the HK system will remain the same in terms of components used. The interior acoustics of each car will vary - as it did in my E92s, F30 and F80. That's just a baseline I've always used and then I tweak it gradually.

Note - that I also mentioned in an earlier post that when I break-in a new system I just leave the EQ flat and only make minor adjustments on the Treb/Bass. This way when you apply the above settings you will have a more "true" baseline to compare them to.

When I do get my ride (which will be arriving Dec. 8th at the dealer), I will for sure create a new thread on my EQ settings after I make adjustments

[rem40i]

Is there an EQ setting for the most bass at a loud level? Or do the two not exist together?

[HampshireUK]

I initially never understood reviews asking about the speakers bedring in and loosening up but it seems from multiple reviews that after 100 hours of use this is a real thing and people do notice a difference

[gambit48]

Originally Posted by SROC3

Try these as a baseline and see how it sounds:

Logic 7 - OFF
Treb +2
Bass +2
Balance 1 to the right
Fader 1 to the left

100HZ +2
200HZ +1
500HZ +2
1KHZ +3
2 KHZ -1
5KHZ +1
10KHZ -2

Hope that helps some.

EQ adjustments should really only be minor.

Thanks. Default from factory to me is... well, underwhelmed would be an understatement. Pretty much my only real gripe about the car.

[SROC3]

Originally Posted by gambit48

Thanks. Default from factory to me is... well, underwhelmed would be an understatement. Pretty much my only real gripe about the car.

Yeah completely agree.....you should try sitting in an X3 with just the regular Hi-Fi system and not the HK. No equalizer and less speakers too. Sounds great right at the get-go. It's just that the volume cannot be turned up as much and the speakers start to distort at 85%.

[Neo1130]

Originally Posted by HampshireUK

I initially never understood reviews asking about the speakers bedring in and loosening up but it seems from multiple reviews that after 100 hours of use this is a real thing and people do notice a difference

I thought the same thing. After about 1,000 miles on our X4, I HAVE noticed a slight improvement in bass response and a little less muffled sounding.

[Lux700]

Originally Posted by Neo1130

I thought the same thing. After about 1,000 miles on our X4, I HAVE noticed a slight improvement in bass response and a little less muffled sounding.

In the house I have Kef Reference floorstanding loudspeakers - they took a few years before emitting the sublime creaminess they do now. Oo-err, sounds a bit rude! Eargasms! There, I said it...

[Scottatah]

Curious - at what level do most people find the head unit or mids/highs start to clip/distort?

In my mind it’s the second half of the second “e” in entertainment based on a wireless car play source.

I realize there’s no hard science behind what we hear, but curious of other people’s perceptions unless someone has actually measured the point where the HU starts sending a clipped signal?

[Neo1130]

Originally Posted by Scottatah

Curious - at what level do most people find the head unit or mids/highs start to clip/distort?

In my mind it’s the second half of the second “e” in entertainment based on a wireless car play source.

I realize there’s no hard science behind what we hear, but curious of other people’s perceptions unless someone has actually measured the point where the HU starts sending a clipped signal?

Hard to tell since there isn't a numeric value to the volume control but I noticed it when I had the treble turned WAY up at about 7/8 volume.