Harmon Kardon vs standard radio

[G-951207]

I had a HK system in my Legacy that I traded in for my Telluride EX. While I'm a little bummed that the EX doesn't have a "premium" audio system, for a stock radio, it sounds pretty good. Better than most.

Yeah, just bought the Premium forte. The audio system isnt the harmon kardon but it is very tight sounding. I'm happy and I'm a musician.

 

[jw_tx21]

I will tell you - I think the Radio sounds pretty lame but when I played Pandora through the Blue Tooth it sounded awesome - might have something to do with the source - although ALL of the radio stations I played were not great.

If you are in an area with HD radio, make sure that's enabled. I really like HD FM radio - sounds great and so much better than XM. Wish I could have opted for no XM free trial. Ha. Otherwise, yes, the source will improve - Spotify or Pandora premium.

 

[JonFar111]

OK so how good/bad is the radio in the EX trim level?

I have an EX and I think the sound system is fine. It's equally as good as the premium Bose system I had in my Avalon and way better than the "premium" sound system in my Murano.

 

[G-89431]

Processing features like bass boost make the sound more artificial and worse rather than more accurate though...

In my Telluride SX, I enabled Bass Boost and then turned down the bass level to -3 and now it sounds great.

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[azeemthedream]

Just bought the SXP a few days ago. I have an HK system in my BMW Active Hybrid 3 which sounds better than any system I've ever owned so I was naturally excited about the HK system in the Telly. Huge disappointment so far. Sounds very inconsistent as some have mentioned before. Bass is sometimes tight but muted, other times muddy. It's annoying that I have to resort to artificial enhancements with bass boost to get better sound. I have come to accept that audio systems in larger cars seem to never sound great so fine. BTW I had listened to the audio system in the EX model a few weeks ago and as much as this sucks to admit, I think it may have actually sounded slightly better.
Also, with such a premium system there should have been some advanced equalizer setting options in the SXP. I love the car otherwise but will be giving my feedback in the review for this car once I get around to writing one.

 

[ucinn]

I disagree that the EX sounded better.. The SXP HK system sounds ok, but I was also expecting better since I have the HK in the Stinger and it's the best sounding stock system I have heard also. We had the infinity in the Sorento and it too was just OK. I think it's just hard to get a good sytem in a vehicle this big and keep the price reasonable.

 

[jw_tx21]

Just bought the SXP a few days ago. I have an HK system in my BMW Active Hybrid 3 which sounds better than any system I've ever owned so I was naturally excited about the HK system in the Telly. Huge disappointment so far. Sounds very inconsistent as some have mentioned before. Bass is sometimes tight but muted, other times muddy. It's annoying that I have to resort to artificial enhancements with bass boost to get better sound. I have come to accept that audio systems in larger cars seem to never sound great so fine. BTW I had listened to the audio system in the EX model a few weeks ago and as much as this sucks to admit, I think it may have actually sounded slightly better.
Also, with such a premium system there should have been some advanced equalizer setting options in the SXP. I love the car otherwise but will be giving my feedback in the review for this car once I get around to writing one.

Personally I think the SX system sounds great with the right options turned on and the right source music. I.e. bluetooth high definition audio sounds nice (high quality Spotify, Amazon Music, AAC, etc). and HD Radio sounds excellent. Satellite radio sounds terrible as usual in my opinion.

 

[azeemthedream]

Personally I think the SX system sounds great with the right options turned on and the right source music. I.e. bluetooth high definition audio sounds nice (high quality Spotify, Amazon Music, AAC, etc). and HD Radio sounds excellent. Satellite radio sounds terrible as usual in my opinion.

Will mess around with the sources, you might have a point.

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[Clemson1985]

I test drove the new 2019 Stinger GTS yesterday and the 15 speaker Harmon Kardon stereo sounded great to me. I like the exterior Orange color as well. May just end up with a Stinger GTS and a Telluride SX once the buying hysteria normalizes.

 

[BabyRide]

New member here. I am also on the fence between an EX and SX and I like music. We had a HK system in a mini cooper years ago and I was not impressed. I guess I need to listen to both systems before I place my order. I foresee a White EX or SX within the next 6 months or so in my driveway.

If you are only considering the SX for the upgraded sound system, I'd pass on dishing out the extra money and just upgrade the system in the EX to some nice aftermarket speakers. Now, if the SX interests you because of all the other options it gets you, i say go for it. I have an SXP and absolutely love the vehicle. I've not regretted spending the extra money over the EX or even just the SX.

 

[ucinn]

I test drove the new 2019 Stinger GTS yesterday and the 15 speaker Harmon Kardon stereo sounded great to me. I like the exterior Orange color as well. May just end up with a Stinger GTS and a Telluride SX once the buying hysteria normalizes.

Welcome to the club, my daily driver is a 2018 Stinger GT2 and the wifes daily is the Telluride SX-p.

 

[JCzoom]

If you are only considering the SX for the upgraded sound system, I'd pass on dishing out the extra money and just upgrade the system in the EX to some nice aftermarket speakers. Now, if the SX interests you because of all the other options it gets you, i say go for it. I have an SXP and absolutely love the vehicle. I've not regretted spending the extra money over the EX or even just the SX.

I agree. I have a SX and the HK sound is not great. I know the music source makes a big difference, but overall, the system is just OK. I went with the SX for the wheels/tires, 2nd moonroof, polished trim instead of chrome, additional tech features. If you can live without those things, save the money and go for the EX. you still get real leather, 10" screen, etc...

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[azeemthedream]

Will mess around with the sources, you might have a point.

Okay I went back and tried out different sources, specifically Pandora and what a world of difference. The HK system in my BMW still sounds better but changing the source helped tremendously. The bass was tighter and the sound much clearer. I do also think some of this has to do with breaking in the speakers. A few days removed, the sounds seems to be improving a bit.

 

[ucinn]

Okay I went back and tried out different sources, specifically Pandora and what a world of difference. The HK system in my BMW still sounds better but changing the source helped tremendously. The bass was tighter and the sound much clearer. I do also think some of this has to do with breaking in the speakers. A few days removed, the sounds seems to be improving a bit.

I always thought the whole "breaking in speakers" was bunk until the stinger. There is a big difference in the sound (esp. bass) now than when it was new. Even Sirius seems acceptable now compared to new.

 

[Rx9790]

Speakers dont break in. I have over 30 years of installing and replacing systems and have never seen this happen in thousands of installs. It is more likely that you are just getting used to it or your brain is compensating. The hk systems use the same speakers as the ex and lx which is why it doesnt sound that much better. The stinger hk is a smaller environment and has 15 higher quality speakers including 2 subs which is why it is so much better. I own the ex (and have listened to several sx tellurides) and stinger gt2 so can compare them.

 

[Vietvet]

My 71 year old ears do quite fine with the HK in my SXP. I can still ENJOY the likes of Humble Pie, Three Dog Night, Led Zep, Van Halen...all the way up to Jimi Hendrix... and NO complaints from passengers. It is a good sound system. If you want to be an audiophile .... listen to your equipment in your home. The interior in a Telluride changes with content... be it passengers or cargo. Living Rooms not so much affected. And quit comparing it to the Stinger...a great car but barely bigger than a coffin. Volumn vs Volume has a lot to do with what you hear...not to mention acoustics. Oh...and I have a pair of wooden Sansui SP55 and a wooden manual Kenwood Tuner/Amp( Vietnam era) that fills my living room with all the vinyl I can feed it. Life is good...even in my last quarter.

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[ucinn]

Speakers dont break in. I have over 30 years of installing and replacing systems and have never seen this happen in thousands of installs. It is more likely that you are just getting used to it or your brain is compensating. The hk systems use the same speakers as the ex and lx which is why it doesnt sound that much better. The stinger hk is a smaller environment and has 15 higher quality speakers including 2 subs which is why it is so much better. I own the ex (and have listened to several sx tellurides) and stinger gt2 so can compare them.

Well, you better tell Kiplisch they are FOS...I really don't think it's in my head..it's a very notcable difference n the low end.

How to Break-in a Speaker

Many audio experts and speaker manufacturers say that loudspeakers really benefit from break-in. Learn what speaker components need to be broken in and…

www.klipsch.com

 

[Chasfitter]

Well, you better tell Kiplisch they are FOS...I really don't think it's in my head..it's a very notcable difference n the low end.

How to Break-in a Speaker

Many audio experts and speaker manufacturers say that loudspeakers really benefit from break-in. Learn what speaker components need to be broken in and…

www.klipsch.com

Got a set of RF7 in the basement and did break them in years ago they are a beastI’m also an old fart too!

 

[G-299020]

Got a set of RF7 in the basement and did break them in years ago they are a beastI’m also an old fart too!

Apples to oranges. It is possible that high end speakers need a break in but no need in the low end ones that Kia installs.

 

[DM2020]

The EX stereo isn't that great to be honest. My wife's Sienna system sounds better, as did the one out of my GM car from 2008 (blaupunkt with factory subs). Needs more power to the speakers and a sub IMO.

Surprised that some are saying adding an amp would be really difficult. If you just use speaker level inputs for the amp and don't mess with the head unit I don't see why it would be an issue? I know that's not the -best- way to do it but I think just adding a few more watts would really help.