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SX Prestige w/ Harman Kardon Stereo Sound Distortion

TellurideCT

TellurideCT

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Yesterday, for the first time, regardless of audio input, the front center channel speaker sounds extremely distorted even at low volume, 5 or 6. I typically listen to the stereo at 9 or 10, 13 the absolute loudest, so it is not as if I played the system so loud to damage the speakers. Even after turning off the car the issue still persists. Maybe hard reset the system with the reset button? Anyone else have this issue? Prior to this, the stereo system has been rock solid with amazing clarity. Thank you in advance!
 
This is a problem with the speaker.
 
Thank you @alexdrums and @Kwim. I figured as much. So strange, because I don't blast the music loud enough to blow a speaker. Hopefully this isn't an electrical issue. I'll give KIA a call.
______________________________
 
Sure. Sometimes speakers just blow. Probably a manufacturing defect. It’s good it’s happening now while still under warranty.
 
the defect can be everywhere and always, it did not necessarily blow, the membrane could detach from the heart. In any case, this is covered by the warranty.😀
 
TellurideCT said:
Yesterday, for the first time, regardless of audio input, the front center channel speaker sounds extremely distorted even at low volume, 5 or 6. I typically listen to the stereo at 9 or 10, 13 the absolute loudest, so it is not as if I played the system so loud to damage the speakers. Even after turning off the car the issue still persists. Maybe hard reset the system with the reset button? Anyone else have this issue? Prior to this, the stereo system has been rock solid with amazing clarity. Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...

Yes, call dealer. This person had same issue last year, but they were clearly alone and they didn't reply with a follow-up unfortunately. Sounds like a defect.

tellurideforum.org

HK Front center audio distortion?

Hi all, I just picked up my SX earlier today and just got around to playing some music on the HK included with the car. I noticed that on most songs, the front center speaker would get distorted sound cracking with anything over low-medium volume. This seemed to get worse when the mid's are...
tellurideforum.org tellurideforum.org
 
I picked up a 2021 SX last weekend and had the exact same issue. Center speaker crackling at med volume, especially during vocals and audiobooks. On the third day I had the car I noticed the distortion was GONE! I believe there is sound coming from the speaker so I cant tell if its partially dying or somehow fixed itself. Any ideas? I'd rather not take it in if this can be attributed to a software update or "newness" of the speaker.
 
TellurideCT said:
Yesterday, for the first time, regardless of audio input, the front center channel speaker sounds extremely distorted even at low volume, 5 or 6. I typically listen to the stereo at 9 or 10, 13 the absolute loudest, so it is not as if I played the system so loud to damage the speakers. Even after turning off the car the issue still persists. Maybe hard reset the system with the reset button? Anyone else have this issue? Prior to this, the stereo system has been rock solid with amazing clarity. Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
What ended up happening with your speaker?
 
@rkyle The distortion stopped, however I don't think I am getting any sound out of the center channel. I put the audio to "Quiet Mode" where only the front speakers play audio, and when the GPS announced the next turn, the music volume lowered, but there was no voice prompt. I believe the voice prompt is played from the center channel. I will probably try testing the speakers with a channel test track as well. At my next oil change, which is very soon, I will address the issue at my local KIA.
 
TellurideCT said:
@rkyle The distortion stopped, however I don't think I am getting any sound out of the center channel. I put the audio to "Quiet Mode" where only the front speakers play audio, and when the GPS announced the next turn, the music volume lowered, but there was no voice prompt. I believe the voice prompt is played from the center channel. I will probably try testing the speakers with a channel test track as well. At my next oil change, which is very soon, I will address the issue at my local KIA.
Click to expand...
The distortion stopped on mine too on the 3rd day I had the car. I had the same thought about maybe just lost the center channel but I tested it with a cup folded paper and later an actual stethescope from work and it is working clearly. I am wondering if there was a piece of plastic that rattled out or if the connector was a little loose until I hit a few bumps. I'll keep my ear on it to see if it indeed keeps working clearly. I know others have had digital gremlins come and go too so hopefully all good.
______________________________
 
Hello all, just wanted to bump this thread with another data point for what appears to be a distorted center channel speaker. We recently noticed the crackling on our 2021 SXP (January '21 build). It is very prominent when using the system voice prompts. I have an appt at the dealer on Monday, and will follow-up here with the outcome.
 
Mine hasn't made noise again but the sound quality of the whole HK system is really metallic or "tinny". It makes me not want to play music. I wonder if my center channel is screwed up and infecting the overall sound.
______________________________
 
G-266332 said:
Mine hasn't made noise again but the sound quality of the whole HK system is really metallic or "tinny". It makes me not want to play music. I wonder if my center channel is screwed up and infecting the overall sound.
Click to expand...
+1 on the overall sound quality, it doesn’t seem great. I use mostly Spotify through CarPlay, and it just doesn’t seem possible to get a nice clean sound with any type of music. I guess at this point, this is my biggest complaint about the car (lack of memory steering wheel being the other), so could be worse!
 
My 21 SX center speaker distorted today. Just has 1100 miles but it was bad. I guess I'll call dealer tomorrow. Also infotainment screen still hot. Put a temp gauge on it and it shows almost 114F.
 
That's not good
 
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