Is the High Performance Sound system really that bad? I've read other posts about people wanting to upgrade their high performance sound system because they were not satissfied with it. I tested it BRIEFLY before I placed my order and I think it sounded decent enough so I decided to avoid the price tag of the premium sound because I really didn't wanted nav. I haven't taken delivery on my RD yet (ETA mid November) and now I'm second guessing my choice. I'm not asking for comparisons between both systems. Obviously the premium sound system sounds better, no question about it. What I would like to know is your opinion on the high performance sound system. What do you think? Do you think it's that bad that it should be or needs to be upgraded?
High Performance Sound... Is it really that bad???
Lucca
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I have a 2012 S60 T5 with the standard sound system and I am very happy with it. It is better than my 2008 Audi Avant standard sound system. Volvo's is very tunable and the speakers are fine. Spend money on something else to enhance the car - Xenons... or save it.
My S60 is in the shop today getting its 15,000 mile (!!!!) service. I was given another S60 T5 as a loaner. My car has the premium audio system, while the loaner has the standard audio system.
Don't get me wrong, the standard audio system sounds pretty darn good. However, in order to get the same quality of sound from the standard audio system that I get in the premium audio system, I have to adjust the bass and treble levels significantly higher. With the premium system, I leave all EQ/bass/treble levels at 0 or flat. With the standard audio system, I had to take the bass up by 2-3 notches, while I had to take the treble up 6-7 notches. I don't get the "brilliance" or the "shimmering" highs that I get with the premium audio.
And to my ear, the premium system stays crystal clear as the output levels increase, while the standard audio tends to get a little rough on the highs (could be because of the EQ settings though)...
I would have been pretty satisfied with the standard audio system, but I am COMPLETELY satisfied with the premium system. Just my $0.02...
Don't get me wrong, the standard audio system sounds pretty darn good. However, in order to get the same quality of sound from the standard audio system that I get in the premium audio system, I have to adjust the bass and treble levels significantly higher. With the premium system, I leave all EQ/bass/treble levels at 0 or flat. With the standard audio system, I had to take the bass up by 2-3 notches, while I had to take the treble up 6-7 notches. I don't get the "brilliance" or the "shimmering" highs that I get with the premium audio.
And to my ear, the premium system stays crystal clear as the output levels increase, while the standard audio tends to get a little rough on the highs (could be because of the EQ settings though)...
I would have been pretty satisfied with the standard audio system, but I am COMPLETELY satisfied with the premium system. Just my $0.02...
The standard sound system for the S60 is adequate. I had the premium sound system option on my 1st gen S60 and it sounded much better: louder, fuller, and more of a 360 degree sound. Plus you could fine tune the right/left, front/rear balance. Wish I could do that with the standard sound system for the new S60. Right now the sound is too front oriented.
You can change the front/rear & left/right balance. Just hit the bottom half of the volume button labeled "sound".
Thanks! I will try that, was looking for it in Sensus. . .
So I finally took delivery of my RD last Friday and I'm glad to say that I'm more than satisfied with the audio quality of the stock High Performance Audio System. I mean I know it's not the best stock audio system out there but I definitely don't see the need to upgrade it. Sure it could be better but it'll do (at least for now).
I centered fader and balance and "V" shaped the equalizer. Here's the setup I have right now:
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I like it... Just thought I'd share...
I centered fader and balance and "V" shaped the equalizer. Here's the setup I have right now:
I like it... Just thought I'd share...
Sweet!
Bob
Brilliance is a very good choice of words to describe the Premium system.
Bob
I love Elvis......................*channeling my inner Elvis*
Thank you, thank you very, thank you very much...
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The premium system is very nice.
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Well thank god you weren't comparing it to a good home system then
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Until recently, I was ho hum about the system. I mean, it sounded good but not as good as the aftermarket system I put into my now gone Saab (Infiity Reference Kappa for those that care).
Anyway, I mainly listen to my 6 year old iPod. The music is mainly from my CD collection which I ripped about 10 years ago at a lowly 160kbs because of the then smaller hard drive sizes and such. Given that it took a few weekends to rip everything, I was content to leave well enough alone.
Fast forward to last weekend when I subscribed to iTunes match and downloaded my songs now at a higher 256kbs. I reformatted my iPod and copied the new, high bit rate collection over and viola, things now sound as if the entire stereo has been upgraded.
So if you're sitting on the fence about getting the Premium sound, you owe it to yourself it give it a listen with the best quality music you have laying around. I think you'll find that the limiting factor to how good it can sound is the source material and not the stereo, itself.
Anyway, I mainly listen to my 6 year old iPod. The music is mainly from my CD collection which I ripped about 10 years ago at a lowly 160kbs because of the then smaller hard drive sizes and such. Given that it took a few weekends to rip everything, I was content to leave well enough alone.
Fast forward to last weekend when I subscribed to iTunes match and downloaded my songs now at a higher 256kbs. I reformatted my iPod and copied the new, high bit rate collection over and viola, things now sound as if the entire stereo has been upgraded.
So if you're sitting on the fence about getting the Premium sound, you owe it to yourself it give it a listen with the best quality music you have laying around. I think you'll find that the limiting factor to how good it can sound is the source material and not the stereo, itself.
I agree. Better source = better sound. Seems kind of obvious, but nice when someone confirms it with real experience. Thanks for the information!
There's deep irony in this. Go to an audio forum and look up posts about Bose
Some people are never happy. The audio systems in new cars are simply amazingly good. Even the system in my Chevrolet Cruze is so much better than anything that we had 10 years ago. Yet we are never happy.
Sweet!+1
I still remember the times when I had something like this in my old car
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Nice!+1
I still remember the times when I had something like this in my old car
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The funny part is I'd bet more people would have an easier time using that then Sensus. To think that we use to have stereos without menus. And it even has a remote!!!! Did that sony ever lock up or freeze on you?
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