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Harman Kardon - Something is wrong with the system in the P2

1804 Views 30 Replies 10 Participants Last post by stevelup, 4 d ago

Thacyoon

Discussion Starter · 8 d ago

Hi,

My conclusion is that the HK audio system in the PS2 is flawed. Either it is a hardware problem or a software problem.

I have testet two different Polestar 2's with the HK (plus pack). Both cars running the lastest software (2.7 if I remember correctly), and both is MY23.

Main problem:

Rear speakers output volume is extreemely low (barley audible)
Center (front) speaker output volume is to high.
Stereo effect is bad because of 1 and 2.

When I try to adjust in the audio settings:

If I mute the rear speakers, there is very little difference because the output volum of these are barely audible in the first place.
If I mute the front speakers... nothing happens, still sound in the front speakers at same volume as before.

Something is wrong here. Either it is the hardware (channel wiring) or it is software related.

The following ekstra functions needs to be implemented on the audio adustment menu:

Front side speakers output volume.
Front center speaker output volume.
Rear speekers output volume.

Or if this is to much work, we at least need a front/rear speaker fade/slider to adjust the balance between front and rear.

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Dude

· #21 · 5 d ago (Edited)

Thacyoon said:
And when driving a car the theatre or TV is in front of me?

Well, the engineering/acoustic design intent of most GOOD audio systems is to provide a "concert like" experience for the listener....and that means, yes, music is in front of you. That's independent of where you are listening.

For example, if I listen to a solo vocalist, say an opera singer, I want the music to appear like the vocalist is right in front of me. Floating in air, if you will. I can literally visualize his/her presence on stage. I don't want their music coming from the back, like it's being reflected from the ceiling or back wall of the symphony hall.

Long before "surround sound" hit the home theatre market, we had other artificial attempts to give the sound a fuller, or more 3D experience...with time delays, echos and reverberations. All artificial...and for some, more desirable. All personal taste.

But for someone to say "something is wrong with the HK system", is just nonsense, and don't really understand how the acoustics of a good system should sound - natural in their replication of the music....and by natural, not just spectral, but positional as well.

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Thacyoon

Discussion Starter · #22 · 4 d ago

stevelup said:
They have done a brilliant job of creating a fantastic soundstage across the front of the car - something that is often completely lacking even with other so called high-end audio systems.

This is YOUR opinion. Plenty of people that don't agree. Remember you said: "This has been done to death - there are dozens of threads about this and hundreds of posts."

stevelup said:
They have steadfastly refused to implement a fader even though people have been asking for it for what will soon be three years, so I don't think it's ever going to happen. If it did happen, it would be totally rubbish anyway.

So Polestar know that their customers want a front/rear fader, but refuse to implement it? And you agree because that would be totally rubbish anyway? Hmmm... now you actually managed to piss me off. You are actually saying that my opinion and soundscape preferences are "rubbish". Why then is a front/rear fader standard in every (other) car stereo?

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stevelup

· #23 · 4 d ago

Your preference - to have sound coming from behind you - is unnatural. You’d never experience it in real life.

No point in getting pissed off with me - I’m just explaining the logic behind the decision they made.

All you can do is lobby Polestar. Complain to customer services - make sure they promise to pass your feedback on. There’s not really any more you can do.

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Thacyoon

Discussion Starter · #24 · 4 d ago

Dude said:
But for someone to say "something is wrong with the HK system", is just nonsense, and don't really understand how the acoustics of a good system should sound - natural in their replication of the music....and by natural, not just spectral, but positional as well.

Rear speakers output volume is extremely low (barley audible)
Center (front) speaker output volume is to high.
Stereo effect is bad because of 1 and 2.
f I mute the rear speakers, there is very little difference because the output volum of these are barely audible in the first place.
If I mute the front speakers... nothing happens, still sound in the front speakers at same volume as before

These issues qualifies for "something is wrong with the HK system"

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Thacyoon

Discussion Starter · #25 · 4 d ago

stevelup said:
All you can do is lobby Polestar. Complain to customer services - make sure they promise to pass your feedback on. There’s not really any more you can do.

Fair point. But Polestar are probably monitoring this forum, and your refusal to support a front/rear fader implementation is not helping... and saying it is "rubbish" is even worse.

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Dude

· #26 · 4 d ago

Thacyoon said:
This is YOUR opinion. Plenty of people that don't agree.

I know your post was not directed at me, but I'll chime in, anyway.

Yes, all forums are mostly opinions.

But I laugh when people say on a forum, "plenty of people" want X or Y. So, when you say "plenty of people"....would that be 10's, 100's, 1000's or 10,000's of people? I suspect on this forum, the number is in the 10's....

So Polestar know that their customers want a front/rear fader, but refuse to implement it?

Really, so "Polestar knows that their customers want a fader?" OMG, stop production why Polestar takes care of what you and 10 other people on here want!!!! 😂. Did you let Polestar know, directly, about your scientific survey of what the "people want"?

News flash - Polestar does not monitor this Forum....or so I've been told. They have their own, official Polestar Forum. Independent of your issue with not having a fader...ranting about an issue, or lack of an option on a Forum will go nowhere with most companies. You want a change, then take your case directly to the product development people.

Maybe they will add a fader, in time? Seems easy enough to do in software? But if they don't, and to quote you, "there are plenty of people on here" that find the HK audio system on the P2 to be better than one's found in a lot of cars.

Best of luck in your quest. Seriously, I wish you the best. While you're at it, can you ask them to put in another cup holder in the front?

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Dude

· #27 · 4 d ago (Edited)

Thacyoon said:
Rear speakers output volume is extremely low (barley audible)

Center (front) speaker output volume is to high.

Stereo effect is bad because of 1 and 2.

f I mute the rear speakers, there is very little difference because the output volum of these are barely audible in the first place.

If I mute the front speakers... nothing happens, still sound in the front speakers at same volume as before

These issues qualifies for "something is wrong with the HK system"

I can hear the rear speakers. If I sit in the rear, I notice them even more. Yes, they are low volume, and glad they are as it makes it easier for my rear passengers to be able to carry on a conversation with people in the front...and I don't have to futz with the settings while driving. I usually have a full house in my P2 as I commute to/from work every day, with co-workers.

Nope, some of us find the system to be just fine, and nothing wrong with it.

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Dude

· #28 · 4 d ago

Thacyoon said:
Fair point. But Polestar are probably monitoring this forum, and your refusal to support a front/rear fader implementation is not helping... and saying it is "rubbish" is even worse.

They are not monitoring this forum. That's why they have their own Forum that you can voice your displeasures, and a Polestar Rep will respond. I think they even have a thread about things customers would like? I've posted a few times, and have received 2 repossess from a Polestar rep. Have yet to hear from a Polestar rep on this forum, however. No disrespect to this forum, as the two forums serve different purposes. .

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Thacyoon

Discussion Starter · #29 · 4 d ago

Sarcastic, toxic, biased and rude responses... there are always one, maybe two - or more. This is the nature of the ~~beast~~ internet forums. I have said what I came here to say.

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LordB

· #30 · 4 d ago

Thacyoon said:
Fair point. But Polestar are probably monitoring this forum, and your refusal to support a front/rear fader implementation is not helping... and saying it is "rubbish" is even worse.

Based on how Polestar have been, it’s unlikely they are monitoring this forum, instead, they have their own active owners community, finally moving away from Facebook where they are more likely to take note of content.

I sit firmly on the side of positive reviews with regards to audio staging, high and mid should always be front and centre, and I come from a generation where people thought sticking 6x9s on a parcel shelf was deemed good.

On the point you make about a fader for the subwoofer, low frequencies are less directional and harder to pinpoint, this renders a low frequency fader pretty pointless.

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stevelup

· #31 · 4 d ago

Thacyoon said:
If I mute the front speakers... nothing happens, still sound in the front speakers at same volume as before

I already agreed with you on this point in my first reply to you. My car absolutely does not do this which suggests you may have a problem.

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