Sound System quality is bad?

[2020BRZtS]

Here is something to try. This is not a proven solution but a few people with 2020's including myself felt there is an improvement.

Connect your phone to the car with a USB cable.

Play music from the music app that comes with your phone and use the sound settings on your phone to adjust to your taste.

Unplug your phone and listen to the radio.

In my case the EQ settings from my phone stayed even though the settings page on the HU remained untouched. I can replicate it by resetting to factory and doing the procedure again.

[Desertnate]

When you do this I assume you leave the head unit EQ flat in the middle across all three bands?

[McMCOO]

Originally Posted by Robert97

I'm curious if a simple speaker upgrade will help. I see that OEM Audio sells an upgraded set of front speakers for $400. Has anyone tried these?

I contacted them today because their description on the website was contradictory and confusing. What they are offering is upgrades for the dash tweeters and the 6.5 inch door speakers.

[LRNAD90]

Originally Posted by McMCOO

I contacted them today because their description on the website was contradictory and confusing. What they are offering is upgrades for the dash tweeters and the 6.5 inch door speakers.

For what it is worth, they indicated they are workign on a full system for the second gen, but no release date yet...

[AK2112]

I've got the base 6 speaker system and it's totally fine. It's a little weird that you get almost nothing from the rears but beyond that... Totally ok.

[CincyJohn]

Originally Posted by AK2112

I've got the base 6 speaker system and it's totally fine. It's a little weird that you get almost nothing from the rears but beyond that... Totally ok.

That may be true for you, and for people that don't listen to anything other than podcasts, but I doubt that's true for everyone. I had the 8 speaker in the Gen 1 that was faaaarrrr from "totally fine" - and from what I understand, the system in the Hakone was far, far worse. I am hopeful that the 8 speaker system in the premium (which I have seen some sites erroneously say includes a subwoofer) is better, hopefully much better, than the system in the Gen 1 but I am not optimistic.

The part of giving up my Gen1 that I am most upset about is losing the $700 (and lots of time, energy) I put into that stereo system (tons of dynamat, total upgraded rewire and all new speakers, two amps and a DSP). The only reason I was able to do it that cheap is some used components and access to wholesale purchase prices.

If I have to upgrade the Gen2 (and I am sure I will) I would like to do something that doesn't require the rewire and is a little more plug and play without paying the OEM Plus price - but I am not sure that will be possible.

[LRNAD90]

Originally Posted by CincyJohn

The part of giving up my Gen1 that I am most upset about is losing the $700 (and lots of time, energy) I put into that stereo system (tons of dynamat, total upgraded rewire and all new speakers, two amps and a DSP). The only reason I was able to do it that cheap is some used components and access to wholesale purchase prices.

Well, the upside is that the speakers and components could be transferred to the Gen 2, since it uses the same speaker sizing and placement..

[CincyJohn]

Originally Posted by LRNAD90

Well, the upside is that the speakers and components could be transferred to the Gen 2, since it uses the same speaker sizing and placement..

The real money/value was in the two amps, DSP and time spent in wiring and putting in dynamat. The rear and front speakers, while better, weren't that expensive. The front doors were fairly expensive speakers but I got them cheap, used from a friend and actually have another pair for the Gen 2 if I do that. Taking it back to stock would have been a royal pain for the $600 or so I would have gotten back out of it so I just left it. Somebody is going to get a pretty nice stereo without probably even realizing it because the head unit is the same and none of the changes can be seen/known without looking for them. I am going to leave a manual for the DSP (which you can connect to via bluetooth) in with the stuff.

[Grif]

What is everyone running for their 6 speaker settings?

I haven't had a chance to play around with mine much yet, however thought to put the question out there before I start fiddling.

[Midnightsky]

Originally Posted by Grif

What is everyone running for their 6 speaker settings?

I haven't had a chance to play around with mine much yet, however thought to put the question out there before I start fiddling.

Im running these settings and am satisfied.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by Grif

What is everyone running for their 6 speaker settings?

I haven't had a chance to play around with mine much yet, however thought to put the question out there before I start fiddling.

Just play around with them and see what sounds good to you.

[Panda Grahams]

I recommend trying out the "Virtual Stage Enhancer" under Vocal Image Control. It definitely helps blend the audio between the drivers, instead of shouting through each one.

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by Panda Grahams

I recommend trying out the "Virtual Stage Enhancer" under Vocal Image Control. It definitely helps blend the audio between the drivers, instead of shouting through each one.

Thanks! I never played with it before, I just ignored the post processing so far. It really added some punch to the sound, without making it muddy or rattling the door cards, which is what upping the bass does.

[AK2112]

Wow, first I've heard anyone liking the extra settings. I shut them all off and have the eq nearly flat (plus 1 bass, minus 1 mids and minus 1 treble)

I'll give the stage enhancer a shot just for fun.