dtlocke Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 Hi, I have a 2016 MKX Reserve with the 13 speaker Revel upgrade - just got it a few days ago. I like the car overall.... But I'm not liking the audio system so far - seems like it has way too much bass at the default settings. I've tried to adjust the tone controls (and why no separate subwoofer adjustment?) & fader to limited success. Rear seats up or down don't seem to matter much. My source is high-bit rate audio from my phone via bluetooth. I'm a semi-audiophile and my frame of reference is my 2012 Acura MDX with the top-end "ELS" 10 speaker system. Anyone else with the setup care to comment or offer suggestions? Thanks, -Dick Locke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 See if you have bass boost or any other DSP settings on the phone - makes a big difference when using bluetooth. Also try using the phone via USB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enigma-2 Posted April 4, 2017 Report Share Posted April 4, 2017 (edited) Also remember that mp3 songs favor the low end and cut the top high frequency response (used in the compression scheme). Need to go to wav (think audio CD) to get full fidelity. Edited April 4, 2017 by enigma-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtlocke Posted April 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2017 Thanks for the comments. I tried some CD's today with the same results. EQ is off on my phone & my issues are not related to the source I'm sure. I ran a quick low frequency test using an old Stereophile disk and there's a large bump starting at 160 hz down to 80 hz or so (maybe 10 db bump)... (200 hz is at same level as midrange.) I know automakers do dial in a big bump there to compensate for road noise though, not just Lincoln/Revel. I'll continue testing tomorrow with the speed compensation turned off though I don't expect that to matter. I don't have the exact reference handy but I found an "infotainmentexperts" review that thought there was too much bass, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted April 5, 2017 Report Share Posted April 5, 2017 I don't have any issues with the bass on mine. I think I have the bass control set a +2 or thereabouts. That goes for audio cds and mp3s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enigma-2 Posted April 5, 2017 Report Share Posted April 5, 2017 (edited) Believe I set my bass around 1 or 2+ as well (09 THX system). Edited April 5, 2017 by enigma-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtlocke Posted April 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 (edited) I've settled on -3 to -4 on the bass settings so as not to overdo it. Having the cover retracted from the skylight helps brighten things up a bit! I've decided I can live with the sound but I think the Acura MDX is better... Edited April 13, 2017 by dtlocke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Next time you're at the dealer see if you can try a CD in another vehicle just to make sure you don't have a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtlocke Posted April 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 Next time you're at the dealer see if you can try a CD in another vehicle just to make sure you don't have a problem. Good idea thanks. What I've found is that the tonal balance is good at relatively low volumes (where the human ear is less sensitive to bass). As the volume increases, the relative strength of the bass gets too high for my tastes. Some sort of what used to be called loudness compensation would be very helpful here. The equivalent of the Audyssey Dynamic EQ feature would be perfect. So if I crank up the music I need to crank down the bass. Pretty sure this is is a feature but not a bug but I will listen to another system while I'm at the dealer. -Dick Locke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted April 25, 2017 Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 Sounds like you're more sensitive than most. I doubt that it's designed for different bass levels at different volumes. Maybe the 19 speaker system does that? You'll probably have to decide which one you listen to the most and leave it there - or go halfway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisguy159 Posted April 25, 2017 Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 I've settled on -3 to -4 on the bass settings so as not to overdo it. Having the cover retracted from the skylight helps brighten things up a bit! I've decided I can live with the sound but I think the Acura MDX is better... No way is MDX better, but to each its own. Stop listening to sirius it sucks and actually sirius radio sounds better on the base stereo over the 13 speaker system. Stream music or use cds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted April 25, 2017 Report Share Posted April 25, 2017 No way is MDX better, but to each its own. Stop listening to sirius it sucks and actually sirius radio sounds better on the base stereo over the 13 speaker system. Stream music or use cds. He's using CDs and high bitrate bluetooth audio, not Sirius. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walkabout Posted May 2, 2017 Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 I have the 19 speaker system. I freaking love it. Probably the best system I've ever heard. And I personally think the 13 speaker system is good enough that a casual larger couldn't tell. mosh00 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 2, 2017 Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 I have the 19 speaker system. I freaking love it. Probably the best system I've ever heard. And I personally think the 13 speaker system is good enough that a casual larger couldn't tell. I think the 13 speaker system should be standard on all but the base trim package. mightyjj 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtlocke Posted May 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 Sounds like you're more sensitive than most. I doubt that it's designed for different bass levels at different volumes. Maybe the 19 speaker system does that? You'll probably have to decide which one you listen to the most and leave it there - or go halfway. Yes, my starting point when buying a car is the audio system! But in this case I ended up with my father's car and didn't have a chance to evaluate the audio system... -Dick L. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtlocke Posted May 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 No way is MDX better, but to each its own. Stop listening to sirius it sucks and actually sirius radio sounds better on the base stereo over the 13 speaker system. Stream music or use cds. Yes Sirius sucks and that's not the issue here. I had some extended time in my Acura MDX with the top-of-the line ELS system last week. This allowed me to focus on what's different. The Acura is definitely much brighter (more mid & treble) than the 13 speaker revel system. So the relatively strong bass on the Lincoln is fine for low volumes, and the Acura doesn't have quite enough bass at low levels for my tastes. But I don't really listen at background or low levels that often. Crank up the volume, and the bass in the Lincoln becomes overbearing. Crank up the volume on the Acura ELS and the system balances out - bass, mid, treble are in alignment with my expectations. (As you know, human hearing is less sensitive to bass at low volume levels.) -Dick L. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 2, 2017 Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 So if most of your listening is at high volume, adjust the bass accordingly and it should be fine. What are we missing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisguy159 Posted May 2, 2017 Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 Yes Sirius sucks and that's not the issue here. I had some extended time in my Acura MDX with the top-of-the line ELS system last week. This allowed me to focus on what's different. The Acura is definitely much brighter (more mid & treble) than the 13 speaker revel system. So the relatively strong bass on the Lincoln is fine for low volumes, and the Acura doesn't have quite enough bass at low levels for my tastes. But I don't really listen at background or low levels that often. Crank up the volume, and the bass in the Lincoln becomes overbearing. Crank up the volume on the Acura ELS and the system balances out - bass, mid, treble are in alignment with my expectations. (As you know, human hearing is less sensitive to bass at low volume levels.) -Dick L. To each his own I guess but I cannot disagree with you more,. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtlocke Posted May 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2017 So if most of your listening is at high volume, adjust the bass accordingly and it should be fine. What are we missing? Yes, more or less. I've settled on about -3 on the bass for typical listening levels. Everything else is left flat though I will still play around with adding a bit of treble. I have come to terms with the sound and I would say the I like it now with the adjustment noted. With all the hype about the Revel system (admittedly, mostly around the 19 speaker system I don't have) I am just surprised that I found it to be so bass-heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted May 9, 2017 Report Share Posted May 9, 2017 It may just be personal preference. I don't find it to have too much bass even at high volume. Source material also plays a part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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