@@DailyMotor The base system isn't bad, with CD/SiriusXM a full sound at around 18, with my Android Auto it's about 22-24 because the Samsung isn't giving as much power/volume. I'm not sure about the stereo as I have one ear but I'm sure it's nice.
Great review, and helpful! I just picked up my brand new 2020 Forester Touring edition last week... my first new vehicle in the 21st century lol. LOTS of changes and new tech in the past quarter century. All the settings and things the car can actually do (crash avoidance, lane following, auto-this and auto-that) are a little intimidating, and I feel I'm back in school, studying all the manuals in a quiet park every morning and learning the car. I do have the HK sound system, and still haven't actually sat and tweaked it yet. You made me feel good about my new car.
Great review. Appreciated the real world honest approach to the HK system and review coupled with how the sound affects the road noise....since few people drive without music on when driving ....
Nice and useful review. Would have liked some standard rock in the mix, but that’s coming from a 53 yr old lol. Video quality was amazing love when videos look 4K. Audio quality good as well. Thanks for your efforts. Btw my fiancée and I are buying a 2020 Sport with the Harman Kardon. Just wish the equalizer had five channels/adjusts instead of only three.
"and now that we're up to highway speed, turn the music down for a quick second to let you get an idea of how the car sounds at 70mph..." Thank you for doing this, Charlie. I listen to your audio tests with a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones and the level of detail that I hear is amazing. Audio aside, I can hear in perfect clarity things like transmission shifts, engine revs, turn single clicks, adjacent traffic, and most importantly, road and wind noise at 70 mph. In my experience, a car audio system benefits greatly from a quiet driving environment. Subarus are not necessarily known for having the quietest of interiors due to many factors, some of which they are addressing in their redesigns with improved construction techniques that lower NVH. The question for me is - are they quiet enough? This kind of test helps to make that determination. So please keep up the good work! Would love to see a review for the Outback XT and Crosstrek with Harmon Karmon.
I live in Swiss, i have got a Luxur yversion with the Harmann Kardon audio system. Is very well made and the quality of sound is really nice. But the sound looks sometimes very "brut" ; my wife have got a Peugeot 3008 GT-Line with a Focal audio system. The diference between the 2 systems is surprising ; i love listening jazz music and classic music ; the harmann system is more for the basses sensation ; the Focal system is more quality improved ; sorry for my english linguage. I am sad then her audio system is better, but i appreciate my harmann system. Take care..
Number of USB's possible in the Forester is 2 up front, 2 in the armrest (using a car plug adapter), 2 in the back for passengers, and 2 in the rear cargo area (using a car plug adapter with 2 ports, and a really long cord), so total of 8 Also, for the first time I left my cell phone in my car and when I went to get it, it was already fully charged as the usb will charge a phone even when the vehicle is off. Loving my 2020.
I have a Subaru Impreza with Rockford Fosgate add on. However my question has to do with whether these reviews should include a test of the sound with with only the fronts excited (plus subwoofer of course). On my Subaru, going to center focus degrades the sound. On several of the Subaru HK reviews it was described as a lack of crispness, with center focusing. Most systems I’ve heard going to front focusing results in more crispness and clarity. Pulling bounce sound from the rear doors into the front is a smear.
One really important (and super annoying) characteristic of this sound system that was missed is that when you select ANY source for your sound other than the radio, when you turn the engine off, the radio comes on until you open your door. This happens even if you alternate source - say BT phone was paused or stopped. The same thing happens when you get in your car and start it, the radio comes on at whatever volume you set last. So basically, to shut off the radio, you have to turn the volume to zero or shut of the entertainment system.
The meter you used on the phone app releys on the phones mircophone to interpret decibals....its VERY inaccutare. I used an SPL-LABS mini meter to measure my DB on music(Metered with test tones this weekend) In the kick it did 126.6 Db @ 51 Hz on the glass 124.2 Db @48 Hz. This is not too bad at all. I am adding(in the near future) a Audiocontrol LC7i , Ampere Audio AA-2000.1D, with 2- AA-2.0 RVE-10D4's subwoofers in a custom built enclosure 6th order enclosure (by "The Little Shop of LOUD" )and a major upgrade in the electrical system.
You mentioned you have listened to talk radio, but have you ever listened to an audio book? If so, what were your impressions for clarity of the spoken word?
Has anyone had a problem with the radio draining power when the car is off. I have the 2019 Outback and continued drain of the car battery. The service rep kept it for 24 hours and traced it back to the radio.
I can almost bet that the Rear door speakers were not working in this video Haha, That seems to be a problem with the Foresters. My 2019 Forester speakers in the rear don't work at all. Never have.
My sound position and eq are in middle, both. As i play music the only speakers that are working were top front two and maybe 2% two in the front door. Back nothing. I fiddled with entertainment volume, then moved the sound position to the back a bit, added bass then was ok. Did you experience the same problem ever?
Hi Kengur. Thanks for the comment. I am facing this issue in a 2022 Forester Limited (Canada)... I am going to try your trick tomorrow and see if it works for me as well. Did you end up finding a permanent fix or any other trick to fix this issue? Thank you :)
Dam you are dedicated to getting an accurate reproduction of the audio for us. So much value to that. Subscribed.
Kinda wish that I had opted for the H/K option after hearing how it sounds in this demo, great video as always Charlie!!
Hopefully the base system is at least decent! But yeah, I was thoroughly impressed by this one. Thanks!
@@DailyMotor The base system isn't bad, with CD/SiriusXM a full sound at around 18, with my Android Auto it's about 22-24 because the Samsung isn't giving as much power/volume. I'm not sure about the stereo as I have one ear but I'm sure it's nice.
Great review, and helpful! I just picked up my brand new 2020 Forester Touring edition last week... my first new vehicle in the 21st century lol. LOTS of changes and new tech in the past quarter century. All the settings and things the car can actually do (crash avoidance, lane following, auto-this and auto-that) are a little intimidating, and I feel I'm back in school, studying all the manuals in a quiet park every morning and learning the car. I do have the HK sound system, and still haven't actually sat and tweaked it yet.
You made me feel good about my new car.
Great review. Appreciated the real world honest approach to the HK system and review coupled with how the sound affects the road noise....since few people drive without music on when driving ....
Nice and useful review. Would have liked some standard rock in the mix, but that’s coming from a 53 yr old lol. Video quality was amazing love when videos look 4K. Audio quality good as well. Thanks for your efforts. Btw my fiancée and I are buying a 2020 Sport with the Harman Kardon. Just wish the equalizer had five channels/adjusts instead of only three.
"and now that we're up to highway speed, turn the music down for a quick second to let you get an idea of how the car sounds at 70mph..."
Thank you for doing this, Charlie. I listen to your audio tests with a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones and the level of detail that I hear is amazing. Audio aside, I can hear in perfect clarity things like transmission shifts, engine revs, turn single clicks, adjacent traffic, and most importantly, road and wind noise at 70 mph. In my experience, a car audio system benefits greatly from a quiet driving environment. Subarus are not necessarily known for having the quietest of interiors due to many factors, some of which they are addressing in their redesigns with improved construction techniques that lower NVH. The question for me is - are they quiet enough? This kind of test helps to make that determination. So please keep up the good work! Would love to see a review for the Outback XT and Crosstrek with Harmon Karmon.
Thanks, will try to get those!
I live in Swiss, i have got a Luxur yversion with the Harmann Kardon audio system. Is very well made and the quality of sound is really nice. But the sound looks sometimes very "brut" ; my wife have got a Peugeot 3008 GT-Line with a Focal audio system.
The diference between the 2 systems is surprising ; i love listening jazz music and classic music ; the harmann system is more for the basses sensation ; the Focal system is more quality improved ; sorry for my english linguage.
I am sad then her audio system is better, but i appreciate my harmann system. Take care..
Number of USB's possible in the Forester is 2 up front, 2 in the armrest (using a car plug adapter), 2 in the back for passengers, and 2 in the rear cargo area (using a car plug adapter with 2 ports, and a really long cord), so total of 8 Also, for the first time I left my cell phone in my car and when I went to get it, it was already fully charged as the usb will charge a phone even when the vehicle is off. Loving my 2020.
I have a Subaru Impreza with Rockford Fosgate add on. However my question has to do with whether these reviews should include a test of the sound with with only the fronts excited (plus subwoofer of course). On my Subaru, going to center focus degrades the sound. On several of the Subaru HK reviews it was described as a lack of crispness, with center focusing. Most systems I’ve heard going to front focusing results in more crispness and clarity. Pulling bounce sound from the rear doors into the front is a smear.
Hi great review, as regards the missing speakers, are the two front door speakers coaxial; therefore technically 2 speakers in one?
One really important (and super annoying) characteristic of this sound system that was missed is that when you select ANY source for your sound other than the radio, when you turn the engine off, the radio comes on until you open your door. This happens even if you alternate source - say BT phone was paused or stopped. The same thing happens when you get in your car and start it, the radio comes on at whatever volume you set last. So basically, to shut off the radio, you have to turn the volume to zero or shut of the entertainment system.
The meter you used on the phone app releys on the phones mircophone to interpret decibals....its VERY inaccutare.
I used an SPL-LABS mini meter to measure my DB on music(Metered with test tones this weekend)
In the kick it did 126.6 Db @ 51 Hz on the glass 124.2 Db @48 Hz.
This is not too bad at all. I am adding(in the near future) a Audiocontrol LC7i , Ampere Audio AA-2000.1D,
with 2- AA-2.0 RVE-10D4's subwoofers in a custom built enclosure 6th order enclosure
(by "The Little Shop of LOUD" )and a major upgrade in the electrical system.
What meter? We didn't measure anything.
Thanks for the video! Have to consider upgrade to this bcz the OEM speaker system is simply horrible!!
You mentioned you have listened to talk radio, but have you ever listened to an audio book? If so, what were your impressions for clarity of the spoken word?
We did not try an audio book, sorry!
Thank you for a nice review.
Ur chooses of the songs are insane
Would you say the Harman Kardon sound system is better than Mazda's Bose?
Our Subaru Sport has a decent stereo.....We enjoy it....and we are missing NADA 🌞🚗👍Great car
There's a 3.5 mm input next to the USB ports, under the temperature control.
th-cam.com/video/eHKRVajvd6A/w-d-xo.html Yessir
Good job, just a correction. Sound surrounding adjustments is just beside sound equaliser adjustment (on seat icons appearing on screen).
Thanks!
Nice Purse Dude!
What about the noise from different sources like CD, Aux, FM and BT comparing. Sounds equals?
Has anyone had a problem with the radio draining power when the car is off. I have the 2019 Outback and continued drain of the car battery. The service rep kept it for 24 hours and traced it back to the radio.
I can almost bet that the Rear door speakers were not working in this video Haha, That seems to be a problem with the Foresters. My 2019 Forester speakers in the rear don't work at all. Never have.
Have you done this system in the crosstrek? I plan on buying soon.
Hope you test the ML in lexus rx
My sound position and eq are in middle, both. As i play music the only speakers that are working were top front two and maybe 2% two in the front door. Back nothing.
I fiddled with entertainment volume, then moved the sound position to the back a bit, added bass then was ok.
Did you experience the same problem ever?
Hi Kengur. Thanks for the comment. I am facing this issue in a 2022 Forester Limited (Canada)... I am going to try your trick tomorrow and see if it works for me as well. Did you end up finding a permanent fix or any other trick to fix this issue? Thank you :)
@@sathishkrishnan1986 It's mostly fine now, but it will sometimes not fully work. I'm gonna ask at my service dealer, soon.
I wmant to buy this car and i am interesing does this car have good audio sistem?
What is the song you played?
Do you like audio sistem?
It sounds like the music is dubbed in post production 😯
Better than Mazda CX-5?
Get your hands on any Cadillac CT6 with the Bose Panaray audio system!!!
We'll do our best!
i had that as a rental.. its pretty good but not the best ever
THEY SHOUDL HAVE USED THIS SCREEN IN THE OUTBACK. That lag is embarrassing.
No sound in our 2021 radio. Tried factory reset. Any ideas?
my parents have a touring 2020 i put bass at 7 and volume at 20
DAYUUUUMMMMMMMM. HAHAHAHHA CAR GO BRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Is it all wheel drive?
Hey man can u do a dodge charger Harman kardon sound system
We'll do our best!
Do you think this system is better than the b&o in the Audi sq5?
The B&O is far superior
Can you play TH-cam music with this system?
Only through a phone
❤
A good system has 2 woofers 2 tweeters and a sub.
Thats all you need.
Mix my Kia Optima sound better just listening to the video of the Subaru LOL
YOUR SILLOHETTE LOOKS LIKE DARTH VADER.
Hello
Bonjour!
baby song smh
i play songs with so much bass u cant hear the rapping