Scratchy sound from HK system

[wjbender]

I have the HK sound system in my F15 and the vocals sound scratchy, or distorted. I expected crisp clear sound throughout the range - I am disappointed. This is a new vehicle with 1200 miles on it. I'm looking for advise. Has anyone else had this problem with HK?

[buckeyewalt]

I have the HK in my vehicle too and honestly, it's an Ok system, nothing great. Although you do have the added adjustments over the standard system, the sound is just not there. Maybe it's the big open cabin, I don't know, but not very impressed. I have a Chevy Cruze as a beater and it has the optional Pioneer 9 speaker system and I swear it sounds better in some ways than the HK system.

[Doanster]

Should definitely not be scratchy. Do you think it's localized to one speaker or tweeter over others? I'd play some content that exacerbates the issue and then use the balance/fader to isolate each corner to see if a hardware/connection issue or not.
If you rule that out, I'd check the EQ settings. Maybe the factory set the bands way high? "S" sounds can def be hissy if the settings are too high.

[MattBianco]

There are only a few places this could come from, and you have control over the first -point of origin- only.

Recording>amplifications>transmission>speaker

If it is in all the speakers (try fader/balance) then it has to be the amplifier.

If it is the amplifier, try with FM, USB, Bluetooth, and Sat.radio if you have it to see if it is a particular section. Also try left / right balance again as amps can get damaged in one channel only some times.

At any rate, unless it is the recording, dealer should repair/replace.

[wjbender]

Originally Posted by MattBianco

There are only a few places this could come from, and you have control over the first -point of origin- only.

Recording>amplifications>transmission>speaker

If it is in all the speakers (try fader/balance) then it has to be the amplifier.

If it is the amplifier, try with FM, USB, Bluetooth, and Sat.radio if you have it to see if it is a particular section. Also try left / right balance again as amps can get damaged in one channel only some times.

At any rate, unless it is the recording, dealer should repair/replace.

Thanks - good advise. I'll try some different sound sources and try to see if it is isolated to only one speaker.