XC60 '19 - Very tinny sound system

[Mishutka]

Hi there, I have an XC60 with the standard sound system. This is my 4th Volvo this decade, having had a V40XC, V60, and V60XC.

The sound from the radio/speakers is very tinny (ie there is little bass) and extremely so in the back of the car. There is evidently no sound at all from behind the passenger in the back seat, unlike with my previous cars. I took it in to the dealers and all they did was to change the settings on the tone and equaliser, which I had already tried.

2 questions.
- Is this normal or do I have a fault that I should press with the dealers?
- If it is normal, is there anything that can be done with aftermarket speakers.

It is such a shame - I love the car except for this

[Milliner]

The sound system in my XC90 is anything but tinny. I can't imagine the XC60 system is very different, if at all.

I do have the optional subwoofer, but I gather it enhances the bass frequency, rather than being solely responsible for it (so I hear - I never tried one without it though)

Loose/dodgy amplified connection possibly? I'd pursue it with the dealer anyway.

[crazyp]

Upgraded sound was more or less the only thing I didn't spec on mine (I'd managed to get up to about £57000 and that was enough for me).

I was initially disappointed with the sound for DAB - although adjusting the bias / balance sorted this out and it's "fine" without being amazing.

However, when playing MP3d via USB the sound is excellent, and not tinny at all.

I'm glad for not spec'ing the upgrade (for me, others' mileage may vary).

It sounds like something is not right with your system.

[familymangreg]

Originally Posted by Milliner

The sound system in my XC90 is anything but tinny. I can't imagine the XC60 system is very different, if at all.

I do have the optional subwoofer, but I gather it enhances the bass frequency, rather than being solely responsible for it (so I hear - I never tried one without it though)

Loose/dodgy amplified connection possibly? I'd pursue it with the dealer anyway.

I also have the optional sub, and this is what I think: If you adjust the equaliser setting to what I think it calls the dynamic preset, and move up the sub and base sliders, the sound *in the front of the car* is pretty nice, and not at all tinny. However, if you adjust the slider to fade more sound backwards in the car for the rear seat passenger, the sound very quickly looses all body, and becomes very tinny. There is a sweet spot, where you just about get enough sound in the back of the car so that the rear passenger don't feel as it it is 100% coming from the front, and you still have a bit of body. But if you fade it back to about centre on the slider graphic, the sound is absolutely crap, very flat and tinny with no body.

So I'm happy with it just about, but I don't think its a great system at all, the rear speakers are crap.

I wonder if the H&K system has addressed this in the later models.

:wq

[SwissXC90]

Check each and every speaker using the Fader and Balance, and your ear against the speaker grill

You may have some failed speakers.

[Sphinx2000]

With a standard 10 speaker setup, I think you get 3 speakers each in the front doors, and 2 each in the rear doors.

Harman kardon adds 2 speakers in the rear roof and 1 sub - making 13 speakers in total.

Bowers and wilkins adds more 2 speakers in the dash - making 15 in total.

[mr rusty]

I find the standard sound system in my V90 just fine. However two comments

1) I echo the previous post re fader and equaliser - needs tweaking to get a sweet spot - and I'm only bothered about me in the front.
2) UK DAB to me always seems weak as far as fidelity is concerned. Switching between eg a BBC DAB station and e.g. Radio Paradise on Tune-in and the difference to me is significant.

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by mr rusty

I find the standard sound system in my V90 just fine. However two comments

1) I echo the previous post re fader and equaliser - needs tweaking to get a sweet spot - and I'm only bothered about me in the front.
2) UK DAB to me always seems weak as far as fidelity is concerned. Switching between eg a BBC DAB station and e.g. Radio Paradise on Tune-in and the difference to me is significant.

Techmoan explains why many DAB stations sound bad

[YOUTUBE]https://youtu.be/27w3quNTP84[/YOUTUBE]

[Chief inspector]

There is a bit of a hole in the frequency response in the lower mid range, a lad somewhere done a full analysis of it, and i agree

I had hoped someone would would make a retrofit crossover for the front doors as it looks like thats the problem.

Top and bottom is good on it you fiddle with the equaliser, but the middle is tinny, quite noticeable on piano parts.

[Quonker]

I decided against upgrading the sound system in my S90 as the standard system in the test vehicle I drove for a weekend seemed really good.

I've got the T8 so it's got the optional air subwoofer, whatever that is, and I'm really pleased with its performance.

It sounds better than my previous Merc which had the upgraded Burmeister system.