H/K Logic7 system blown?

[Abram]

Hi everyone, new round here but I’ve still got more questions to ask.

I’m loving my LR4, however, there’s one area where I’m not sure if I’m experiencing an issue or if I just have different expectations. So to my understanding I have the 825W HK Logic7 setup which on paper at least should be a perfectly adequate stereo.

What I am experiencing though, is the thinnest, tinniest, flat and hollow sound I’ve ever heard in a vehicle. Now I have realistic expectations in that this is a 12 year old truck, but it DOES feel like something is “wrong”. Initially out of habit I tried connecting my audio source (an iPhone) via Bluetooth, and while this does work, it was really just unusable for music and barely passable for podcasts. When I switched to using the USB line in and treating my iPhone like an iPod it did improve a little but still far from what I would call acceptable. As a point of reference, if I just play music over my iPhone’s built in speakers it sounds both louder and fuller/richer, which in my opinion should absolutely not be the case.

I still need to try the AUX port and dig up some CDs to rule out source variables but I would like to figure out where (if at all) the point of failure is.

I’ve tried some different EQ settings that I’ve found in old threads here but nothing has really improved the output. Could this be that one or more of the speakers are failing? The amp? Built in subwoofer? I’m not an audiophile or even an audio expert but I am an avid music listener and can surely tell when something is off sound-wise.

If there are any tests I can run or tools you’re aware of to diagnose audio issues, I’m all ears. (Pun intended.)

 

[MellonRover]

Is the sub in the tailgate door working? They have been known to fail and that makes for follow tinny sound all around

 

[Nechaken]

That sounds... really weird actually. I find if I turn up the bass a little bit, the system can be pretty booming with the right songs. Are you sure the levels on the iPhone and the audio system itself are turned up ? I want to say that there is a screen where you set the relative volume of the bluetooth vs the navigation audio vs whatever. Perhaps that got messed with ? You could certainly play with balance/fader to check each speaker, generally, as well as find a frequency generator app on the iPhone to see if there is a problem with just the low-end vs high-end sounds...

 

[Abram]

I’ll check the sub in the tailgate and double check that my audio settings are correct on both the head unit and my phone (our other vehicle uses CarPlay so it just “works”)

But yeah it’s really weird. It’s just like there’s only high frequency coming through. No mid range or bass.

 

[Abram]

Just following up, I did a test as best I could to isolate each speaker and confirmed at the very least there is still sound coming from each one and the subwoofer is connected / working. I then had the thought to just really crank the volume and that did improve things but I don't want to have to listen to everything at 80%+ volume (especially if I'm having to play the Frozen soundtrack for my daughter lol)

It's still just otherwise completely flat audio, no mid range at all. I wish I could record it and share to properly illustrate it but the best analogy I can offer is imagine listening to AM radio over a mono speaker.

 

[Tapps33]

What year is your LR4? There are different power outputs for different year models. (2010/11 had a 650Watt (ish, I can't remember the specific number) system and 2012+ had a 1250watt system).

I'm wondering if there's an issue with your amp or your speakers. I know this is a silly question, but have you checked the audio settings in the system? There's a distinct chance your door woofers are blown. Have you pulled the door panels and looked at them? I'm assuming you have the premium system which has 3 speakers in each door. One center channel in the dash and 2 surrounds in the rear quarter pillars. (Then obviously the subwoofer in the tailgate.)

Everything you're describing sounds to me like blown speakers. That makes sense in a 12 year old vehicle.

 

[Abram]

I agree in thinking that it's blown speakers, that's been the only viable explanation I've found thus far. My LR4 is a 2012 with the upgraded Harmon Kardon system, I believe according to the spec sheet it was an 825w system but I'm not 100% certain.

I'll just add it to my growing list of things to fix haha. I'm taking care of all the mechanical things first so this will have to wait.

 

[itsaguything]

I agree in thinking that it's blown speakers, that's been the only viable explanation I've found thus far. My LR4 is a 2012 with the upgraded Harmon Kardon system, I believe according to the spec sheet it was an 825w system but I'm not 100% certain.

I'll just add it to my growing list of things to fix haha. I'm taking care of all the mechanical things first so this will have to wait.

reminds me... working on my first car with the very limited budget of a high school student... the stereo was the priority item, lol.

 

[mateored]

Definitely something wrong. I have a 2011 with the HK Logic7 system, and the sound is actually pretty good and plenty loud (for reference, I used to be into fairly high-end home audio, and on top of that, my hearing has deteriorated the last few years). I play almost everything over bluetooth iPhone connection (using the Bovee dongle). It could be blown speakers, but I think a faulty amp is more likely -- maybe even a blown fuse. I forget how these systems are set up, but I think there are multiple amps. Maybe one or more of them has a blown fuse? If not, you may have a dead/broken amp. If it were a speaker problem, you'd still hear some speakers working better than others - it would be pretty obvious -- unless they blew ALL the speakers!

 

[Tapps33]

Definitely something wrong. I have a 2011 with the HK Logic7 system, and the sound is actually pretty good and plenty loud (for reference, I used to be into fairly high-end home audio, and on top of that, my hearing has deteriorated the last few years). I play almost everything over bluetooth iPhone connection (using the Bovee dongle). It could be blown speakers, but I think a faulty amp is more likely -- maybe even a blown fuse. I forget how these systems are set up, but I think there are multiple amps. Maybe one or more of them has a blown fuse? If not, you may have a dead/broken amp. If it were a speaker problem, you'd still hear some speakers working better than others - it would be pretty obvious -- unless they blew ALL the speakers!

Good point…

FYI, there’s only 1 amp for this system. 2010/11, it’s under the passenger seat. 2012+ it’s behind the right rear trim panel.