Harman Kardon sound settings for great sound?

Ressu82 · 09-16-2021, 05:27 AM

Hey Guys.

I´ve been trying to tune my HK for optimization of the sound.
Can each one of you share the sound Customizations of the Surround and equalizer?

Tks

Safe driving!

CJ421 · 09-16-2021, 08:12 PM

I left mine at default and I think it sounds pretty good, though I am also interested if anyone has settings to share.

Charles

Westside Guy · 09-17-2021, 09:10 AM

I increased the treble and bass and then moved the equalizer over to a heavier bass position.

If you play music downloaded on your cell phone and it is a lossless audio codec it will be superior to listening to Sirius radio.

Smudge10 · 11-22-2023, 03:42 PM

I thought I would resurrect this thread, as it is a topic that is important to a lot of us.

In previous cars, I have added an amp and upgraded the speakers. However, in my M40i, since it is the most expensive car I have owned and because it is difficult to get access to replace all the speakers, I am trying to live with the HK system.

With tweaks, it sounds pretty good! I thought I would share my settings to safe some of you some time. So hear goes:

Use Bimmercode to get the B&W profile. Set the sound profile to: "Stage".

Then I used the settings from this video (

) giving credit where credit is due.

Here are the settings for quick reference:

Surround: +1
Treble: +3
Base: +3
100 Hz: +6
200 Hz: -6
500 Hz: +3
1K Hz: +2
2K Hz: 0
5K Hz: -2
10K Hz: -1

I think it sounds pretty good! YMMV

MisanoblueZ4 · 11-22-2023, 09:35 PM

I decided to crank everything. Turning off logic 7 instantly makes the sound weaker to my ears so I leave it on.

So logic 7 on, surround setting all the way to right or 1 from farthest right. (Depends on how much you want to activate those rear speakers)

Went into EQ and turned every setting to max.
On main audio screen set the treble up 2 or 3 from middle default, set bass to 5 from middle default.

This makes the audio much louder at lower volume and is now my preferred settings.

IMO anything showing radio settings in a 4 door cabin is not relatable to our small cockpits, i tried some of those and always felt it sounded worse lol.

SpeedyATL · 11-23-2023, 09:22 AM

This works pretty well for me....

bacampbe · 11-28-2023, 04:54 PM

How does the EQ interact with the treble and bass levels? I see people cranking the treble and bass, then adjusting EQ, but doesn't the EQ override that?

MisanoblueZ4 · 11-29-2023, 01:47 PM

So I changed my settings around lol, I no longer max out the EQ in each column. Started with everything level/default. Only went up in some of lower bass frequencies and slight adjustment in the treble frequencies.

Messing around with settings in the garage with top up car off sounds much different when car is on the road with top down.

I’m pretty satisfied now and will refrain for more maddening adjustments…..spend more time futzing with EQ’s then driving lol.

09-16-2021, 05:27 AM	#1
Ressu82 New Member 7 Rep 6 Posts Drives: BMW Z4(G29) 2021 Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Lisbon iTrader: (0)	Harman Kardon sound settings for great sound? Hey Guys. I´ve been trying to tune my HK for optimization of the sound. Can each one of you share the sound Customizations of the Surround and equalizer? Tks Safe driving!
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09-16-2021, 08:12 PM	#2
CJ421 Brigadier General 1534 Rep 4,103 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blue Bell, PA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M3 Sedan [9.50]	I left mine at default and I think it sounds pretty good, though I am also interested if anyone has settings to share. Charles __________________ 2024 BMW M3 Sedan Frozen Pure Grey II/Fjord Blue, 6MT Past: 2021 Z4 M40i Frozen Grey II/Black Alcantara \| 2017 F30 340i Mineral Gray/Coral Red, 6MT \| 2011 E92 335i Le Mans Blue/Black, 6MT
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09-17-2021, 09:10 AM	#3
Westside Guy Brigadier General 5698 Rep 4,390 Posts Drives: 2022 Z4 M40i, 2021 228i GC Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Hallandale Beach, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 BMW Z4 M40i [9.81] 2021 BMW 228i Gran ... [7.83]	I increased the treble and bass and then moved the equalizer over to a heavier bass position. If you play music downloaded on your cell phone and it is a lossless audio codec it will be superior to listening to Sirius radio.
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11-22-2023, 03:42 PM	#4
Smudge10 Private 137 Rep 83 Posts Drives: BMW Z4 M40i, MINI Cooper JCW Join Date: May 2022 Location: Princeton, NJ iTrader: (0)	I thought I would resurrect this thread, as it is a topic that is important to a lot of us. In previous cars, I have added an amp and upgraded the speakers. However, in my M40i, since it is the most expensive car I have owned and because it is difficult to get access to replace all the speakers, I am trying to live with the HK system. With tweaks, it sounds pretty good! I thought I would share my settings to safe some of you some time. So hear goes: Use Bimmercode to get the B&W profile. Set the sound profile to: "Stage". Then I used the settings from this video ( ) giving credit where credit is due. Here are the settings for quick reference: Surround: +1 Treble: +3 Base: +3 100 Hz: +6 200 Hz: -6 500 Hz: +3 1K Hz: +2 2K Hz: 0 5K Hz: -2 10K Hz: -1 I think it sounds pretty good! YMMV
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11-22-2023, 09:35 PM	#5
MisanoblueZ4 Lieutenant 1369 Rep 573 Posts Drives: 2021 Z4 M40I Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0)	I decided to crank everything. Turning off logic 7 instantly makes the sound weaker to my ears so I leave it on. So logic 7 on, surround setting all the way to right or 1 from farthest right. (Depends on how much you want to activate those rear speakers) Went into EQ and turned every setting to max. On main audio screen set the treble up 2 or 3 from middle default, set bass to 5 from middle default. This makes the audio much louder at lower volume and is now my preferred settings. IMO anything showing radio settings in a 4 door cabin is not relatable to our small cockpits, i tried some of those and always felt it sounded worse lol.
	Appreciate 1 Westside Guy5698.00 Quote

11-23-2023, 09:22 AM	#6
SpeedyATL Major 1871 Rep 1,138 Posts Drives: Z4 M40 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: GA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Yamaha FZ-09 [10.00] 2018 BMW S1000XR [9.83] 2018 BMW R1200RT [10.00] 2023 BMW X4 [7.88] 2022 BMW Z4 [9.78]	This works pretty well for me.... Attached Images __________________ 2022 Z4 M40 Alpine White/Magma Red 2023 X4 30i MSport BSM/Cognac 2018 BMW S1000XR & BMW R1200RT 2015 Yamaha FZ-09
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11-28-2023, 04:54 PM	#7
bacampbe Lieutenant 348 Rep 530 Posts Drives: 2024 Z4 M40i PB Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	How does the EQ interact with the treble and bass levels? I see people cranking the treble and bass, then adjusting EQ, but doesn't the EQ override that?
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11-29-2023, 01:47 PM	#8
MisanoblueZ4 Lieutenant 1369 Rep 573 Posts Drives: 2021 Z4 M40I Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0)	So I changed my settings around lol, I no longer max out the EQ in each column. Started with everything level/default. Only went up in some of lower bass frequencies and slight adjustment in the treble frequencies. Messing around with settings in the garage with top up car off sounds much different when car is on the road with top down. I’m pretty satisfied now and will refrain for more maddening adjustments…..spend more time futzing with EQ’s then driving lol.
	Appreciate 0 Quote