GR86 Standard audio - my sound settings

[ArfurAnt]

I changed to the recommended settings before driving home today along the M4 and a detour along Ermin St and they are a massive improvement. Many thanks!

 

[Beans]

I agree, it's improved with these settings so thanks. I have upped the bass to about -5 and treble up slightly too to my taste. Sounding good.

I'll be going for the focal upgrade soon and thought I'd need a small in line amp, but maybe not needing that much work to get decent sound after all!

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[OldManMarkoos]

I have also applied your settings.
Much better, thanks!

 

[JonBon]

Earlier today I made a comment in the confessions thread that I thought the stereo in our cars was pretty good sounding for a standard system. Whilst it doesn't have anywhere near the bass or power of my previous F-Type (with Meridian Surround System) I find our cars have a far more pleasing sound once the settings are tweaked.

Whilst I'm no audiophile, I'm not averse to spending a bit of money in getting a good head unit, subwoofer, amp, speakers and soundproofing to improve sound where necessary. Before I go down that route (which I'd prefer to avoid due the weight gain and of course, the not inconsiderable cost) I thought I'd try to get the best out of the standard system first.

My music taste is generally 80/90s rock - The Police, U2, REM, Alanis Morissette, The Strokes, The Lemonheads, Jamiroquai etc. The settings are of course personal to me and depending on my mood, the time of day and what I'm listening to, I may play around with them, but below is what I have landed on.

To access the sound settings via the infotainment screen, select:

• Home (physical button)
• Settings (button on on the screen)
• Sound (from top menu on the screen)

Then you can select from the following options in the 'Audio settings' menu:

Sound customisation
Equaliser
Bass: -8
Mid: -2
Treble: -9

Balance/Fader
Reset

Vocal Image Control
Reset

Virtual Stage Enhancer
This menu option only appears when you have tapped the Vocal Image Control button mentioned above
Mid

Sound restorer
Off

Virtual Bass
Med

Dynamic Beat Enhancer
Mid

I applied these settings this weekend and I’m pleased with the results. Definitely was too much bass before. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Silver Fox]

Can now confirm that @leosayer 's revised settings can handle Intergalactic by the Beastie Boys (aka the car speaker wrecker) at good volume.

Mission accomplished I'd say!

 

[Nigel L]

So, have just been out to the car to change the radio settings, as in the Op’s original post.
Got as far as Virtual Stage Enhancer all ok, but cannot then see the next stages, ie, sound restorer, Virtual bass and dynamic Beat Enhancer.
Any pointers would be much appreciated, from a technophobe Luddite

 

[leosayer]

So, have just been out to the car to change the radio settings, as in the Op’s original post.
Got as far as Virtual Stage Enhancer all ok, but cannot then see the next stages, ie, sound restorer, Virtual bass and dynamic Beat Enhancer.
Any pointers would be much appreciated, from a technophobe Luddite

Follow these steps to find (what I will call) the 'Audio options menu' ie. ie, sound restorer, Virtual bass and dynamic Beat Enhancer.

• Home (physical button)
• Settings (button on on the screen)
• Sound (from top menu on the screen)
• Audio

If you accessed the 'Sound Customisation' menu (bass, treble etc) from the 4 steps above then you should see a back button to get back to the Audio options list.

If you accessed the 'Sound Customisation' menu (bass, treble etc) from a long press on the TUNE dial then the back button doesn't appear so you can't get to the audio options menu from there. Follow the 4 steps above to get to the audio options menu.

 

[Nigel L]

Hi, many thanks for the reply.
still drawing a blank
starting screen,

If I press the settings symbol, it takes me to this screen

If I press the symbol above it, it takes me straight to the Sound Customisation screen, and I can then get to the Virtual Stage Enhancer screen ok. But, then when I press the Back button, it just takes me back to the Sound Customisation page

But when I then press the back button, it just takes me back to the Sound Customisation screen

Sorry about the picture heavy reply, but just keep going around in circles.

 

[Conscript]

Try this button to get to settings instead....

...I think by using the Settings cog button on the DAB screen it's taking you to a different sound customisation screen which is missing some of the functions, maybe? Worth a shot.

 

[leosayer]

Hi, many thanks for the reply.
still drawing a blank
starting screen,
View attachment 14113If I press the settings symbol, it takes me to this screen
View attachment 14114
If I press the symbol above it, it takes me straight to the Sound Customisation screen, and I can then get to the Virtual Stage Enhancer screen ok. But, then when I press the Back button, it just takes me back to the Sound Customisation page
View attachment 14115
View attachment 14116
View attachment 14117
View attachment 14118
But when I then press the back button, it just takes me back to the Sound Customisation screen
View attachment 14119
Sorry about the picture heavy reply, but just keep going around in circles.

Use the the physical home button with the picture of a house on it as circled below. Your button might be on the other side of your screen:

Then press the settings button on the screen. You might need you scroll around to find out on your screen:

Then the sound button:

Then the audio button:

And you're there!

 

[Nigel L]

Thank you so much, now sorted
On the plus side, it has made me look around the different menus in the settings, and so getting to know the car betterOnce again , many thanks.
A great and helpful forum.

 

[Conscript]

Just been out for a bit of an extended drive while on my way to the supermarket and listened to Leosayers playlist. At first I wasn't sure it it was much different....and then I put on Sledgehammer, which, of course, should only be played loud, whilst singing along.

That's where you notice the improvement of the settings...less distortion at higher volumes. Sounded very good. Same also for aforementioned Sabotage by Beastie Boys. Cracking.

 

[Toy Toy]

I find our cars have a far more pleasing sound once the settings are tweaked.
Feedback appreciated!

Leo, you’re a genius!! I tried your settings and it was like the first time I’d heard the music, totally transformative for my (very average) ears…thanks so much. The standard settings are clearly abysmal haha

Did you manage it by trial and error or is there theory behind it?

 

[leosayer]

Leo, you’re a genius!! I tried your settings and it was like the first time I’d heard the music, totally transformative for my (very average) ears…thanks so much. The standard settings are clearly abysmal haha

Did you manage it by trial and error or is there theory behind it?

No theory other than wanting to do something about the boomy bass and harsh treble.

I thought turning them would be a good place to start and I was surprised how much better that sounded. After that it was just a case of fine tuning everything.

 

[beorg]

Thank you for posting your audio settings @leosayer, they're a vast improvement over the stock setup, especially at louder volumes.

Are you still considering the audio upgrade? OEM Audio Plus looks like a nice and easy one to do but I don't believe they ship to the UK at the moment.

 

[leosayer]

Thank you for posting your audio settings @leosayer, they're a vast improvement over the stock setup, especially at louder volumes.

Are you still considering the audio upgrade? OEM Audio Plus looks like a nice and easy one to do but I don't believe they ship to the UK at the moment.

Before I took delivery I was considering an audio upgrade in conjunction with some soundproofing but now I've had the car for a few months I don't consider either of them necessary.

If it was a daily driver I might feel differently but quite simply I enjoy music through the stereo and I've never felt that the road noise is intolerable and it is in keeping with the relative light weight of the car.

 

[grzoostuff]

Thread revival, was looking at the focal speakers but remembered a forum member suggested some settings to better the stock speakers.
So finally got round to trying these settings now.
Cheers

 

[ravydavygravy]

Thanks. Can actually turn the volume up now without the car shaking itself apart.

 

[RumbleandSway]

Earlier today I made a comment in the confessions thread that I thought the stereo in our cars was pretty good sounding for a standard system. Whilst it doesn't have anywhere near the bass or power of my previous F-Type (with Meridian Surround System) I find our cars have a far more pleasing sound once the settings are tweaked.

Whilst I'm no audiophile, I'm not averse to spending a bit of money in getting a good head unit, subwoofer, amp, speakers and soundproofing to improve sound where necessary. Before I go down that route (which I'd prefer to avoid due the weight gain and of course, the not inconsiderable cost) I thought I'd try to get the best out of the standard system first.

My music taste is generally 80/90s rock - The Police, U2, REM, Alanis Morissette, The Strokes, The Lemonheads, Jamiroquai etc. The settings are of course personal to me and depending on my mood, the time of day and what I'm listening to, I may play around with them, but below is what I have landed on.

To access the sound settings via the infotainment screen, select:

• Home (physical button)
• Settings (button on on the screen)
• Sound (from top menu on the screen)

Then you can select from the following options in the 'Audio settings' menu:

Sound customisation
Equaliser
Bass: -8
Mid: -2
Treble: -9

Balance/Fader
Reset

Vocal Image Control
Reset

Virtual Stage Enhancer
This menu option only appears when you have tapped the Vocal Image Control button mentioned above
Mid

Sound restorer
Off

Virtual Bass
Med

Dynamic Beat Enhancer
Mid

Feedback appreciated!

Installed the Focal IS165 Toy upgrade today - your settings and the upgrade All I’m ever going to need. Thank you

 

[KobayashiMaru86]

Some of us got the DSP and while it is "better" I'm not sure it's amazingly better but for £100 it's fine. The presets are good though as I lost patience with trying to manually tune it. Focals, doing some tweaks on just the headunit, some sound proofing and making sure door cars are pushed in before screwing in makes quite a big difference anyway.