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2014 Audio Impressions... Any out there?

16K views 50 replies 26 participants last post by  garymb5150 
#1 ·
Curious if anyone has had a chance to listen to the stereo in the Overland and compare it to the upgraded one standard in the Summit? If so, is it a noticeable difference? Is it mostly more bass that the Summit system offers?
 
#2 ·
I tried to test it in the Overland but I was with the wife. She didn't like me turning it to the hard rock channels and trying to turn it up! :banghead:

How can you go wrong with 19 speakers in the Summit?! :w00t:
 
#5 ·
The Overland stereo is phenomanal in my opion vs my 2011. It's super clean and I have to adjust the bass to a negative number. I think maybe the biggest benefit now is the new 8.4 pushing it.
 
#8 ·
are the 14's equipped with sirius or xm or is it combined now? haven't been able to see one yet, going to order sight unseen. i like sirius for the football and xm for the baseball. and of course E Street Radio
 
#9 · (Edited)
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#11 ·
I am very interested in this as well. My first test I didn't notice too much difference, at least not $2000 worth. Since I have another month to decide with the CRD delay, I will go try again soon with some pre-selected music on my iphone.

Also, is there a listing of the file formats for music that can be put on the SD card?
 
#13 ·
What is the typical range for an HD radio station? I have one close by and a few about 50 miles away. Should I even bother?

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I believe it is supposed to be similar to the AM and FM signal coverage. I have never had an opportunity to try it out though to know for sure.
 
#14 ·
This is my first experience with HD radio - I must say, I'm stunned at the quality of the audio! There are several HD stations in my area; I find myself listening to them as much or more than any channel on Sirius XM. I believe the audio quality on HD is better than Sirius, also. Each HD channel broadcasts two separate signals from one station - same format (e.g.; country or rock) but different artists on each signal from the same station. (I know; I know; HD's been around awhile - I'm just now catching up!)
 
#15 ·
I have been thinking about getting a '14 Overland, but the chance to get the HK Stereo with 19 Speakers in the Summit is very Tempting !!

Anymore input out there about the Overland Stereo ? Is it "good enough" to be the ONLY reason not to get the Summit ?
 
#16 ·
Common sense says go to a dealer with an SD card of your music and crank each system. My ears aren't the same as yours and nobody here will be able to tell you exactly how it sounds. The 14's are out everywhere... that's what test drives and dealerships are for.

While the '14 Alpine system in the Overland cannot compete with a well designed and implemented after-market setup, I'm very happy with it.

In every vehicle I've ever owned, I've added at least a subwoofer...often a subwoofer and new front speakers...if not all speakers.

I'm extremely pleased with the Overland system so far. Everything is really tight, the highs are OK, and the bass is better than expected. Still a bit muddy and probably doesn't dip much below 45Hz

That being said, I will likely be upgrading the sub at some point so it can hit the lowest of the lows and upgrading just the front components to crisp things up. But I'll be in no rush to do this because i'm happy with it as-is.

I haven't heard the HK system in the summit, but I can't imagine that I wouldn't replace the subwoofer in that as well.

One thing I noticed is that It's a good system which will make poor quality audio sound extra poor and vice versa.

It should NOT be the only reason you get the Summit. Get the Overland and spend under $1k to upgrade the sub and front components if you need more. It'd outperform the HK i'm sure.
 
#17 ·
Common sense says go to a dealer with an SD card of your music and crank each system. My ears aren't the same as yours and nobody here will be able to tell you exactly how it sounds. The 14's are out everywhere... that's what test drives and dealerships are for.
Great Reply and Yes, that Makes Sense - with trying to decide what model, color, and leather to get, I have lost track of all Common Sense lately !!

I will make a SD Card tonight to test out this Weekend !!

Thanks !! :)
 
#18 ·
I have the upgraded radio on my 14' limited, it's nice, when listening to Sirius its really clear, to me, I thought it would be a lot louder. Not a biggy though I listen to my tunes real low, I'm so used to driving sh!t cars I like to listen to drive line sounds. I didn't buy mine for the sound of the radio so much, but for the Navigation, and upgraded radio features. Just wish I could figure out if it has driver/passenger memory, and if so how to get it to work lol
 
#20 ·
Both are excellent. Wife's car is a Mercedes with a Harman Kardon system. So I was a little surprised how good the standard radio is so I opted not for the upgrade. Sound reproduction on both is Great,but I didn't think it was worth the upgrade on a Limited.
 
#23 ·
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe if you leave a usb stick plugged in it will draw some current, probably not enough to be a problem, even when your cars not running. SD cards don't. Like I said, probably won't be enough current to cause a problem.
 
#26 ·
I can tell you from my experience. 2011 alpine sounded good just lacked good bass. My new 2014 Summit with the HK is completely different and I'm not sure i like it. Boomy and treble is high tinny sounding. Also Sirius Sounds like complete crap now compared to my 2011 Overland. I also wish they would have offered a feel equalizer and subwoofer control. It needs it badly. For now I guess I just have to get us to it.
 
#27 ·
How does the HD radio sound compared to Sirius? In a test drive I thought the HD had a much better sound than Sirius.
 
#28 · (Edited)
HD is nice and the fm is actually louder than Sirius. I'm still trying to fine tune things. It seems you need all the levels on the equalizer in the negitive direction which is strange to think. I wish they gave us an actually frequency equalizer. That would help fine tune things better. Also thinking the speakers need to break in a little which also might help. I will keep you posted.
 
#30 ·
I was debating with the dealer about getting the CD player.. I hated to give up the room in the console. He said I can just transfer all my CDs to the JGC and not have to even carry them with me anymore! He was no help on HOW to do that! I am no genius when it comes to this..I still have albums and cassettes!! HELP.....
 
#31 ·
No memory in the '14 unit to transfer music to, but you can transfer to a usb stick or a sd card and plug it in. There's quite a lengthy discussion on here somewhere abut it. Search sd card.
 
#36 ·
Not on the 2014 models. SD card or USB. You can get the optional CD player but that takes up room in the console
 
#38 ·
Update- seems the speaker broken a little and sounds a lot better plus I play more music off my SD memory card which sounds great. I still have issues with the tinny low bit type sound from Sirius and the radio. Just sound awful in my opinion. Even the HD FM the sound is tinny. If you stick with a SD card or even stream off your phone you should be fine. I'm thinking of canceling my Sirius after the trail due to the low bit sound quality that comes from this HK system.
 
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