Is the stock sound system good?

murcod · Thu Jun 27, 2013 2:31 am

Can anyone post pics of the "Harman Kardon" system? We don't seem to get it here in Australia.

Pyramid1 · Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:47 am

murcod wrote:Can anyone post pics of the "Harman Kardon" system? We don't seem to get it here in Australia.

Unless Suzuki made a switch in some markets, (all the 13's I've seen in the US have either the RF system or the generic looking nav headunit with no sub) then I think he has Harmon Kardon confused with Rockford Fosgate.

fjroman2 · Thu Jun 27, 2013 1:03 pm

I wasn't talking about the head unit...just the speakers. I was told by the Suzuki Rep that the speakers were Harmon Karden. I wouldn't be able to tell unless I removed the door panel...

murcod · Fri Jun 28, 2013 3:00 am

fjroman2 wrote:I wasn't talking about the head unit...just the speakers. I was told by the Suzuki Rep that the speakers were Harmon Karden. I wouldn't be able to tell unless I removed the door panel...

Interesting. Possibly not the truth??? Usually you'll see the brand name plastered all over the speaker covers if they're a high end brand.

fjroman2 · Fri Jun 28, 2013 5:59 pm

Hey, anything is possible. There are no markings on the speaker covers, but what I do know is the sound is crisp, bass is ample and power is plenty for my needs. I'll take a flashlight and peek through the cover to see if I can see any kind of marking.

I guess the thing that makes me think that they are good speakers, other than the sound, is why on earth would they put a great RF system in the lower class vehicle and then skimp on the SLS? I have to believe that it is a high quality speaker.

The other thing that is funny, yet irritating, I still see 2013 SLS's advertised with 10 speaker RF systems. The sales teams don't have a clue what they are selling and that is disappointing.

smsmart · Sat Jun 29, 2013 12:36 am

fjroman2 wrote:Hey, anything is possible. There are no markings on the speaker covers, but what I do know is the sound is crisp, bass is ample and power is plenty for my needs. I'll take a flashlight and peek through the cover to see if I can see any kind of marking.

I guess the thing that makes me think that they are good speakers, other than the sound, is why on earth would they put a great RF system in the lower class vehicle and then skimp on the SLS? I have to believe that it is a high quality speaker.

The other thing that is funny, yet irritating, I still see 2013 SLS's advertised with 10 speaker RF systems. The sales teams don't have a clue what they are selling and that is disappointing.

If there are any markings on the speakers, I seriously doubt they would be visible on the cone. Probably on the backside of the speaker.

I don't know, the SLS (w/navi) got funky treatment with the audio. They put RF in the pre 2013 models but paired the speakers and sub with essentially an aftermarket headunit as an afterthought. As a result, the mismatch between the speaker level connection on the speakers and the line level on the headunit from what I can tell totally underutilizes the power of the RF system. Particularly the lackluster performance of the sub.

Since they totally omitted an amp & sub for the 2013 model, my guess is that they just gave up trying to marry the RF system with the navi headunit and included just the basic speaker system.

murcod · Sat Jun 29, 2013 4:51 am

Money..... the Rockford Fosgate gear would have cost a lot more $$$. It's probably cheaper for them to fit the no-name nav head unit and most people would be more attracted to a feature like GPS Navigation (and reversing camera) over the Rockford Fosgate speakers/ amp.