McIntosh System

[bullymadison]

Hey all - new guy, Overland, love the thirsty Hemi!
Anyhoo - the McIntosh system is great - clear etc. does everyone’s volume go to 38? Seems like such a random number. Also - one of my speakers sounds blown like a torn paper speaker sounded back in the 80s. Anyone else getting this? I’m going in for my first tech recall (I feel like this is going to be at least an annual event)). Do you think warranty will cover the crap sound?

 

[JTaylor62]

The crap sound: Does this happen regardless of all the music you play? Try using a song you know is well recorded (e.g., I.G.Y. by Donald Fagan) using Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal (which has the best sound quality), etc.

Sometimes - and I have experienced this - if a song was recorded poorly (which is many songs from the 70s), I hear static. But with well recorded songs - I don't. My thoughts...

 

[nealtrombley]

The crap sound: Does this happen regardless of all the music you play? Try using a song you know is well recorded (e.g., I.G.Y. by Donald Fagan) using Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal (which has the best sound quality), etc.

Sometimes - and I have experienced this - if a song was recorded poorly (which is many songs from the 70s), I hear static. But with well recorded songs - I don't. My thoughts...

International Geophysical Year.... love Fagen

 

[bullymadison]

It’s the big low bass - but in can be anything from the Dead to sublime to The Clash to Cardi B. Just doesn’t make sense that such a high end system would have ANY flaws with a hard bass. Typically listening to SXM.

 

[Sarge]

It sounds like you have a blown speaker. That said, I have never heard Sirius XM that didn't sound horrible, due to their highly compressed algorithm.

For any kind of audio test of any stereo system, it's best to use a wired connection to higher bitrate music (Spotify high bitrate, Apple Music, iTunes, etc), or a bluetooth connection to the same music. But listen to anything remotely well-recorded or complex from your phone, and Sirius just falls flat on its face. I only listen to talk radio on Sirius. It's like comparing AM vs FM radio, essentially.

 

[Immtbiker]

Sirius XM is the equivalent of FM or a 192kbps mp3 file.

Amazon Prime HD and Ultra HD, is equal to the original CD sound, sometimes even better if it is a remastered recording. Other streaming services might offer the same sound quality. Turn down your bass in the equalizer setting (Audio Settings) and see if the distortion goes away. Also, listen to the Jazz channel #67 to get some real well recorded music, to see if you have the same problem.

 

[Sarge]

Just bought my Overland today, and after driving it over a thousand miles in one day, I found the bass to be way too boomy/strong. Turning down the bass to around -7, mid to around -2, and treble flat yields pretty natural/proper sound to mr. Normally I like a flat EQ, with maybe minor tweaks, but this one needed to really be cut back on the bass side.

And while I'm nearing 50, I used to a musician, have 'perfect pitch', have been an audiophile all my life, and my wife and I attend a lot of music festivals (such as Burning Man) and are accustomed to pretty big, powerful bass. This stock setup is just oddly bass heavy, but sounds very nice with it dialed back. The mids and highs are very detailed and pleasant.

Overall it sounds phenomenal for a stock OEM system. You'd have to get into triple digit vehicles to do better, and even then most are not as good.

My only complaint is the McIntosh speakers have already rattled something loose in the door panel forward of the interior door handle area on both the driver and passenger side. Pressing on the area makes the vibration stop (sounds like a chirping sort of rattle caused by upper mid bass). Seems like an engineering defect more than an assembly defect.

 

[JTaylor62]

I too have a good ear. A nice sound system is a must. I feel your pain with the rattle. At least your vehicle is still under warranty and hopefully the dealer can fix it. Fortunately, I haven't experienced this problem (yet). I have almost 4,000 miles on my GCL. I have a 21 model - do you have a 21 or 22? I hoping for all the Jeep GCL or GC lovers - they dial in their quality with future vehicles. The one thing I do like about the McIntosh system: Even if I turn up the volume to its max - I hear no noticeable distortion. I listen to the bass at +2 and the treble at +2 - that setting works for me. I have listened to the high end Bowers likens and Burmester from the Germans - and they are a tick better, but when considering the "bang for the buck" as the saying goes, the McIntosh does well. Especially if you listen to Tidal or other higher end streaming service (I do love Tidal). I plan to keep this vehicle for 3 years, and was hoping to get another GC or GCL except with a true hybrid. Looking forward to having a gas/EV model that can get at least 60 miles on a charge (hopefully they're at 60 miles/charge or higher by then). my thoughts...

 

[GCOverland]

I plan to keep this vehicle for 3 years, and was hoping to get another GC or GCL except with a true hybrid. Looking forward to having a gas/EV model that can get at least 60 miles on a charge (hopefully they're at 60 miles/charge or higher by then). my thoughts...

Hoping for the same. The news (or at least rumors) that there will be no GCL hybrid was a bummer for me. As much as I love the hybrid, I also love the size of the L but that's a topic for a different thread...

 

[JTaylor62]

I agree, the hybrid is for a different thread. I'm thinking in the coming years, the EV landscape will change the automotive market. Once I see EV charging stations as plentiful (or almost as plentiful) as gas stations, the internal combustion engine will be relegated to special purpose vehicles.

 

[Sarge]

I too have a good ear. A nice sound system is a must. I feel your pain with the rattle. At least your vehicle is still under warranty and hopefully the dealer can fix it. Fortunately, I haven't experienced this problem (yet). I have almost 4,000 miles on my GCL. I have a 21 model - do you have a 21 or 22? I hoping for all the Jeep GCL or GC lovers - they dial in their quality with future vehicles. The one thing I do like about the McIntosh system: Even if I turn up the volume to its max - I hear no noticeable distortion. I listen to the bass at +2 and the treble at +2 - that setting works for me. I have listened to the high end Bowers likens and Burmester from the Germans - and they are a tick better, but when considering the "bang for the buck" as the saying goes, the McIntosh does well. Especially if you listen to Tidal or other higher end streaming service (I do love Tidal). I plan to keep this vehicle for 3 years, and was hoping to get another GC or GCL except with a true hybrid. Looking forward to having a gas/EV model that can get at least 60 miles on a charge (hopefully they're at 60 miles/charge or higher by then). my thoughts...

Mine is a '21. I didn't even see any 4x4 Overland V8 '22 models when I was looking last week. I have sometimes turned the bass up to 'flat'; When listening at higher volumes, it's fine, but at lower volumes mine seems very bass heavy.