More details for KEF Audio

[Subw00er]

Its probably not the sub, but the interior pressure vent. Its a little pressure active door just behind the subwoofer (pass side) and when you open the door quickly, it can swing the door up and when pressure equalizes, the door slams down. There is nothing wrong with the car, its just a.. thing.

 

[seriously]

Its probably not the sub, but the interior pressure vent. Its a little pressure active door just behind the subwoofer (pass side) and when you open the door quickly, it can swing the door up and when pressure equalizes, the door slams down. There is nothing wrong with the car, its just a.. thing.

I also get random pops while driving. No passenger so can’t pin it on them either

 

[Subw00er]

I also get random pops while driving. No passenger so can’t pin it on them either

I get these also at stop lights.. I think its a ground issue in the amp - likely not solvable. Fortunately, its not that annoying.

 

[seriously]

I get these also at stop lights.. I think its a ground issue in the amp - likely not solvable. Fortunately, its not that annoying.

that makes sense. It has a glitchy type feel to it. not that annoying, but it's there. if it's a ground issue, I'm sure it could be fixed?

 

[Subw00er]

that makes sense. It has a glitchy type feel to it. not that annoying, but it's there. if it's a ground issue, I'm sure it could be fixed?

I dont know, feels like an internal amp issue, or maybe some pump is firing off and its causing the pop. Its a pretty common problem with car audio systems and associated equipment that dont have good grounds. I'm not going off of any real data here, just experience and guessing. Because its seemingly random in execution, its likely some sub system turning on and off. I feel like I usually hear it on the back driver side speaker. Again, I didnt even notice it for 2000 miles and it doesnt bother me..

 

[CarGuy11]

Have there been any software updates to address the sound system? Could be included with any infotainment updates as well.

 

[KJWEmira]

This was asked before but I can’t find the resolution: My subwoofer “pops” when I get into the car sometimes. What’s the issue and how do I correct?

100% its the OEM subwoofer - This will only happen when opening the drivers door as the infotainment screen / system comes alive, you won't hear the "pop" when opening the passenger door - try it .

I've fully upgraded the sound system in my Emira and therefore do not experience this sound anymore.

It's not the air flap which some are suggesting...

 

[KJWEmira]

@Hell4Leather & @Subw00er - Here's the thread from May/June 2024 with others experiencing the same:-

B

Thread 'Popping noise near subwoofer'

May 27, 2024

Since I’ve picked up my Emira over a month ago, I’ve noticed a popping noise that comes from behind the drivers seat near/in the subwoofer. I think others experienced the same but has anyone had a fix for it? Over 2500 miles on the odo and it still happens with the music on or off whether the car is standing or moving. If I were to guess it happens once every few minutes. Not a big deal but would be helpful to pinpoint and have a fix for it.

• Blackthought_
• Replies: 43
• Forum: Lotus Emira Problems and Issues

 

[meenboli]

I did some testing this morning on my way to drop the car at the dealer. I had a heavy bass dance mix playing, 3 or 4 different songs with differing bass, instrument levels etc for a bit of variety.

With the windows up, even when the volume was cranked up to about 85-90%, the rattling was there but not anywhere like what I would consider "problem levels".

However, as soon as I opened the window the vibrations from behind me (the subwoofer I assume) were very prominent. When I then opened the passenger window too, it was at its worst. There seems to be a clear link between the "fresh air subwoofer" and the flow of air in the vehicle affecting audio performance.

Having briefly discussed this with the dealer, both of us not having heard of this before, it seems the simple fix would be to disable or limit the subwoofer when the windows go down. This would be a very simple thing to implement within one of the ECU's (by the manufacturer).

One theory I have is that due to the new-ness of the vehicle, its entirely possible KEF didn't have a moving vehicle for the production of the system and have built it in factory using an Emira mock shell, for testing internal dynamics and sizing for components. If they didn't have a moving vehicle (and / or didn't test with a window open), then they would not know about this issue. I will test later but I also think this is an issue when the vehicle is stationary, with the window open (which would suggest an electrical issue maybe, rather than airflow)

That said, this might not be a problem for others and would need further people to test. It seems to be an issue at all speeds so could easily and quickly be tested by existing owners. Hopefully we will hear more from others and we can go from there. Perhaps contacting KEF to see what their thoughts are and look at a simple solution to control the sub when the windows are open. In theory this behaviour might be the same when the AC is on full blast, as it might be in the summer for example. I can try that when I get my car back later.

Hi - did you ever sort this.? It described my audio exactly!

I've had mine Emira since October 2024, and it's only really seen the light of day due to bad weather in the last couple of months.

I noticed the awful bass rattle/squelch as soon as I left the dealer.

It only does it with the windows down (from 1" onwards) and when you're travelling above 30-40 mph.


I've had it back at the dealer twice over it - (the subwoofer is behind the drivers seat in the UK) and it's less noticeable from the passenger seat. The dealer claimed to not hear it much at first, but then concluded it sounded like a blown speaker.

I've never had the volume up high, and simply don't listen to is with the windows down as it's just bloody awful.

The last response I got from them is that it's 'normal'.

Normal it may be (doubt it!) - but acceptable it most certainly isn't!

 

[Eagle7]

I found out something interesting the other day. I'd gone through a drive-thru to get a breakfast burrito, and they wanted me to pull around to the front and wait because it was going to take longer than normal I guess, so I did. While I'm sitting there waiting with the engine off, I turn on the radio and I'm playing a song from my iPhone which is plugged in. Song sounds great, plenty of bass and mid-range, and this is with no EQ from the system. All the settings are 0.

After a few minutes, the gal comes out with my food. I start the car while the song I was listening to is still playing. As I pull out onto the main road which has a speed limit of 55, as I'm driving I notice that the system suddenly sounds terrible. No bass or midrange, it's all treble, and not even good treble.

Nothing has changed on the system. What I think might be happening, is the road noise frequencies generated from the tires (I'm on Goodyears), and whatever else is going on, is cancelling those frequencies from the sound system. The sound system sounds much better when I'm stopped. I usually don't have it on when I'm driving, so I never noticed it before. Anybody else notice anything like this?

 

[Porter]

I found out something interesting the other day. I'd gone through a drive-thru to get a breakfast burrito, and they wanted me to pull around to the front and wait because it was going to take longer than normal I guess, so I did. While I'm sitting there waiting with the engine off, I turn on the radio and I'm playing a song from my iPhone which is plugged in. Song sounds great, plenty of bass and mid-range, and this is with no EQ from the system. All the settings are 0.

After a few minutes, the gal comes out with my food. I start the car while the song I was listening to is still playing. As I pull out onto the main road which has a speed limit of 55, as I'm driving I notice that the system suddenly sounds terrible. No bass or midrange, it's all treble, and not even good treble.

Nothing has changed on the system. What I think might be happening, is the road noise frequencies generated from the tires (I'm on Goodyears), and whatever else is going on, is cancelling those frequencies from the sound system. The sound system sounds much better when I'm stopped. I usually don't have it on when I'm driving, so I never noticed it before. Anybody else notice anything like this?

This is 100% my experience. It behaves like a system with no road noise compensation built into the DSP.

 

[CarGuy11]

^^^There is a setting for speed compensated volume. Have you tried turning it off?

 

[Porter]

^^^There is a setting for speed compensated volume. Have you tried turning it off?

It's not a volume issue. It's a frequency cancellation issue. Road noise in this car is very resonant in frequencies that cross over with most kinds of popular music.

 

[crestima]

Folks,

There were several mods that I've undertook to date which either purposely or incidentally have saved significant weight but, conversely, two of them actually added significant weight, and both of them related to noise and sound system. While I never bothered to account for the actual weight added, this is what I did:

1) Placed 1mm SecondSkin on the back shelf, doors (most noticeable improvement), under trays, and some sections behind the wheels liners. A lot of work which I completed in sections over a 3 month span making it a bit less painful. This made a Huge difference in sound insolation and I can comfortably attest that my Emira has much less tire/road noise than my former 911 had and has allowed me to enjoy my sound system much more, which leads me to the improvement of my sound systems as follows.

2) This part has been extensively covered in the Threads "Initial results after adding Tweeters" and "Adding a Subwoofer" which involved adding tweeters to the A-Pilars and a Kicker Subwoofer to replace the OEM.

I can't emphasize enough how these two mods improved my experience with the Emira. In Florida, we have plenty of concrete surfaced roadways which are notorious for transmitting tire noise into the cabin. While these mods require a bit of time, patience and work to implement, they're not overly expensive, and based on the cost/benefit result, I definitely recommend them.

 

[Orchardbike]

Folks,

There were several mods that I've undertook to date which either purposely or incidentally have saved significant weight but, conversely, two of them actually added significant weight, and both of them related to noise and sound system. While I never bothered to account for the actual weight added, this is what I did:

1) Placed 1mm SecondSkin on the back shelf, doors (most noticeable improvement), under trays, and some sections behind the wheels liners. A lot of work which I completed in sections over a 3 month span making it a bit less painful. This made a Huge difference in sound insolation and I can comfortably attest that my Emira has much less tire/road noise than my former 911 had and has allowed me to enjoy my sound system much more, which leads me to the improvement of my sound systems as follows.

2) This part has been extensively covered in the Thread "Adding a Subwoofer" which involved adding tweeters to the A-Pilars and a Kicker Subwoofer to replace the OEM.

I can't emphasize enough how these two mods improved my experience with the Emira. In Florida, we have plenty of concrete surfaced roadways which are notorious for transmitting tire noise into the cabin. While these mods require a bit of time, patience and work to implement, they're not overly expensive, and based on the cost/benefit result, I definitely recommend them.

Did you do anything with the dashboard centre speaker? If so, how did you get to it?

 

[virtualmacho]

Where do I get KEF tires?

 

[crestima]

Did you do anything with the dashboard centre speaker? If so, how did you get to it?

No, I didn’t touch that at all. Just added the 2 tweeters in the empty grills of the A-Pilar’s and the much needed subwoofer.

 

[crestima]

Where do I get KEF tires?

Don't know, but I do know how you can get KEF tired.

 

[Eagle7]

Folks,

There were several mods that I've undertook to date which either purposely or incidentally have saved significant weight but, conversely, two of them actually added significant weight, and both of them related to noise and sound system. While I never bothered to account for the actual weight added, this is what I did:

1) Placed 1mm SecondSkin on the back shelf, doors (most noticeable improvement), under trays, and some sections behind the wheels liners. A lot of work which I completed in sections over a 3 month span making it a bit less painful. This made a Huge difference in sound insolation and I can comfortably attest that my Emira has much less tire/road noise than my former 911 had and has allowed me to enjoy my sound system much more, which leads me to the improvement of my sound systems as follows.

2) This part has been extensively covered in the Thread "Adding a Subwoofer" which involved adding tweeters to the A-Pilars and a Kicker Subwoofer to replace the OEM.

I can't emphasize enough how these two mods improved my experience with the Emira. In Florida, we have plenty of concrete surfaced roadways which are notorious for transmitting tire noise into the cabin. While these mods require a bit of time, patience and work to implement, they're not overly expensive, and based on the cost/benefit result, I definitely recommend them.

Sound dampening the doors made the most difference? Did you post pics of it?

 

[crestima]

Sound dampening the doors made the most difference? Did you post pics of it?

For sure.
You can find a couple of posts with pics on the threads "Adding a Subwoofer" post # 113 and "Initial Results after adding Tweeters" post # 52.