More details for KEF Audio

[virtualmacho]

As you might see, Lotus placed it exactly next to the subwoofer

Whoa! You mean there is a hole in the wall right next to the “Fresh-Air Subwoofer” ?

 

[Tokion]

Whoa! You mean there is a hole in the wall right next to the “Fresh-Air Subwoofer” ?

There is no limit to clever engineering. Personally, the only thing I plan to delete from my Emira after it has arrived, is this “Fresh-Air” thingie. It has nothing to do with the excellent KEF coaxial speaker system, and I have already spotted a superior, ultra-compact European designed subwoofer that can replace it.

 

[FederGigant]

Whoa! You mean there is a hole in the wall right next to the “Fresh-Air Subwoofer” ?

For sure. But to be fair the noise was only really audible in standstill and the woofer works really good in my car. Now there are no noises anymore and the Subwoofer does a very good job, as does the rest of the system.
I'm going to drive 400km on Monday and will have a second look at the valve just to make sure. I can take a short clip how it works. Sadly I don't have a clip showing the vibrations.

 

[Kimmax]

Today I fixed my slight rattle problem with the sub. You can hear it very well when the engine is shut off, but not so much while driving. Nevertheless, I didn't like it. To show you where the problem came from, I stole the following pic out of the forum and drew an arrow on it:

View attachment 25865

What you see there is a pressure relief valve. You will find one or two of those in every car to release the pressure that's bilding up while you are slamming your doors In a bigger car they are usually located somewhere in the very rear. As you might see, Lotus placed it exactly next to the subwoofer and therefore the sound pressure - even at VERY low volumes - makes those membranes flatter and create a rattle noise. Easy fix was to click it out of place, put some 6mm self adhering Armaflex on each of the membranes from the other side and put it back in place. Now there is more weight to them and they won't move anymore due to the woofer. Of course they still work just fine when closing a door.
The removal of the trim panel is straight forward. Start where the luggage net is hooked and just pull from there. There are two clips in the front top and buttom and that's it. After you unclipped them, you can pull the panel out with some force. Only tricky part is the top, because it goes under that speaker grille lookalike.

Thank you for this, I'll definitely try that!

 

[Silver Storm]

… I have already spotted a superior, ultra-compact European designed subwoofer that can replace it.

Audison, Focal or…?

 

[Porter]

Audison, Focal or…?

Dynaudio? Morel?

 

[Hell4Leather]

For sure. But to be fair the noise was only really audible in standstill and the woofer works really good in my car. Now there are no noises anymore and the Subwoofer does a very good job, as does the rest of the system.
I'm going to drive 400km on Monday and will have a second look at the valve just to make sure. I can take a short clip how it works. Sadly I don't have a clip showing the vibrations.

Has anyone posted anything recently regarding the KEF audio system and if it’s as trash as some are saying or if it’s awesome and people are complaining about something they aren’t using properly?

 

[digilotus]

I'm very happy with the KEF system. It takes a bit of time to run the KEF drivers in (at low to medium volume) as they're much better quality than the usual $2 garbage drivers you find in low end car audio.

 

[Tokion]

I'm very happy with the KEF system. It takes a bit of time to run the KEF drivers in (at low to medium volume) as they're much better quality than the usual $2 garbage drivers you find in low end car audio.

Yes, even though I have extremely limited listening experience to the KEF audio system in the Emira, and unfortunately the limited experience I have had was not positive due to the extremely low quality of the music program material.

When my Emira arrives; I will always keep the capable and potentially good sounding KEF speaker drivers, and work on improvements of the infrastructure feeding them. This means various electrical components (possibly including amplifiers) and power supplies and various wiring.

I am much more skeptical to the Fresh Air Speaker subwoofer (originating from Australia). Maybe digilotus can tell us how this really sounds in his Emira? I am especially interested in comparing the same track (slightly Acoustic bass rich, but not overblown. I mean rich, full bodied, good bass like in a jazz wood bass) with side windows open versus closed. Do you hear “speed and attack” in the sound (bass speaker start and stop very rapidly)? Or is the bass loose and unprecise?

 

[Mh59]

Yes, even though I have extremely limited listening experience to the KEF audio system in the Emira, and unfortunately the limited experience I have had was not positive due to the extremely low quality of the music program material.

When my Emira arrives; I will always keep the capable and potentially good sounding KEF speaker drivers, and work on improvements of the infrastructure feeding them. This means various electrical components (possibly including amplifiers) and power supplies and various wiring.

I am much more skeptical to the Fresh Air Speaker subwoofer (originating from Australia). Maybe digilotus can tell us how this really sounds in his Emira? I am especially interested in comparing the same track (slightly Acoustic bass rich, but not overblown. I mean rich, full bodied, good bass like in a jazz wood bass) with side windows open versus closed. Do you hear “speed and attack” in the sound (bass speaker start and stop very rapidly)? Or is the bass loose and unprecise?

I can summarise - it's absolutely awful with the windows open. The subwoofer dynamics obviously dont work when the enclosed space it is using is no longer enclosed. Heavy vibrations akin to a cheap stereo with the bass turned to max. I have seen on this forum that it can be fixed with a bit of DIY effort but haven't done this myself as I dont want to peel trim back (yet).

With the windows closed, its sometimes good but suffers from vibrations often.

 

[GregD]

KEF audio ?????

Track mode FM - For the Drivers

 

[digilotus]

Yes, even though I have extremely limited listening experience to the KEF audio system in the Emira, and unfortunately the limited experience I have had was not positive due to the extremely low quality of the music program material.

When my Emira arrives; I will always keep the capable and potentially good sounding KEF speaker drivers, and work on improvements of the infrastructure feeding them. This means various electrical components (possibly including amplifiers) and power supplies and various wiring.

I am much more skeptical to the Fresh Air Speaker subwoofer (originating from Australia). Maybe digilotus can tell us how this really sounds in his Emira? I am especially interested in comparing the same track (slightly Acoustic bass rich, but not overblown. I mean rich, full bodied, good bass like in a jazz wood bass) with side windows open versus closed. Do you hear “speed and attack” in the sound (bass speaker start and stop very rapidly)? Or is the bass loose and unprecise?

Do you have any tracks in mind? I can listen to them on Spotify in the highest streaming quality with the windows up and down and I’ll let you know what my impressions are.

 

[Tokion]

I can summarise - it's absolutely awful with the windows open. The subwoofer dynamics obviously dont work when the enclosed space it is using is no longer enclosed. Heavy vibrations akin to a cheap stereo with the bass turned to max. I have seen on this forum that it can be fixed with a bit of DIY effort but haven't done this myself as I dont want to peel trim back (yet).

With the windows closed, its sometimes good but suffers from vibrations often.

Thanks for the great explanation. It basically confirmed what I have anticipated. I will tell you after I get my car, and when I had the chance to carefully modify the audio system in collaboration with a specialist car audio installer in Japan. Unfortunately my i4 FE is not expected until February or March 2024, and I continue to see talk about further manufacturing delays here on this forum.

 

[Toby L]

I actually found the Bass response to be better with the windows slightly cracked. With the windows closed I experience a vibration coming from behind the right hand seat.

 

[Nova]

I am still in disbelief that they put the cabin pressure relief flaps right next to the subwoofer.

 

[Porter]

#1 rule of Android Automotive: don't use Bluetooth and expect it to sound good. Native streaming apps on Android Automotive sound worlds better.

 

[Tokion]

Do you have any tracks in mind? I can listen to them on Spotify in the highest streaming quality with the windows up and down and I’ll let you know what my impressions are.

No particular track. It just depends on your own musical taste. Spotify in highest streaming quality will be fine. Look at Mh95’s write-up above. That tells us all that we ever need to know about “Fresh Air”.

 

[Tokion]

I actually found the Bass response to be better with the windows slightly cracked. With the windows closed I experience a vibration coming from behind the right hand seat.

You have discovered the magical tuning-point. Just joking; but this is actually how you need to test in order to obtain valuable data

 

[Tokion]

THE REPLACEMENT SUBWOOFER
THAT I HAVE IN MIND IS:

ETON AUDIO USB 6AR

150 mm (6") active subwoofer. Reinforced and powder-coated die-cast aluminum enclosure. Active amplifier module with 160 W music power handling (2 × 80 W), high level inputs, integrated low pass filter 50 Hz - 100 Hz and wired level remote control. RCA/low level inputs as well as phaseshift 0°/180°. Long-stroke driver with 2 x 2 ohms dual voice coil allows for a powerful bass reproduction. Dimensions 290 x 202 × 77 mm.

Eton (Car) Audio is a German manufacturer. I have no connection or relationship with this manufacturer.

However, since I have not yet received my Emira, I could not test this model of subwoofer for fit and compatibility. I can therefore not in any way take responsibility for whether it will work or not. Perhaps another member of this forum will volunteer? It will be necessary to explore where the USB 6AR can be mounted and connected (including signal connection and power supply connection.)

The factory “Fresh Air “(woofer) must be electrically disconnected, and the USB 6AR gets connected including power supply.

 

[dgrace]

For subwoofers, I figure anything less than 10 inches and 500w is a placebo rather than a cure, but then again I’m pretty old school about such things. There should be ample room in the cargo area behind the seats for a custom box. (with the corresponding sacrifices in storage volume and weight, naturally)