US I4 (400hp) has fake engine noise pumped through speakers

[Teshoo Lama]

Sanity check. I get everyone being upset that the sounds aren’t real. However seems odd you’re keen to cut wires just to make it sound worse from inside the cabin. Are you guys audiophiles or why are these fake engine sounds so offensive?

Because they corrupt both the driving and listening experience.

Fake sounds through the speakers are in the realm of young lads and hot hatches. I don't want to pay £95k for a computer game.

And yes, anyone who enjoys music - audiophile or not - shouldn't want the distortion caused by fake exhaust rumble in the mix.

 

[geoffbland]

with the bass jacked and the volume all the way up playing some old school Dr. Dre with the rolling bass. It's only then that you realize your'e listening to Motley Crue in an Emira..

I suppose if it makes Motley Crue sound like Dr Dre ... at least there is a silver lining to this issue...

 

[Jinba ittai]

OK. I’ll trust you guys on this. I’ve never owned a car that does the fake exhaust thing. I assumed if they went to the effort it at least sounded better.

And not giving the option to shut it off does seem like a major oversight.

 

[Medic518]

I suppose if it makes Motley Crue sound like Dr Dre ... at least there is a silver lining to this issue...

Yep - because the papery speaker slapping sound makes it so you cant tell the difference..

 

[Emira Fan]

Perhaps if enough people send 'feedback' to Lotus directly and when you visit Lotus service centers, they will provide a software update one-day. Maybe provde a toggle in a hidden menu so Car Review companies don't find it and call it out...

 

[Kaz]

getting closer...my installer got this info:
"The connector is located in the driver rear 1/4 clam area and should be accessible after removal of the wheel liner. It should be the large upper connector. You'll be looking for pin 41. The ECM is located by the airbox. "

though in this diagram it says "engine V6" ?? that means it's in all the cars?

 

[RobR]

though in this diagram it says "engine V6" ?? that means it's in all the cars?

Damn I hope not. That would be a deal breaker for me.

 

[virtualmacho]

though in this diagram it says "engine V6" ?? that means it's in all the cars?

Could be for that feature (forgot what it's called) that adjusts the stereo volume relative to engine RPM so that you don't have to crank it up when you hit the freeway.

 

[Kaz]

Could be for that feature (forgot what it's called) that adjusts the stereo volume relative to engine RPM so that you don't have to crank it up when you hit the freeway.

You can turn that off in the head unit, and that is more speed dependent than RPM dependent. But...who knows??? will be pulling that wire soon enough

 

[Kaz]

Damn I hope not. That would be a deal breaker for me.

From my test drive at least the V6 "actual" sounds are audible in the cabin and I've seen some awesome videos with great sounding exhausts that are just epic...I don't think it's as bad as in the AMG if it's even happening at all in the V6

 

[lynchy73]

This explains what I’ve noticed (I4 owner). Firstly the audio is descent when the engine isn’t running (windows up or down). Sound deteriorates significantly when you are driving but is sort of acceptable, but as soon you open a window whilst driving, the low frequency is really bad and distorts easily.

I’m normally pretty good at picking up on things and I’m quite into audio, but I personally didn’t realise we had pumped in sound. With the low frequency speakers being quite remote from the driver, it’s not so easy to realise what’s going on.

I would’ve thought they’d use common components where possible between I4 and V6. Maybe a specific module could be swapped out to the V6 version, to avoid this generated audio. It’s probably something that could be programmed out in the right module.

 

[Sjobing]

@Kaz,

I wonder if this engine sound is sent to all speakers or just sub and the rear speakers?

If so it might be a solution to only use the signal to front speakers into your DSP and use this to split it again? (If you have new DSP and amp for all channels)

 

[Teshoo Lama]

This explains what I’ve noticed (I4 owner). Firstly the audio is descent when the engine isn’t running (windows up or down). Sound deteriorates significantly when you are driving but is sort of acceptable, but as soon you open a window whilst driving, the low frequency is really bad and distorts easily.

If I was KEF, I wouldn't have agreed to this. But then, I guess AMG forced it on Lotus, and everyone decided to pretend it's not happening.

 

[675430VME]

@Kaz,

I wonder if this engine sound is sent to all speakers or just sub and the rear speakers?

If so it might be a solution to only use the signal to front speakers into your DSP and use this to split it again? (If you have new DSP and amp for all channels)

All speakers

 

[Medic518]

but as soon you open a window whilst driving, the low frequency is really bad and distorts easily.

I've noticed the same thing. I countered by turning up the mids and lowering the bass. Not the best fix but OK in a pinch.

 

[patrickramdial]

How noticeable is the fake sound?

I have a v6 auto and want to be sure all cars aren’t affected. Can anyone confirm?

I can’t believe Lotus did this. Who approved it? Why isn’t this bigger news?

 

[Rainier]

How noticeable is the fake sound?

I have a v6 auto and want to be sure all cars aren’t affected. Can anyone confirm?

I can’t believe Lotus did this. Who approved it? Why isn’t this bigger news?

(I4) I just passed the 1000 mile mark and tried other drive modes.

It's not clear to me if engine noise is coming from the speakers or not;

I think unless someone knows what to listen for, it may be hard for the average person to discern.

 

[patrickramdial]

(I4) I just passed the 1000 mile mark and tried other drive modes.

It's not clear to me if engine noise is coming from the speakers or not;

I think unless someone knows what to listen for, it may be hard for the average person to discern.

My guess would be if you don’t have a 3rd cat delete, and valve controller install, then maybe you can hear something? But even before I did those things, I could t hear it.

And there’s definitely no way for a synthetic sound to replicate and randomize burbles and pops like the decat and valve controller.

 

[Kaz]

How noticeable is the fake sound?

I have a v6 auto and want to be sure all cars aren’t affected. Can anyone confirm?

I can’t believe Lotus did this. Who approved it? Why isn’t this bigger news?

It doesn't seem (?) that the V6's are doing this, it is probably just a byproduct of the AMG drivetrain since all the A45's and other AMG's do this too.
Why was it approved? my guess is marketing people...it's not like Lotus was ever embarrassed by the sound of a 4 cylinder before. And why not bigger news? I don't think there are enough I4 owners...and they probably think the exhaust and engine noise they hear is real. I would even be ok to just get rid of the exhaust rumble/drone that's what is drowning out the sub and bass in the speakers

 

[RobR]

I had an M2 with fake noise. You could always tell when it was going to emit the same macho boy-racer burble. Made me feel like an idiot driving around like that.