Hello all. I've purchased a '12 coupe with H/K. While I have no complaints with the sound compared to other cars I've owned, I have a question for owners who have upgraded.
Cost really isn't a big issue for me, so am thinking about the soundstage, the sub I haven't thought too much about yet.
My question is this.... What are the specific "differences" in sound that you've noticed over the stock setup? Intensity/clarity/brightness/loudness, etc? Just wondering, as others, how much "difference" it'll make. Thanks to all that respond!

 

If money's not an issue get the whole set-up - Soundstage and Sub. Sound is simply phenomenal - crisp, clear, rich sound. I hear things in music that I never heard before. Did you ever know that ZZ Top has some VERY deep bass in some of their songs? I didn't until I got the Integral Audio set-up.

Also worth noting that my car was one of the first to have this - Kevin used my car (and some others) to spec out the system. What he has out now is improved upon from mine and mine still sounds tight and loud. Kevin has offered more than once to upgrade mine for free, but I see nothing wrong with what I have so I have declined. That's the kind of guy Kevin is and you will get a system that is commensurate with his ideals.

 

If you decide to rip out your HK, and sell it, let me know.....;-)

 

I started with a base-model 2010 R56, (not Harmon Kardon) - and I installed the Soundstage, only (no subwoofer).

After the upgrade, I'm hearing MUCH more clarity with the Soundstage. That is, voices on the radio and vocal music are much easier to understand, and all instruments are easier to identify. I now hear a lot of nuance and details in music that was completely missing with the factory speakers. (Unless the source material is compressed. Before I couldn't hear that much difference between CD quality audio and MP3s ripped at moderate bit rates, but now I can.)

The Soundstage is much less fatiguing to listen to at all volumes - and playing it loud now produces only pleasure, where the factory sound gave me pain.

With the OEM speakers, sometimes a particular sound would jump out at me and demand my attention in an unpleasant sort of way - the Soundstage has a much better integrated and more natural sound. Stereo imaging is also much improved, in all dimensions.

Bass is way more punchy and tight than the factory speakers which were very murky and muffled.
Personally, I don't really miss the sub on a day-to-day basis - I can't miss something I've never had. I've always been more thrilled by clarity and atmosphere in my music than by the bass. Occasionally, with a few CDs, I can tell the door speakers are struggling with the low end, and I wonder if I shouldn't have got the sub, but most of time I am very happy without it.

The Soundstage really was a dramatic improvement for me, but then I'm guessing my base system probably sounded worse than yours when I started. If my factory radio had been decent to start with - even as good as the factory unit in my wife's 2003 Honda CRV - I probably never would have invested the time and money in the Soundstage. But now that I've lived with the Soundstage for a while, it's going to be very difficult for me to ever go back to OEM sound.

 

I started with the HK system, and thought it was a joke. Muddy base, and tiring to listen to at higher volumes. I have a high end audio system in my house and we have a BMW with their best HK system in it, so I am used to good sound.

I got the IA sub first, and it made a world of difference, but when I added the Soundstage, it turned the system into a truly high end stereo.

Where it really shines is when the volume is up. Even a download from itunes of Dires Strates "Money for Nothing" sounded so good it amazed everyone that heard it. This is a great song for showing off a system. The full version starts off slow with an intro, then drums start, guitar comes in the volume goes up and wham, the effect literally gave me goose bumps the first time I played it on this system. Im sure that a cd or burned track from a cd using lossless would be even more impressive.

Bottom line, if you love music, you will love this system.

 

Will have it installed this weekend and can't wait. Kudo's to Kevin for working with me tirelessly re: some shipping issues.

 

Let me know how your install goes. Possibly post some pictures along the way. I'm thinking of doing this, but am concerned about the installation process.

 

I installed Soundstage + subwoofer. No regrets. I had the Hi-fi in my S. If I did this a second time, I could do it in 6 hours, but I'd block out the weekend, top to bottom. I had a post install issue with my gong that had nothing to do with the system and it was unbelievable how much time Kevin spent with me, on the phone and texting to get it ironed out. Can't believe my ears. My son said, "you really need that for NPR don't you!" I said Yeah. One thing that threw me off was that in the right hand rear, I had a factory HD unit in the spot where the amp is to mount. I got creative and made that work too. That piece though is was a add on fix to provide HD that was later incorporated into the system leaving the space open for the amp. Pricey, but worth the cost and you can install it with the tools the installation manual outlines.

 

Did everything go back together properly and rattle free?

 

Oh sure! I mean, the only parts you are taking apart or off are all either pinned to the surface like wheel well covers or pegged to like the inner rocker pieces and door panels. If you line up the holes where they come from, they go back in just as good as new. Literally, nothing can squeak. I took the opportunity to put down some Dynamat under the seat and boot floor. Best advice, stay cool, don't get in a hurry or impatient, read the instructions before you start several times so you understand the process. If you think something isn't coming apart, sometimes you just have to use a little more pressure. The worst you can do is break a fifty cent piece of plastic.

 

Same here, got it, installed it on my R56 and love it. Easy install, just take your time, I only had a problem with the threaded inserts, grrrrr! But everything else is fine! My wife has a R60 with the H/K audio, and when we fired up the IA audio set up on my R56, and then went over to the R60, she looked at me and asked if there is an IA for the R60, she said the sound of the H/K sound better then the non H/K but the IA blows it away!