Gen 2 Audio Issues: balance/fade is off / imbalanced

[tay]

So remote service visited last week to check on the audio issues. No technical issues, and we upgraded the latest software. The outcome was still fairly week audio. According to this rep; Rivian ditched 3P use of sound system providers (for now to cut costs), and the in-house system has thus far been far inferior, mainly at the SW level. They are hopeful of continued improvement through upgrades, but he also acknowledged the desire to get back to 3P providers...

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[Eruantien]

Thanks for sharing!

I forgot to update my own thread on this (I posted elsewhere), but turning off Spatial Audio in the Rivian sound settings made a 80% improvement in sound. Everything is so much better. Steer clear of that and Dolby Atmos, and then Apple Music app on Rivian screen sounds great now.

 

[tay]

Thanks for sharing!

I forgot to update my own thread on this (I posted elsewhere), but turning off Spatial Audio in the Rivian sound settings made a 80% improvement in sound. Everything is so much better. Steer clear of that and Dolby Atmos, and then Apple Music app on Rivian screen sounds great now.

will try this today!

 

[Eruantien]

will try this today!

Good luck! After I made that change, it actually sounds great. Like speakers I thought weren’t working now suddenly are.

I went into Apple Music app settings on the Rivian screen (open Apple Music and tap person icon in top right) and disabled Spatial Audio.

I have Gen 2 with premium audio, by the way. Let me know how it works for you!

 

[tay]

Good luck! After I made that change, it actually sounds great. Like speakers I thought weren’t working now suddenly are.

I went into Apple Music app settings on the Rivian screen (open Apple Music and tap person icon in top right) and disabled Spatial Audio.

I have Gen 2 with premium audio, by the way. Let me know how it works for you!

got it, should disable dolby generally too?

also; just apple (native)? not spotify or bluetooth (in terms of sound improvement)?

 

[tay]

got it, should disable dolby generally too?

also; just apple (native)? not spotify or bluetooth (in terms of sound improvement)?

we have the gen 2 premium also...so should also work ...

 

[Eruantien]

we have the gen 2 premium also...so should also work ...

I believe “Spatial Audio” is Dolby Atmos. I couldn’t find a unique setting for Dolby.

When playing a song in Apple Music app on Rivian, the “Dolby Atmos” badge would appear beneath the song title and it sounded awful. Once I disabled Spatial Audio, I no longer see the Dolby badge under song title and it’s night and day difference. I can actually enjoy it now!

I don’t use the Spotify app, but I’d imagine it would have a similar setting.

I also disabled Dolby in Music settings on my iPhone app (for Bluetooth) (Settings > Apps > Music > Dolby Atmos > Off), but not sure if that actually makes a difference/broadcasts in Dolby anyway.

 

[rutiger]

I've tested with several tracks that display as Atmos with spatial enabled and disabled and I literally hear zero difference. Are ya'll hearing a difference immediately when toggling the switch or doing a soft reset along with it? Or perhaps all the tracks I'm testing with aren't ideal.

Btw, I have very little complaints about the G2 Premium Audio in general. To me it sounds completely fine in my R1S. I use the Apple app, XM app, and bluetooth for some things.

 

[Vicious]

Has anyone had really weird pressure issues in their ears after listening to music in the car for any length of time? I have the "premium sound" second gen R1S (which I REALLY wish I hadn't paid extra for now) and no matter what EQ settings or what we turn on or off or where we stream from - sounds godawful. Used to have a XC60 Recharge and the sound was orders of magnitude better.

All that aside though - every time I listen to music in the car, at about volume 12-13 - so nothing crazy, my ears feel super strange when I get out - like I've just been in some sort of a pressure differential. So ya, not sure what to do but I might request a downgrade to a non-premium sound model if I can because this experience is suuuuper unpleasant - and that's beyond the fact that the actual listening experience is heinous.

 

[bfilippo]

Has anyone had really weird pressure issues in their ears after listening to music in the car for any length of time? I have the "premium sound" second gen R1S (which I REALLY wish I hadn't paid extra for now) and no matter what EQ settings or what we turn on or off or where we stream from - sounds godawful. Used to have a XC60 Recharge and the sound was orders of magnitude better.

All that aside though - every time I listen to music in the car, at about volume 12-13 - so nothing crazy, my ears feel super strange when I get out - like I've just been in some sort of a pressure differential. So ya, not sure what to do but I might request a downgrade to a non-premium sound model if I can because this experience is suuuuper unpleasant - and that's beyond the fact that the actual listening experience is heinous.

I feel this too sometimes. Standard audio Gen2

 

[tay]

just topping up the thread. I am still astounded at the poor quality of the audio and minimal software notes attempting to improve. All of the sound still in the front near windshield and minimal from the primary speakers and zero base. I know the hardware is capable....but will it ever be properly tuned/unlocked...sheesh.

 

[Vicious]

The bass performance is truly horrendous. It’s like we don’t even have a sub.

 

[tay]

only reason not a bigger issue, is because you havent been able to test drive. no one would spend 100k and be OK with this sound system (imo)

 

[kyledmb]

Doesn't this new 2025 update address some of these issues? I don't have the update yet, but I'm hoping for major improvement.

Per the Gen2 notes:

• Sound system improvements:
  • Improved reproduction of where the sounds come from (for spatial image).
  • Improved the low-frequency (bass) response.
  • Improved the overall sound balance between the front and rear of the cabin.

 

[kyledmb]

I definitely notice the center channel bias, overall flat soundstage (odd to achieve something so terrible with so many well-placed drivers), and clipping in the mid bass frequency range. Low bass doesn't clip, its just gutless.

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