Wacky Audio System

[DigitalDawn]

Hi,

We've owned our new 2004 330cic for a couple of weeks now, and the audio system has been driving me bats!

We're driving and sometimes (but not all the time) as the car accelerates the volume increases. It happens with the CD, with the radio and with the top up or down. I'm constantly having to adjust the volume control on the steering wheel.

Please tell me that there's a way to turn this "feature" off!!!

Thanks,

Dawn

 

[MrElussive]

Lol, it's the speed-sensing volume or something like that (it has an exact name to it). As you increase your speed, road and wind noise gets louder so the stereo automatically gets louder as well. You CAN disable the feature, although I do not know how. Have you tried checking in your Owners Manual?
You'd think this is actually a smart feature, but I personally hate it because I like to put the stereo decently loud anyways and I don't need it any louder than that, lol. Makes a lot of sense for this feature to be on convertibles, though.

 

[Kirby]

If I remeber correctly, you hold down the musical note for 3 or 4 seconds and it will let you increase or decrease the "gain" with respect to speed. I like the speed controlled volume, but it was a bit too agressive out of the factory. Drop it back 2 or 3 numbers and see how you like that. As I recall, it is in the RADIO owners' manual.

 

[Frosty Power 323CI]

Found this on the net:

Turn the radio off then on again. Don’t touch any button except the 'm' button - the button you use to tune the radio frequency manually. Press and hold the 'm' button for TEN seconds or until the display changes. It will then show the serial number of the unit. Normally when you press 'm', the display will reflect that by replacing 'ST' (stereo tuning) with 'm'. When holding the 'm' button for this procedure, the display should not do this - you will continue to see 'ST' for the ten seconds. Now if the display has changed, you are in a configure mode on the radio. If you press the '>' or '<' button you change modes. The mode you want will display as "GAL (1-6)". This mode allows you to adjust the speed-sensitive volume control. Use the radio preset buttons 1-6 to set the amount of volume change you want at speed. Setting 1 is the smallest change, 6 is the highest. I use 1 with the windows closed, and 5 when it's a nice enough day to drive with the windows open, which makes for a lot of ambient noise at speed. The car is so quiet with the windows closed that setting 1 is fine. Then turn the radio OFF to save the settings. Turn it back on; go for a drive to test it. The other semi-useful test mode will tell you the signal strength of any given station from 0 to 15 (highest). Use the preset buttons to change stations in the mode. This capability is probably used in the automatic tuning function in the radio.

 

[DigitalDawn]

I forgot to mention that I have the navigation-based system. I did find the M button however, and tried what you suggested, but it didn't work.


Dawn

 

[DigitalDawn]

After much searching, I found how to get into the service menu on cars with nav!

Instead of pushing the M button, you need to push and hold the SEL button on the right side of the console. You must also be in ACC 2 with the engine off.

Dawn

 

[black330i]

Is speed-sensitive volume standard on the HK sound system? I have a 2003 330i, but mine doesn't seem to get louder when I open the windows or accelerate.

 

[DigitalDawn]

Is speed-sensitive volume standard on the HK sound system? I have a 2003 330i, but mine doesn't seem to get louder when I open the windows or accelerate.

Yes, I'm pretty sure it is. You probably have your system set to 1. Read the postings in this thread to learn how to change the settings.

Dawn

 

[Kirby]

I have a 2004, I checked it today to be sure about the adjustment. As I posted above, on mine (stock HK) pressing the musical note on the left of the radio for about 4 seconds changes the display. You can then adjust the SCV gain with the < > buttons.

 

[TheBry]

After much searching, I found how to get into the service menu on cars with nav!

Instead of pushing the M button, you need to push and hold the SEL button on the right side of the console. You must also be in ACC 2 with the engine off.

Dawn

Awesome! I, too, have the NAV system and have always wondered how to do this. I LOVE the speed sensitive feature (it's actually referred to as "vehicle speed sensitive equalization") but have often wanted the radio to be turned down even LOWER at stops, then HIGHER at speed. As things are now, this equalization is very subtle -- I need it to be more obvious. Now I know how to do it! Thanks!

 

[drkeng]

I didn't know it was programmable. I must admit, I drive a lot on the highway with the top down and wasn't sure if the volume was changing; I just figured it was some factory preset feature. Now I have something to do tomorrow after work. Thanks for all the info. By the way, loving the Sirius. Actually listening to it now, streaming thru my laptop.

 

[andreyiv]

Hey guys, just wanted to add a little something for other people that might find it helpful. The feature was available on the Business CD player for the e36 too. To change the setting there you just need to use the musical note button to go through setting like Bass, Treble, Balance, Fade and the last one is displayed as "Speed Vol", everything else is pretty much the same. I like this feature too and I have it set up that you can barely notice the difference either when slowing down or accelerating.

 

[bmwrocks]

You must also be in ACC 2 with the engine off.

Dawn

I was also able to access it while rolling down the road with the engine on.

But here is my real question.....I don't know what all the settings mean.

Here's what I do and don't know (from experimentation):

GAL : changes the degree of equalization at speed vs. idle. Adjustable from 1 to 6. 1 gives very little (or no) equalization. 6 gives max. Set using radio station buttons 1 to 6.

DSP : no idea what this applies to (Digital Signal Processing, but how does it apply?) or how to change it. Mine says "0" and I can't change it.

TP Volume : This seems to adjust the sensitivity of the volume control. Not sure though. Mine was set to -6. I changed it to 0, but have not figured out the overall effect yet. When I adjust it up and down the volume goes up and down. Needs more testing. Adjustable from -9 to +9. Radio station button 1 decreases and button 2 increases.

Area : This changes things like frequency range, available settings, and stereo mode for AM and FM. Can be set to USA, CANADA, OCE, and JPN. No idea what OCE is. Radio button 1 scrolls thru the possibilities.

AF : No idea what this means or how to change it. Mine is set to MAN.

Can anyone fill in the blanks????