[ARS]

Anyone else had difficulty with the media player? At first my USB stick played fine. It even played .wav files, which my previous car would not. But today it seems stuck, showing only one .m4a file and not playing it. I set it to search for Tracks. It seemed only to know about the one .m4a file. Then it did nothing for quite a while, as if seaching. After a long time the whole infotainment system re-booted on its own coming up on the color Alfa Romeo badge screen. It still won't play from the USB stick. Has anyone else had the media player misbehave? Do .m4a files hang it up?

 

[ViscontiVerde 164L*]

I tried to install an Ipod (Classic 160 best thing Apple ever made) and it recognizes it for 5 seconds then drops it. No clue??

 

[ViscontiVerde 164L*]

Am I the only one here that likes no compressed / minimally compressed music??

 

[lost1750GTV]

haha - just the fact that you know what that means suggests you are kinda old.
cd's sound Ok, but by the time music digital gets onto an iphone etc it's barely worth listening to, no matter what is reproducing it

 

[sweetness34]

Am I the only one here that likes no compressed / minimally compressed music??

I do! The problem is the stereo system in this vehicle is pretty bad so it really doesn't matter. As much as it pains me, I think I'm finally ready to accept it.

 

[1265]

Marelli device normally have a solid base to reproduce many audio formats, no problem for me, make a service check

 

[ViscontiVerde 164L*]

It is on my list. BTW Apple lossless is a pretty darn good format and in a vehicle no matter what quality it is including my RRS Meridian premium system, 25kbps AAC is plenty adequate as background noise steals any thing more. Have people plugged their I Phones into a USB to get the digital output?? I suspect most complaints about the stereo are due to the sources being played more than anything else as we don't have CD player to use as a reference. Harmon Kardon has always been a solid name in the industry.

 

[sweetness34]

It is on my list. BTW Apple lossless is a pretty darn good format and in a vehicle no matter what quality it is including my RRS Meridian premium system, 25kbps AAC is plenty adequate as background noise steals any thing more. Have people plugged their I Phones into a USB to get the digital output?? I suspect most complaints about the stereo are due to the sources being played more than anything else as we don't have CD player to use as a reference. Harmon Kardon has always been a solid name in the industry.

I plug my device directly into the USB and it still sucks but it isn't the source that's the problem, it's the terrible speakers in this car or the actual processor, but most likely the speakers. Harmon Kardon does make good products (think JBL and Infinty) but unfortunately they didn't put those good products in this vehicle.

 

[ViscontiVerde 164L*]

The key question is what material are you playing. Sirius sound always sucks. If you have low quality , say 128kbps music downloaded into your phone, all the range has already been compressed out. My ITunes library is Applelossless and and worst it is in my Ipod at 266kbps. Example of the effect. My wife's MX5 Miata GTPRHT has the Bose system which truly sounds lousy on Sirius and radio but plug Phone or Ipod with high quality downloads and it sounds like a completely different system. Clear highs, good full range base and STAGING!!!

 

[sweetness34]

The key question is what material are you playing. Sirius sound always sucks. If you have low quality , say 128kbps music downloaded into your phone, all the range has already been compressed out. My ITunes library is Applelossless and and worst it is in my Ipod at 266kbps. Example of the effect. My wife's MX5 Miata GTPRHT has the Bose system which truly sounds lousy on Sirius and radio but plug Phone or Ipod with high quality downloads and it sounds like a completely different system. Clear highs, good full range base and STAGING!!!

I understand what you are saying and it isn't my source files that are the problem, it's the poor speakers in the vehicle, unfortunately. Before starting my accounting career I spent 10 years doing custom home theater system design and installation and prior to that, 2 years of car audio installation. It just bothers me that you can jump into almost any entry level luxury SUV and their standard system sounds significantly better than this "upgraded premium" HK system. It just feels like I wasted $900. ****, I've even had lower end Ford SUVs I've rented that have the Sony systems that would blow this HK out of the water. I just feel they could have put a little more effort into it. I've always paid for the premium systems because I want the best sound (at least the best you can get from a car manufacturer) without having to replace everything myself and with all my Acura and Lexus vehicles, the premium systems satisfied me enough I didn't have to mess with them and I shouldn't have to in a $50k+ vehicle. Just my opinion. I like to drive and listen to good music at the same time.

 

[BklynG]

The key question is what material are you playing. Sirius sound always sucks. If you have low quality , say 128kbps music downloaded into your phone, all the range has already been compressed out. My ITunes library is Applelossless and and worst it is in my Ipod at 266kbps. Example of the effect. My wife's MX5 Miata GTPRHT has the Bose system which truly sounds lousy on Sirius and radio but plug Phone or Ipod with high quality downloads and it sounds like a completely different system. Clear highs, good full range base and STAGING!!!

I understand what you are saying and it isn't my source files that are the problem, it's the poor speakers in the vehicle, unfortunately. Before starting my accounting career I spent 10 years doing custom home theater system design and installation and prior to that, 2 years of car audio installation. It just bothers me that you can jump into almost any entry level luxury SUV and their standard system sounds significantly better than this "upgraded premium" HK system. It just feels like I wasted $900. ****, I've even had lower end Ford SUVs I've rented that have the Sony systems that would blow this HK out of the water. I just feel they could have put a little more effort into it. I've always paid for the premium systems because I want the best sound (at least the best you can get from a car manufacturer) without having to replace everything myself and with all my Acura and Lexus vehicles, the premium systems satisfied me enough I didn't have to mess with them and I shouldn't have to in a $50k+ vehicle. Just my opinion. I like to drive and listen to good music at the same time.

I love my Alfa and most of us do dearly, but I have to agree many things in this car are not what they should be in a $50+ vehicle they did cut a lot of corners: speakers, plastic buttons and switches the car feels very cheap inside to be honest. Seats don’t even have leather pockets but nets instead stock to a plastic...who does that on a lux SUV? Stelvio is awesome but I think it should be priced cheaper...it’s fair price should be around $36-42k. When ppl compare it to Porshe Macan that makes me wonder have they ever sat inside it? I haven’t nor have I driven one BUT I find it hard to imagine that Porshe’s interior or sound system is even in the same rank as Stelvio’s.

 

[Comte]

I understand what you are saying and it isn't my source files that are the problem, it's the poor speakers in the vehicle, unfortunately. Before starting my accounting career I spent 10 years doing custom home theater system design and installation and prior to that, 2 years of car audio installation. It just bothers me that you can jump into almost any entry level luxury SUV and their standard system sounds significantly better than this "upgraded premium" HK system. It just feels like I wasted $900. ****, I've even had lower end Ford SUVs I've rented that have the Sony systems that would blow this HK out of the water. I just feel they could have put a little more effort into it. I've always paid for the premium systems because I want the best sound (at least the best you can get from a car manufacturer) without having to replace everything myself and with all my Acura and Lexus vehicles, the premium systems satisfied me enough I didn't have to mess with them and I shouldn't have to in a $50k+ vehicle. Just my opinion. I like to drive and listen to good music at the same time.

I love my Alfa and most of us do dearly, but I have to agree many things in this car are not what they should be in a $50+ vehicle/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif they did cut a lot of corners: speakers, plastic buttons and switches the car feels very cheap inside to be honest. Seats don’t even have leather pockets but nets instead stock to a plastic...who does that on a lux SUV? Stelvio is awesome but I think it should be priced cheaper...it’s fair price should be around $36-42k. When ppl compare it to Porshe Macan that makes me wonder have they ever sat inside it? I haven’t nor have I driven one BUT I find it hard to imagine that Porshe’s interior or sound system is even in the same rank as Stelvio’s.

I know I posted yesterday about concerns with many of the reliability issues that others have posted on this site, but the one thing I don't think I've minded is what I'm getting for the price. In the U.S. most have gotten a fully loaded Stelvio Ti Sport for under $50k, having looked at getting similar features on a Porsche would cost you at least $70k plus. Similar features on a BMW, Mercedes, or Audi would also be a lot more expensive. I love the way the Stelvio looks and drives compared to all of those other vehicles, and even like the way the interior (especially the red leather) has a charming throwback 1970's sports car feel. As long as Alfa can work through their first gen vehicle quality issues and stay on top of customer service, and most importantly keep making vehicles as sexy as the Stelvio and Giulia, I'll be a proud owner.

 

[Scalewoodman]

What comte said...

 

[ViscontiVerde 164L*]

B G As you know well, changing a few speakers is pretty easy right? Its not like an $1800 RRS Meridian system but its every bit as good or better than the upgraded sound in my 2 X5's abeit it with a bit less power. They only sounded good cranked at normal levels not so much Go figure.

 

[sweetness34]

B G As you know well, changing a few speakers is pretty easy right? Its not like an $1800 RRS Meridian system but its every bit as good or better than the upgraded sound in my 2 X5's abeit it with a bit less power. They only sounded good cranked at normal levels not so much Go figure.

It's not that simple to just "change a few speakers" in a setup like this. The HK system might not compare to your $1800 Meridian but it was still a $900 upgrade that did almost nothing. That was my point, like what did I pay $900 for? I had a Merc CLA base model as a loaner the other day that had a better sound system than my "upgraded" HK system.

 

[sweetness34]

I know I posted yesterday about concerns with many of the reliability issues that others have posted on this site, but the one thing I don't think I've minded is what I'm getting for the price. In the U.S. most have gotten a fully loaded Stelvio Ti Sport for under $50k, having looked at getting similar features on a Porsche would cost you at least $70k plus. Similar features on a BMW, Mercedes, or Audi would also be a lot more expensive. I love the way the Stelvio looks and drives compared to all of those other vehicles, and even like the way the interior (especially the red leather) has a charming throwback 1970's sports car feel. As long as Alfa can work through their first gen vehicle quality issues and stay on top of customer service, and most importantly keep making vehicles as sexy as the Stelvio and Giulia, I'll be a proud owner.

Agreed, overall I love the vehicle and I'm glad I got all the discounts but like BklynG said, at this point in time, with the corner cutting the vehicle isn't worth the MSRP. They have a ways to go before they can sell these at full price. Especially with all the new vehicles coming out that are just loaded with technology (see Volvo XC40 and 2019 Acura RDX among others) and have lower MSRPs. It's tough competition in this segment and AR needs to step up their game to compete and stay in this market. You can only win over so many customers with great driving dynamics. That only goes so far especially in an SUV segment.

 

[ViscontiVerde 164L*]

Agreed to all that thisi9s a weakness. As A lotus driver, I have always placed the primary premium on the driving experience. This is the weakness of the tech laden Korean cars. Things like numb on center steering, mushy brakes, poorly matched damper/spring rates. These are all things Alfa Romeo has done with the best!
I do not have a reference of the base sound system in any car except some BMW loaners I've had over the years.. Base sound in those is classic german tin. The HK has mixed qualities. Staging is pretty decent and I use surround mode, and my settings are +2 treble, -1--2 mid, +5bass. I have reset everything a few times, and whether it be my phone playing Google Play, Sirius or radio, I keep zeroing in on these settings with my ears. I may not be a former sound installer but MY guy is an ex Navy sub sonarman and he is a multi time national champ in audio sound. Staging is always criteria #1 for him. My home stereo is Macintosh powered and my ears grew up on good old AR3A's which were the flat true sound of their era. A simple sub upgrade might do wonders to fill out the overly mid happy stock sound. Tweeters seem fine with plenty of headroom. A better amp with more headroom is probably going to be key as well. Its like HP, more is better, weight is the enemy however. When someone locates the amps, game on! if I can use my minimally compressed Ipod in the absence of a CD player.

 

[ViscontiVerde 164L*]

Still awaiting a response from Customer satisfaction on this

 

[AlfaRomeoCares]

Still awaiting a response from Customer satisfaction on this

Hello ViscontiVerde 164L,

If you could send us your VIN, we can get this over to a Uconnect specialist who can help with some additional troubleshooting. Ultimately, you may have to visit the dealership as it may be beyond the surface level.

Jasmine
Alfa Romeo Social Care Specialist

 

[ViscontiVerde 164L*]

I did send the VIN to you and I now add another twist. 3 Classic 160G Ipods do not work , but I have an old Iphone 4 I used for music source in garage that I tried yesterday....guess what it works immediately! So, is it an Apple conspiracy thing or is it an Alfa Romeo software thing??? Sen as these same Ipods worked in 3 other vehicles, I suspect a software glitch in the Alfa.