Though the Kia EV6 ranks amongst the perfect electrical vehicles you possibly can purchase in 2024, in accordance with Shopper Reviews, house owners have been questioning the audio high quality of the Meridian sound system for some time. One such thread regarding Kia EV6 sound high quality on the r/KiaEV6 subreddit dates again to 2022. Newer points heart across the Meridian system’s bass output ranges.
For 2025, Kia presents the 14-speaker Meridian Premium Audio System in its top-trim GT-Line rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive fashions. Meridian says it makes use of its proprietary DSP (digital sign processing) applied sciences to “ship a state-of-the-art listening expertise” to Kia house owners and passengers. Meridian goes on to say:
“Loudspeakers are strategically positioned and seamlessly built-in into the luxurious automotive inside, permitting every passenger to get pleasure from an audio expertise of unparalleled high quality, regardless of the place they’re within the car.”
Nevertheless, someplace between design and execution, some wires bought crossed, leading to an out-of-phase rear subwoofer. Relatively than pointing fingers to assign blame for the issue, some Kia EV6 house owners are taking issues into their very own fingers, performing a easy rewiring in only a matter of minutes.
What’s this straightforward rewiring process?
The EV6’s subwoofer is connected, simply not appropriately, inflicting its sound to be out-of-phase with the remainder of the sound system, much like the best way Energetic Noise Cancellation makes your automobile inside quieter. The Drive says:
“It is not that the subwoofer within the manufacturing facility Meridian setup is making no bass; it is simply being canceled out by equal and reverse frequencies from different audio system contained in the automobile. Unplug each different sound machine and you will hear the trunk-mounted sub thud. Plug them again in, although, and so they counteract the output from the machine.”
Accessing the Meridian subwoofer wire-harness behind a Kia EV6 requires eradicating among the trim items within the trunk. The primary piece within the trunk’s ground is detachable with out instruments whereas the piece nearer to the rear hatch has two threaded fasteners that could be tight sufficient to require a big flat screwdriver. As soon as the wire harness is uncovered you may see a connector with an orange tab on it.
The rewiring course of includes eradicating that orange tab, unpinning the crimson and black wire pairs on the precise facet of the connector, and reversing the wires in every pair. So, as an alternative of the inventory red-black-red-black order from prime to backside, it’s going to be black-red-black-red when accomplished. Technically Jeff posted an in depth video of the method on their YouTube channel however credit Reddit person nex703’s “Meridian Sound Subwoofer repair” submit on the r/KiaEV6 for the inspiration.