THX Sound System in New MKZ

[Kuruptlon]

I was wondering are there any owners of a new MKZ ('13 or '14) that came from an older MKZ ('09-'12) who can comment on the THX Sound System? I have '12 MKZ with the THX and I've been underwhelmed to say the least with the sound that the system produces. The sound is definitely clear (not muddy), but its not rich and the bass is pretty much non existent.

Is the THX sound system in the new MKZ's any better than the one in the previous generation? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Or if anyone who has a new model MKZ with the THX wants to comment on how the sound is that would be welcomed as well.

 

[lowfatdog]

I'll chime in on the 2013 THX sound system. IMO it falls short of what someone would expect. We have had both the MKZ HD sound system (in the select package) and the THX one (2013 MKZ models). IMO the HD stereo system (select package) rocks compared to the THX system. I'm not sure what they were going for but for the extra money (around $1000 dollars) they fell way short of what I expected out of a 700 watt sound system. Overall, the bass and sound is much better in the standard HD stereo. I loved cranking up the standard HD one but the THX leaves me wanting the other system back.

All you have to do is go to any Lincoln lot. Get in them side by side and listen to them. I am personally disgusted by the difference. I don't know what the Premiere package stereo sounds like. The HD radio upgrade in the select package and the THX stereo are the two I am comparing. The bass was passable in the HD system, nothing great but passable. The THX one begs for an additional sub!

 

[Kuruptlon]

I'll chime in on the 2013 THX sound system. IMO it falls short of what someone would expect. We have had both the MKZ HD sound system (in the select package) and the THX one (2013 MKZ models). IMO the HD stereo system (select package) rocks compared to the THX system. I'm not sure what they were going for but for the extra money (around $1000 dollars) they fell way short of what I expected out of a 700 watt sound system. Overall, the bass and sound is much better in the standard HD stereo. I loved cranking up the standard HD one but the THX leaves me wanting the other system back.

All you have to do is go to any Lincoln lot. Get in them side by side and listen to them. I am personally disgusted by the difference. I don't know what the Premiere package stereo sounds like. The HD radio upgrade in the select package and the THX stereo are the two I am comparing. The bass was passable in the HD system, nothing great but passable. The THX one begs for an additional sub!

Thanks for the response. Now that you mention it, I have seen people say that the base stereo system was better than the THX. That's too bad that the premium sound system is actually a step down and it doesn't sound like there has been much improvement over the previous generation THX System.

 

[Stevemcb]

I do not know how the base system sounds but the THX system has plenty of bass with decent clarity. Frequency response is excellent on the high end. Just my thoughts. I do not know if the sound insulation is different on the hybrid versus the gas but that could make a difference.

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[hworksinc]

I don't know about the 2013, but I just got a used 2012 MKZ with the THX system, and I've been quite happy with it so far. Plenty of bass, very full and well balanced sound. Is the bass going to rattle the windows of the car next to me, no, but that's not really what I want...

One thing I did notice, it takes a bit of tweaking with the settings to optimize the sound. For conventional stereo sources (HD radio, Sirius, Bluetooth audio, etc.) the sound is much better with the DSP turned off (i.e. set to "stereo"). I haven't tried it yet, but I suspect that if using a true 5.1 channel source (DVD-Audio or DVD) the system would sound better in the default surround/DSP mode. I don't know why it's set to that by default, but I think that's the reason so many people complain about the sound. For anyone with the THX system not happy with the audio quality, I'd recommend turning the DSP off and giving it a try

 

[LincolnFanFl]

I don't know why it's set to that by default, but I think that's the reason so many people complain about the sound. For anyone with the THX system not happy with the audio quality, I'd recommend turning the DSP off and giving it a try

Same here on my 13. IMO, the sound - at least from an ordinary stereo-source - sounds much "cleaner" with DSP off.

Other than that, I'm quite happy with the THX. It certainly sounds better than the standard 6-speaker configuration on my 09 MKZ..

 

[lowfatdog]

Yes, either one is good as far as a stereo system but for a system that costs about $1000 dollars more I expect a very BIG difference for the better. I expect a louder system, with a lot more base. I can only imagine what kind of a system I could put together for $1000 extra dollars. They would have been better off adding a true sub in the THX system instead of those two 6 by 9 speakers. I certainly would not expect the less expensive one to sound better. Please keep in mind, this is my personal opinion but as soon as we switched vehicles, I noticed the difference and pointed it out. I tried messing with the settings (dsp) and I couldn't get it to sound much different. I'm not a huge audio buff and I think the THX system is supposed to sound more like a precise replication of the original? I had to get the THX system as part of the upgrade in models but if I had my choice, I would have the standard stereo instead of this one.

 

[Kuruptlon]

I just thought I would follow up on my initial inquiry. I did lease a new 2014 MKZ Hybrid and found the THX system in this car miles ahead of the THX in 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. Very rich sound with adequate bass. Listening to music is a real treat in this thing. I did not get a chance to test the base sound system on the new MKZ.

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[turbodave]

I just thought I would follow up on my initial inquiry. I did lease a new 2014 MKZ Hybrid and found the THX system in this car miles ahead of the THX in 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. Very rich sound with adequate bass. Listening to music is a real treat in this thing. I did not get a chance to test the base sound system on the new MKZ.

You ought to hear FMHD through the THX.

 

[c-plus]

Just purchased a new 2014 MKZ with THX system, replacing 2011 Edge. This THX system is by far the worst stereo system of any car I have listened to. It's twice as low as the Edge system, which had the Sony stereo. I don’t believe this stereo is a Sony. Everything about it is bad. More sound comes from the front center speaker than any other. I hate that speaker. The rear speakers are very very low. You can hardly hear the subs at the back, while even sitting there. Much less bass than the Edge had. And they advertise a deeper, richer bass. I tried every setting. It just sucks. There is no way this thing is 700 watts. The sound is not crisp. The treble is not high enough. You can hardly hear the tweeters. The sound quality of the Bluetooth speaker phone sucks too. It's not as clear as the Edge. Very disappointed.

I took it to Ford, and they said it’s normal. All they did was move the fader to the back, which made the stereo even lower. And this is an $1100 upgrade.

 

[Zachary Lee Isom]

In mine i ended up going with the Standard speakers. Coming from a Zephyr with THX, and being a bit of an audiophile, that option was the biggest quandary i had. After using a MKZ with the THX for a full day, i really didn't find much of a difference that would justify the price of the upgrade. The system definitely surrounds you better than the standard, and the bass is a bit cleaner, but the quality of the actual sound is quite neck and neck with the standard, with the THX codec separating all the instruments a tad better then the standard, but like i said, not by much, The Standard is quite superb.

 

[kzVegas]

Like most things in life the quality of a cars audio system is in the ear of those who listen to it. The THX II system found in most Lincoln's is not a brand say like Harmon/Kardon or Sony, but a specification of how the audio system is supposed to perform based upon certain design and objective criteria. There are no THX decoders or source material in THX format. Rather, the THX branding (including seeing the THX logo at a theater) is about making sure that the sound from mastering to reproduction meets a benchmark and in the case of the Lincoln's THX II sound system it dictates a certain number of speakers in certain positions and with an ability to produce a range of frequencies with limited roll-off on the low and high ends. A typical car stereo can be loud and make the windows rattle, but it is unlikely to reproduce music with a wide sound stage, good instrument placement on that sound stage, and reproduce the subtle details of what that instrument should sound like. Take for example, a drummer tapping on the bell of a cymbal, does it have a ring, a shimmer of the larger part of the cymbal? Or, does it sound like someone hitting a metal trash can lid and the sound is coming from everywhere?

I've had the Sony standard audio system in my previous Ford Fusion and it was pretty good. It got loud, it was fun, it sounded decent enough to make SiriusXM music sound flawed (which it is). It was a good sound system to have on in the background. I've also had a Mark Levinson premium sound system found in a Lexus LS400 which is amazing and makes the standard system in the Ford sound like one of those $299 boxed stereos you get at Best Buy. Now, I have the THX II system in my new 2014 MKZ. This system is amazing much like the Mark Levinson system and at 1/3 the cost. What admire most about this new system is that it can make well sourced (CD or High bit rate MP3/AAC) music sound more like my home audio system. The sound-stage is spread out from door to door and the music doesn't sound like its coming from the speakers, but is just coming from just in front of the car. When I crank something I like, I feel the drummer snapping the drum head. I can hear the bass players fingers on the strings and the singer sound like he/she is right there in the vehicle. I listen to Classic Rock, Jazz and some classical and they all sound great on this system.

As I said in the beginning what each person likes in a car audio system is up to that person's personal taste. Some people out there don't like the MKZ and think a MB C250 or BMW 3xx is great. The audio system in my MKZ (THX II) is worth the $995 I paid for it. But, I know what I like from my car audio system. For you, listen to each and buy what sounds best to you.

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[Thrakkkk]

...What admire most about this new system is that it can make well sourced (CD or High bit rate MP3/AAC) music sound more like my home audio system. ...

I have some questions about mp3s and it's not so much about the sound quality (I know I should be listening to 192 kbps or higher).

Do mp3s support 2 channels or more (5.1 for instance)? If they do support more than 2 channels, is that pretty much the standard for mp3s these days?

How does the THX II system sound for 2 channel or radio music? Does 2 channel and radio music sound better on the MKZ's standard audio system?

 

[Thrakkkk]

Since kzVegas left, does anyone else think they can answer my questions?

 

[SteveB_TX]

Since kzVegas left, does anyone else think they can answer my questions?

I'm sure a google search would get you the answers you need. I know MP3s support stereo, but that's about all I know about them. When I make an MP3 I set the encoder for the highest quality. Sure, it makes them large files, but they sound terrific.

 

[CARR142]

See if this helps. http://www.focusst.org/forum/focus-st-electronics/16357-fix-low-volume-sony-stereo.html

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[lowfatdog]

It's been a while but I need to update a little bit about my opinion on the 2013 MKZ sound systems. I've noticed something dramatic when comparing the THX system in different cars. I think at least part of the issue is to do with the car the system is located in. The cars with the full panoramic sunroofs sound a lot worse (less bass and seemingly not as loud) as the ones with a regular sunroof. I don't know why unless there is a design difference in the overall way the car is made or acoustics or maybe they use a different sound unit all together in these cars.

 

[docwatsoncar]

Just bought a new 2015 MKZ "reserve" hybrid with THX. NOT impressed. Biggest problem is that the front center speaker volume is so much louder than the left/right speakers it prevents any perception of stereo. You can move the fade to a couple of notches just up from full rear position (sound mostly from rear) and that helps simply because you don't have so much sound blasting out that front center speaker. They should have set the system up so that when you choose "stereo" rather than "surround", it cuts the center speaker volume about 50% for those who think stereo means two distinct channels hitting your left and right ear. The standard sound system at least provides you with a real stereo experience (no center speaker). They might as well have just hooked up the center speakers and left the side speakers out in the THX system. Would sound pretty much the same. Supposedly you can pop off the center speaker grille by prying up all four corners and then unscrew the speaker assy. from the cavity and remove it. Some have done that and just disconnected that center speaker assy. wiring. Others have gone so far as to replace all the side speakers selecting for greater sensitivity to balance out the loud center speaker. I give the THX system a "D" personally. Poor engineering. Mostly a sales gimmick.

 

[G-583966]

I was wondering are there any owners of a new MKZ ('13 or '14) that came from an older MKZ ('09-'12) who can comment on the THX Sound System? I have '12 MKZ with the THX and I've been underwhelmed to say the least with the sound that the system produces. The sound is definitely clear (not muddy), but its not rich and the bass is pretty much non existent.

Is the THX sound system in the new MKZ's any better than the one in the previous generation? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Or if anyone who has a new model MKZ with the THX wants to comment on how the sound is that would be welcomed as well.

I have a 2020 MKZ and was told by a Lincoln owner to play with the midrange setting for better quality sound