Mk 8 Golf GTI infotainment sound problems

[Barryjohn75]

Brand new Mk8 Golf GTI

1. The volume is so unacceptably low at 100% maximum volume that stereo can barely be heard over road noise. Regardless of wired, wireless, radio or apple CarPlay. This was confirmed when dealer loan vehicle, a base model 6 speaker T-Cross was far louder at 15% volume than mine at 100%. The T-cross being half the value of my 7 speaker GTI.

2. At 100% volume the rear speakers are barely audible.

3. What poor volume there is, suffers with ‘soft clipping’. And any hint of bass or audible is faded out resulting in head wrecking variable playback.

4. The wireless feature continually disconnects, 6x during my 4 hours commute. To reconnect you need to accept on your mobile, you can only do this whilst stationary. During disconnect screen goes totally black.


The dealer stated, he compared my vehicle to another MK8 Golf GTI he had which was exactly the same, no software updates are currently available and as far as he was concerned, I could not compare it to the sound of any other vehicle, it is manufacturer specifications. To take it up with VW Australia.



The sound and faults on my vehicle are completely unacceptable, I can barely hear it over road noise. I am not demanding or an audiophile, my vehicle and maybe all new golf GTI's have a software fault no being admitted to by VW. Who else has this problem on their Mk8 Golf???

[kamold]

'Sounds' like it may have the incorrect dataset loaded on it. Might be setup for an amplifier so is outputting line level instead of speaker level.
If that is the case then the dealer would be able to fix it by connecting the vehicle up to their diagnostics system called ODIS and performing a check against SVM for the 5F infotainment system. If the wrong parameters are currently applied it should download the correct set to your MIB unit behind the glovebox.

Or it could be a software issue...the CEO didn't just get booted for overseeing a stella transformation into a software-centric business...

[Cyberman]

I have an R-Line with the H/K sound system. Even at 25% volume my daughter (a singer used to loud music) complains it's too loud.

[kamold]

I have an R-Line with the H/K sound system. Even at 25% volume my daughter (a singer used to loud music) complains it's too loud.

The Harman Kardon system has an external amp. I suspect that the OP's car has the config on the MIB for a car that is supposed to have an amp like yours.

[thebullfrog]

I’m having the same issues in my parent’s Golf Life. They’re overseas at the moment so I picked it up from the dealer and have been driving it over the past week.

I believe it’s the same standard 7 speaker system the GTI has, happy to be corrected though. It’s a shame because the sound quality seems much better than their previous 7.5 Golf Comfortline and my ex’s 7.5 GTI.

I thought it must have been a volume limit to do with wireless CarPlay but dug through the settings on my phone, in Spotify and in the car and couldn’t find anything that made a difference. Turned off the car’s speed sensitive volume adjustment and the start up sound limit but neither affected the volume limit.

When you adjust the volume above 40-50% the volume bar increases all the way up to 100% but the sound itself doesn’t. Happens on CarPlay, FM and DAB radio. Haven’t tried AM.

Done about 350km over the past week and have had 4 or 5 CarPlay dropouts where the audio would glitch and then come back, and one total CarPlay dropout where the screen went black and I couldn’t get it to come back for the rest of the drive, at least the car’s radio and nav was still working.

The wireless charger also seems a poor design, if my phone isn’t perfectly centred it won’t charge - I have a grippy silicone case on it but still slides off centre during normal driving and stops charging.

[Barryjohn75]

Sounds like it’s a software fault on them all to me, not that VW would dream of admitting it. Register your complaint via customer service as I have, awaiting a response. Completely disgusting to have all these errors in a brand new car!

[NZTiguan]

Certainly have no problem with my R-Line, no lack of volume at all.

[Jacs8]

My Golf R has the same issue, the standard 7 speaker system seems to peak volume at about 60%. No difference between 60-100% volume.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Barryjohn75]

VW Australia couldn’t care less. Standard response, ‘we have checked and there are currently no software updates for your vehicle

[Adrian_R]

I was at my dealership recently, and during a discussion about audio systems, the sales manager actually demonstrated the "issue" with the standard mk8 volume. We could hold a conversation inside the car with the volume set to 100%, pretty lacklustre. No noticable difference between 60 and 100% volume settings either.

[Barryjohn75]

Really!? Annoying how they’re well aware of the problem.

[Adrian_R]

Next step for me is ACCC

I don't think it's an issue or a fault as such, I actually think it's a deliberate design/engineering choice, to not allow the sound to distort.

[Barryjohn75]

What, to barely be able to hear the stereo over the road noise? Save your hearing?

[NZTiguan]

I wonder why the difference between the R and the R-Line. I have none of these issues on the R-Line and can even go hands free for about 30 seconds before it warns me to put a hand on the wheel. Or is it a difference between requirements on NZ vs Ausi ? Same thing in stereo (yes I realise the R probably has a different version than mine), you couldn’t sit in mine on 100% volume, it would shake your teeth out. This isn’t a sound limit being put in by peoples iPhones or such is it ? as that is an available iOS setting. It all just sounds (or doesn’t sound lol) so counterintuitive in two versions of the same vehicle and I can’t figure why that would be.

[Barryjohn75]

Response from VE

I have confirmed with the dealership that the issue with the infotainment system and the rattles and squeaks concerns have still not been stated to the dealership.

Please be advised that the best course of action for these kind of issues will be to present the vehicles in front of one of our dealerships so that they can diagnose the issue further.

As previously advised, without a full diagnostic, we are unable to determine the fault of the vehicle and this will result in us not being able to advise you on the next steps for assistance. A diagnosis fee is chargeable by the dealership and it is in place for the service team members time and effort to diagnose the vehicle. Should the diagnosis confirm that it is a manufacturing concern, our Dealer partners can submit an warranty claim on your behalf, and they may include the diagnosis fee with the claim.
Moving forward, the dealership can best assist you further. If you have any other enquiries, please feel free to contact us again.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment and we trust this clarifies our position on the matter.

Kind Regards

Melova
Customer Experience Ambassador