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Left side audio super low

D

Dluder

Newish Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2026
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Car:
2023 Kia Stinger GT-Line

Audio:
Harman Kardon system

My driver side/ whole left side speakers are not audible when playing music. I have positioned the audio to the full left and can hear the music but only if I put my ear to it. I have tried factory reset/ hard reset, and Checked all fuses. Checked AM/FM radio to see if it’s just source and it didn’t fix it.

Surely after this many years, someone has found the fix.
 
Sorry, after all this many years, yours is the first case of weak sound to one side that I've heard of. We have or have had active audiophiles on the forum who geek out to all the electronic tinkering. Hopefully suggestions to troubleshoot will come your way. I will be reading.
 
Dluder said:
I have positioned the audio to the full left and can hear the music but only if I put my ear to it
Click to expand...
Being able to hear music, but only faintly, can happen on multi-way speakers when you lose one of the drivers, because the crossover isn't a hard cutoff. So for example, if you lose a midrange/tweeter, you may hear faint vocals from the woofer.

Have you tried comparing each driver (tweeter, midrange, woofer) to its counterpart on the opposite side, to see if you've simply lost one? Might be easier with the door panels off.
 
______________________________
Thomby said:
Being able to hear music, but only faintly, can happen on multi-way speakers when you lose one of the drivers, because the crossover isn't a hard cutoff. So for example, if you lose a midrange/tweeter, you may hear faint vocals from the woofer.

Have you tried comparing each driver (tweeter, midrange, woofer) to its counterpart on the opposite side, to see if you've simply lost one? Might be easier with the door panels off.
Click to expand...
How would u go about doing this. Rookie here
 
Dluder said:
How would u go about doing this. Rookie here
Click to expand...
Set the L/R balance back to neutral and play something with a mix of highs, mids, and lows. Put your ear to the right tweeter, then left, and you should hear the same highs. Then compare the right and left midrange, and right and left woofer. If the tweeter or midwoofer is dead, it'll probably be obvious.

The woofer might be trickier, depending on where its crossover cutoff is, but worst case you can pull the door panel, turn things up a bit, and feel whether one side's driver is moving but the other isn't.
 
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Thomby said:
Set the L/R balance back to neutral and play something with a mix of highs, mids, and lows. Put your ear to the right tweeter, then left, and you should hear the same highs. Then compare the right and left midrange, and right and left woofer. If the tweeter or midwoofer is dead, it'll probably be obvious.

The woofer might be trickier, depending on where its crossover cutoff is, but worst case you can pull the door panel, turn things up a bit, and feel whether one side's driver is moving but the other isn't.
Click to expand...
What if it’s the whole left side of the car that’s not outputting sound?
 
Dluder said:
What if it’s the whole left side of the car that’s not outputting sound?
Click to expand...
Front and rear, all three speakers in each door? I could see losing the left channel upstream somewhere, but you said you can hear music faintly. Is that true for all 6 speakers on that side?
 
Thomby said:
Front and rear, all three speakers in each door? I could see losing the left channel upstream somewhere, but you said you can hear music faintly. Is that true for all 6 speakers on that side?
Click to expand...
Yes
 
Dluder said:
Yes
Click to expand...
Ok so that points to something upstream. The HK system has a single amp+DSP unit in the trunk (passenger side), so either an issue there, or with the signal from the head unit.

Unfortunately it's not like an aftermarket amp, with bare wire terminals you can easily swap (to test left speakers on right channel, or left input signal on right amp channels, etc)...it's just one or two big multi-pin connectors.

So you could pull the trunk trim and check connections, make sure you don't see corrosion/stains/leaks etc. Or just take it to the dealer since as a 2023 I assume it's under warranty...they'll probably just swap the amp, and if that doesn't work, the head unit.
 
All the mods and upgrades for your Stinger you could ever ask for. CLICK HERE!
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
Dluder said:
Car:
2023 Kia Stinger GT-Line

Audio:
Harman Kardon system

My driver side/ whole left side speakers are not audible when playing music. I have positioned the audio to the full left and can hear the music but only if I put my ear to it. I have tried factory reset/ hard reset, and Checked all fuses. Checked AM/FM radio to see if it’s just source and it didn’t fix it.

Surely after this many years, someone has found the fix.
Click to expand...
As all the speakers are not working one side I would firstly check the amp connections in the boot/trunk luggage compartment

(Note you will never get any sound out of the Underseat Sub Woofers anyway).

Follow this link on the audio system in the service manual

Kia Stinger CK - Audio - Body Electrical System

Kia Stinger (CK) 2018-2023 Service Manual. Body Electrical System. Audio
www.kstinger.com www.kstinger.com

If all else fails message Big D imwit

Seems to have an answer for everything. Used to be a tyre technician so should know though couldn't fix a whir in his own steering and asked for help

Might even show you a picture of his engine ha ha ha
 
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