You are on the right track. Moving the fader towards the rears will improve the overall sound because what you are really doing is
reducing the level of the fronts to more closely track the rears. When you move the fader rearward, the rears
don't get any louder at all; you are simply trying to achieve a reasonable balance in the relative volume between front and back. I've got the rear balance fader about the diameter of the "knob" towards the rear from the center circle.
(The top of the fader just touches the bottom of the center circle) Try to use some bass heavy program material to make this adjustment. SiriusXM Channel 53 {Chill} is a good bass heavy source. Also,
ONLY USE THE REAR ARROW to make this adjustment.
If you deviate at all when moving the fader, the rears will immediately drop out. (That's the muting kicking in.)
If this happens, touch the "Center" target to restore the rear channels. This unwanted behavior really demonstrates how the muting function works improperly.
Once the levels match (as best they can, it won't be perfect), you then use the volume control and the rears will track. What you are doing is
reducing the fronts to match the rears. Because the fronts will now track the rears, volume changes will be better, but you will be using a much higher overall volume to overcome the muting (reduced but not off) that is stuck on the rear channels. You'll be pushing the amplifier harder to overcome the reduced front levels, but the rear bias you have added will make the overall sound much more balanced.
Observation: Using
Surround mode adds in the two high mounted rear surround speakers. If and when the onboard navigation speaks, or receives a text notification, you'll hear it
loud and clear through the surrounds (if in surround mode) because they
unmute momentarily to make the announcement.
Meridian designed the system to automatically reduce the level of your chosen source momentarily so you can hear the navigation or other warnings when they occur. I'm calling this muting, but the proper term in professional audio is
ducking. The primary source volume drops (it "ducks" down but isn't silenced) so the warning can be heard.
THIS is the underlying problem in the head unit. The rear channels are stuck in this ducked or muted state.
I have documented this anomaly and sent it to Kia Customer Service.
I have had long sessions with the Service Techs at my dealer, including a Kia Certified Master EV Tech (who I don't fault at all) and they fully understand and agree this is a problem. But there is absolutely nothing they can do because the problem is going to require a software update. Kia has tried multiple fixes for this including replacing the amplifier, (which doesn't work) because the problem is in the head unit.
If you need to prove this to your Service Writer, get them to sit with you in your car and do the setup process I described earlier. Then ask them to do the exact same experiment on
any other new Kia on the lot (any model they want except another EV6). The problem is immediately evident. Your service department can't fix it (yet). The only other workaround is to use the "big guns", and install a powered subwoofer. This instantly improves everything because it can amplify the muted output from the EV6 external amp. This is why multitudes of EV6 owners are taking things into their own hands and bringing in the "big guns” and instant nirvana a powered subwoofer provides. This solution is best for the the front seats, but rear seat passengers will still have muted rear doors and surrounds, (but plenty of bass). The intended Meridian experience fails to materialize. The Meridian factory installed subwoofer is actually quite capable, (
if it weren't getting the muted input). It is actually biamped; the single woofer has two voice coils and each is fed by it's own amp channel. But it can't deliver anything when it's getting a muted signal. This is why the Meridian system can't deliver as it was designed. Meridian has gone on record that the level of the rear channels should match the front channels. But I doubt if any Meridian engineer has ever sat in a production EV6. If they did, they would be horrified. But Meridian has no support network at all for their automobile products, there is no mention of any automobile product on their website. Only Kia can fix this, and I'm confident they will eventually actually listen to what is rolling off the line. But for me, I choose to wait for the fix. The audiophile in me disagrees, but the way I look at it, I shouldn't have to add a powered sub to a $50,000+ car just to hear what was intended.
