Find the best Polestar 2 deals: locally.link/S8yl Review of the newer Single Motor Long Range: ua-cam.com/video/7Nxf3ZvNLj0/v-deo.html Read the Polestar 2 audio review on our website: totallyev.net/polestar-2-audio-review-harman-kardon-system/ Our full review of the Polestar 2: totallyev.net/polestar-2-review-tesla-model-3-bmw-i4/ Video timestamps: Intro: 00:00 Audio configuration: 00:26 Audio ducking: 02:27 Sound demo: 03:27 Bass: 06:41 Treble: 07:34 Soundstage: 08:24 Verdict: 09:51
Very comprehensive. Will be useful for anyone thinking of getting the car and likes a solid audio system. Just coming up to 6 months ownership and still haven't seen another P2. Thanks again...
@@TotallyEV all seats, pretty flat equalisers and surround off. For me it's best around 40mph as the car is so quiet then and you can really feel immersed. Love it
@@stevedoswell3406 thanks for sharing Steve; and agreed, although it's even better when the car is at a standstill. Do you also experience the audio dip?
@@TotallyEV to be honest I don't. I drove about 25 miles today with Spotify playing a variety, at speeds from 20mph to 70mph, with lots of city driving, so stopping often etc. All sounded superb. I'm not aware of any settings for this I'm afraid.
I have had my Polestar2 since February and have tweaked the EQ different to you and the sound I have is awesome, those who say they have issues must definitely have a problem. My bass and clarity of music is phenomenal and the best I have heard in any top end premium system. In fact I had a Merc that had 5.1 true surround sound and did not sound anywhere near as good as this.... The settings I use have been posted on the PolestarUk group and coupled with Spotify HQ setting I defy anyone to say the sound is rubbish in My car. Those that have a problem I suggest should speak to Polestar direct. It is a premium sound system so should be premium sound.
Hey, greetings from Norway. Possible to view your EQ settings anywhere else than in that group? I absolutely love the HK sound system in my P2 and I´m always looking to try out new settings..
Another great review. Very informative and inspired me to dive into the sound experience. I am a big fan of the system. And a big fan of yours. So clear, informative and well done. By the way, I have not experienced a dip in the volume as you mentioned. Perhaps it has been corrected by now.
Hi thank you for this review. I drive a Polestar 2 since early December 2020. After the last update to Android 10 the sound of the audio system has become very poor. The rear speakers produce almost no sound. When you switch the front speakers off and the rear speakers on you hear the music coming out of the front speakers. The surround sound is fake. According to my local Volvo dealer there is nothing they can do about it although they admit it's not good. I am on a Facebook group for Dutch and Belgian Polestar 2 drivers and a lot of them have the same complaints. Anyway it's nice to see there is still a lot of room for improvement! Best regards from The Netherlands!
Pleasure, glad you found the review useful! As for the audio system upgrade - we can't comment on that, unfortunately, so not sure; wasn't the experience we had on our model, however. Thanks for sharing anyway :)
I've owned the car since October and have the same experience since October (regardless of updates); there is no fade setting so all the sound comes from the front. No spatial sound since the rear speakers are almost silent. Nice sound, but they could have done so much more. Adding a simple fade option would be the first point on the list.
Pleasure, glad you liked the video! Have you/owners of the P2 also noticed the dip? We've asked Polestar to comment on it, but would be great to hear back from users :)
What sources can be used? Is it Bluetooth only or can you use an SDcard (or else) as a source, also in case there is no mobile internet access (tunnel, “somewhere in a forest”, etc)
@@TotallyEV thanks for your immediate response. If I am not mistaken, you can run a USB stick in a Tesla as an optional source which allows for offline/ huge library without filling up your phone’s capacity. Not everything is available in HiRes format, especially not in streaming. Since in the Polestar2 the harman kardon system is rather pricey and represents a brand with high quality audio ambition, one would like to make the most out of the car system, I’d guess.
@@sebastianwild7895 indeed, but alas that's not possible. Of all the audio systems reviewed, only Tesla offers true hi-res playback via USB; the rest don't (and that includes a £190K Bentley Bentayga Hybrid with the Naim Audio system...!)
@7:02 My 2024 has minimal bass. Cranking the SUB dial produces marginal results. Definitely not "feeling" it. My 2011 Lincoln MKS THX system blows the doors off of this. Is mine broken??
What was the sound in the back like? I think my P2 is faulty as it's awful if you turn off the front speakers - there's not even a full dynamic range there. Perhaps mine has an issue!
We'd suggest leaving the fader/balance on the centre position. Sound at the back was fine, although remember the speaker configuration at the front will sound naturally better than at the rear.
When it comes purely to audio systems? Yes, there's the Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin Pro and the Kia Soul EV, both are excellent, although, the Tesla (premium audio) still stands a firm favourite. Reviews of both mentioned: Volvo: totallyev.net/volvo-xc40-audio-review-harman-kardon-system/ Kia: totallyev.net/kia-soul-ev-audio-review-10-speaker-harman-kardon-system/
Tried the ps2 and liked the sound but was set very bassy. Wasn’t the highest priority thing to look at as was good enough. Going back again Tuesday and this time I will tweak it. Highly likely we will buy it, just depends on if they make some drastic changes to the options and prices as that’s due to change for Monday.
@@TotallyEV I'm hoping nothing major but we were told by staff that base colour is due to change, and the new black will be metallic, but will be an upgrade. They were uncertain as to any other changes but said there may be some. I'm more concerned about changes to the packs and pricing. standard range with plus and pilot pack, and a colour option is within our budget. If those prices or packs get changed with the update then the car may be off the menu.
@@TotallyEV looks like the prices are the same, just default colour has changed. Not ordering till finance options go live though as the key differentiator between this and the m3 besides insurance cost is ps2 has much better terms. In my case ps2 is more expensive than m3 but works out cheaper on a 4 year pcp. Actually lower monthly than I'm currently paying for my leaf.
@@TotallyEV Absolutely, but judging a sound system isn't subjective. This is the kind of music the Beats headphones or Apple's Homepods were made for: Lots of bass, very little dynamic range, no big changes in frequency. People hear lots of volume, compression and bass and go "Whoa, that sounds great!". So, for people who listen to music with their autonomic nervous systems - maybe a good choice. The quality of a sound system lies in range of volume and frequency as well as clarity without rumbling at the deep end or hissing at the high end. Because I didn't mean to offend you: Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture has been a litmus test for stereo systems for decades. Give it a try, but roll down the windows, so your neighbours can appreciate it, too. Sorry if my first comment sounded too harsh - it wasn't meant to.
Hi Chris, I am curious about how this sound system compares with Model 3's premium system, especially regarding its soundstage. Do you think you'll have the chance to review Tesla's sound system in the future?
Hi Julian, you'll be pleased to know that the next car review (and audio system) on the channel will be of the Model 3. Effectively, they're both spectacular systems and go toe-to-toe against each other; stay tuned!
It may be the best system in this price range, but coming from a citroen c6 the audio system is definitly worse. it it has a boomy bass profile that is very fatiquing and i never get it quite right no matter whatb i do with the settings, while the audio system in the c6 literally blew me away every time.
Find the best Polestar 2 deals: locally.link/S8yl
Review of the newer Single Motor Long Range: ua-cam.com/video/7Nxf3ZvNLj0/v-deo.html
Read the Polestar 2 audio review on our website: totallyev.net/polestar-2-audio-review-harman-kardon-system/
Our full review of the Polestar 2: totallyev.net/polestar-2-review-tesla-model-3-bmw-i4/
Video timestamps:
Intro: 00:00
Audio configuration: 00:26
Audio ducking: 02:27
Sound demo: 03:27
Bass: 06:41
Treble: 07:34
Soundstage: 08:24
Verdict: 09:51
Very comprehensive. Will be useful for anyone thinking of getting the car and likes a solid audio system. Just coming up to 6 months ownership and still haven't seen another P2. Thanks again...
Thanks again Steve, glad you liked the review!
How do you have the audio configured in your P2?
@@TotallyEV all seats, pretty flat equalisers and surround off. For me it's best around 40mph as the car is so quiet then and you can really feel immersed. Love it
@@stevedoswell3406 thanks for sharing Steve; and agreed, although it's even better when the car is at a standstill.
Do you also experience the audio dip?
@@TotallyEV to be honest I don't. I drove about 25 miles today with Spotify playing a variety, at speeds from 20mph to 70mph, with lots of city driving, so stopping often etc. All sounded superb. I'm not aware of any settings for this I'm afraid.
Thanks for sharing Steve, this is interesting; let's see what others/Polestar have to say too! :)
I have had my Polestar2 since February and have tweaked the EQ different to you and the sound I have is awesome, those who say they have issues must definitely have a problem. My bass and clarity of music is phenomenal and the best I have heard in any top end premium system. In fact I had a Merc that had 5.1 true surround sound and did not sound anywhere near as good as this.... The settings I use have been posted on the PolestarUk group and coupled with Spotify HQ setting I defy anyone to say the sound is rubbish in My car. Those that have a problem I suggest should speak to Polestar direct. It is a premium sound system so should be premium sound.
Indeed, the system is excellent. Glad you're enjoying it too!
Hey, greetings from Norway. Possible to view your EQ settings anywhere else than in that group? I absolutely love the HK sound system in my P2 and I´m always looking to try out new settings..
This review has helped me finally make the decision to add the plus pack.
Glad the review was helpful!
Another great review. Very informative and inspired me to dive into the sound experience. I am a big fan of the system. And a big fan of yours. So clear, informative and well done.
By the way, I have not experienced a dip in the volume as you mentioned. Perhaps it has been corrected by now.
Thank you for sharing, and for the lovely comment! Much appreciated, glad you're enjoying the P2.
Hi thank you for this review. I drive a Polestar 2 since early December 2020. After the last update to Android 10 the sound of the audio system has become very poor. The rear speakers produce almost no sound. When you switch the front speakers off and the rear speakers on you hear the music coming out of the front speakers. The surround sound is fake. According to my local Volvo dealer there is nothing they can do about it although they admit it's not good. I am on a Facebook group for Dutch and Belgian Polestar 2 drivers and a lot of them have the same complaints. Anyway it's nice to see there is still a lot of room for improvement! Best regards from The Netherlands!
Pleasure, glad you found the review useful!
As for the audio system upgrade - we can't comment on that, unfortunately, so not sure; wasn't the experience we had on our model, however.
Thanks for sharing anyway :)
I've owned the car since October and have the same experience since October (regardless of updates); there is no fade setting so all the sound comes from the front. No spatial sound since the rear speakers are almost silent. Nice sound, but they could have done so much more. Adding a simple fade option would be the first point on the list.
Thanks for sharing, that includes when you're using the system in its 'all' configuration?
@@TotallyEV Yes
@@edvardringen darn :(
Hi thanks for the Review of the Sound System 👍
Pleasure, glad you liked the review!
Great review. Thanks. I will get my Polestar in 2 months. 😃
Pleasure, glad you found the review useful! Which variant/packs did you go for?
Nice to see a review specially around the fantastic audio system. Thank you. 👍🏻
Pleasure, glad you liked the video!
Have you/owners of the P2 also noticed the dip? We've asked Polestar to comment on it, but would be great to hear back from users :)
Of course, the dip is very prominent when stopping. Doesn't get back to normal volume until you go faster than 30 kph. Really annoying.
Glad we're not the only ones then!
Believe there is a OTA update fix for this now out or due very soon depending on your location.
@@polestarownersclubcom8629 let's see what Polestar say; thanks for sharing
What sources can be used? Is it Bluetooth only or can you use an SDcard (or else) as a source, also in case there is no mobile internet access (tunnel, “somewhere in a forest”, etc)
It's only Bluetooth or radio in the Polestar 2!
@@TotallyEV thanks for your immediate response. If I am not mistaken, you can run a USB stick in a Tesla as an optional source which allows for offline/ huge library without filling up your phone’s capacity. Not everything is available in HiRes format, especially not in streaming. Since in the Polestar2 the harman kardon system is rather pricey and represents a brand with high quality audio ambition, one would like to make the most out of the car system, I’d guess.
@@sebastianwild7895 indeed, but alas that's not possible. Of all the audio systems reviewed, only Tesla offers true hi-res playback via USB; the rest don't (and that includes a £190K Bentley Bentayga Hybrid with the Naim Audio system...!)
The times when Dynaudio made their sound system for Volvo.. I am missing them ^-^
How long has it been again!?
@@TotallyEV Tell me :D I have the Premium Sound System Dynaudio in my Volvo C70 MK2, and that's the only reason I'm not selling it :DDD
@7:02 My 2024 has minimal bass. Cranking the SUB dial produces marginal results. Definitely not "feeling" it. My 2011 Lincoln MKS THX system blows the doors off of this. Is mine broken??
Not sure, maybe go to a dealer.
Thank you, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!
Pleasure, glad you liked the review :)
What was the sound in the back like? I think my P2 is faulty as it's awful if you turn off the front speakers - there's not even a full dynamic range there. Perhaps mine has an issue!
We'd suggest leaving the fader/balance on the centre position. Sound at the back was fine, although remember the speaker configuration at the front will sound naturally better than at the rear.
The sound dip will be fixed in the March Update.
Interesting, where did you hear or read about this?
Is the HK free on polestar 2? I thought it was part of the plus package ( extra 4000 pound option)
At the time of the review, it came as standard in the AWD model. Of course price and specs might have changed since the review was filmed!
is there any better rounding EV than P2 or Tesla3 ?
When it comes purely to audio systems?
Yes, there's the Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin Pro and the Kia Soul EV, both are excellent, although, the Tesla (premium audio) still stands a firm favourite.
Reviews of both mentioned:
Volvo: totallyev.net/volvo-xc40-audio-review-harman-kardon-system/
Kia: totallyev.net/kia-soul-ev-audio-review-10-speaker-harman-kardon-system/
Tried the ps2 and liked the sound but was set very bassy. Wasn’t the highest priority thing to look at as was good enough. Going back again Tuesday and this time I will tweak it. Highly likely we will buy it, just depends on if they make some drastic changes to the options and prices as that’s due to change for Monday.
What are the drastic changes you're mentioning?
@@TotallyEV I'm hoping nothing major but we were told by staff that base colour is due to change, and the new black will be metallic, but will be an upgrade. They were uncertain as to any other changes but said there may be some. I'm more concerned about changes to the packs and pricing. standard range with plus and pilot pack, and a colour option is within our budget. If those prices or packs get changed with the update then the car may be off the menu.
@@madonemt fingers crossed that's not the case; let us know how you get on!
@@TotallyEV looks like the prices are the same, just default colour has changed. Not ordering till finance options go live though as the key differentiator between this and the m3 besides insurance cost is ps2 has much better terms. In my case ps2 is more expensive than m3 but works out cheaper on a 4 year pcp. Actually lower monthly than I'm currently paying for my leaf.
That's good to hear, thanks for sharing!
You do a review on a sound system, and that's the kind of music you choose for it?
Music is subjective, be respectful.
@@TotallyEV Absolutely, but judging a sound system isn't subjective. This is the kind of music the Beats headphones or Apple's Homepods were made for: Lots of bass, very little dynamic range, no big changes in frequency. People hear lots of volume, compression and bass and go "Whoa, that sounds great!". So, for people who listen to music with their autonomic nervous systems - maybe a good choice. The quality of a sound system lies in range of volume and frequency as well as clarity without rumbling at the deep end or hissing at the high end. Because I didn't mean to offend you: Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture has been a litmus test for stereo systems for decades. Give it a try, but roll down the windows, so your neighbours can appreciate it, too. Sorry if my first comment sounded too harsh - it wasn't meant to.
Can't you just adjust the EQ to match the acoustics of when the Surround mode is on? I disagree and think it enhances the soundstage.
You can, but at the expense of an artificial sound - nullifying certain competencies of the system.
Honestly, the best song, I test all cars with is " Hearing Damage. " trust me.......
👀
I’m sure Harman don’t make car audio speakers. So any idea what brand they are??
They do indeed.
Those settings seem weak I like a thump with my music turn that sub up!! But too much bass ruins the quality of the sound
That's subjective.
in the verdict why do you say "you cant buy it" ?
As at the time it came as standard, whereas now it seems it's an option which is a shame.
@@TotallyEV chip shortage probably. we live in a crazy world.
Not sure that's the case, was seemingly done before there were any issues
Hi Chris, I am curious about how this sound system compares with Model 3's premium system, especially regarding its soundstage. Do you think you'll have the chance to review Tesla's sound system in the future?
Hi Julian, you'll be pleased to know that the next car review (and audio system) on the channel will be of the Model 3. Effectively, they're both spectacular systems and go toe-to-toe against each other; stay tuned!
@@TotallyEV Well, that's a pleasant surprise ;)
I'm looking forward to it!
Will try to remember to link it here when it goes live!
@@JulianBloehm it's now live! ua-cam.com/video/0hZmozI_sko/v-deo.html
@@TotallyEV Thanks!
It may be the best system in this price range, but coming from a citroen c6 the audio system is definitly worse. it it has a boomy bass profile that is very fatiquing and i never get it quite right no matter whatb i do with the settings, while the audio system in the c6 literally blew me away every time.
Glad you're enjoying it!
WOW ! I appreciate your sound reviews. ATH-M40X for the full experience. Thank you.
Pleasure, glad you like them, Scott :)
I listened that song in my v40 with harman kardon and it was just horrible
Might need to adjust your EQ settings then!