Spotify User Unimpressed with Lightning B&O Sound Quality?

[kubel]

This is a PSA for Spotify users. I'm coming from a Tesla, which has a built-in Spotify app, and I've always been happy with the quality of Spotify streamed music in my Tesla. Now I'm using Android Auto (wired) with Spotify for my music in my Lightning.

I've had the truck for a month now and all this time I have been less than impressed with the B&O sound system in the Flash trim. I tried switching from wireless to wired Android Auto, and that didn't help much. Then I discovered there's a "Volume Normalization" toggle in Playback Settings on the Spotify. When enabled, this completely neuders the bass and flattens the sound quality almost to mono, and you hear practically nothing from the rear speakers. It's the default setting in the Android Spotify app, and it makes the B&O sound system in the Lightning sound like absolute garbage.

If you are a Spotify user, DISABLE the "Volume Normalization" option in Settings > Playback, and get back to listening to a somewhat decent sound system.

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[Firn]

This is a PSA for Spotify users. I'm coming from a Tesla, which has a built-in Spotify app, and I've always been happy with the quality of Spotify streamed music in my Tesla. Now I'm using Android Auto (wired) with Spotify for my music in my Lightning.

I've had the truck for a month now and all this time I have been less than impressed with the B&O sound system in the Flash trim. I tried switching from wireless to wired Android Auto, and that didn't help much. Then I discovered there's a "Volume Normalization" toggle in Playback Settings on the Spotify. When enabled, this completely neuders the bass and flattens the sound quality almost to mono, and you hear practically nothing from the rear speakers. It's the default setting in the Android Spotify app, and it makes the B&O sound system in the Lightning sound like absolute garbage.

If you are a Spotify user, DISABLE the "Volume Normalization" option in Settings > Playback, and get back to listening to a somewhat decent sound system.

You should have the connectivity trial still, is there a Spotify app?

It would be interesting to hear if there is a difference between Spotify in AA and Spotify directly on the system

 

[brewski]

I would say any generalized setting will not satisfy an audio snob.
I remember people refusing to use Dolby because it killed (at least) the high end.
XM audio is bad. I use Spotify via CarPlay and find it to be great. I don’t use normalization.

 

[Bwanapete]

I drive both the Lightning and more often the Tesla MY. The Tesla Premium Connectivity has been including Slacker but that is being deleted 12/1/24. I can pay for it, $40/year. But is there a different streaming audio service that will work on both the car and the truck, and for how much $? By the way the sound system in my Lariat is significantly better than the system in the Tesla plus the truck has far less road noise.

 

[Whammy Bar]

This is a PSA for Spotify users. I'm coming from a Tesla, which has a built-in Spotify app, and I've always been happy with the quality of Spotify streamed music in my Tesla. Now I'm using Android Auto (wired) with Spotify for my music in my Lightning.

I've had the truck for a month now and all this time I have been less than impressed with the B&O sound system in the Flash trim. I tried switching from wireless to wired Android Auto, and that didn't help much. Then I discovered there's a "Volume Normalization" toggle in Playback Settings on the Spotify. When enabled, this completely neuders the bass and flattens the sound quality almost to mono, and you hear practically nothing from the rear speakers. It's the default setting in the Android Spotify app, and it makes the B&O sound system in the Lightning sound like absolute garbage.

If you are a Spotify user, DISABLE the "Volume Normalization" option in Settings > Playback, and get back to listening to a somewhat decent sound system.

The B&O system is just outright trash.... so there's that component of it too.

Whatever system comes in the base XLT that I had as a loaner is 5x better than the B&O in the Lariat. The bass is even better, and there's no sub in the XLT.

 

[flyin525]

This is a PSA for Spotify users. I'm coming from a Tesla, which has a built-in Spotify app, and I've always been happy with the quality of Spotify streamed music in my Tesla. Now I'm using Android Auto (wired) with Spotify for my music in my Lightning.

I've had the truck for a month now and all this time I have been less than impressed with the B&O sound system in the Flash trim. I tried switching from wireless to wired Android Auto, and that didn't help much. Then I discovered there's a "Volume Normalization" toggle in Playback Settings on the Spotify. When enabled, this completely neuders the bass and flattens the sound quality almost to mono, and you hear practically nothing from the rear speakers. It's the default setting in the Android Spotify app, and it makes the B&O sound system in the Lightning sound like absolute garbage.

If you are a Spotify user, DISABLE the "Volume Normalization" option in Settings > Playback, and get back to listening to a somewhat decent sound system.

Thanks! It does sound a bit better.

 

[kubel]

You should have the connectivity trial still, is there a Spotify app?

It would be interesting to hear if there is a difference between Spotify in AA and Spotify directly on the system

There's no Spotify app in my Flash AFAIK outside of AA. I have premium connectivity on the Tesla with Spotify and its sound system is the best I've ever heard in a car, way better than Lightning, but it has 15 speakers vs 8 on Flash.

By the way the sound system in my Lariat is significantly better than the system in the Tesla plus the truck has far less road noise.

Base Model Y has 7 speakers and is not great, I think they even deleted the subwoofer. Dual motor long range should have 13 speakers and sounds good but it's not as good as my 2018 Model 3 with 15 speakers.

The Lariat I test drove definitely had inferior sound compared my 2018 Model 3, but in retrospect, I probably was listening over Spotify via AA so I'll have to give it another test.

Agree with you with regard to road noise, Ford did a good job of sound insulation even on the lower Flash trim. But when the heat pump kicks in, it's sad. Noisy, vibrates the steering wheel, sounds like an ICE. It's really terrible.

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