F-Type ( X152 ) 2014 - Onwards

F-Type Stereo Issues (Dealer Says This is Normal?)

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Old Jul 30, 2025 | 10:41 AM
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Default F-Type Stereo Issues (Dealer Says This is Normal?)

Hi Everyone,
My wife purchased a 2023 late last year and has been loving it. The one complaint has been the stereo system.
It has the base Meridian system with ten speakers. The speakers grilles say "Meridian" on them.

Here is the issue...
If the fader is moved all the way to the back the sound becomes extremely distorted. This occurs even at very low volumes (<10).
The source doesn't matter (CarPlay, Radio, etc.) The dealer says this is perfectly normal.
Given how awful this sounds (like the drivers are bottoming out) I find this very hard to believe.
Are they right? Am I wrong?

Please help.

Thanks!

 
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Old Jul 30, 2025 | 11:57 AM
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People like to complain about the systems in these cars. It’s a thing. I’ve never had a problem with mine (770 watt version), but I could care very little about the sound quality of my radio in a car like this. I’m not sure why anyone would want to fade the sound all the way to the back in a car like this anyway. If it sounds alright with a more practical/normal fade setting (i.e.: balanced) I’m not sure I’d worry about it all that much.

That said, perhaps someone with the base stereo like you have would be kind enough to try it for you just for the sake of comparison to put your mind at ease. I would but I don’t have the same system so I’m not sure how helpful it would really be.
 
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Old Jul 30, 2025 | 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by TheWifesFType
Hi Everyone,
My wife purchased a 2023 late last year and has been loving it. The one complaint has been the stereo system.
It has the base Meridian system with ten speakers. The speakers grilles say "Meridian" on them.

Here is the issue...
If the fader is moved all the way to the back the sound becomes extremely distorted. This occurs even at very low volumes (<10).
The source doesn't matter (CarPlay, Radio, etc.) The dealer says this is perfectly normal.
Given how awful this sounds (like the drivers are bottoming out) I find this very hard to believe.
Are they right? Am I wrong?

Please help.

Thanks!
I believe the rears are subwoofers only.
 
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Old Jul 30, 2025 | 01:07 PM
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This is normal unfortunately. Don't know what they were thinking when they designed the sound system.

The trim around the rear woofers just can't take the bass frequencies and rattles and buzzes. The simple solution is simply to fade the sound forward. Unless you want to tear things apart in the back to add some vibration damping material. The front door subs can make things in the doors buzz and vibrate too, but that's easier to handle. There are some threads on here about how to pull off the door cards and add sound deadening.
 
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Old Jul 30, 2025 | 01:27 PM
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I have Meridian (770W) sound system in my '23 and I had to turn down the base because of vibrations rattling behind my head on certain songs when I've cranked it up. But normally I don't have the sound turned up very loud, so its not much of a bother to me.
I rather listen to the exhaust sounds !!!
 
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Old Jul 30, 2025 | 06:20 PM
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Convertible or Coupe, even though the system lets you fade all the way front or rear it is not a good idea as I have found. Also, you have a symposer that pipes engine sounds through the rear speakers.
I have the same system and I tried all the way to the front and did not sound very good. Was trying to defeat the symposer, but alas Jag out smarted me.
 
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Old Jul 30, 2025 | 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by randyb
Convertible or Coupe, even though the system lets you fade all the way front or rear it is not a good idea as I have found. Also, you have a symposer that pipes engine sounds through the rear speakers.
I have the same system and I tried all the way to the front and did not sound very good. Was trying to defeat the symposer, but alas Jag out smarted me.
The OP has a '23 so no symposer, instead his car has the artificial engine sound through the speakers.
Also the symposer doesn't use any sound system speakers rather it pumps sound in via it's own dedicated speaker attached to the firewall.
 
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Old Jul 30, 2025 | 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by OzXFR
The OP has a '23 so no symposer, instead his car has the artificial engine sound through the speakers.
Also the symposer doesn't use any sound system speakers rather it pumps sound in via it's own dedicated speaker attached to the firewall.
Are you sure, I swear I hear the engine noise coming from behind me. But I am a little deaf, so that could be the reason.
 
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Old Jul 30, 2025 | 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by randyb
Are you sure, I swear I hear the engine noise coming from behind me. But I am a little deaf, so that could be the reason.
Yep, it is well documented that the symposer was discontinued some years ago, with the 2021 MY IIRC.
Replaced by artificial engine noise through the sound system called NGPTSQ.
My best guess is that the artificial engine noise you are hearing is coming from the rear speakers.
 
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Old Jul 31, 2025 | 07:21 AM
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Originally Posted by OzXFR
Yep, it is well documented that the symposer was discontinued some years ago, with the 2021 MY IIRC.
Replaced by artificial engine noise through the sound system called NGPTSQ.
My best guess is that the artificial engine noise you are hearing is coming from the rear speakers.
Good morning OzXFR; You are the first one who seems to have even heard of the NGPTSQ system that replaced the symposer one of a few years back. I've asked this question on here as well at my dealership several times: The little information I have been able to find on the new system states that the volume can be adjusted with the infotainment volume control. Do you have any idea if this is true?
 
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Old Jul 31, 2025 | 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by MajorTom
This is normal unfortunately. Don't know what they were thinking when they designed the sound system.

The trim around the rear woofers just can't take the bass frequencies and rattles and buzzes. The simple solution is simply to fade the sound forward. Unless you want to tear things apart in the back to add some vibration damping material. The front door subs can make things in the doors buzz and vibrate too, but that's easier to handle. There are some threads on here about how to pull off the door cards and add sound deadening.
I ended up installing a 10-in powered sub behind the passenger seat with the signal fed from the front door woofers so I could turn down the meridian woofers behind the front seats.


 
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Old Jul 31, 2025 | 09:33 AM
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Originally Posted by SassySarah
Good morning OzXFR; You are the first one who seems to have even heard of the NGPTSQ system that replaced the symposer one of a few years back. I've asked this question on here as well at my dealership several times: The little information I have been able to find on the new system states that the volume can be adjusted with the infotainment volume control. Do you have any idea if this is true?
Are you ideally looking to completely disable it?

Upon searching I found this organization in the UK that claims to be able to disable it completely sorta thing —>

https://jlr-activations.uk/product/d...lr-activation/

I have no idea about this company, and how legit they are, but I suppose it could be worth investigating for anyone annoyed by this stuff. Impacts on warranty would clearly need to be considered.

Seems awfully expensive to me for what it is, but I guess it comes down to how badly it bothers someone. I honestly don’t even notice it because 90% of the time my windows are down anyway.

Surely someone will come up with a cheaper way to address this if it really becomes an issue for a lot of people…

Cheers
 

Last edited by DMeister; Jul 31, 2025 at 10:30 AM.
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Old Jul 31, 2025 | 10:55 AM
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NGPTSQ - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum https://share.google/QO1xP56FlztXR35NL
 
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