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The standard Surreal Sound (10 speakers) audio system

kandid

kandid

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Mar 10, 2026
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Mountain View, CA
Cars
Lucid Gravity GT
My Lucid Gravity GT came with the base 10-speaker setup, and honestly, I’m very disappointed - even without being picky about audio quality. It sounds worse than my Nissan Leaf. When buying from available inventory, I had to compromise on the base audio to get the 3-row configuration. I can live with the seats (worst-case scenario, I’ll just take them out), but the audio is a real issue. No matter the settings, the sound feels like it's coming either strictly from the front (as if someone threw a $20 Bluetooth speaker under the windshield) or from the rear doors. I haven't been able to get a balanced front-to-back soundstage, regardless of where I set the central point. Also, there are no speakers in the trunk - just empty space behind the grilles. I’m not even sure all the speakers are functioning, as it feels like there are only three active ones - one in the front and one in each of the rear doors. I wanted to clarify:

1. where exactly should the speakers be located in the base audio configuration?
2. Is anyone else here dealing with the same front-to-back balancing issues and awful sound quality?
3. Also, is there any workaround to fix this or a way to upgrade the audio system?

Thank you!
 
Other than the two in the lower part of the A pillars, the only other one whose location I'm certain of is the "subwoofer" (not really) in the middle of the rear shelf.

Assuming no other actual issues with the stock speakers, I found installing a subwoofer in the sub-trunk, similarly to the @ZRAT415 Subwoofer Install thread (Though I used a Kicker HS10) made a huge difference in the audio quality, though it took me some time to dial in just the right levels for it.
 
doubletwist said:
Other than the two in the lower part of the A pillars, the only other one whose location I'm certain of is the "subwoofer" (not really) in the middle of the rear shelf.

Assuming no other actual issues with the stock speakers, I found installing a subwoofer in the sub-trunk, similarly to the @ZRAT415 Subwoofer Install thread (Though I used a Kicker HS10) made a huge difference in the audio quality, though it took me some time to dial in just the right levels for it.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice! Though I don't think Gravity has speakers in A pillars (but Air does):

1779342507942.webp
 
kandid said:
Thank you for the advice! Though I don't think Gravity has speakers in A pillars (but Air does):
Click to expand...
Oops. I didn't notice this was the Gravity section.
 
kandid said:
My Lucid Gravity GT came with the base 10-speaker setup, and honestly, I’m very disappointed - even without being picky about audio quality. It sounds worse than my Nissan Leaf. When buying from available inventory, I had to compromise on the base audio to get the 3-row configuration. I can live with the seats (worst-case scenario, I’ll just take them out), but the audio is a real issue. No matter the settings, the sound feels like it's coming either strictly from the front (as if someone threw a $20 Bluetooth speaker under the windshield) or from the rear doors. I haven't been able to get a balanced front-to-back soundstage, regardless of where I set the central point. Also, there are no speakers in the trunk - just empty space behind the grilles. I’m not even sure all the speakers are functioning, as it feels like there are only three active ones - one in the front and one in each of the rear doors. I wanted to clarify:

1. where exactly should the speakers be located in the base audio configuration?
2. Is anyone else here dealing with the same front-to-back balancing issues and awful sound quality?
3. Also, is there any workaround to fix this or a way to upgrade the audio system?

Thank you!
Click to expand...
Talk to sound innovations about upgrading.
 
I’m also struggling with making the Gravity base audio system sound acceptable with the EQ and positioning.

For the EQ, I didn’t think I’d be so picky but the bass is too overpowering and boomy/muddy for a lot of music, just trying to make it less fatiguing.

As far as positioning, it sounds like it’s coming from the center of the windshield and the 2nd row speakers behind me, resulting in like a triangle of sound instead of stereo. Some of it is exacerbated by the fact the comfort and convenience windows are SO QUIET, whice I’ve never experienced in a car before, and imo it makes my left ear think it’s missing noise/music from that side. I also now realize that in my old car I relied on door speakers a lot, which the base Surreal Sound lacks. Add it all up and I regret not getting SSP (but still can’t fathom paying that much to listen to podcasts and 2-channel audio).

Anyway, I’m interested in what fixes anyone comes up with here. If Lucid could give us more fine tuned EQ to tune out the boominess I think I’d be 80% happier
 
The base audio in the Air is worse than the base audio in a Model 3 for sure. I had both. Assuming I stick with Lucid at the end f my current lease, I am not going to compromise on the upgrade sound system.
 
Miami_Lucid_Man said:
The base audio in the Air is worse than the base audio in a Model 3 for sure. I had both. Assuming I stick with Lucid at the end f my current lease, I am not going to compromise on the upgrade sound system.
Click to expand...
Having recently experienced the base audio in a rental-spec Honda Accord, I can safely report that the base audio in the Air is an audiophile's wet dream in comparison.

And honestly, putting a Kicker HS10 Hideaway in the trunk made a massive difference to the base audio in the Air. I went from "Not great but I guess I can live with it, but I wish I had gotten the SSPro" to "This is pretty bangin' - I'm so glad I didn't waste the money on SSPro" (it would've cost me more than just the cost of the upgrade due to incentives I took advantage of)
 
What is your audio source? At first I was also underwhelmed by the base system but I knew enough to not judge based on a Bluetooth input source. Once CarPlay was enabled and we got the higher quality audio transmission, the system livened up and I am happy enough that I don’t regret not paying extra for the pro level.
 
socktucker said:
I think the base Surreal Sound is pretty bad, but if you're talking about the very, very base Model 3 that my 2023 SR has in it...its waaaaay worse than base Lucid!
Click to expand...
I’m not sure I agree. I think the main front speakers in the model 3 are way clearer than Lucids. And I also had a 2023 SR before I got rear ended at 40+ mph totaling it. But, in any event, SSP for me next time if I stay with Lucid.
 
Jeffgtx said:
What is your audio source? At first I was also underwhelmed by the base system but I knew enough to not judge based on a Bluetooth input source. Once CarPlay was enabled and we got the higher quality audio transmission, the system livened up and I am happy enough that I don’t regret not paying extra for the pro level.
Click to expand...
Apple Music via CarPlay usually. Granted I haven’t tried Tidal.
 
We have used the in-car Spotify and Tidal apps, and the base sound system sounds great to me. Better than my Model S, especially with Tidal. Maybe try a different source?
 
Source is a huge factor. I tried a bunch of music files on a USB stick that I ripped from CDs at highest-res "lossless". They sound like FM radio compared to Tidal, which is ridiculously detailed. Once you throw Atmos in, it's like a theatrical experience.
 
Since i have a Dream Edition, I got the premium sound system... which after the recent software upgrade has been really great. Love the sound system.
 
I have the base sound system in our Gravity GT and the SSPro in our ‘23 Air Touring. The SSPro is better especially at the lower frequencies but not substantially better. I am quite pleased with the base system in the Gravity. I use Tidal and SiriusXM in both vehicles. Music playing through Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth is nowhere as good as the car apps.
 
If one is looking at used Lucid Gravities online, are there any visual clues that indicate that a car does or doesn’t have the Surreal Sound Pro?

In the configurator it shows extra speaker grills on the A pillar for the Pro. But I’ve seen a car online that had those grills but was still the base audio version
 
niceInBoston said:
If one is looking at used Lucid Gravities online, are there any visual clues that indicate that a car does or doesn’t have the Surreal Sound Pro?

In the configurator it shows extra speaker grills on the A pillar for the Pro. But I’ve seen a car online that had those grills but was still the base audio version
Click to expand...

I don't have grills on the A pillars, but i have ones on the D pillars, but no speakers behind them.
 
JeffSter said:
Since i have a Dream Edition, I got the premium sound system... which after the recent software upgrade has been really great. Love the sound system.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I wish I had one too, but unfortunately, they didn't have any cars in stock with all the options I wanted and i had to compromise on something. Custom orders were closed at the time with no clear timeline for when they would reopen.
 
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