[Valletta]

I ordered a 2023 Challenger on 11/16/22 and did not order the HK option. Is the Harman Kardon a must-have or is the stock audio system adequate? TIA

I have it on my 2016 and honestly its waaaay to much. Don't waste your money. The 900w subs in the truck even turned down ruin the audio.

 

[zaimer]

I have it on my 2016 and honestly its waaaay to much. Don't waste your money. The 900w subs in the truck even turned down ruin the audio.

I've also heard many guys say this. HK system is very bass heavy (not necessarily a higher quality sound) and drowns out much of the system.

 

[goldlifter]

Ive had both and its a must have for me….the hk is extremely good for a factory system

 

[Valletta]

I've also heard many guys say this. HK system is very bass heavy (not necessarily a higher quality sound) and drowns out much of the system.

All the regular speakers are fantastic but the subs are just too much and being in the truck instead of being somewhere centralized it doesn't attune well.

Granted I am an audiophile so, maybe its just me.

 

[2ndgen]

It will rattle the windows and doors.

But don't let marketing fool you.
HK says "825 watts *equivalent". It's not even close to 825/900 "watts" the amp is rated for.

Also, it's changed specs through various model years:

• 2013 Charger SRT HK was 15 speakers
• 2015+ Challenger HK is 18 speakers 825 "watts"
• 2015+ Charger HK is 19 speakers 900 "watts"

A best guess is that HK's "equivalent watts" is actually peak watts (double RMS). Given that the 25A fuse maxes at about 337W (which still only gets you to 670 peak), who knows what hole they pulled the number "825" out of...

Also, only 3 of the 4 voice coils in the sub are actually powered--with an additional mono amp you could potentially get more out of them.

 

[Long Island SRT]

FYI - If you drive with the Sunroof open and windows down at 70 miles an hour and like to hear your music clearly - the HK system just keeps up.

 

[zaimer]

It will rattle the windows and doors.

But don't let marketing fool you.
HK says "825 watts *equivalent". It's not even close to 825/900 "watts" the amp is rated for.

Also, it's changed specs through various model years:

• 2013 Charger SRT HK was 15 speakers
• 2015+ Challenger HK is 18 speakers 825 "watts"
• 2015+ Charger HK is 19 speakers 900 "watts"

A best guess is that HK's "equivalent watts" is actually peak watts (double RMS). Given that the 25A fuse maxes at about 337W (which still only gets you to 670 peak), who knows what hole they pulled the number "825" out of...

Also, only 3 of the 4 voice coils in the sub are actually powered--with an additional mono amp you could potentially get more out of them.

It kills me that the Hellcat is the "top of the line" model, and lately they charged ~$2,000 to "upgrade" the sound system. The HK used to be included as a standard option. Same with the Alpine systems... it was/is(?) an upgrade for some trim levels, then the Alpine is standard on the Hellcat.

Red brake calipers.. I had to pay like $600 to get them on my ScatPack WB... on the Hellcat, you have to pay to get RID of the red brake calipers. 🤦‍♂️

 

[Reaperhwk]

Lol. The HK is not a bass heavy system, my Tahoe has more bass than the HK system. The HK system WILL NOT shake the car or rattle the doors. I view it more balanced than bass heavy, you can always play with the EQ anyway.

Sit in a car with a real sub and then sit in the HK system

Bass heavy is when you feel it in your chest. The HK system will distort like crazy if you try to really play it loud.

Yeah no way it's 900 watts, the factory probably just adds up the peak wattage handing of each speaker, lame. It's probably like 200 rms.....

 

[1fastrunner]

Save the HK for your EV cars.
I'd rather spend the money on a good exhaust system, best sound going.

 

[S8ER01Z]

Interesting and a great point...

I'm fairly certain that the HK came STANDARD on the '18's, before it became one more thing for Dodge to milk more money out of the customers. I don't believe you even had any Alpine system. If you can dig up your VIN I can run the build sheet and you'd know exactly.

"standard Harman/Kardon sound system pumps out 900 watts through 18 speakers "

It’s possible my memory is wrong here…imagine if I ended up with an optional system and it was that bad 😬 😂
2C3CDZAG4JH334065

edit: unless you mean HK was standard on the Hellcats. This was on the poor man’s challenger.

 

[smith5879]

I wonder if there is more than 1 alpine option because it low key sucked in my 2018 Challenger.

There is a basic no-name system, two Alpine systems, and then the HK system. The no-name system comes as standard in SXT, GT, and R/T models, but it gets overridden with the base level Alpine system by the Plus Package and I believe the NAV unit as well, and of course by the typical audio upgrade options. See below for examples. You have to have a real stripper model to end up with this stereo system and I think it's reasonable to expect it to sound like utter garbage.

MONRONEY (dodge.com)
MONRONEY (dodge.com)

The first Alpine system is the base system on the Scat Pack and Hellcat. You can see it referred to as the "6 Premium Alpine Speakers" under standard equipment on the Hellcat window sticker below. It seems to me that by most accounts this system is lackluster.

MONRONEY (dodge.com)

There's also the upgraded Alpine system with a more powerful amplifier and 9 speakers. This system isn't available on Hellcats. I had this system in a Challenger GT and it sounded pretty good for a factory stereo. You can see it referred to as the "Alpine Audio Group with Subwoofer " under optional equipment on the GT window sticker below.

MONRONEY (dodge.com)

Then of course there's the top-of-the-line HK system. Since this is the only audio upgrade available for the HC, I would probably not buy one without it.

 

[zaimer]

It’s possible my memory is wrong here…imagine if I ended up with an optional system and it was that bad 😬 😂
2C3CDZAG4JH334065

edit: unless you mean HK was standard on the Hellcats. This was on the poor man’s challenger.

HK was standard on the hellcats, for that year.

this was you car:

• 6 PREMIUM ALPINE SPEAKERS
• 276 WATT AMPLIFIER
• HD RADIO
• 8.4" TOUCHSCREEN DISPLA

 

[S8ER01Z]

HK was standard on the hellcats, for that year.

this was you car:

• 6 PREMIUM ALPINE SPEAKERS
• 276 WATT AMPLIFIER
• HD RADIO
• 8.4" TOUCHSCREEN DISPLA

Thanks for confirming! That system was awful, I can’t speak for the other Alpine offering. 🙂

 

[mossess]

When I ordered my 2018 Challenger the vehicle came standard with the HK system in addition to stuff such as auto. trans,laguna leather,NAV display and block heater. Of course all this is built into the price already and I am enjoying this sound system.

 

[smith5879]

Thanks for confirming! That system was awful, I can’t speak for the other Alpine offering. 🙂

The upgraded 9-speaker Alpine system sounded pretty decent in my opinion. I think the word audiophile is a loaded term these days but would consider myself a level-headed one. I don't believe in all the voodoo bullshit regarding wiring costing $100+ per foot, but I do have a proper 5.2.4 home theater setup in my living room that has a total of ~$4500 in audio equipment (surely modest by some standards) and the upgraded Alpine system was certainly acceptable to me. YMMV.

 

[Ace1894]

You’re going to love your car with or without it. For me, the HK was a must have and I absolutely love the system. It’s got great sound for the price.

 

[Mr2AM]

I have it on my 2016 and I enjoy it. I spend hours researching and fine tuning EQ settings for my music taste. You can get alot of bass out of the system where your car rattles but the type of music I like doesn't sound good like that.

I had an aftermaket system installed on my 2010 cobalt back in the day ( I dont remember the manuf. but i know i had 2 12" subs in the trunk, in addition to driver/passanger speakers) and it sounds just as good as those did.

Then again, usually my exhaust drowns out the music lol.

TLR - I am very happy with it in my car. Would recommend.

 

[$pir1tu$]

I have had the standard audio system in my Scat pack, and I have the HK in my Hellcat. It definitely sounds better and is stronger, but it took me a bit of time to dial it in to where I like it.

 

[zaimer]

I have it on my 2016 and I enjoy it. I spend hours researching and fine tuning EQ settings for my music taste. You can get alot of bass out of the system where your car rattles but the type of music I like doesn't sound good like that.

I had an aftermaket system installed on my 2010 cobalt back in the day ( I dont remember the manuf. but i know i had 2 12" subs in the trunk, in addition to driver/passanger speakers) and it sounds just as good as those did.

Then again, usually my exhaust drowns out the music lol.

TLR - I am very happy with it in my car. Would recommend.

ha! Similar history here. I remember way back I had 2 12” subs in the trunk of my Pontiac. Man, bass was not ever the word. It would rattle the license plate and shake the mirror so bad you could see out of them. It was nice for songs when you wanted heavy bass, but you could barely listen to a regular song without it sounding like a nightclub. 😂

 

[Reaperhwk]

ha! Similar history here. I remember way back I had 2 12” subs in the trunk of my Pontiac. Man, bass was not ever the word. It would rattle the license plate and shake the mirror so bad you could see out of them. It was nice for songs when you wanted heavy bass, but you could barely listen to a regular song without it sounding like a nightclub. 😂

Lol. The good ole days where you had a sub box just laying across your backseat.