Hidden menu for 2011+ "premium" head unit?

[wondras]

If anyone has a spare CM621UB they're willing to part with for cheap or free, I'd love to have one to do some bench testing, and to try making a line-out mod.


JohnNevets: Nice work on the combo moves! The service manual does list "3+6+SOUND" for through mode, but it doesn't show 3+4 and 3+5 for sedan/wagon modes. 3+6 worked once for me, but I never saw it again because I didn't know about the other two. It all makes sense now.

flyboy1100: All of the audio specs in the service manual have a note that says "auto loud off" and "eq through mode", so I'm pretty sure through mode means flat EQ.

As for loudness, I can see why you might want to leave it on. It used to just add insult to injury, but with the EQ disabled, it's much more reasonable. I can change it on the fly with one hand now, but I think I'll mostly be leaving it off; I find the tonal balance often isn't great across volume levels and recordings, so I end up fussing with the tone controls. With loudness off, I can just keep the volume within a range where the tonal balance sounds right for a given recording and leave it at that.


One the way to work this morning, I caught myself just enjoying the music and not thinking about the system. I didn't think this was going to be possible with the stock setup.

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[flyboy1100]

Originally Posted by wondras

If anyone has a spare CM621UB they're willing to part with for cheap or free, I'd love to have one to do some bench testing, and to try making a line-out mod.

JohnNevets: Nice work on the combo moves! The service manual does list "3+6+SOUND" for through mode, but it doesn't show 3+4 and 3+5 for sedan/wagon modes. 3+6 worked once for me, but I never saw it again because I didn't know about the other two. It all makes sense now.

flyboy1100: All of the audio specs in the service manual have a note that says "auto loud off" and "eq through mode", so I'm pretty sure through mode means flat EQ.

As for loudness, I can see why you might want to leave it on. It used to just add insult to injury, but with the EQ disabled, it's much more reasonable. I can change it on the fly with one hand now, but I think I'll mostly be leaving it off; I find the tonal balance often isn't great across volume levels and recordings, so I end up fussing with the tone controls. With loudness off, I can just keep the volume within a range where the tonal balance sounds right for a given recording and leave it at that.

One the way to work this morning, I caught myself just enjoying the music and not thinking about the system. I didn't think this was going to be possible with the stock setup.

Is that the stock radio from the impreza? I have one I will never use again.

[wondras]

Originally Posted by flyboy1100

Is that the stock radio from the impreza? I have one I will never use again.

AFAIK 2011 and earlier came with a CZ624U1, which is similar, but has some wiring differences. I'm not sure which of the 2012s use the newer CM621UB.

I can use either one, though I'm hoping for a CM621UB so it will be an exact match. It supports the new(?) dimming disable position on the dashboard dimmer knob.

I'll PM you to see what we can do. Thanks!

[dsn112]

So I did this this morning, am I the only one who thinks through mode is worse than wagon mode?

On through mode it also gets very low volume, I have it up at like 30 just to hear it.

I have an audiocontrol LC2i and a jlxd400/4 running my fronts and a sub.

Maybe I need to retune the amp and audiocontrol

[flyboy1100]

Originally Posted by dsn112

So I did this this morning, am I the only one who thinks through mode is worse than wagon mode?

On through mode it also gets very low volume, I have it up at like 30 just to hear it.

I have an audiocontrol LC2i and a jlxd400/4 running my fronts and a sub.

Maybe I need to retune the amp and audiocontrol

With my alpine 445 volume level 25 is way too loud, granted I lost a little volume when I disabled the eq (left loudness on) but I only have to listen at 3-4 steps higher now than with eq on. Gain is set to just below 1/2

[carse]

CZ624U1

Loundness works but none of the EQ options.

[wondras]

Originally Posted by carse

CZ624U1

Loundness works but none of the EQ options.

Hm, weird. Did you have the power OFF at the time?

What year is your vehicle?

[dsn112]

Originally Posted by flyboy1100

With my alpine 445 volume level 25 is way too loud, granted I lost a little volume when I disabled the eq (left loudness on) but I only have to listen at 3-4 steps higher now than with eq on. Gain is set to just below 1/2

When I had the 445 I had similar issues, and the Bluetooth problem. Now with the JL XD and LC2i, my levels aren't as high at low volumes, but I also don't have the bluetooth issue

I guess I have more tuning to do

[jandree22]

Originally Posted by dsn112

So I did this this morning, am I the only one who thinks through mode is worse than wagon mode?

Nope, unfortunately I feel the same. After trying Wagon and Through, Loudness On and Off... I've decided Wagon and Loudness Off is best for me.

FM is awful but bluetooth audio streamed from my android sounds awesome.

(CZ624U1 in a 2013 Premium Hatch)

[Yeeman19]

Originally Posted by wondras

YES, WE CAN!

I just picked up a 2013 Crosstrek with the CM621UB HU. (Do I get partial credit for having most of an Impreza?) By piecing together info from various posts here, the service manual, and documents filed with the FCC, I figured out that it *is* possible to disable both the loudness and fixed EQ.

To turn loudness on or off:

With the unit ON, press and hold 1, 6, and TUNE (right knob.) The display shows LOUD OFF or LOUD ON.



To disable fixed EQ:

With the unit OFF, press one of these combinations of buttons:

1 + 2 + TUNE for SEDAN
1 + 3 + TUNE for WAGON
1 + 4 + TUNE for THROUGH MODE



With these "features" disabled, it sounds significantly less awful, especially at lower volume levels. This should make it a much better candidate for use with upgraded speakers, or a line out converter and amps. From the schematics, I think it would be fairly easy to add proper RCA line outputs as well.

I don't know if these keys will work on earlier models, but hopefully they do.

Fantastic forum you've got here!

This worked for my 12 base WRX....thanks

[Scoob_Noob]

This worked on my base 2012 WRX too. Can't honestly say if it made a huge difference or not. I prefer Loud On and Through Mode on the EQ. So does Through Mode disable the EQ and then Wagon and Sedan are the two EQ's you can choose from?

[Subie FA20]

So trying this tonight!

[Krazyjohnny]

Does this lessen how bad the tuner sounds? My BT and CD sound great. The radio on the other hand sounds terrible.

[wondras]

Originally Posted by Krazyjohnny

Does this lessen how bad the tuner sounds? My BT and CD sound great. The radio on the other hand sounds terrible.

Not really. It eliminates one layer of arguably sub-optimal EQ (or two with loudness), which may help a little, but the crazy loss of lows and highs relative to other inputs is still there.

If I'm reading it correctly, the service manual says it uses -6 dB at 70 Hz, and -17 dB at 7 KHz. FM music stations generally have heavy EQ, but this goes far beyond flattening them out a bit. It must be optimized for talk radio, though even that sounds rather dry to me.

I hate listening to music on FM anyway, so it's not a big deal for me. Still, when I get one of these on the bench, I will see if there's a way to bypass it in hardware. There are two ICs capable of EQ, one of which could be bypassed, but I don't know yet which gets used for what. This would probably be more than most people would want to take on, though.

[Subie FA20]

I can't tell much difference between the sedan, hatch and through mode. Loudness off helped music sound less muffled and over basy

[SpicyPeaNut]

any idea if there is a service/diagnostic/secret menu in the '13 navigation unit? I was following this thread and wondered if I might be able to tinker and improve my own head unit sound.

[RM_2]

In my 2011 WRX, I'm actually able to get to sedan/wagon/through mode by pressing 1+2, 1+3, 1+4 or 3+4, 3+5, 3+6 then pressing Tune. I can't tell much of a difference between the three. I think sedan mode is more distorted in terms of bass frequencies but I'm not sure. Either way, it sounds syrupy and crappy lol

[09Subie]

"Loundness works but none of the EQ options."

Originally Posted by wondras

Hm, weird. Did you have the power OFF at the time?

What year is your vehicle?

Same problem im having 2012 base wrx

[flyboy1100]

you have to turn the radio off then press the combination of buttons to change the eq settings

[09Subie]

Originally Posted by flyboy1100

you have to turn the radio off then press the combination of buttons to change the eq settings

It was. Only thing that worked was the brightness and contrast and loudness

[flyboy1100]

Originally Posted by 09Subie

It was. Only thing that worked was the brightness and contrast and loudness

what is the radio model?

i find on mine you have to hit 3+4+knob then 3+6 will work for through mode.

[RM_2]

Be sure to hold down the number buttons (e.g. 1+3) before hitting (just press it, no need to hold) the Tune knob.

[carse]

Originally Posted by wondras

Hm, weird. Did you have the power OFF at the time?

What year is your vehicle?

Got it to work! Sounds much better with Loudness off and Wagon preset, not great but better.

[hakira]

Originally Posted by wondras

YES, WE CAN!

I just picked up a 2013 Crosstrek with the CM621UB HU. (Do I get partial credit for having most of an Impreza?) By piecing together info from various posts here, the service manual, and documents filed with the FCC, I figured out that it *is* possible to disable both the loudness and fixed EQ.



With these "features" disabled, it sounds significantly less awful, especially at lower volume levels. This should make it a much better candidate for use with upgraded speakers, or a line out converter and amps. From the schematics, I think it would be fairly easy to add proper RCA line outputs as well.

I don't know if these keys will work on earlier models, but hopefully they do.

Fantastic forum you've got here!

Worked for me, bass doesn't sound distorted and everything is clearer, thanks!

[erik11876]

Works miracles if you already have dynamatted/sound reinforcement. Thanks! Works on my 2011 radio as well.