I recently got the 2025 SEL Premium and only realized after bringing it home that it doesn’t have premium audio or speakers in the third row. Has anyone tried adding speakers back there or upgrading the audio system? Would love any suggestions to improve the sound quality in the car.
Following…
We have the 2025 too, and I think the speakers sound okay. It would be nice to have a subwoofer, but honestly, it’s not terrible for a standard system. I’ve heard the cutouts for premium speakers are still there, so upgrading might be possible.
I got the 2024 SEL Premium, and the sound doesn’t really seem that premium to me either.
bellaliz said:
I got the 2024 SEL Premium, and the sound doesn’t really seem that premium to me either.
At least you have speakers back there… 
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bellaliz said:
I got the 2024 SEL Premium, and the sound doesn’t really seem that premium to me either.
At least you have speakers back there…
This is exactly why when the 2025 Palisades started showing up at dealers in late August, I advised anyone looking to get the SEL Premium to grab the 2024 model. You get better sound and other features like the monitor cameras that were dropped for 2025. There are still a few 2024 models around, and you can get better discounts on those. I’m no expert on audio, but the HK system isn’t amazing either—still better than the stock setup with no third-row speakers. Sorry to hear you’re disappointed with the sound on the 2025.
We specifically bought the 2024 SEL Premium because of this. After having it for a while, I can say the ‘Premium Harman Kardon system’ isn’t much to write home about. The sound quality is pretty bad, bass is almost nonexistent, and everything sounds flat. I wouldn’t waste money trying to upgrade to this system. If you can get a clean output from the head unit, just go with a better aftermarket setup. I’ve seen people talk about amplifiers costing over $1,200, but honestly, you can build a much better system on your own for less. Speaking as an audiophile and someone who worked in the car audio field, you’ll get better results from a custom setup.
@WilliamMia
Feels like Hyundai just slapped the Harman Kardon name on there to make it sound fancy. My mom has a 2022 Santa Fe with the HK system, and it’s honestly not that great. On the other hand, the 2024 Sonata and Santa Fe with Bose systems sound so much better, with more bass and clearer sound. The HK system can’t even handle high volume without falling apart.
@WilliamMia
I wish I had known before getting the 2025. Even if the HK system isn’t amazing, it’s still something. With the 2025, there’s not even a spot to add speakers in the third row without customizing. I’m not sure I want to start adding things that won’t sit flush.
I was so bummed to find this out. I went in to buy a 2024 SEL Premium, but they didn’t have one with captain’s chairs, so they offered me the 2025 for the same price. I didn’t think to test the sound system (my mistake), and my oldest immediately noticed there were no speakers in the back. I had no idea Hyundai removed them for the 2025, and if I’d known, I would’ve gone somewhere else to get a 2024. Our old 2010 Honda Odyssey had way better sound than this.
@Williamson
Same here, I had no idea until I got home. If you find a way to add speakers to the third row, please let me know. I’ll update here if I find any solutions.
I have a 2023 SEL Premium and honestly, the HK sound system is awful. It’s such a letdown.
I’ve got a 2024 Night Edition, and the sound is pretty good, but that was after I did a USB update. Bought it new in January and it was worth the upgrade.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the third row. If you want better sound, focus on upgrading the front speakers and doors. You can’t replace the stock radio, so you have to figure out how you want to set things up. I’m planning a custom 3-way setup in the front doors, a 6x9 component in the back doors, plus a subwoofer in the spare tire area.
@TaraSimmons
My whole family loves listening to music, and when someone’s in the back asking me to turn up the volume, it’s already loud up front. If I had known there were no speakers back there, I would’ve just gone with a 2024 model. Now I have to figure out how to fix this.
@TaraSimmons
“You don’t sit back there”—well, everyone uses their car differently. Just saying.
Terryanne said:
@TaraSimmons
“You don’t sit back there”—well, everyone uses their car differently. Just saying.
I get that, but those third-row speakers don’t output much sound anyway.
@TaraSimmons
Also, just realized there’s no slot for speakers in the rear seat area… bit of a letdown.