u/kenwshew

[deleted]

I think I finally found THE ONE.

After way too many hours comparing Rivian EQ recommendations and switching settings mid-song, this is the setup I keep returning to in my 2023 Gen 1 R1S with the Elevation sound system.

Quick version: This is a subjective "fun" Rivian EQ, not a flat or reference calibration. Designed for physical bass, close and clearly intelligible vocals, audible harmonies, full instrumentation, and an enveloping soundstage without muddying dense songs or making cymbals painfully sharp. Copy the attached screenshot for the exact curve.

My setup, tested August 2026:

2023 Gen 1 Rivian R1S with Elevation audio

Native Apple Music

Spatial Audio: On for Dolby Atmos tracks

Higher-quality stereo over cellular: On, playback reports High Quality AAC over the in-vehicle network

Sound Check: Off

Rivian 3D Surround Sound: On, not Enhanced

Dynamic Sound Adjustment: Low

Fade and balance centered left-to-right and slightly forward, placing the acoustic center closer to the driver's head

EQ: THE ONE, shown in the attached photo

Screenshot is the authority here. Rivian doesn't display numeric EQ values, so I'm not inventing dB measurements from slider positions.

Some measurement-based Rivian EQ guides are excellent. They solve a different problem though, neutrality and faithful reproduction. I wanted the Gen 1 R1S Elevation sound system to feel bigger, louder, more immediate, and more enjoyable, especially with pop, R&B, hip-hop, and layered Dolby Atmos mixes.

Biggest breakthrough was 250 Hz. An earlier version had slightly more energy there. Moving it down one small drag preserved the weight and perceived loudness but removed a subtle veil from dense vocals.

Rest of the curve is deliberate. 63 and 125 Hz stay high for sub-bass and physical impact. Enough 500 Hz keeps voices and instruments from becoming thin. 1 to 2 kHz region keeps lead vocals close and makes backing vocals and harmonies easier to follow. I tested lowering 4 kHz by one notch, but it produced essentially no useful improvement, so I restored it for articulation and attack. Eight kHz is comparatively restrained because too much made hi-hats and cymbals harsh. Sixteen kHz adds air without making everything brittle.

Switch to this curve in the middle of a chorus and the singer moves closer, harmonies become easier to separate, presentation feels louder and more enveloping, and bass becomes physical without covering the vocal. That's what I wanted from the best Rivian R1S EQ settings, not a graph-perfect response.

Atmos mixes vary dramatically though. I wouldn't rebuild the whole EQ because one backing vocal disappears in one particular mix. Rivian updates change the system too, so include your software version when comparing results.

Spotify or stereo note: I built THE ONE around native Apple Music with Dolby Atmos, but it remains my starting point for native Spotify. Set Spotify quality to Very High, then A/B 3D Surround Off versus On. Keep On if you prefer the extra width and fullness, try Off if vocals sound hollow, phasey, distant, or reverberant. Evidence is too mixed to claim Spotify needs one specific alternate EQ curve, and avoid Enhanced initially.

If you test it, share your model year, generation, audio system, software version, source, Atmos status, and test song. Those variables matter.