Terrible "premium audio" 360 watts
 

I'm new in forum, so let me say HI to every body.
I have just bought a Accord 2013 Coupe EX-L V6 NAVI trim, including a "premium audio" 360 W. and what a terrible surprise with radio audio quality, EX-L NAVI trim is the best trim level Honda offer, and deplorable sound is what I get, I'm not pretending have a "disco sound" in my car but at least nice and enjoyable real sound.
Car from factory is comming with subwoofer .
I would like know some other users experiences with 2013 models, and most important. IS POSSIBLE TO IMPROBE SOUND QUALITY ??? and how.
Thanks in advance for your support.

everybody seems to be having this problem. I was told I was wrong when I said that the best way to improve the sound quality is to redo the sound system.

my outlook is you got what you got. it sux that its bad, but if you want to improve it, I feel you would be looking at an aftermarket stereo.

Replace all audio syst.
 

THKS your post. I can't immagine how replace complete audio syst. and same time KEEP THE ORIGINAL HONDA DISPLAY. do you have any idea radio brand to do this possible?

you would have to use a loc and a eq. leave the factory deck. control the amps with the eq.

Terrible honda sound
 

The neophyte it's me, you are sound real expert , I'll appreciate very much if you explain me (step by step if you don't mind) how to do this, I don't know what's loc meaning, eq. I supousse means equalizer, Yes I would like leave factory deck, but you means install second radio (amplifier and tuner) brand? model? any help will be VERY appreciate. if you want write to my e-mail
sciandra727@gmail.com

Thanks again

My Solution
 

Hi,

I posted this in another thread. I am a quality of sound guy vs. blowing the doors off kid, so this is what I did.

The Problem: The factory amp is only a 198 watt Pioneer located by the glovebox and the speakers are by Foster, a company that makes generic speakers. The unit does not have enough power to drive everything accurately. In addition, the reason the tweeters sound good is that they are crossed over at the amp...however...the door speakers with the mids are not crossed over...this causes the muddy sound for the mids and lack of base. The stock sub is fine, just needs a good amp also.

My Solution. First you need another amp, I chose the ALpine MRX-F35 ($215 online) and you will need an amp kit (8 awg Rockford Fosgate $45 online) and a speed wire kit ($30 at Best Buy - probably alot cheaper online). I mounted this on the back of the rear seat in the trunk. Wires were needed to run down both sides of the car, (amp battery power on driver side and unit connections and speaker from the passenger side). If you are on a budget, you can stop here and there is a significant improvement.

Then I replaced the rear deck speakers with Inifinty 62.9 Kappas ($71 online)...Wow what a differnece...the sound field is now filled.

Installation for both was about $150 at Best Buy.

On March 8th, Infinity is releasing their new component speakers that replace their Kappa Perfect 6.1. I had these in my last car and they were incredible...I can't wait to get the new ones...I have spoken with Infinity tech support and they assure me they are worth the wait, since I liked the previous version. Should cost about $300 with installation.

Note, I listen to all kinds of music but prefer vocals and guitars, and jazz.

Don't forget to disable the ANC on the drivers side pillar.

Good Luck,

Aceiv

An loc is a line out converter. you tap into the speaker wires with the loc and it converts it to rca wires. then you run the rca's to the equalizer. most equalizers will require a 12v swtiched signal (you can pull this from the headunit or the fuse box), a power (come straight from the battery, and a ground (find a good solid piece of metal in the dash, sand the paint off of it and ground there).

then you will want to run the rcas out of the eq to an amplifier. what is your budget? there are a lot of good amplifiers out there in all kinds of price ranges. also are you wanting to replace the speakers as well?

let me know about those two and we can go from there.

my build log covers some of the work involved. but we can get technical when you decide on what equipment you are getting.

Looking for my solution
 

OK, thks for your interest and support in find my solution.
Tha car is comming w/7 speakers incl. subw. so my common sense (if I not wrong) I think a 5 channel amplifier is better than 2/3/4/ so after searching alpine I found ALPINE PDX-V9 and KENWOOD excelon XR5S What do you think of this and your choice, If you don't like this amps. what your choice in $400-500 dlls. range. and what do you think 2/3/4 Ch. VS 5Ch. Also I would like change my speakers for better ones, they could be INFINITY perfect 6.1 6½" one pair for rear no space problem, but for front doors I will need a smaller speakers I'm not sure but think they are 5" plus all the wires.

Doubt 4 channel amp or 5 ch ???
 

WHAT DO I NEED??? car has subw. 4 Channel AMP or 5Ch. ?????

5 channel would allow for a sub channel and then one channel for each speaker in the car. you could do a 4 channel and run the sub off the rear channels bridged. or you could run two amps.

I think the 5 channel is an excellent choice. and alpine makes nice amps.
infinity makes nice stuff. (infinity is harmon kardon)
alpine makes nice speakers as well.
I am really a fan of CDT speakers but they can get a bit pricey.

Translation please
 

You said "Don't forget to disable the ANC on the drivers side pillar."
Can you explain what does ANC means. THKS.

ANC is automatic noise canceling. Something cool if you keep the stock audio components. Works to cancel out rod noise by actively creating sound waves that neutralize road noise -- same principle as those expensive Bose headphones people wear on planes.

As I understand it -- and I am NOT claiming expertise here -- if you modify the sound system you will want to cancel ANC to prevent thumps, noises, feedback etc. especially when you first turn audio on.

Anc ???
 

SORRY if this sound silly, but what is the ANC? I understand is "something" to cancel out side noise, but what is it ... a wire , a switch, a plastic membrane or what, where is it? and how is it?

Thanks for your info. as you can see very well I'm new in this matters of car audio.

The anc is a system of microphones that work with the car's audio system.

yep, the microphones measure the noise in the car, compare it with what is playing, then play noise through the speakers that is out of phase with the noise it thinks is outside the car. when you upgrade you change how the speakers sound so the ANC system things what you are adding is noise and it sounds terrible.

active noise cancelling is a terrible idea for a car - it will never work properly and should be disconnected as a first step. disconnecting it will probably improve the factory sound as well.

My Solution
 

I am not a sound system expert BUT I know what I like in Sound and my 2013 Honda Accord Premium 360 7 speaker sound system was NOT it. I bought the car in March 2013 as my retirement gift to me. The People I go to for my car stereo stuff (Sergeants Stereo in Bend, OR) did a lot of research at the time I bought it and the recommendations and follow-through were as follows:

Disable the Noise Canceling Feature in the Car effecting the speakers.
Add a 5 Channel Amp
Change out Tweeters - Found some nice sounding Pioneer TS-T15's that fit.
Disable the Sub Woofer - put in 2 low profile 10 inch subs and amp with custom horizontal low-profile box that does not compromise my trunk. Can lay things on them and they are not overwhelming in sound. They fill in the sound beautifully.

I am thrilled with the sound, now... and have been for over a year. I was able to keep the original deck and not compromise any of the other car functions connected with it. Hope this lay-person's explanation helps. Virginia

Thanks for the input. A new amp and turning off the ANC is key.

Ugh..what a bummer. How could they advertise 360 watts when it's really only 198? My dealership left a VM following up with me about the new car. I'm gonna call back and call them out on this.

Other than the sound, though, loving the vehicle.

I found a great improvement in the bass/sub response by performing this simple procedure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gMEQCSXJuk