I know this might be a little out there for most, but who feels that their current woofer application could use a tweak? Something that could just drop in, use the factory amp, wiring, enclosure, etc.

I'm working on developing a drop-in woofer for the TL right now, and if the right application will fit with little tweaking...I think this could be very possible.

Feedback please?

 

interested, but can't u just use 8" sub from other manufacturers or the magnets are too big?

 

I think thats a great idea! If the stock woofer could just be swaped with an aftermarket woofer with all the original equipment, I would be game.

p.s.
does the non tech RDX come with a sub?

 

yea...90 watts to the sub. not sure if the stock sub is the same in the els and or if the power is diff.

 

Well, usually it won't be a complete drop in woofer without some modifications but the main factor is that a lot of aftermarket woofers are higher wattage woofer, meaning that to really get them to start moving your stock amp won't put enough power to it. This means you need to get an amplifier, a LOC, and a wiring kit. After that, you will have a pretty powerful sub, which may overpower your factory speaker and then you will just end up turning the sub down...what's the point?

Unless your a crazy audiophile and want to rip out everything, I always thought that getting a really strong woofer while keeping everything else stock is kinda like drinking warm beer.

 

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...9GTO804&tp=111

50-200watt rms required, 90 watts is within spec.

 

id question how effective any aftermarket sub would be with only 90 watts going to it.

if anything, i think the rear of the RDX needs some dynamat for insulation, alotta plastic rattling back there and bad vibes...id think it would benefit greatly

 

Pioneer makes a great low profile 8" sub check that out crutchfield shows the 10" but there are dealers around the country selling them.

 

any updates? I have the urge for more thump out of the x.

 

That thing looks appealing. I'm starting to feel the need for a more powerful sub.

Any updates aznbo187??

 

I think I read on the TL forum the sub thing fell through, the fabricators decided not to go through with it and aznbo was given the boot.

 

I should have my RDX in about a week or so. I'm in the audio business and I am going to get into the stock system. Nothing crazy but I think I will replace the stock speakers and keep the stock amps. I will keep everyone involved.

Chris

 

Most quality aftermarket speakers are going to require more (and cleaner) power to perform to their potential. My Dynaudio's require at least 150 watts RMS/channel to really shine. I doubt the factory amp has much more power than most aftermarket head-units. And dropping an aftermarket woofer into the stock enclosure, using the stock amp, is an exercise in futility. You'd need to replace the entire enclosure and sub and add some real power with an aftermarket amplifier to get better quality bass response.

I will be tearing out most of the factory system. Don't get me wrong; the stock system isn't bad, but when you get accustomed to higher-end gear, going back to a factory system is like going from HDTV to rabbit ears. I'll be keeping the factory CD player (the HVAC system runs through it, so it needs to stay), and integrating it with a Kenwood A/V-Navigation system, with Kenwood amps and either Dynaudio or Morel speakers. I'm waiting on a few parts to come in that are necessary for the integration, so I should be starting on it in the next few weeks. The install will be low-key; no neon showing off the components or huge motorized amp racks.

This definitely is not the simplest factory system to upgrade or replace. That being said, I don't expect the job to be that hard, but it does require a lot up-front planning and a good understanding of the factory system. A service manual is really a necessity in this case. This system is very similar to that of my previous car, a Mazda RX-8, with respect to the HVAC integration and other quirks that are obviously deterents to installing aftermarket gear, and provide incentive to opt for the more expensive factory offerings. I conquered that one and ended up with a great system, so I'm looking forward to the challenge my RDX will provide. I'll post some pics and an overview of the process in the next couple of months.

 

theotts: is it necessary to install an aftermarket deck? I have some Focal Utopia's from my last car that I want to put in the RDX. I was going replace the front speakers and the woofer in an RDX Tech powering both through a 4-channel Alpine amp.

 

No, replacing the stock head unit is not needed. What is needed is an aftermarket unit that cleans up the sound curve and sums the signal from each channel. Something like a digital piece from Audio Control, the JL Audio Clean Sweep, or the up and coming (this fall) JBL MS-8 processor.

What I intend on doing is not just slapping some woofers in, but using aftermarket speaker ( hopefully Hertz Audio High Energy's) that are extremely efficent (sensitivity over 94 Db) and are designed to be run on low power. For the sub section hope to sound deaden the existing enclosure with resin and a layer of dynomat and install either a shallow mount reverse magnet Hertz 8" or find a low wattage 8" Sub from Madisound.

It should be a interesting feat to say the least. I should get started in about 2 weeks.

Thanks,
Chris

 

Yeah, I was thinking of going with the Hertz Audio 8" sub as well - I haven't had any direct experience with it though, as I haven't found a place in Ontario that has them (all I know about his is what I've read on the web).

A digital sound processor would be nice but doesn't the ELS system already have something like that? I have absolutely no experience with the ELS system so I'm bit worried that my Utopia's will mess up its mojo.

 

oilerfan,

I have the RDX Base, with out the Navi. Sorry I don't know as much about the ELS, where as mine does not have the additional surround processors.....as amazing as those Utopias are integration of them might have to be from the ground up....a pretty timely thing in my opinion. I would weigh my thoughts on the stock setup heavily first. My 2 cents.

Chris

 

pinnaclecustoms: Here is what I want to do - I would like to store my music on an ipod touch, so my source music files are all in stereo (I've already invested a lot into digital media, so I will not need the 5.1 surround).

I don't want to do any modification to the center stack in order to integrate an aftermarket headunit, so the the OEM headunit will be the starting point. I'd like to replace the front speakers with the utopias, and get some lower end Focal components for the rear fill. Finally, I will replace the stock sub with and Hertz Audio 8" sub. The front and rear speakers will be powered by an Alpine V12 4 channel amp (750W total), and the sub by a mono amp (that I have yet to purchase).

After doing some research, I agree with you now that a digital processor is needed to flatten out the stock EQ before going to the amps. The Cleansweep seems like a cheap alternative, but the Alpine pxe-h650 sound like a more flexible/powerful alternative. I'd love to hear your opinion of the alpine unit before I purchase it though (the JBL unit I think will be out of my price range and the RF 362 seems far to complicated)

So is there anything else that I need for this system? Also, what do I do with the center channel speaker (doesn't the nav voice go through there)?

Thanks

 

Also, with the Cleansweep, could you run both front and rear components, as well as the sub into it? From what I've read, it looks like you can run only the fronts and the rears - there is no additional sub input/output?

Sigh, I haven't even bought an RDX yet, and I'm already contemplating how I can drop $700-1000 on it to upgrade the stereo. It's too bad that the center console is made in such a way that it would be damn near impossible to install a double-DIN aftermarket nav system like the Kenwood DNX-5120 that I have in my RSX. Otherwise I would just buy a base RDX and save the extra cash for the stereo upgrades.

 

There are a couple of things that I don't like about the cleansweap...and I have one. You really need to use the volume knob that comes with the unit, it is small but its one more thing you have to install. Also it has a limited number of outputs, just front and rear.

This in my opinion makes the Alpine 650 a better choice for what you are looking to do....I don't know what you time frame is but if you can wait until fall the JBL unit will be out and be priced about the same as the Alpine. The JBL unit has 8 channel outputs, 2 front, 1 rear, center, and sub. And seems to be much easier to set up. Here is a link to another forum that discusses it.

Hope this helps.

Chris

http://www.audiogroupforum.com/csfor...ad.php?t=65668

 

The service manual shows which wires coming out of the audio unit (both base and Tech) are pre-amp outputs going into the factory amp. If you get the Tech/ELS system, you can simply get new amplification with 5 full-range channels plus one for the sub. Or, you could leave the factory center-channel speaker in place, remaining hooked up to the factory amp. Then replace the other speakers with aftermarket gear powered by an aftermarket amp. I would recommend not replacing the rear speakers. Most good systems only use rear speakers for some rear fill, which doesn't require high-end components. Too much full-range sound from the rear will degrade the imaging that should be coming from in front of you.

As to flattening out the stock radio's frequency response, I would just use a good pre-amp/EQ, like AudioControl. However, some factory radios change the frenquency response as the volume is increased/decreased, rather than staying consistent. If this is the case, you might need the JL or Alpine units.

Like I said before, this isn't the easiest system to upgrade, but it's far from impossible, and really shouldn't be terribly difficult as long as you plan appropriately and don't try to go to crazy with it.

 

OK, here is what I think I've decided to do - I'm going to replace the front components with the Utopia's and the rear sub with either the Hertz 8" or the low profile pioneer 8". I'll run those through my alpine 4-channel amp, leaving both the rears and the center speakers to run through the factory amp. When the JBL unit come out I'll reevaluate things with respect to an audio processor.

pinnaclecustoms: Do you know whether the Hertz 8" sub will fit into the stock location? Or will modification be needed to compensate for its depth. If so then I'll probably go with the low profile pioneer one, so that I can take everything back to stock when I get rid of the car down the road.

Thanks for your guy's help - I really appreciate it.

 

Most of the hertz 8" are going to be to deep. If you are going to install that new amp power is not an issue any longer. This is what I am going to use:

http://www.hertzaudiovideo.com/default_en.htm

The Space 8" has only a 1.65" Mounting Depth...I usually use this as a mid bass, but in a small enclosure like what we have I think it should perform pretty well.

The Space 8" Component is on my list, to go along with my (4) Hertz Dieci DCX165's and they will stay on the stock amp. But again I have the Base Audio and not the ELS. So I have found the stock tweeters in the base system to be very sufficent, just not the Mids.

If the Hertz is not a good fit I think the pioneer will be the main viable option. Most of the slim line manufacturers only produce 10" and larger in the shallow mounts. Not good for us.

Hope all of this non-sense helps,
Chris

 

Anyone know about the fosgate 360? Would is work well with the base package?

 

pinnaclecustoms: good call on the Space 8" - I'd totally overlooked that. Your advice is very welcome!

I was thinking of getting an Alpine PDX-4.100 amp (As awesome as my Alpine V12 is, it's just too big to mount anywhere else but the seatback or in the donut location). Will 400 watts be enough for the Utopia's + a Space 8" sub?

Once again thanks for the advice.

 

The Rockford 360 level 2 (or the higher one) is considerably nicer than the lower one. I have used one and it works pretty well in my opinion. The only thing I didn't like is it has to be tuned with a Palm Pilot Device. So if you don't already have one you have to buy one.......but it will get the job done.

Chris

 

Yeah.. I was thinking the same thing!

 

Just a little update from my observations. One reason that the RDX and other new Acuras suffer from a lack of bass is that they integrated into their head units a bass decreasing component for lack of better terms. GM vehicles have used it for several years to prevent blown speakers and extra warranty claims. What happens is that the bass is overcompensated with low volume and then cut back as the volume knob on the headunit is turned up.......

Two options to do away with this......1. Get an new headunit, new amps and speakers....total rebuild. 2. The only other thing I know is to use the MTX REQ. What it does is cancels the effect of the headunit and flattens out the audio curve. The CleanSweep and AudioControl units do not do this that I know of.

I will keep the thread going on how things go.

Chris

 

is mtx req easy to install?

 

yea many auto manufacturers put limiters on their head units, have been for a very long time just the way it is...thats why most systems are junk, you arent hearing the audio the way its meant to be heard..but they also get away with a few things...they make you 'think' their sound system is better than what it really is, and they are protecting cheaper components, also, freeing up bass freq creates more headroom in the amp..thus making you believe you can crank the volume then suddenly realize, whered the bass go? then, turn the bass up and you think wow, this stereo system sucks! wtf!

 

My thoughts exactly......the MTX Req is just as easy to install as any of the others...cleansweep, audiocontrol, alpine 650, etc......probably easier than the 650 because you don't have the setup. Check out Crutchfield reviews:

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...=236REQ&tp=428

Chris

 

pinnaclecustoms: have you given some thought into simply replacing the headunit (Tech pkg) with an aftermarket one? The single DIN could probably accomodate an aftermarket HU, but could it be made to integrate into the rest of the Tech pkg seemlessly (i.e. mute when taking a call or getting directions from the nav)?

 

I have not gotten into swapping the head unit. I does seem that as of yesterday that someone is working on a full Kenwood swap which is pretty exciting. I will be keeping a close eye on the new thread as well as this one.

Sorry but no new news....been pretty crazy at work.

Chris

 

Yeah, that was theotts thread - very impressive stuff!

Since my last post to this thread, I found out from theotts that the HVAC controls are in the headunit - which means that the headunit would have to be relocated to another place in the RDX and the wiring for the HVAC controls would have to spliced/extended. For that I'd probably have to speak with a professional installer.

I still think I might go ahead with the swap. First, the Alpine-based nav in the RDX sux. Period. It's nowhere near as good as a Garmin. Second, iPod integration sux. I don't like how all the current solutions treat an iPod like a CD changer.

So I'm thinking of putting in either a Kenwood KVT-512 or a KVT-819DVD (depends on the budget of course) flip-out monitor into the stock headunit location coupled to a KNA-G510 Garmin-based nav. The Kenwood flip-out monitors extend first on the Z-axis, then the monitor flips up - I haven't figured out yet whether it will clear the dash overhang when mounted flush (I think it will be very, very close).

 

pinnaclecustoms , any updates on the project?

 

pinnaclecustoms. I think at least a few of us are curious.
any updtae on your RDX speaker upgrade?

 

I think the mid range sounds very muddy and there is very little life to the sound out the stock system. I was thinking maybe a Focal Polyglass 165V1 for the front. Of course using a REQ 5 for the equalization, and a Alpine PDX5 amp. Swap out the sub with a custom built cabinet and 10" JL Audio sub that will fit in the same area and look stock.