Just curious .

As for me: usually 13/14 in the city, 16/17 in the highway when driving above 70. Also I have found that for same volume level CD seems 'louder' than XM!

Does anyone even listen to AM/FM these days, specially in a high-tech car like TSX :wink: ?

 

I bump up to 18 -20 on freeway when a song a like is on.

 

Normally 8-10, 12-15 when I want to really enjoy a particular track or more.
Of course, what you're asking is tantamount to asking how long a piece of string is.
Everyone's hearing is different, and then there's variances between the CDs output levels.
So, it's all relative to varying factors.

 

I listen to AM/FM a lot.. .and XM... and my CDs.... and occasionally MP3.

The volume on the XM is noticeably lower than the radio or CD. I have to crank it a few notches more when I switch to XM. CD is probably loudest.

For so much "high tech", XM quality is nothing to get excited about. I just listen to it for the variety of songs; if it were a matter of quality, I'd rather listen to FM (although that pales with CD).

 

We don't have XM here (it will be on the new TL and MDX in '07, and the rest of the line up in '08).

But I listen to CD's, MP3s (AUX jack on my '06), FM, and even AM (news, traffic info., hockey games). The volume settings will vary between all those modes, but I really like the fact that the stereo system remembers the last volume setting you used in each mode. Until I redid some of my MP3s, their volume was lower, so I had to crank up the volume. However, switching to AM/FM, the volume goes down!

 

Hmm. My engine's volume on the freeway is up all the way up? <3 Vtec

I don't play music on the freeway, just in case a cop car's following me or sirens go off. I'm not too good at noticing these kind of things.

 

I try to never go past 13...just a mental thing I guess.

 

The stock stereo is terrible ...I used to have it as loud as possible before distortion ...which was somewhere in the low 30s usually ...you can BARELY hear it when it's cranked with the windows down on the highway - terrible!

 

are you talking about the TSX? The stock stereo on the TSX is very, very good with sound quality. Many audiophiles upgrade anyway, just because its in our blood, but I think you are way off on that one


Anyway, I roll about 20-25 on the highway, not to XM though, I have sirius due to the better college sports package. Between that and the zune, not much CD or AM/FM use except to listen to games on the AM/FM stations during football and basketball season

 

i guess depending on the song, and where i'm driving... if i wanna play something loud i'll hit it up to 20, if i really want to bump it i'll hit 25, but that's usually the most... i only pump CD's and my iPod, FM quality isn't good enough to play loud and be happy with it..

(i'm a bit of an audiophile myself) front stage was swapped out for DLS magnums, and i have 2 JL10w6v2's in the trunk... people always complain about bass in a car and when they get into mine they can't believe how clear it is how you can hear all the notes as well as the vocals WHILE having pounding bass...

 

Agreed. I changed things out because I have to..its a sickness according to my wife, but I was still impressed with the stock system and speakers in this car. It sounded as good, maybe even better stock, as the 12 speaker Harmon kardon sound on my last car.

 

I think you need to get your hearing checked.

 

i agree, the stock stereo is pretty impressive, better than many stock stereo's out there. the speakers are great. i usually notch it about 20 depending on the bass on the music but no higher than 27.

 

I know you are just curious, but I need to comment that listening volume depends on many factors of the music:

• The recording level of the original music source material (older [eg. rock/jazz/pop] cds typically have a lower level than modern recordings of the same music
• the type of music (classical/new age/punk/electro) obviously will be arranged differently and levels/content are very different
• the format of the music (low-grade mp3s, vs pure AIFF/WAV)
• the compression affects on any of the above due to source (sources FM/XM/mp3)

Then there is the equipment:

• stock TSX stereo
• basic upgraded TSX sterep (replaced speakers and/or added amp)
• major upgrade to stereo in a TSX (nothing stock)

The listed items of course above can be expanded upon, I only listed them for our consideration when comparing someone setting their volume on #25 for Dave Brubeck CD vs. someone setting a 128kbps mp2 of Korn at #25. not the same.

but to add to the numbers game.....
[my tsx system is OEM headunit/280w amp/2-way fronts only/10sub<all DLS...this is about 15% louder than all stock]

• the majority of my listening is XM radio (XMU/hear music/chillout) usually set at #20-30
• CDs: modern pop (depechmode, ladytron, ben harper) at #15-22
• FM Talk (NPR) @ #15-20
  

BTW I have had my system up to #40 with CD source without distortion...likely some electronica CD.







.

 

all those numbers are weak sauce........38s ALL THE TIME :STUNNA:

 

kazoo music at 38 sounds swEET

 

i listen to AM almost exclusively, over FM. probably 65% AM, 35% ipod

 

system comes last for me. I really dont care about sound quality or whatever. I'm happy with stock and will stay that way... I probably leave it at 12-15?

 

AM?? news, talk show, or disney? lol....

 

I listen to my CDs and iPod at 15, usually. When I want to start dancing in my seat, I'll turn it up to 20. In town, when I want to show off, I'll roll down the windows and crank it to 25. The volume at 25 is impressive - though it kinda hurts my ears. I can't imagine listening louder than 25.

I did not renew my XM subscription because I was disappointed with the sound quality: seems like there is too much compression. I remember that I had to keep the volume at a minimum of 20, and usually had it up to 30.

 

if speed > 1 then volume = 40

 

the sound quality on the TSX is okay, but it's nothing to brag about. Face it guys, it's just a mediocre setup ...Yes, the tweeters are crisp and the bass can boom fairly well.

Have you guys ever heard an SQ setup?!

I know what you mean about having to change it ...it was the very first thing I did ...the stock just cannot compare to an Optical audio stream into an Alpine DSP and Focal components ...ahhhh ..now that's music!

I'll tell you what am I impressed with: I've got 75w RMS x 2 going to the back door speakers and they're taking it like a champ!! Oh course their crossed over really high but they do the job for rear fill (rear fill is just that - filler).

Maybe I should rephrase - I don't like the stock radio or the stock amp ...they are weak, and I'm biased into high quality equipment. I've never heard a stock stereo that I was in love with - sorry.

 

15-17 city, 21-25 highway

 

Nice gas mileage

 

Usually about 13-15 on XM unless it's a song I like then up to 20.

CD's are louder, so a max of 15 or so.

My mp3 cd player that I have connected to the AUX is really weak though, I have to crank both of them up to hear anything.

 

CDs: 9-12 (dependent on city vs. hwy and on the CD)
AM/FM: 12-15
iPod on AUX: 17-20

 

15-20...mostly15

 

The stock radio is pretty good...for a stock radio. Maybe one of the best stock radios I've heard, and far better than most. But most stock radios are really awful.

I'm just amazed at how good it is after just replacing the speakers....

 

13-22 area depending on outdoor noise

 

i am really impressed with the TSX's stock system. i do have a system sitting in my room that i was going to put in my rsx thats now gone... but now im trying to see fi i should pay the money to have it put in the TSX, i think i should just sell it because

one- i work at best buy.. bought all the best infinity stuff i could from there.. got stuff for like 600 normally it would ahve been about over 1000++ and i didnt like the Infinity reference sub, so i went through accomidations and got the infinity kappa perfect 12" sub...

what do you guys think i should do? keep it and wait for install? or sell it, make money off of it and put it to either coilovers or navi, because my tsx doesnt have navi

 

Well, do you know if the speakers will even fit? What is their efficiency rating? If you're going to use them with the stock amp, you'll want them to be fairly efficient (91+?).

 

I would have to say that anyone who thinks that the stock stereo is pretyy good has not experienced other stereos in luxury cars. comparing to previous models that I have owned I would say it was better than the 98 accord but not as good as the 01 passat with the monsoon. The Bose in my Audi is deffinitely in another class. The Bose also probably tops out at 40, but that is a guess. Anything above 20 really hurts your ears and it is still crystal clear. I have changed the rear decks in the TSX for some better bass, but once you start driving it fizzles out from the road noise. My dodge ram has more volume and base with it's stock stereo although it is not as clear. TSX needs more power and better speakers.

 

I just cranked it on a bass-heavy CD, and I can get at least 105db before it starts sounding distorted. I can't stand that level for more than a few seconds, so I can't imagine needing more power. Pretty good for a stock amp. Of course, I've replaced the speakers (with the Avincar set).

If you have less-efficient speakers than I do, then you'd need more wattage to produce the same sound level.

I am impressed with how good the stock amp and head-units are. The weakness in the system is mostly the speakers, IMHO.

 

Mine are pretty efficient and sound way better than stock. They sound great when you are not moving or if you are driving slow, but the car has so much road noise it cancels everything out. If you are getting 105db then there is probably 100db road noise. I know that this is an exageration ,but it is pretty bad. I'm just basing it on previous cars. Deffinitely no where near the claimed 360 watts. Audi has 210 and I would say that it has at least twice the power

 

mostly around 12ish driving local, and 16-17 on highway.

but i find that the volume always seems to be too low. it may just be my hearing. the bass seems to be very high too so i've just lowered overall on the system.

speaking of XM, if you don't renew your free 3-month trial, i've heard they'll send you an offer a few months later for a 12-month subscription that's lower than the normal 1-year rate. true? false?

 

for everyday am/fm radio i have my bass set to "5" and treble to "6". volume wise when i'm driving in the city/residential, i usually have it around 13-14. when i'm on the freeway it's usually 15-17 depending on where on the freeway i am.

cd wise i have my bass set to "2" and treble to "4". city/residential around 10-12, freeway 13-15.

 

I have the Avincar speakers with the OEM head unit. The sound quality is markedly improved with the volume being about the same as with the OEM speakers. That being said:

My listening breakdown is AM - 20%, CDs - 25%, FM - 55%. AM is for sportstalk, news, traffic, and an occasional ballgame. FM is for classic rock, jazz, blues, and easy listening (when the wife is in the car). My CD collection is ranges from metal to jazz (no rap).

Around town I listen to FM at 14-16 and on the highway 15-19.

CDs play a little louder than FM so -1 or -2 to all the above numbers. AM plays a little softer than FM so +1 or +2 to the above numbers.

I just don't see how some of you guys listen at 30. I think I would lose my ear eardrums at those volumes.

 

I like to still be able to actually hear other vehicles and outside sounds if I need to. Let's me know by sound what's around me, instead of relying on eyes only which can't see everything at once...

 

If I had my volume that high my head would explode

 

windows closed 10-15
windows down 15-20
good song/weekend nights 25-35