My wife has a MDX and wants to add just a little bit more bass, I was thinking of doing a JL tw3. Just seeing if anyone else will be doing any audio upgrades.

 

Didn't think about it but now that you mention it it's not a bad idea. The ElS on the Tech is extremely disappointing. Keep us posted and let us know how it goes.

 

You guys listening to the same ELS as on our MDX Tech? Thing is so loud I can't even go beyond 15 sound level and I hear plenty of bass. Unless you are the type that likes bass to the point where whole car shakes and rattles. LOL.

 

You'll need to build a custom enclosure to get any decent bass coming out of the MDX.

The resonance chamber in between the interior panel and the metal body, is just too painfully small to generate any decent bass output.

 

It's the opposite, I'd like to hear the deep notes at normal volume levels without having to blast it in order to get some decent bass. Unfortunately it is nonexistent at normal volume levels

 

Sound is a very personal thing. Personally I think the MDX has plenty of bass too, but some people are not happy till things shake. this has become more acute in the last couple of decades given that a lot of the music aout there is just bass. Boom boom BZZZ, boom boom!

 

Lower your highs and turn off the surround, the bass is all there.
On the MDX you can independently control the sub too, however the sub is mostly for the real deep notes.

 

I don't want super thumby bass, but this thing needs more. A lot more.


My wifes 2008 accords system hit HARD

 

Yeah, the bass is pathetic, even on the Advance. Acura should take some classes with Ford and Sony on how to make good car sound systems. I absolutely love the stereo on my Escape. It's very impressive for a cheaper car. The bass is beautiful even in low volumes.

If anybody has a suggestion on how to make the subwoofer louder, or even replacing it by a new one, I'd do it. The setting has bass and subwoofer volume cranked up, but it's still very far from ideal.

 

Yep audio system really lacks bass on my 2015 mdx, bass is non existent unless I crank up the volume past 10 or so.
Love the system on my 2007 RDX, plenty of bass even on low volume, perfect balance to my ears at least.

I might try to install infinity basslink sub I used to have on my CLS, though not sure how easy it would be to integrate and if I would really want to sacrifice cargo space since I use 3rd row full time.

 

For a $50k vehicle the stereo is really poor.

 

^^^^^

Poor compared to what ?

 

Any Ford car with a Sony system, for example. They're awesome, even in a Focus.

 

One of the things I noticed with my 2014 Acura MDX Advance, if I play via Radio/Pandora, there's not much bass. If I play songs from inside ITunes Radio on my Iphone, and listen to the same music, I notice an improvement in sound and bass.

 

I think that some of you are bassheads...and not audiophiles....

Have any of you who complained about ELS being a poor stereo have heard your recording on a high end home audio system?

ELS is not that far off from accurate sound...i am not comparing ELS with home audio...but the claim that ELS is subpar is far from the truth.

As for comparing it to Ford or other ordinary systems...uhhh, no. Yes, there are cheap systems that provide more bass, but that does not mean that these systems are more accurate nor higher quality.

Or even easier...put your CD into a Mark Levinson Lexus vehicle and see if bass is any different. My guess is that you will have same complaint....

 

2006 Maxima and 2008 Pathfinder I had.

 

Being a basshead is not the issue. Bass is needed to hear music the way it is supposed to sound. But the mids and highs are definitely lacking as well. I don't have the ELS. I just have the base MDX.

 

The Acura ELS sound system is highly regarded as one of the best OEM automobile high-end audio systems.

Try out the 4G-TL/RLX/TLX ELS sound system and you'll appreciate the superb sound quality, especially in the surround mode.

However, the 3G MDX is exceptionally poor in terms of generating bass with its ELS system due to the open rear trunk design, whereas sealed-trunk vehicles (= cars such as the TL/TLX/RLX) will generated more than adequate bass levels.

So, yes, the 3G MDX ELS system is poor in terms of generating ear-deafening bass, but by no means is it a poor multi-channel high-end sound system.

 

It's all about that bass! I agree it's decent on my '14 advance, but I expect more. I'm wondering if there is any way to increase it on the OEM sub. There must be some type of calibration that can be done.

 

Then you will blow it...OEM subs are generally the inverted woofer design...not design for more wattage. Add to it or replace it (PLUS amp to power it).

 

Which is my original question. Has anyone added a subwoofer and amp?

 

There is a post on older generation MDX's and TL's with noise canceling technology. This technology makes noise through the speakers including subwoofer. Look them up. The new subwoofer made a very annoying sound to the owners. The solution was to disconnect the noise canceling microphones. One person did both mics and another disconnected the rear mic. So I guess its how you connect the sub up for your pleasure.