I suspect we both attended the same 'School of Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way'. I had to repeat more grades than I care to admit.

 

 

 

Nice. Been meaning to do this, but I forgot this morning to unplug it. Last night I was zooming around in Sport + mode and realized just how annoying the engine sound is.

Next up is figuring out how to modify the sound. I'd like to replace the piped in engine sounds with my 2 year old saying "Vroom Vroom".

 

 

Let's not kid ourselves - 4-cylinder engines don't belong in luxury vehicles. Cost and fuel economy - not customer demand - have forced them into this category. In order to make them powerful enough, they must have turbochargers. In order to make them sound somewhat decent, they need electronic enhancements.

I never thought I'd see the day that a $65K Cadillac CT6 (their largest flagship sedan) would come standard with a 4-cylinder engine.

 

Yes, and I remember the days when potential buyers commented on the V6s replacing V8s in the same vehicles....and when most cars went to front wheel drive, and ...ok, point made.

 

Exactly, although almost all the luxury carmakers are guilty of this in the crossover segment. When the turbo isn't kicking in the vehicle feels exactly like what it is, a 4 cylinder engine vehicle. It's most apparent when firmly braking and then applying the gas again, there is a distinct solid 1-2 second delay in any kind of throttle response where you are literally just standing still. I do think that adding a turbo to a 4 cyl makes a huge difference and should definitely be a budget and/or base option, but really there needs to be a 6 cyl option as well. There is just no comparison with a non turbo 6 cyl and a turbo 4 cyl IMO. Even in Sport + mode I'm feeling the turbo lag, and all Sport + does is raise the shift points which feels really off, makes the vehicle jerky and the high rpm's persist even when you are cruising at high speed or slowing down, just very artificial feeling.

In regard to the piped in engine noise, after commuting to work with it off I now see it's purpose. The vehicle is very poorly insulated. Wind noise and other vehicles and such wasn't an issue, I didn't hear much of that. But road noise (from the tires) and engine noise were quite apparent. The road noise was worse with the module disconnected. The engine noise wasn't necessarily louder, just worse sounding and I can see how they wanted to cover it up with a more attractive sounding engine noise. But honestly, other than maybe someone who owns a muscle car, who wants to hear ANY engine noise? What this tells me is that they massively cheaped out on insulation and sound dampening, and then covered it up with the sound cancellation and artificial engine noise. If I purchased the vehicle instead of leased it I'd be looking into adding sound dampening insulation to the front firewall, doors and floors.

 

What trim rdx do you have and what aftermarket system did you install? Any pictures?

 

I dunno...that distant, muted growl coming from the engine bay of an older Lexus LS with a V8 is ear porn to me. I love the silky smoothness at any speed and the quiet push against the seat with a hint of V8 rumble. Those days are fading fast.

Going back to a Ridgeline from my RDX, the Ridgeline's V6 is quieter, smoother and faster to respond and the ride was quieter and smoother as well. The Ridgeline (and Pilot and Passport) sounds and feels like more of a luxury vehicle than the RDX - and I'm not sure how I feel about that. The RDX handles great and looks better, but they should have left the V6 in it.

 

I like the nostalgia of a nice V8 sound as well, but I suppose I'm just older now and value a quiet interior. I remember my old corvette (C6) had exhaust that could be turned on and off, it was pretty cool and meant I could have the car be quiet (for a sports car) when I wanted it to be quiet. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I want zero engine noise in the cabin. Electric vehicles are coming and will eventually be common place, I really really hope piping in engine sounds doesn't become the norm because honestly I would be embarrassed to drive around something with a fake engine sound.

 

Ever drove an MDX?

 

Honda, Acura, BMW, VW, Ford, and others have been doing "fake engine sounds" for years. Now that most models have electronic noise cancellation, the hardware is already in place to add to or modify existing sounds. You should hear the 2019 Honda Insight when it's in sport mode (not a joke) - it's pretty cheesy!

I have. Acura did a good job making it even quieter and sound even better than it's Honda counterpart.

 

Ooooh! I better not drive one then

 

Correct.....you are a brother.


This is making sense because the module apparently does both noise cancellation and added engine sounds. Now we need to learn how to keep the former while shutting down the latter.

.

 

 

 

Maybe someone can convince Hondata to reverse-engineer the ANC/engine sound enhancement module and provide lots of customizable options? IMHO that would be more useful than 10 extra horsepower. YMMV

 

I think I hear more road noise because the fake engine noise isn't there. I turned the fake engine noise back on, I prefer to hear that than the real engine noise and all the road noise.

 

personally I love me a 4 cyl turbo engine, light with lots of power. I would take a v6 turbo tho if they offered it, but then you add a ton more weight. and you can also make a 4 cyl sound awesome with the right intake and exhaust, as for not wanting to have any sound in a car, then electric cars are for you, I dont want anything that sounds loud an annoying, but I dont mind the growl of an engine when your pushing it, and love turbo spool and waste gate noises

 

I loved the sound of my '09 MDX. I also love the sound of Ford's Coyote V8 =)

 

Eh, I'm not so sure about the "waste gate noises".

 

Yeah it's not that bad, actually it's pretty decent. My entire issue was with the way the engine just completely has zero power when braking then accelerating, and now I know the issue isn't the turbo. I'd still prefer a 6 cylinder because to get the same performance you have to keep the RPM's up, and that makes the vehicle feel a bit artificial, but I suppose you get used to it. The more I drive it the more I get used to that. But I will NEVER get used to feeling like a car is going to slam into me because my RDX isn't doing anything when I press the gas pedal halfway into an intersection, very dangerous and scary.

I hear you on sound, I liked that when I was younger as well. I'm not old (48), I just really like a quiet car. I value the feel of the acceleration more than the sound of it I suppose. An electric car would be awesome, can't wait until they are mainstream, although from what I understand they have fake noise outside of the car for pedestrians.

 

 

This should have been a setting in the infotainment system where you could just turn off the engine noise but leave the noise cancelling on.

 

 

I'd be extremely surprised if there were hardly any changes over the next 3 years. They essentially redesigned the RDX from the ground up, and it seems to have their new technology that they'll likely be spreading to the rest of their lineup. With OTA updates, I expect they intend to provide support for a few years.

 

Ok so my RDX Advanced has a "low level booming echo" over rough roads with small bumps at 20-30 mph. bumps like ridges not pot holes.

I think I notice it more in Comfort noise but it seems there in all modes. At speed I don't notice it probably because other things are noiser.

i am now wondering if this is a Noise Reduction gone wrong since if the piped in anti-noise is just off it would seem to make small repeated noises worse.....

 

I've kind of become def to the sound. Like nose blindness? I don't even notice it unless I turn off the music.

 

Wierd that they even pipe in noise at all, you would think in comfort mode it would be eliminated altogether...maybe a future software update ???? Is there anyplace (anyone have a link) to make suggestions to acura about software changes ?

 

 

Just crank the stereo.....

 

How about changing it to the Geico piggy? Weee!! We-wee!!

 

just deal with it..

 

I used the diagnostic mode to disable and enable ANC while driving for about an hour on the interstate.
I did not "hear" any noise cancelling benefit. Didn't feel like car is quieter with ANC enable.
However, with the fake engine sound off, you can really hear the 4 cylinders working hard especially around 2-3k rpm. It is not the prettiest sound, it's a very busy sound. There isn't much volume benefit, the engine is pretty loud without the fake sound.
The fake engine sound is the low growling you hear while accelerating, and it kind of helps mask some of the busy engine sound and makes it more pleasing.

While cruising at highway speed I didn't feel any difference with or without ANC. Road noise stay the same and engine is at low enough RPM that real or fake noise is not much difference if any.

 

In my ninth gen accord, ANC essentially kneecaps the sound system. Engaging the "secret" dealer menu and disabling ANC via the infotainment results in a better sounding system. Especially with increased bass. I am wondering if perhaps the ANC system in this Acura could also be directly hampering the sound quality of the stereo. Thoughts?

 

 

I find much the same to be true. Actually I like the sound as it communicates to me what the engine is doing only in a "nice" form, not the normal 4-banger version.

 

I just extended the lease on my Accord V6 because I am not thrilled about going to a 2.0t. Better gas mileage my a**! That's government BS! I've gotten 40 mpg on my V6. And no, I did not go down the street and drive down a hill to achieve that...trip to St. Paul and back on one tank of gas. Interstate all the way at 70-75 mph. Oh, and I have Android Auto...........I know, that's another thread.

 

Have fun with your Honda