Hello,

I have a 2023 RDX Technology trim. Can someone tell me how many speakers, their size and locations, or how many there are supposed to be? There is a couple of speaker grills on the ceiling, above the front passengers' heads, but I can't hear any sound from them, and the settings menu has adjustments for the roof and center speakers that don't seem to make any difference. And what is the RMS and/or peak wattage?

And is it possible to modify the Technology trim to make it like the A-Spec, like an easy drop-in and not a significant aftermarket mod? I'm not even sure if you can do significant mods with these all-in-one audio and nav systems. Obviously, I'm not a pro at this.

Sorry for the long post, but thanks

 

Your Tech trim has a 12 speaker, 550W ELS Studio system. I don't believe it's possible to upgrade to the better system but someone else can chime in.

The fact that you are asking this question means you care about audio so it's unfortunate you didn't at least get the A-Spec, which has the 16 speaker, 710W, ELS Studio 3D system! I had it in my MY21 TLX and it was awesome!

If you want all speakers to play, you can try playing multichannel FLAC files via USB, though I don't know if the plain ELS Studio is capable of this!

 

Thanks for that info. I say 550 W isn't bad, and I'm not necessarily wanting the 3-dimensional sound, but a little more clarity and fullness like that TLX A-Spec I test drove would be good. I didn't have a choice of an A-Spec because I bought the RDX used. I would've thought it might be kinda simple to swap an audio system between an RDX A-Spec and RDX Technology trims because they're basically the same car, but I'm just an audiophile, not an audio tech.

My other car that the RDX is replacing is a 2009 Accord with 247,000 miles that I upgraded the stock 180 W system with a 1,000 W amp, premium head unit, speakers and powered woofer. That was a huge improvement and I've been hooked on that level of sound for since. BTW, that Accord is still running strong with the original clutch. I bought it new with 2 miles on it. And everything I've read about the RDX regarding reliability says it is top notch.

 

Do you have any multichannel FLAC files you can put onto USB and test in your car? That's going to be the only "cure" for unused speakers, IMHO.

 

I'm sorry, I don't know what multichannel FLAC files are. And I suspect those speaker grills on the roof are a universal grills for all RDXs including the A-Spec that have drivers in there. Is a simple test just to remove the grill and see what's in there? Don't they just pop of?

Another thing is, why is there an adjustment for the maybe non-existent roof and center speakers in settings even though removing those adjustments is a simple software adjustment, I would think.

 

Well, this explains a lot ... So, there is a little speaker up there, it does make a very slight difference when I turn up the roof speaker setting, and the center speaker setting also changes the sound when I squeeze my big head between the windshield and hot dashboard.





Back to the previous question, I still might wanna install a more powerful amp and just maybe a powered woofer, if possible. Maybe someone else will chime in.

 

That 4 little speakers here raises or spreads the sound stage up a bit, hence 3d, like a few other car manufacturers do. There does not need much power since it's so close to your head.

If you ignore those high speakers, you have 11 left, less the sub. So you get a couple multi channel amps, take the spk out of the OEM amp into the spk in of the new amp, and wire in the speakers to the new amp. That is probably the only way, since the amp incorporates alot including a dsp tweaked to the speakers. The sub needs its own amp. I just added mine, and left the original there.
You need to keep the gain set constant on he new amp. I know there is a limit to the volume of the rdx system, you can here it start to shreek are 3/4 up, so it is not perfect, not sure new amps will help that. THen there is pumping alot more power into those 20w speakers.....

If you don't know what a flac 5.1 file is, flac or not flac, do some research and learn. Alot of info on this site. The 5.1 music really sounds great.

 

It sounds like you're thinking I have the the ELS 3D, because if you take away the four little speakers I have 11 left, minus the subwoofer.

But anyway, this system sounds really good but doesn't sound as car-rocking, for lack of a better word, as my 2009 Accord with all-aftermarket audio system, with 1000 W amp and Kicker powered subwoofer. So, maybe I can keep the system exactly as it is but get a powered subwoofer separately? Would that work?

Thanks.

 

That is what i have. Aspec 3d system with an aftermarket sub. I suggest this as what you re going for is the lower octave. I have published the full setup and install on this site. Amp is mounted in the covered left small compartment in the rear boot. 500W rms Hertz class D amp and a HSU sub, crossed over around 60 Hz, with a small phase adjustment (which can be measured easily with tones on a USB stick and an Iphone).
You can certainly go with a self-powered sub and tap into the oem sub outputs. I found no need to tap into the other woofers.