QuickTL

I am really dissapointed in a way I can't not describe! I don't understand why are speakers and whole audio system doesn't put out enough juice?? I figured that me paying over 38g's out the door I would get a stereo close or good enough to a Mark Levinsion. I mean, Im a tech at lexus and even the 35g ES330 with the ML upgrade sound's awesome. At least you can turn it up loud enough to hurt your ears. Our's only goes up to 40??

I guess they figured since people had enough money to purchase that car, they can afford to purchase a new stereo. Other than that I love the car so much. It does everything elese.

Anyone elese experienced the same problem?

Thanks,

Cass

DMZ

You need to turn it up loud enough to hurt your ears? How old are you?

fast-tl

19...that explains it.
Lots of folks think that loud=good.

automata

Here we go again with the it only goes up to 40 complaint. To me, 15 is to loud.

acura_driver

The TL has one of the best factory audio systems available. It is more than good enough for 99% of the TL buyers. For those that want excessive bass or higher output to annoy nearby drivers you can always rip out the system and install a new one.

-r

SeCsTaC

my exact thoughts

Casper42

No worries, this same guy is already looking for a Carbon Fiber hood.

I just gotta ask though, if you work for Infiniti, what made you buy a TL instead of a G35c?

Slim23Dog

Yo Quick TL, check out my page
http://www.cardomain.com/id/slimsride23

i changed all the speaks in the car (except center channel) and i amplified them. now i only have to go up to like vol 10 or so.. and its loud .. great addition. and you dont sacrifice the surround.. its only enhanced now

RyTyGuy

I believe he said he was "a tech at Lexus" not Infiniti. Just clarifying...

chazy777

I love loud stereos and I think it's plenty loud at 40.. The thing is, I have by subwoofer output and bass BOTH set to -5 but not off.. so the bass can't distort the factory speakers.. And I have a Phoneix Gold Titanium AMP in the trunk with two 12" Alpine R Series woofers in custom fit box. It would sound so much better if our factory DVD system had pre-amp outputs.. but it doesn't.. Still sounds a TON better than that 9" factory woofer. I have that disconnected since it conflicts with the system. Here are pictures:

http://www.sonic.net/chaz/NewCarAlbum/Amp/

I forgot to stuff the wires underneath the box better before taking pics.. It sounds better when the backseat middle panel is completely open so the woofers can breathe. Major air comes in and out of there and no rattles anywhere when outside the car when it's fully cranked up Let me know what you guys think. Most people think nothing of it.. It's not great nor terrible for just a simple woofer/amp install. The 1 Ferret Cap is nothing but jewelry for this car, but I had it already and put it on.
Not like this is a full customization and piece of art work. A lot of my friends expect it to sound better with what I had though.. But the source of the sound coming from a factory amp with no pream outputs, it's not amazing.

nick04tl

maybe he was thinking of me. i worked for infiniti as a tech.

chazy777

Do you have a navigational system? The Car Audio guys that worked on mine said that they can't replace the factory 5.1 amp without tearing out the whole Nav system cause the 5.1 Amp is all integrated with the entire NAV. I was pissed as I have a $600 4-channel Rockford Phosgate amp sitting in my garage that I would love to have installed as an upgrade to the 4 main speakers (after upgrading those to MB Quartz)... Can I do this with a NAV system? They told me they can only splice off for a woofer amp and I can't add additional amp for the other speakers without tearing the NAV out and replacing the factory 5.1 amp.

God I would love to hear how much better yours sounds compared to mine (and I'm confident yours does sound a lot better).. Also I notice you have two controls which I only have one control (in my glove box) that controls only the voltage.. This thing I think was a piece of shit they put in and I always leave it full blast since if I turn it down any, the sub bass is pretty much gone. Does it effect your woofer at all when adjusting either the woofer volume or bass volume?

rets

I'm not sure those seniors with declining hearing could endure this forever. Young guys should have better hearing. For my preference, I only turned up to 15 once. But, I'm sure someone could afford 40, that's what the system is for.

04TL is a good car, but doesn't guaranty you will get all the best goodies in the car...

dtpjigzer

hey chazy, did u ever try having your subs facing towards the outside of the trunk!! it might be louder! insteade of the way you have it now!! just a thought, bcuz i reversed mine and its much louder!

jjsC5

If you are not happy with the stereo, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. But it's like Viper owners saying they are not happy with the acceleration of their car. They may want more, but that doesn't mean it's slow to begin with.

I'm more than happy with the TL's stereo.

92NSX

I kinda with the beginning statement. It's not really that the system doesn't sound really good but to me it's that it didn't sound as good as I expected. After hearing all the hype about it I was left wanting for morer. I'm sure it will do just fine.
Besides, if I want a mind blowing system I will get in my Integra or NSX.

imax

Well like DUhhhhhhhh

If you're a tech at Lexus and you KNEW what you wanted from your sound system then why didn't you check the damn thing out BEFORE you bought it!

leo221

go with g35 or es330. you don't deserve your tl

PA-TL

QuickTL...it has nothing to do with your age. I agree with you. See my recent thread
http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showt...threadid=89489

Dr.Murdock

At some points the system doesnt really sound loud enough, but it only seems that way if ur on the highway with the window down. It really depends what ur listening to also. The BASS is good real good for stock, but the treble volume could be a bit better. Both my parents have their own Lincoln Aviator, and the sound goes much louder then the TL's, but it does not keep its clarity, so loudness wont really pay off if you dont have clarity, its a much more costly car as well - that is prob why u get more, but i like the TL sound better.
The TL sound system in my opinion is awesome, u can blast it at 40 and still be crystal clear - very few cars offer it like that, especially at stock. What the Fuck Do u want from it? u are paying 32k for a car(i paid 31k out the door), u want to have the best options in it? Go buy ur own fucking sound system, spend an extra 1-2k, then u will be happy.

UNCTYPE-S

i think it sounds good for stock. try listening to mine stock for 32k out the door. a ford escort has a better system.

GunnmeTaLCURA04

thats watt i am been saying all this time. my dads 97 escort.. i drive it on free way. put volume up and hear it pleasurably.(if its even a word) but meaning. i hear it fine. TL NO!!

acura_driver

Sell the TL. Buy an Escort.

-r

Neogeek

i second that

chazy777

You get more boom and all the trunk rattling with woofers facing away that I don't want. Plus when I have it facing away it actually is less "loud".. Facing towards me you keep clarity and no muffled bass in the trunk. Loudness is not the problem I can make it very loud.. But I don't get the punch / feeling I want and it's cause the factory amp (the source) does not put out a good signal for it that you get from aftermarket decks. However I'm wondering if my installer put on a crappy preamp splice and could be much better. My installers weren't enthusiastic at all about my TL being their first TL they installed an amp in.. Someday I may get it all redone and ensure I get it done right somewhere else. That is, I'll get woofers flush down into the trunk facing up (spare tire would have to go away) .. this is the best configuration to have but cost lots of $$$

hzm82

Ever consider the fact that you might be partially deaf?

stocks2k

I agree, the TL will not crank to painful volume levels, it is mostly due to the signal staying so clean. It is distortion that sounds loud and the factory system has very low distortion levels even at high volumes. I haven't put my SPL meter in the car, but I suspect it is well over 100 db at full volume.

birdboy

[I]thats watt i am been saying all this time. my dads 97 escort.. i drive it on free way. put volume up and hear it pleasurably.(if its even a word) but meaning. i hear it fine. TL NO!![/I]


Did he really mean to say "watt" -- cuz thats pretty funny. But .. I dont think he did

t-rd

Anyone noticed he has yet to make one single reply??? bhahaha!

SlntSam

I mainly listen to talk radio on the AM dial so it's more than sufficient for me.

yano_jl

I agree. I was expecting more.

Specific issues:
- The sound differs across dynamic ranges (volume). A song at a low volume setting has very different sound characteristics than at high volumes. Try this yourself, the lows don't really "wake-up" until you turn the volume up.
- I think many of us turn the volume higher than necessary in order to "feel" the music. With a better quality amp/sub this "feeling" should be present at lower volumes.
- At high volumes, the bass distorts the higher frequencies and seems to step on the mids and highs.
- XM music sounds to me like an overly compressed MP3. The highs are dull and the bass is weak. This may have nothing to do with the ELS system, it is just something I noticed.

That being said, I love this car and wouldn't trade it for an escort with a gun to my head. I have noticed that people who have owned a car with aftermarket audio gear seem to be less than satisfied. Whereas people who have only had stock audio are very impressed. Just an observation.

For some reason, this issue seems to infuriate people on this forum. As if bringing up any negative opinions on this subject are insulting to the folks that love the ELS system.

For those of you who think this system is "the bomb"; good for you. I wish I felt this way too. I was just expecting a little more substance behind all of the ELS marketing hype.

grudax

If you want it 'loud enough to hurt your ears' you must like lots of distortion. I can't put much credence in anything else you say after that statement. That said, the first two points you listed are due to the inadequasies of the human ear and the only way to fix that is electronically fiddling with the sound to compensate. It's what a 'loudness' button does and no true audiophiles like that button. Just my opinion of course.

QuickTL

Sorry it took so long to respond but I am busy with the g/f and the baby.

I approciate all yalls help. I am young I know. But considering the car does everything else, I would figure it would have a ear ripping car stereo.

Thanks again,

Cass

mad_russian

Top 10 Lists of http://www.edmunds.com

Top 10 Sound Systems in Cars Over $30,000 for 2004
The ACURA TL took 6th place !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

check out http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/...7/article.html

Zeuser

TL != (not equal) Pimp mobile

The TL isn't marketed towards the 19 year old rapers who drive through a residential area at 2 o'clock in the morning blasting tunes with the BASS turned all the way up and everything else all the way down.

The TL is more for the middle-aged middle class folks who prefer to hear quality over quantity when it comes to music. Yes, there's a huge difference in quality between CD and DVD-A. If you can't hear it, you're probably one of the 19 year olds that's blasted his radio one time to many and is now tone deaf!

cosmogo

I think you mean rappers, not 'rapers'! LOFL

fastereddie

This is like an old Cheech & Chong Movie. Chong had the best Guitar amp. The nob on it went way past max!

Ed

daviddww

Actually, mad_russian, it didn't take 6th place. The article starts by saying that they are all so close and each listener is different, that the top 10 list has no ranking. We just know it is one of the top 10, conceivably with some testers putting it at 1st and some at 10th.

I think the system is the best I have ever heard in a car or home, and I often play it at 35-40. Very rarely I have wanted it higher than 40.

fastereddie

But it still only goes to 40. I have seen other cars that go to 60 and even 80. My home stereo goes to 85!!!

Just Kiddin;

I Can't believe the conversation. Personally, I get embarrassed when I pull up beside someone and my car is going womf, womf (or is it bomf, bomf). I think I grew out of that.

Ed.

numexbigjim

I have posted this link on several occasions and will continue to do so as long as folks are saying that the TL ELS system is inferior to other OEM systems, including the Lexus' Mark Levinson system. This writer, Alan Taffel writes reviews for a high end audiophile publication and, IMO, is dead on.

http://www.elssurround.com/absolute_sound.asp

More recent evidence that the ELS system is superior to other OEM systems is contained in the following link. I couldn't agree more.
http://www.audioworld.com/news/0403/...hallenge.shtml