jingy08

Hey, just recently purchased a 04 tl, and i am really disappointed with the sound system. It feels like all the sound is concentrated toward the middle front of the car, and the sound doesn't have that all around sound feeling. Anyone else feel this way?

Anyone know ways to improve on the sound in the 04's?

GLowrdr

Not to be captain obvious, but just checking - have you tried adjusting the sound? There is a seperate adjustment for the center channel.

I guess without hearing it, I don't know if you stereo is normal, or if something is screwed up where your only hearing the center channel or something.

I think my '04 sounds pretty nice. The sub leaves a little to be desired coming from a vehicle with 2 12"s and a 15 - but for factory, not too shabby

carlos9827

iTrader: (2)

I have an 05 and I was thinking that my sound system sucked also well considering i am supposed to have premium sound, what i completely had forgotten about what that I was using my ipod cassaette adapter and thats why the sound wasnt at its best potential, i am thinking of either getting an ipod hookup or well see...i played a regular cd and the sound system was sweeeeet!

hoopz87

you guys do know that the TL's have some of the best sound systems from the factory out of any cars...? lol

Rising2TheTop

how are you listening to your system? XM, CDs.iPod hookup. radio? I have found that when listening to XM certain stations are quieter and wont perform as well as some of the other stations....Also when I switch to FM radio the sound gets better also IMO

jingy08

Hey guys, yeah, i have tried adjusting, but doesnt seem to help much. Just sounds muffled to me. Or maybe I am being over analytical about this. I am using XM, and it does sound better when I go to FM.

blkaspec

throw in a DVD-A and then get back to us.

but something may be fudged up in your system???

xdaily

It does suck. Especially the FM radio sounds like ass. XM sounds better CD sounds
even better yet DVD-A sounds best.

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

^ Throw in the "Acura DVD-A" if your car came with it. Test out the cd quality tracks, then try the dvd-a tracks. I doubt you could complain.

The only thing I don't like is the sub, as said above. The clarity of the system is great, well the trebel I mean. But the overall bass needs helps. At higher volumes it doesn't sound the best.

blkaspec

the tl system is meant for quality sound, not boomy bass. now i do agree that the sub could and should be better, but when you put in a quality music source the sound is very good. people just expect that "more bass" is better, and i do agree that bass kicks ass, but thats not what this system is tuned for.

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

^ Totally agree. Like I said above, the sub is lacking to me only at higher volumes.

Richard Weed

Make sure the surround sound is turned off, consider adding a better sub. Also, try turning off the SVC control (if it's on the 04). Maybe it's just me, but I found the SVC turned up the overall volume at higher speeds but not the bass volume....

GLowrdr

To respond to a couple of comments I have seen (and a couple questions too)

FM generally "sounds" better than DVD's and XM due to the fact that they pump up the highs and lows because this is generally what people like the best. It also helps off set the crappiness of actual radio, and gives us a false sense of crisp sound.

XM and DVD's are the way music was supposed to sound. Turn on the radio, and find a song that you like a lot, and happen to have the CD (not a burned one) - the radio probably sounds better at the same volume, but the XM and CD can be turned up more without having the distortion.

Also there is some mention of turning off surround sound. Without checking, I do not believe we have a choice? I don't remember a surround off button being one that I have seen. Also, what is this SVC you are speaking of? I have an 04 and I guess I'm not sure what this is. Is SVC the speed volume control that turns up the radio in line with your speed? The 04's don't have that.

blkaspec

what year do you drive? my 06 has neither of those two options/features

Richard Weed

I have an 08 - wasn't sure if the earlier years had those options. Both show when you go through the sound controls (bass, treble, balance, etc...). SVC is the speed sensitive volume control / gimmick.

blkaspec

and you are able to turn off the surround sound? are you talking about the dolby pro logic II thingy-ma-doo? cuz thats only in the newer models as well.

TeknoKing

^^ I have 08, and I think the Pro Logic II is not good at all...the car sounds like I'm playing music underwater....and mixing 2ch to 5.1 is just wrong, lol.

The factory setup overall is pretty good, the DVD-A is amazing...if you secure the read deck, then the bass can pump nicely without sounding like fat man locked in trunk farting to the beat.

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

Whaaa?

Richard Weed

The pro logic is lame. It's nothing like the effect you get out of a home system. The underwater analogy is pretty good, plus it seems to cut the volume in half. I just wish their were more DVD-A's for sale.

chillout24

From what I've read they changed the sound system after the '04 models in which the sound comes mainly from the front speakers and the rears are used mainly for filler, so the '05's and onward have the sound more evenly distributed between the front and rear speakers which sounds a lot better. I was pretty pissed off that the dealer didn't tell me about this because the sound system was one of the main reasons I got this car, and if I knew they changed it to be better in the '05's I would have gotten an '05 instead of an '04.

TeknoKing

REAR deck....dynamat it, prevent all distortions and vibrations.... Bass is suppose to be felt, not heard.

I've noticed that when I play hip pop or anything with spaced out deep beats, the system handles the bass well....but the moment I put on my trance/house or alternative/metal...I feel like all high/mids/lows collapse into each other...resulting in flat sound.

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

^ Gotcha, thanks.

DrMooCow

The sound system isn't bad considering it's stock. Keyword is stock. It sounds a heck lot better then the optional harman kardon I had in my M3; however, when compared to the Logic 7 in my 5 series and Mark Levinsons I've heard in Lexus, the ELS is garbage.

I personally don't care about DVD-A but the TL stock system does not suck at all.

CJ0920

I also think my '04 system suck big time! And actually, my gf's Dodge Caliber sound's 10x better, I think Acura could have done way better for the money.

AnothaTL

When I get a TSX for a loaner car the stereo sounds so much better in that than it does in my TL. WTF?

samirsosa

The system totally sucks. I recently took the system I had in my 04 TL out, and replaced it with the factory speakers. There's a huge difference. It's a pain to rip and replace from factory to non factory, but worth it.

I'm getting rid of the car, which is why I removed all the stereo equipment. Great car, just time for something newer.

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

You all are crazy. That's all I am going to say.

jnc2000

Sound is perceptional. What sounds good to one person, may sound like poo to someone else. Stock for stock the TL's from factory is not bad. It has decent imaging, great staging, and a decently quiet interior to drown out the sounds of the road. All of these are important for reproducing accurate sound. Most people don't understand the purpose of sound deadener.

While yes the TL does have its share of rattle issues most of these can be fixed by home remedy's. The TL's factory system can be further enhanced by properly deadening up the car. What you want to achieve when you deaden a car is to convert that wasted sound energy that is causing ping/vibration in your plastic and sheet metal into low level heat energy. There is a difference between sound deadener. Not all sound deadening materials perform equally, and you may have to layer more of the cheaper stuff to get the same performance out of the better stuff. The goal in the end is to add very as little mass as possible - but at the same time use a damper that converts the vibrational energy in to low level heat.

You will want to layer a second layer of sound deadener on top of this first layer of mat. I recommend a adhesive back closed foam type deadener. This type of a product does an excellent job of filtering out noises in your mid range frequency's (200hz- 2000khz). What this translates into is a elimination of tire and exhaust drone - as well as reduced wind and road noise over virtually any surface.

All of this together will help raise your soundstage -improve the sound of your components and speakers within your car and make your music listening experience much more enjoyable.

The best places to improve your system is to start with your components. IMO - any decent pair of components will yield stellar performance improvement over the stock components and amplifier - however if you don't take the time to deaden the car first you are minimizing your upgrade/money spent.

Bottom line; if you don't like the system. Take the time and do it right. Deaden the car. Install good components and an amplifier. Replace the subwoofer if you so choose - Do it right the first time.

xdaily

Wow. Thanks Mr. Wizard.

When I turn up my music loud I like it to sound clear.

TeknoKing

jnc2000 is on point...

In my last TL, I gutted the car, and breaded/dynamated the chasis....I did custom wooden enclosure for all component speakers, as well as, my trunk got a nice coating of sound deadning paste cover with a thing plywood...wood is the best for sound containment. Yes the car gets heavy, so it's performance vs luxury add-ons.

After I did all of that, I could of won most audiophile contests....but 2 weeks after, my whip was stolen.....so I'm not willing to do anything to my 08 TLS.....I think with a simple improvement of the rear deck/subwoofer will yield promising results as you would set highs mainly inside the car, and sub will take over producing the lower frequencies...this should provide a comfortable listening zone....I'm an audiophile...I'll never ever be happy, lol.

jnc2000

If you don't like the stock system you have 3 options in my opinion.

1. Take the time and do a DIY install ensuring to strip the car down to deaden everything from the floor up. Install new components and amplifiers. Tweak. Tweak. And constantly re-tweak

2. Pay a shop to do an install for you.

3. Complain about how the stock system sounds and do nothing about it.

I'm merely trying to point out Acura did not develop the stock system to please everyone. The majority of TL owners - sure. However the demographic represented on this board represents a such a small fraction of total TL sales I don't and I don't think you should expect Acura to develop a sound system to please everyone.

Thank god for aftermarket.

jingy08

Hey Teckno King, that flat sound that your talking about, thats what it sounds like in my TL. All the speakers are working, and it sounds as if all the different sounds are running into each other, like you say.