Hello Everyone! Picked up a new 2012 TL Tech Graphite this week. So far, I am quite happy with the car. It is really quiet in all the internal roads, but a bit noisier than expected on the highways. A couple of Acura salesmen talked about an active noise cancellation system that would kick in 90 seconds after I turn on the audio system. I don't see it working, and I couldn't find a mention in the manual or in any of the audio options. Does anyone know if this feature even exists? I didn't buy this car based on this feature, and so I am not going to lose sleep if its not there, but would like to play with it if it is available. - Ross

 

Welcome Ross. I'm Ross! Hard to determine what exactly they were talking about. Possibly the sound dampening system which is designed to filter out external noise through the speakers. Should be a nice quiet drive.

 

On the MDX, that system was on above the back seat and another located somewhere in the front. They were essentially microphones to detect noise so it could cancel them out. Maybe the TL, being a sedan, uses the phone's microphone to detect sound. I believe there is an option to adjust how much you want canceled out in your navigation screen.

 

The sound cancelling feature was probably the laughter of the salesman.

 

You do have ANC. You cannot manually control it. The subwoofer emits noise to counteract cabin noise. The only way to disable it is to unplug it.

 

@SeismicGuy - you are probably right. Or their nonstop sales chatter dampened all the road noise during my test drives!
Thanks everyone for your reply! Will postback if I find anything!

 

if I understood correctly I saw that option in Audio Menu.. Active Noise Cancellation or its called something like that and it has 3 settings Low, Med, High, I know because, by default mine came as Med and I changed it to High. I guess it works just fine (of course unlike my Bose QC-15). I'll be out in lunch soon and once I back, I will confirm this settings location again.1

 

Isn't that SVC in the audio menu? I thought that SVC set up was just to keep the radio volume consistent by adjusting for road noise. That it is so it will not be blaring when you come to a stop and too low when you get travelling again. I thought active noise cancellation was an automatic feature that just does it job behind the scenes but maybe I am wrong.

 

exactly terdonal it is indeed the SVC option in Audio menu I was talking about. I thought it is the Noise Cancellation one. my mistake sorry

 

I don't think we have the ANC system in the 2012 TL. Someone on this forum called a dealer when they were doing their sound system install to verify because the ANC system could mess with the aftermarket set up. The dealer told him that there is no ANC on the 2009 or so TL's.

I read this few days ago because I want to put in aftermarket system in mine as well. I am reading around on various forums.

 

I just installed an aftermarket system today. At the end, we were fine tuning and it was sounding like crap. I have an amp powering the high and mids, no subwoofer connected as of yet, still factory sub, and the midrange was sounding horrible. Just happened as we installed the final speaker.

We tested the speaker to see if it was damaged, and it was not. I then remembered some one else telling me about disconnecting the microphone.

Once we disconnected the mic located above where the shades go, the system immediately sounded better.

So SVC and that mic are totally different?

 

Our '12 TL/Tech on factory Michelins is undeniably one of the noisier cars we've ever owned when driven at highway speeds over poor highways (Refugio County in So. Texas to be specific), though the car is otherwise a lot of fun to drive. Of course I'm comparing to our previous land yachts (Lexus LS and Linc. Town Car).

If you're looking for a sporty ride, the TL will have you grinning from ear to ear. However, if you're looking for a comfortable ride on a long road trip, from my experience the TL will beat your bladder & kidneys to death.

I do find the 4th generation ('12) TL to have a noticeably more comfortable ride than our 3rd gen ('08), but still not something either of us enjoy taking long trips in. However, in Acura's defense, my wife and I are both in our mid-60s

 

^^^^^

The 4G SH-AWD TL is even worse than the FWD TL in term of road noise and ride roughness. But it can also take corners at frightening high speeds over the FWD TL.

After all, the 4G TL is a SPORT sedan and is no luxury cruiser.

 

Interesting....so, it's been on the Accord for years now, but not on our TL? What's up with that?

 

^^^^^

The TL is a premium sedan. It's chassis is more reinforced, and it has more sound insulation/deafening than the economy-brand Accord. Thus, no need for ANC for a quiet cabin.

 

LOL

Tell that to Audi, MB, Jaguar, Cadillac, and a host of others.

 

I had a couple of extended test drives of both the 2013 Honda Accord "Touring" and the 2013 Acura TL SH-AWD last week. The Honda (also built in Marysville) has the ANC system and was definitely louder on I-95 in MA at 70mph than the TL which lacked the ANC.