Hi, all. I've got my eye on a 4-cyl. TLX, but I'm not sure whether to pull the trigger on the Tech package. Navi means little to me, and the various add'l safety features are nice but not necessary. It really comes down to the stereo and the leather, at least for me.

I previously had an '09 TSX (base) and '12 TL (base). Really enjoyed the TSX overall and found the stereo plenty adequate. But when I switched to the TL, I found the stereo underwhelming.

In reading through the initial wave of TLX reviews, I remember seeing at least one mention that even the base stereo performed quite well. Has anyone had the chance to compare the base to the ELS? I know the ELS comes with a few extra speakers and will certainly outperform the base. But is the difference night & day? Looking for any initial impressions. Thanks.

 

I don't have the answer to your question but was wondering the same thing. If I was to get a TLX, I'd probably opt for the base version as Navi isn't terribly important to me (I only use the Nav in my TL on rare occasions) and BT audio is actually more important to me (I can use the nav software of the iPhone for BT streaming or just a portable nav if I really needed one). Also, if the leatherette was of nice quality in the base car, I'd forego the leather as well. I'm sure the base stereo is decently powerful and in truth, I don't drive with mine cranked up volume wise.

 

I'm really interested in hearing the ELS sound system as well.

For what it's worth Edmunds ranked it #1 in their "High End Stock Stereo Sound Off" from 2009. I'm curious to hear just how much better it is than the system in my 13 Accord EXL.

http://www.edmunds.com/car-technolog...sound-off.html

 

At what bitrate (and format) does it start to make a difference? Most of mine are MP3's but I've been able to gather so FLAC's.

 

It's a lot better than the EX-L. Wait till you feel the bass from the doors and throughout the car. When I did my first sit down in one, I cranked it up.. Toy Matinee sounded so good in it.

The EX-L is decent but.... just you wait

 

Wait I will. Seems the local dealers (Cleveland Oh) are pre-selling all the 2.4/tech's before they hit the lots. Motorcars is reporting they may have one in mid week that I can drive.

 

Hard to say. My understanding is that the Els has the same 8" sub as the base, so the only difference is the extra midrange drivers (and wattage to power them). Probably adds some fullness, but no thump.

I have the Els in my 4cyl tech, and it is good so far, but definitely not that impressive in the bass dept.

 

I test drove the 2014 Accord V6 EXL and TLX w/ELS. No comparison, the Acura is much better in my opinion.

 

I have the Base TLX and I was blown away by the base "premium" sound system. It sounds excellent. I primarily listen to music via Bluetooth from my phone and it sounds perfect. I had a 09 TSX tech and enjoyed the ELS in that...I myself was a bit skeptical about going to the base TLX. However, the sound system is amazing in the base model, I couldn't ask for much better. Especially considering the bass issues the ELS model seems to have, I'm glad I went with the base model.

 

I had 3 TSX's - 2 with the premium system and the last with the Tech. The regular system was very good, however if you listen to music other than just for bass, the surround sound ELS has a clarity that exceeds any other stock car system I have listened to. In the TSX this was particularly the case when you played a DVD audio, but I understand the TLX system doesn't support that format. Too bad…anyhow, if the 4 grand is not too painful, it's worth it in the long run.

 

Nice to hear it was ranked so high.

 

Hate to be a fun-buster, but I find the ELS system disappointing. It sounds fairly good when the car isn't moving and around town at slower speeds. Frequency response below 300hz quickly becomes a sonic mud puddle when moving. It lacks low, mid low transient response (no punch). I'm unable to distinguish if it's the speakers, the amplification or affect from the active noise reduction system once moving. Having read some of the same glowing remarks cited above, I have to question the credibility of the critics (and even Acura's) accolades of the ELS system. For comparison, it's frequency response, sonic clarity and low to midrange transient response can't compare to the Bose system being used in Nissan/Infiniti, or the premium Sony system used by Ford and I find that very frustrating. The aural effects of the ELS "special effects" just don't deliver the low-end punch and clarity any consumer would expect......and the system is not capable of "fast forward scanning" through a track on a CD at the push of a control button??? Really???

 

^^ A little research would have led you to this topic covers ELS and ANC issues experienced by some people:
https://acurazine.com/forums/audio-b...er-car-919478/

I believe that if you press and hold the >> on the lower screen that it will fast forward through a track.

 

I enjoy my ELS when parked with the engine off or Active Sound Control disabled. Someone has said that once he broke-in the speakers, his system sounded better. I did find that the center channel was too powerful and wiping out the other speakers. Backing it down 2 notches helped. Glad to see that I am not the only one still using CDs.

 

The ELS improves surround sound effect/quality but the ELS system still lacks bass. I have maximized bass and subwoofer settings and the bass is just not powerful enough: for example: comparing to a $100 amp+$100 subwoofer (aftermarket). It is a little disappointing. For another comparison, I owned a 07 TL type-s that has a premium sound system from Acura (DVD surround sound). I feel that there is little (if any) improvement with the ELS system in the TLX.

 

I think this is one of those things that depends on what you listen to. I owned an '04 TL with the ELS DVD-A system and, I agree, the bass is lacking for rock and hip-hop music that may require heavier bass when compared to the '04 TL's system, but I think the TLX system sounds better when it comes to jazz and other types of music. At least to me, it sounds like it has better clarity in those genres.

 

There is only so much bass one can get with an 8" free air subwoofer.

No, it'll never suffice for hip-hop or heady thump music.

It sounds awesome on other genres. Grover Washington Jr.'s "Limelight" DVD-A to DTS-CD conversion is spectacular in the TLX!

 

Agree! The ELS system sounds better when it comes to jazz and other types of music, but not "hip-hop or heady thump music." It is also good to know the sub is only 8''. A 10'' or even 12'' would be a lot better. On a different note that the bass from the ELS system is very clean despite its lack of power.

 

So what are we to do fellow enthusiasts?? Would upgrading to an aftermarket speaker provide better bass or will 8" speakers suck altogether? I was very disappointed to see there was no EQ function but otherwise thought the ELS sounds great (was not listening to hip hop though). I wonder if the bass is at least as good as my 04 TSX with 360 watt system and two 6x9 subs...

 

An enthusiast will upgrade the speakers and probably get a DSP to run the system with amps and a large sub in the trunk

 

I found that If I increased BASS to +2, Subwoofer to +1, Neutral DTS ON, Center speaker -2, that the system sounded incredible! It lacks bass at lower volumes (anything under 5) but with these settings the sound was great no matter the volume (only tried till 12 since my ears started to hurt).

I Used David Guetta's Dangerous via USB and was STUNNED by the difference.

Also cracking open the sunroof "increases" the potency of the BASS in the car naturally.

 

Agreed. Center speaker is overpowered and -2 brings the rest of the speakers into play.

 

Audiophiles have debated this for as long as I can remember. Is it about quantity or quality of bass response? Assuming that the goal of any audio system is accurate reproduction of the music, we would expect that a "good" system won't color the music by adding artificial tonal qualities. If a system is incapable of reproducing a 40 Hz note, should it "try" to reach it with equalization or other means while sacrificing accurate reproduction of the 70 Hz note?

Some speaker manufacturers in the home arena will adhere to the principle that it's more important to be accurate in the range that you work in and thus, sacrifice the deepest bass notes. Quad electrostatic speakers and magnaplaners come to mind. Other manufacturers like Martin Logan decided that sacrifice was not necessary and blend electrostatic planar speakers with conventional cone drivers. Of course, the former group shudder at the thought of this, saying that it's impossible to blend the speed and accuracy of a planar driver with a less linear cone driver.

In the car, things are far more complicated. Normal road noise often drowns out sub sonic frequencies. Also, a 20 Hz note (if you could produce it) has a wavelength ~30 feet long making it impossible to capture the entire note, peak to trough, inside the cabin of the vehicle.

I believe that the ELS audio systems were designed to provide accurate response within the range they can physically do. And, most truly accurate systems are very revealing of your source material. Since the TLX system no longer plays DVD audio, I'd suggest finding a conventional audio CD, maybe something by Scheffield Labs (I recommend James Newton Howard and friends). These audiophile reference CDs could represent the pinnacle of recording technology for conventional two track discs. I suggest that everyone try to "feed" the system some good quality source material before you pass judgement.

 

Yeah, I think a lot of folks suffer from "Beats Audio" syndrome where they're used to exaggerated highs and lows. I love the ELS system in my RDX because it doesn't seem to color the sound very much.

 

Anyone listening to Reggae, how does that sound. I will be getting my V6 SH-AWD Advance in a couple months

 

I expect reggae to sound fine on the system since it is not a bass heavy genre

 

^^Are you kidding me? Seriously!!!!

 

HUH? I have listened to Marley and Tosh since the '70's. That genre is nothing like hip hop in bass, which is what I am comparing the bass demand on. I classify the bass in reggae similar to rock.

 

I kinda think of reggae as 'mid-bass' not true deep bass. This is not to say that there isn't a LOT of it, but they don't make bass that most stereos cannot reproduce. Mid-bass is easy, deep bass is hard.

 

^^ that is what I meant

 

When I say that the bass in the TLX doesn't hit as hard on hip-hop and some rock, I'm talking in comparison with the 3G's ELS system. I've mentioned songs by Joan Jett, Nelly, Front 242, etc. Some songs in those genres do sound good... others I can tell don't hit as hard as the 3G's system did. Believe me, I've gotten past the age where I'm looking to crack the paint and metal on my car with the levels of bass in my music. lol. That being said, I love bass that's clean and hits hard.

 

I found the 3G's system to be quite weak, so much so that I ripped the entire system out and replaced it.

 

I'll tell you where the ELS kills it - 70's coma rock!

I was feeling nostalgic last weekend and loaded up a bunch of Al Stewart, Gordon Lightfoot, Gerry Rafferty, etc. They sound simply awesome! Super crisp mids and highs! Superb clarity.

 

Some Year of the Cat, Sundown, Baker's Street? 70's rock suits it well.
What, no KISS Alive or Frampton Comes Alive ?

 

Haha - you nailed it! Those are all on the list!

No KISS but Frampton is on the iPod already - just didn't make it on to the playlist. There's plenty of other great stuff though - Seals -n- Croft, America, Ambrosia, Harry Chapin, Hall -n- Oats, etc. The way they mixed those bands comes through as magic on the ELS! Makes me pine for the days when I was 10 years old without a care in the world!

 

Oh my, Chapin's "Taxi" and "A Better Place To Be". I need to play them on mine. I am a fan of all of those, especially Ambrosia. America, of course!

"It was raining hard in 'Frisco, I needed one more fare to make my night..."
"Summer Breeze, makes me feel fine..."

Gilbert O'Sullivan?
Three Dog Night?
Just so many from "My Day"

The ELS decodes those pretty well, from stereo source to the 5.1.

 

Three Dog Night - of course! Just an old fashioned love song playing on the radio... I actually saw them (I think maybe a couple original band members left) live a few years ago - good times! I always get a sort of odd but good melancholy feeling listening to that stuff.

 

Sure, it's so nostalgic now. We remember when we first heard those songs or some memory attached to them.. I know what you mean.

I think of this^ when I feel that

 

^^Considering that Elliot Schiner produced much of this kind of music, maybe it shouldn't be a surprise?

 

I Googled him and WOW, he was involved in some of my favorites albums of the 70's and on. I have been a huge Steely Dan/Donald Fagan fan since "Can't Buy A Thrill".
Thanks for the connection info!