Hey guys, I started this topic for those of us who were not able to get the ILX with the technology package.

I wanted to ask if it's possible to take the OEM sub from the tech package and install it into the 2.4 ?

I feel like adding a sub would greatly improve the sound quality and add that extra kick/bass that the 2.4 is missing.

Also, has anyone added anything aftermarket with their sound systems ?

 

How many miles are on your car? How many hours have you spent listening to the stereo? I feel like the subwoofer requires quite some time to break in. My car has much better bass response than when I first heard it.

 

I bought the car in September.. I only have about 1500 miles on it. I thought that the 2.4 didn't come with a subwoofer? I checked and I couldn't find one.

 

The 2.4 L comes with an 8 inch 2 Ohm sub, which I'm thinking in replacing as well because I can't even hear it. I hear the door's bass more than the sub.

> The sub is in the rear deck <

 

The subwoofer is not enclosed and is not running very much wattage for 2 OHMs (Just basing that on the above post). You would likely see good result from the creation of an enclosure or rewiring an all new sub. I don't think the speakers themselves are the primary point of concern.. it seems ALL of the speakers are completely devoid of any insulation.. Another Acura attempt to save money? I dunno.

I'd also point out that Speed is correct.. the speakers brand new will have a break in period. The easier you are on the speakers during the first few months of ownership the better.

 

In the pro-audio world (bass/guitar stage rigs, PA systems) speakers tend to sound better after a period of use than when they were new, hence the term 'broken in'.

But this does not mean that they should be 'babied', or that you must only set the volume low when the speakers are new...quite the contrary, in fact. The more you push 'em, the faster they'll sound 'broken in'.

I assume the same thing applies to consumer audio gear.

 

I have a JL Audio 8W7 and a JL Audio 500/1 Slash Amplifier I was thinking about throwing in, but keep going back and forth. I can tell you that I will have to build an MDF ring for the woofer to sit on ontop of the deck in order to fit, and the W7 has quite a bit of excurrsion...

First thing I am thinking about doing is taking a 10" Shallow Speaker Baffle and fiberglassing it so it's firm. Then taping it up under the back deck to make an enclosure for the woofer to see if that helps at all. Then when I turn my car back in (I'm leasing) I can just remove the baffle.

Baffle like this...

 

It does have a non enclosed small sub on the rear deck. If you go into the set up menu you will see the level adjustment for it. As stated by others the over all sound seems to have improved to some extent over time. Not the greatest but passable.

 

I was messing around with the sub today and turning it up did improve the quality a bit. Do you guys think that its bad to turn up the sub all the way in the menu ?


Also, I noticed that when I close all my doors and have the music all the way turned up, you can hear the music from the outside clearly.

This is kind of disappointing because it shows that there isn't good insulation in the car.

If you stand by my 2002 c230 coupe mercedes with the music all the way up you can barely hear anything.

 

The high volume from outside could also be due, in part, by thin windows. Regarding turning up the sub, it shouldn't be bad, the stereo compresses the sound when it reaches distortion in order to try and save the speakers from breaking. Once your sub gets broken in, you'll actually put the slider towards the middle to give a more balanced sound.

 

Sorry, I should of clarified. I prefer to go the "baby it route" with my motors and my speakers. This has always been debated in both cases.. you can push it, and some will say it's better.. you can baby it and some will say it's better.

I wouldn't say it's worth a fact or fiction, rather an opinion.

However to the OP's question.. best way to increase bass is to enclose the subwoofer. Changing the subwoofer wouldn't (from case to case) necessarily grant you more bass.. the sub will likely have different RMS recommendations, ect. Anyways good luck and let me know what you do.

 

Do you guys have any suggestions on how to enclose the subwoofer ? I would like to give that a try. Thanks!

 

There are different tricks..could involve a plastic bag and some dynamat..