Hey everybody,

Just bought a new black 2.4L MT ILX and I'm really loving it. Super fun to drive and very luxurious compared to me 05 TSX I traded in.


Question: I have a 10inch JL audio sub with a 360 watt amp and I want to put it in the new ILX. Thing is is that I have read that The ILX has ANC (noise canceling control) and that this messes with any aftermarket subwoofers.

I've also heard that only ILXs with the tech package actually have the ANC so I'd be good to go to put the sub in the ILX.

Anybody have any insight? Anybody every put a sub in an ILX? Can I leave the stock sub untouched?


Thanks for your help

- Stack

Unfortunately, I think it does.

Which is a bummer. I need the microphone for the handsfree link so I'm not going to undo the microphone.

Just bummed because the bass in my 2014 ILX premium 2.4l is weak sauce. Idk if it's because the subwoofer hasn't been worn in yet but it's weak. My 10inch sub would make the sound system perfect.

Oh well.

Anybody have any other solutions for this issue?

From what I've found out. The feedback is heavy around 1100 rpms. I have 2X12 inch subs and that seems to be where the feedback happens the most. I haven't found a way around it but to Rev the engine a little too get above the rpm but I'm going to see if anyone can do something about it

I believe the Active noise control unit is different than the hands free feature

it's number 8

Usually with Active Noise Cancelling systems there is a microphone in the front of the car and a microphone in the back of the car. Ours just uses the front.

Sadly, the ANC system in the ILX shares the microphone used with the Hands Free.

I have an 8" JL Audio W7 that i put in the trunk and upon starting the car there was a loud pulse of feedback. I put the radio into service mode to see if you could turn off the feature, but there is not an option. Next step was to drop the front microphone and unplug it. All feedback went away and I was able to properly tune the audio system.

Hands-free was lost, but I didn't care for it anyway.. no one could hear me with it in the first place.

^what happens if you remove the ANC contol unit, number 8 and leave the microphone in place for the HFL?

I will have to go find out haha.

Quick Youtube for the win....

39200-tx6-a21 is the part # for the Active Noise Control unit.

I did have a parts diagram up, but i guess i was hotlinking it and the host didnt like that.

Yeah doesn't sound like there is a practical way around this unfortunately. Bummer. Really wanted to put my sub in. The bass is certainly lacking.

My car only has 350 miles on it. Anybody think the sub will get better as it gets worn in?

I mean I have the sub turned up all the way now and I can barely hear it.

If you've had an aftermarket sub prior.. you're never going to be happy. IMHO save yourself the hassle and get a real sub.. just my $.02

Save the hassle and buy a real sub? Did you read the original post? lol
He already has a real sub. He's trying to figure out how to make other work properly with our ANC.

Removal of the glovebox really isn't all that bad. For what its going to take you to run a power wire down the cabin of the car, you might as well just pop the glove box loose and unplug the module.

so, i was correct with the part number and location.
cool.

i researched that myself!! score Justin!!!!

Hey Switt... you think unplugging the ANC make any different on our stock subs?

I am going to purchase a sub at some point soon and Im definitely down to unplug the ANC... I have no need for the mic in the car either.


Edit: How do I remove this glove box... Im at work wondering If I can do this during a ten. haha

I unplugged it without having to remove the entire glovebox.

Pulled the silver garnish piece off. Then popped the top of the glove box off these 3 pegs which gave me enough room to get one hand inside to depress the tab and a second hand finger around the cord to pull it out.

Ill need to take the glovebox out to plug it back in however.

Im not sure if my bass changed any... Ill figure that out on my drive home.

However I clicked the handsfree button and asked what time it was and the mic still heard me and responded so hands free still works on my end...

i just found it odd that you would have to disable the hands free mic to disable the ANC...

when i found out that there is a module for the ANC, i kinda figured you could disconnect it and voila!

hope this helps!

Well it seems to have done the trick while letting me use voice commands still.
I believe the bass is much louder and the treble is almost piercing now. So awesome. I can see my mirror vibrating now. Hahaha very happy.

Thank you swift and justin!

Suite!!!!!!

Unplug the unit, works like a charm, just did it today & bass feels so much warmer as well. Can't even notice the unit is disabled, noise level still there when driving. ANC is over-hyped by far.

Awesome! Thanks for the tip Justin. Gonna plug in my hands free back together and do this tomorrow!

I think I'm gonna do this. How hard is it to take out the glovebox?

A youtube video with a demonstration would be awesome!

Hey guys, sorry to unbury an older thread but I believe most forum people like to keep topics within the same threads, so here I am.

I have the ELS, 10-speaker system in my new ILX 2014 and I'm not that impressed with the sound system so far. I've been reading mixed reviews about how good or bad ANC can be, so I'm seriously considering trying to remove it.

@Keanu's and @usdmJON: You guys seem to have positive feedback from deactivating the ANC, is that on the stock soundsystem? So basically it does upgrade sound quality?

Now about the process itself, I ran into this video explaining a way to deactivate the ANC through the radio system itself, by going into the Diagnostic menu. It's on a 2nd-gen Acura RL but the process is the same on Honda Accord's so I would expect it to work for other Acuras too. Will try it tomorrow and post feedback here.

If not, sounds like the best option is to unplug the unit, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to remove the silver accent piece and then unscrew the glovebox to access it. However since it's a new car, I'm kinda scared of breaking something... I'm also with StackSilverSon: if anyone who did it could post pics or a video of the process that would be greatly appreciated.

usdmJON posted the best description of it:

Thanks for any and all additional advice (and opinion: is this truly worth the hassle even without a subwoofer upgrade, just the ELS system?)

Update: I tried the 1+6+Power button and it does work (the audio system has to be OFF when you do it). You just press 1 after that to toggle ANC on or off. Oddly enough though, it's when I turned the ANC OFF that I started hearing a pretty loud hum coming from the speakers. It lasted for about 2 minutes (with or without music playing) before it seemed to stop.

I'm totally lost with regard to that: Isn't it supposed to be the opposite way around?

@Keanu's and @usdmJON: You guys seem to have positive feedback from deactivating the ANC, is that on the stock soundsystem? So basically it does upgrade sound quality?


I unplugged it to defeat the low bass feedback I would get when having an aftermarket amp hooked up to the sub output for my aftermarket sub in the trunk. I did notice the aftermarket sub bass seemed a bit louder when unplugged. As far as unplugging the ANC to gain bass on just the stock sub? I really don't think it would benefit much IMO. I wouldn't bother with the ANC unless if you are adding an aftermarket sub setup.

Ditto (on that question)


What about the ELS System? It's 10-speakers and the sub is not too shabby!

I can't comment on the sound you are hearing.

I unplugged the unit verseturning it off through the options screen.

I have a stock els system.

I just did this and heard the same sound your describing but it went off as soon as I turned the radio back on...Id say it only lasted 5 sec if that.

logically speaking; why would removing the ANC make the stereo better?

it wont.

the Active Noise Cancellation is designed to dramatically reduce low frequency noise in the interior. The system operates whenever the car is running, regardless of whether the audio system is on or off.

you should only disable the ANC if you're adding a subwoofer, because subwoofers produce low frequency noise....

That's what I originally thought, but usdmJON and some others seem to pretend they get a clearer sound, better bass and even crisper treble after unplugging the unit.

From what I gather, usdmJON and I have the exact same sound system.

You wont get much in the way of help by saying we are just pretending.

I'm sorry if I lead you to believe that going into your stereo options and disabling something remotely would upgrade the over all quality of your stereo because this is simply not the case.

First, let it be known you have remotely deactivated the ANC where as I have physically unplugged whatever unit sits behind the glove box.
So we have not preformed the same steps on your sound systems.

The ONLY claim I will make is before unplugging that unit my mirror didn't violently shake with bass and I had my treble turned all the way up. Now I turn my treble down and my mirror shakes so much it loses functionality at times.

I however NEVER, not once, have heard a buzzing sound from the speakers that wasn't supposed to be there so clearly we have two different outcomes from two different procedures.

"Better" is somewhat subjective. However,the ANC system is using the sub to provide acoustic feedback in reverse phase to cancel out low frequency noise. This requires the usage of the power amplifier. Since an amplifier has a fixed amount of RMS power available before it 'clips' there should (logically) be more power available for the musical signal if some is not diverted towards the ANC feedback circuitry.

Chill out buddy. I could have used the word "claimed", "said", "mentionned", which are pretty much synonyms to "pretend". In any case, I didn't imply that you were lying, I was simply stating that you did notice an increase in sound quality, while others were saying that on a stock sound system it wouldn't make any difference. Just trying to understand.

I am not that much of a techy and the task of dismantling the glovebox (especially that silver trim piece which I have no idea how to remove and don't want to break) so I'm just trying to make sure I catch everything and, more importantly, that the effort will be worth my while.

I hadn't taken offense. Hence why I continued to explain my situation on the system.
Just letting you know how I interpreted your choice of words.
Main point of my post was to say you and I performed two different experiments so you can't rightfully expect the same conclusion. That's my analysis. It's the scientific method mang.

I can't remember how the accent piece popped out. I know I did it without instructions but I don't have a minute to look right now.
Maybe the user that hydrographed his accent pieces can chime in... was it flightwriter??

Anyways. Even if this is a placebo effect then I'd kindly ask you to refrain from informing us happy folk that the Easter bunny is in fact a lie.

I lol'd!

Thanks for the feedback

Just turned off the ANC instead of unplugging the chord. I really don't hear that noticable of a different honestly. Maybe a little. I'll prob keep it off and get used to it and turn it back to see if I notice the difference.

Thanks for all the help guys!

You said you don't that noticeable of a difference.

This would lead one to believe you do notice something... yes?

Instructions for removing the glove box are included in the installation instructions for installing the lighted door sills. I believe they are posted on here somewhere. Removing the glove box is not hard. It has to be done to replace the cabin filter, so I would never expect it to be a major project.

I believe you need to remove the trim piece on the side of the dash (between the dash and door), then pop the silver trim piece off (just pull carefully). If i remember correctly there are three Philips head screws under the silver trim that hold the glove box and two hex cap screws on the underside of the glove box (in the foot well). That's it. Reverse for re-installation.