2012 EXL Stereo Build
This may sound extreme to some people, but I spend a lot of time behind the wheel. I have been known to drive 900 miles a day and listening to music just breaks up time.
The original plan was to keep the stock head unit (the cheap non-Navigational head unit) and just build on from there, so I installed the following:
Morel Hybrid 6 inch component speaker (fronts)
Morel Tempo 6" coax with external crossover (rear fill)
Audio Control LCQ-1 6 channel EQ factory interface module with accubass
Audio Control Matrix Plus 6-channel line driver
JL Audio HD 900/5 5 channel amplifier
JL Audio TW5 thin woofer
Basic Layout: The Morel drivers where mounted in the stock speakers locations. The JL Amp and Sub were mounted in the cubby/ headrest storage area. The JL Flat Sub is in a sealed box (just a bit smaller than JL recommends and yes it can pound out the bass).
After the installation and many hours tweaking the system overall sound was great except for two items.
FIRST: while the head unit was warming up/communicating with the rest of the Pilot you could hear and electronic noise through the newly installed drivers. After a few seconds of this noise it would clear up and sound good. This could have been overcome by a simple toggle switch, turning off the amp until the radio was up and running. I tried a delay turn on, but this would not delay the amp long enough so that idea was ditched. Auto Control also confirmed that the problem was with the Honda head unit and doubted that using a Clear Sweep would be any better.
SECOND: The stock head unit produced a “floor noise” that I could hear, the average person would say wow what a system. But I have had some fairly high end systems in the past I wanted that high end sound in the Pilot. This could not be overcome (I was asking just too much of the stock head unit).
My answer was to ditch the stock head unit in favor of a Kenwood KDC-X996 In-Dash CD Receiver and the Audio Control L QC. This unit has the navigation, time alignment and EQ settings to fine tune the system. The only problem was where to put it? The logical spot was where the stock unit is, so the disassembly started with a new custom made center dash. I hope to have this finished this weekend and will post pictures when done.
This may sound extreme to some people, but I spend a lot of time behind the wheel. I have been known to drive 900 miles a day and listening to music just breaks up time.
The original plan was to keep the stock head unit (the cheap non-Navigational head unit) and just build on from there, so I installed the following:
Morel Hybrid 6 inch component speaker (fronts)
Morel Tempo 6" coax with external crossover (rear fill)
Audio Control LCQ-1 6 channel EQ factory interface module with accubass
Audio Control Matrix Plus 6-channel line driver
JL Audio HD 900/5 5 channel amplifier
JL Audio TW5 thin woofer
Basic Layout: The Morel drivers where mounted in the stock speakers locations. The JL Amp and Sub were mounted in the cubby/ headrest storage area. The JL Flat Sub is in a sealed box (just a bit smaller than JL recommends and yes it can pound out the bass).
After the installation and many hours tweaking the system overall sound was great except for two items.
FIRST: while the head unit was warming up/communicating with the rest of the Pilot you could hear and electronic noise through the newly installed drivers. After a few seconds of this noise it would clear up and sound good. This could have been overcome by a simple toggle switch, turning off the amp until the radio was up and running. I tried a delay turn on, but this would not delay the amp long enough so that idea was ditched. Auto Control also confirmed that the problem was with the Honda head unit and doubted that using a Clear Sweep would be any better.
SECOND: The stock head unit produced a “floor noise” that I could hear, the average person would say wow what a system. But I have had some fairly high end systems in the past I wanted that high end sound in the Pilot. This could not be overcome (I was asking just too much of the stock head unit).
My answer was to ditch the stock head unit in favor of a Kenwood KDC-X996 In-Dash CD Receiver and the Audio Control L QC. This unit has the navigation, time alignment and EQ settings to fine tune the system. The only problem was where to put it? The logical spot was where the stock unit is, so the disassembly started with a new custom made center dash. I hope to have this finished this weekend and will post pictures when done.