Replacing audio speakers ??

[asburydan]

Anyone tried replacing audio speakers in Pilot. We have 2011 EX-L and sound quality could be better. If you have replaced any speakers, can you tell me what you used and if it was "expensive?" (I was thinking of front doors only to save cost if it will still sound OK), Does anyone know the brand of the stock speakers in the Pilot? Thanks.

[macphanatic]

Speakers in earlier versions of the Pilot were made by Alpine, but to Honda specifications. I replaced mine with Polk db651's. Bought them from Crutchfield. May have cost a few dollars more for the speakers, but you get the wiring harness adapters and installation instructions (Pilot specific) included in the price.

That said, the sound quality is much better than the OEM speakers.

[asburydan]

I will check it out. Always had good luck with Crutchfield.

[jkdempz]

I agree. The sound quality in my 2011 Ex-L sucks. I really need to get the speakers changed out.

[Kenspilot]

I bought some audio related items from Crutchfield recently and they don't have install sheets available for the current gen Pilot.

[Hakone]

Just be careful about replacing the sub. I think it's in its own enclosed unit. I read somewhere that some guy replaced it w/ an open air sub... bad idea!

[macphanatic]

Originally Posted by Hakone

Just be careful about replacing the sub. I think it's in its own enclosed unit. I read somewhere that some guy replaced it w/ an open air sub... bad idea!

After putting Polk's in, the bass response from them appears to be better than the sub in my 2007. I'm thinking about just disconnecting it. I'm not sure that Honda even put a crossover on the sub - it sounds like it's playing frequencies higher than it should (vocals).

[shoeboo]

I replaced my speakers up front with some I had left over from old cars. I put MB quart 6.5" midbass (PVI164) in the door and infinity kappa tweeters (109T) in the dash. I ended up buying new dash grill covers, as I cut into them to mount the tweeter and I wanted backups.
For the door I used a speaker bracket from a ridgeline, which fit two of the stock mounts but I had to drill one screw. I also used a wiring harness for the door speaker, but I wasn't able to find a wiring harness for the dash speaker.
Overall I am happy with the sound, it is MUCH better than stock. I may end up doing something different with the door speaker to better match the tweeters I installed.

[fiveskin]

I would do this in a heartbeat - The stock sound on the 2012 EX-L is unacceptable. Can anyone confirm whether or not this affects ANC?

[iggibar]

Originally Posted by fiveskin

I would do this in a heartbeat - The stock sound on the 2012 EX-L is unacceptable. Can anyone confirm whether or not this affects ANC?

From what I know, the ANC is affected when the head unit is altered, or if wiring from the head unit to the speakers are altered(removed). I've got my eye on a set of Focal speakers for my 2011 Pilot, but am hesitating a little because I don't know of anyone that has gone through this mod. There has to be someone who's upgraded their speakers on an 09-12 Pilot and posted some diy pics!

[fiveskin]

Originally Posted by iggibar

From what I know, the ANC is affected when the head unit is altered, or if wiring from the head unit to the speakers are altered(removed). I've got my eye on a set of Focal speakers for my 2011 Pilot, but am hesitating a little because I don't know of anyone that has gone through this mod. There has to be someone who's upgraded their speakers on an 09-12 Pilot!

My gut tells me we will be OK for two reasons:

1. If the ANC mic listens for certain frequencies and tells the speakers to emit the out of phase equivalent then the speakers are irrelevant.

2. If the replacement speakers actually freaking work, then I will actually be able to hear the stereo over the engine noise anyway.

[iggibar]

Originally Posted by fiveskin

My gut tells me we will be OK for two reasons:

1. If the ANC mic listens for certain frequencies and tells the speakers to emit the out of phase equivalent then the speakers are irrelevant.

2. If the replacement speakers actually freaking work, then I will actually be able to hear the stereo over the engine noise anyway.

Thing is though, ANC works even when the radio is off. I know some people upgraded speakers on their RL and they claimed that ANC no longer worked.
On the Odyssey forums, people reported distorted noise coming from the speakers that work with the ANC. If you actually do some research online, you will find tons of issues related to ANC problems. Some people actually just cut the whole thing away, after testing it, and haven't noticed a difference with or without it.

If I upgrade, I won't be changing the head unit, just the speakers, and an amp. I think it's a project that you can do one step at a time.

[fiveskin]

Originally Posted by iggibar

Thing is though, ANC works even when the radio is off. I know some people upgraded speakers on their RL and they claimed that ANC no longer worked.
On the Odyssey forums, people reported distorted noise coming from the speakers that work with the ANC. If you actually do some research online, you will find tons of issues related to ANC problems. Some people actually just cut the whole thing away, after testing it, and haven't noticed a difference with or without it.

If I upgrade, I won't be changing the head unit, just the speakers, and an amp. I think it's a project that you can do one step at a time.

According to this article referencing an 06 Ody, the problems occur when you add the amp - Not just the speakers. Kind of makes sense, I suppose.