[dntsne1]

Can I say I am quite impressed with the stereo in the EXL I have been driving. It surprised me, I was expecting the same old Honda BLAHS but I never imagined it woudl sound that good! It just makes me more impressed!
Later,
Pat:2:

 

[Threadhead]

The subwoofer is a great addition. I think it really adds depth to the sound All-in-all a MUCH needed and appreciated upgrade!

 

[Pilotless]

I'm guessing that the sound system in the EX-L is the same thats in the base MDX, which I think is an alpine system. Not sure about the speakers tho.

 

[Threadhead]

Could be Alpine. Honda uses a lot of Alpine components and has for years. If the Pilot uses the same headunit that the MDX does, it dosn't use the same face.

The base system in the MDX is so-so. I thought the Pilot system sounded much better. Could just be a speaker upgrade on the Pilot though. I know a lot of MDX owner have upgraded their speakers for a greatly improved sound.

 

[Pilotless]

I was just at the Acura dealership and was told that the Base MDX did come with a subwoofer. Its possible that I received bad info tho.

Any idea what brand of speakers Honda is using in both the Pilot and the MDX?

 

[WNYPilotGuy]

CD Changer in an EX

This topic is covered in a different thread....but in case you've missed it. Even though the Honda documentation claims that the CD changers will ONLY work in the LX models....that's not accurate. Your Honda dealer will be going by this information and many EX, EX-L, EX-NAV, and EX-RES customers are being told they can't install EITHER CD changer in their Pilot. While it's true you can't install the "in-dash" CD changer in anything other than the LX, you can absolutely install the "under seat" CD changer in all the Pilots. And apparently the only reason you can't install the "in-dash" changer is the lack of a plastic surrounding that matches the changer. Hopefully that will change in the near future. Happy Piloting!!!

 

[Threadhead]

I was just at the Acura dealership and was told that the Base MDX did come with a subwoofer.

I absolutely stand corrected. Just checked my mother's MDX (base) and it does have a subwoofer. Doesn't put out much, IMO, but it is there. I thought it was only installed in the touring package with the Bose system.

 

[BillR]

There is a noticable difference between the MDX and the Pilot EX (L)stereos.
One of the reasons I didn't get an MDX is because if I'm going to spend over $35K for a vehicle it had better have a decent stereo.

Even the Bose system didn't sound very good.
Apparently the thing to do is swap out the speakers.
There are numerous posts on the ACURAMDX.ORG website that discuss the lengths MDX owners have had to go through for decent sound when it should have been right in the first place.

 

[BillR]

FYI, The Pilot EX CD player won't play MP3's.

And just in case you were wondering neither does the Toyota Highlander's 6 CD changer.

Does anyone know of an MP3 player that will integrate with the stereo like the CD changer does?

 

[Threadhead]

Does anyone know of an MP3 player that will integrate with the stereo like the CD changer does?

I don't, but someone suggested connecting your iPod (or other MP3 player) to the video game jacks (if you have an RES) and you could play through the AUX. Pretty good idea, I thought.

You can buy an RF adapter that 'broadcasts' the output from your MP3 player to a radio channel (96.1 I believe). People that have them say they are OK on the sound quality.

 

[Evergreen]

MP3s

You might consider the fix I use. I have an MP3 player with a headphone out (female) jack. Instead of using headphones, I have a device that is a cassette with a (male) jack that fits into the headphone (female) jack on my MP3 player. If you then plug the cassette into the EX cassette deck you get great sound from the MP3 player.

I also use the same cassette piece for my portable DVD and the sound for both the DVD and the MP3 is excellent. Of course, you do have a wire going from the unit to the cassette deck.

I think you can probably find this cassette adaptor piece for less than $20.

Evergreen

 

[WNYPilotGuy]

Subwoofer is Alpine

People have been theorizing what audio system the Pilot uses. I installed the Honda "backup sensors" this weekend. To do that, you have to remove the panel that covers the subwoofer. While I was there, I decided to pop the subwoofer out to check it out. It was made by Alpine. Looked like a "decent" quality subwoofer....but I've seen better (as you would expect). I'm still wondering how difficult it would be to replace all the speakers in my EX-L.

P.S. Also installed the "under seat" CD changer in my EX-L this weekend. Works great.

 

[Threadhead]

How was the intall on the backup sensors? Easy/Moderate/Difficult?

 

[BillR]

Thank you for the suggestions.
I have a number of the cassette adapters from back when I didn't have a CD player in the car.

Bestbuy or someone had a CD changer like MP3 player that uses RF.

I was hoping to find something similar that connects and uses the Stereo controls rather than have to have a portable device.

 

[WNYPilotGuy]

Regarding Threadheads question

Threadhead,

Haven't had a chance to respond to your question about the difficulty level of installing the backup sensors. I'd say it was "moderately" difficult....but it came out GREAT!!! I was planning on reading over the install instructions again and posting a "semi-detailed" list of what steps were hard...which ones were easy....etc. I was a little concerned when I couldn't find 20mm and 26mm hole saws. I could only find "english units" hole saws (with their approx metric equivalents of 19mm and 25mm). I figured I'd try those, and then probably have to "file out" a little more to get the sensors to go through the bumper. Turned out they were the PERFECT size...the sensors went through...with enough "snuggness" to keep them from spinning around. Makes me wonder if the 20mm and 26mm holes might allow a little too much play in them.

 

[BillR]

CD changer

Does anybody with the underseat CD changer know if it will play MP3's?
That would be a good reason for me to get it.

 

[WNYPilotGuy]

I might be able to check for you

I installed the "underseat" CD changer in my Pilot. While I don't have any MP3 CD's, I do have an iMac G4 with iTunes. Assuming I have some blank CD-R's at home I'll burn one up this weekend and give it a try.

 

[jfrano]

Just as info. The front end unit in my Pilot, is a Panasonic.

 

[xyzzy]

jfrano, is this in an EX or LX?

 

[jfrano]

Ex-L. I spoke to the dealer trying to find as much info as I could. With the VIN, he was able to tell me this. ALthough NOT a Panasonic Mod # which would have then allowed me to get all sorts of info from Panasonic.