Dear Honda, Your RL speakers are horrible

C'mon Honda, one of the primary reasons I bought an RTS was becasue I wanted the "premium" sound system...like what I have in my 06 Odyssey EX-L with which I am very satisfied.

As far as the Ridgeline goes, I couldn't take it any longer so tonite the install of my Infinity 6012si's is complete in the front doors and the sound difference is amazing...I am fanatically in love! Someone said it's like taking the blanket off of the speakers and I agree. My god, I can't beleive how cheap the factory speakers are! The Honda employee who gave those speakers the green light screwed many very good, loyal Honda customers with that decision.

Though my heart tells me you owe four new speakers, my mind knows thats not going to happen. At a minmium, please address this issue with the 2007's...those cheap speakers belong in a 63 ford fairlane dash, not a 2006 Honda product.

CGM

C'mon Honda, one of the primary reasons I bought an RTS was becasue I wanted the "premium" sound system...like what I have in my 06 Odyssey EX-L with which I am very satisfied.

As far as the Ridgeline goes, I couldn't take it any longer so tonite the install of my Infinity 6012si's is complete in the front doors and the sound difference is amazing...I am fanatically in love! Someone said it's like taking the blanket off of the speakers and I agree. My god, I can't beleive how cheap the factory speakers are! The Honda employee who gave those speakers the green light screwed many very good, loyal Honda customers with that decision.

Though my heart tells me you owe four new speakers, my mind knows thats not going to happen. At a minmium, please address this issue with the 2007's...those cheap speakers belong in a 63 ford fairlane dash, not a 2006 Honda product.

CGM

I could not agree with you more. My 04 Accord has a much better sound system then my RL does. I will be changing out the speakers in my RL if it makes that big of a difference. CGM55123, Did you change the rear speakers also?

Rear speakers have not been changed yet, but will be soon. The fronts were a MAJOR improvement!

Well this is good news. I like to keep the stock head unit but like to change speakers sometimes. At least this lets me know that I can and still get a good sound system.

Being someone that has bought other first production year Honda vehicles, for some reason they use low quality speakers and then change them when everyone complains.

Well, I don't think they're awful, but they could use improvement. Based on many other factory installed systems I've heard, the RL's are better than many, IMHO unless your comparing with some of the high end units installed in some expensive luxury vehicles like S-Class MB and such. A project for this Spring will most likely be replacing the RL's main front and rears with MB Quart units (I put these in my last truck and my TR6 - just love 'em).

I have to agree, heck my 01 Cobra has a better system..........

Speakers and amps would be a wise choice. The sub bass is a joke also.

No biggie, not much into listening to the radio, I like to hear the pipes roar....

I have the 160 watt stereo with the sub and it sounds fine to me. I played with the settings and tweaked it a little bit. It's just loud enough, and has just enough bass that I won't be messing with it anytime soon. Dunno which one you guys are using (100 watt perhaps). I hadn't really thought about it really until this thread. Once I tweaked the settings I was quite pleased, and I usually mod every vehicle's stereo within a month of buying it. Wanna hear a sh1tty system? Go drive in a stock S2000 and see how you like that. I ordered, built, and installed a new system into that car inside of 2 weeks :D

Well i am young and like heavy rock bass and some R&B no and then.

Our truck has very little bass quality. 160 watts is not enough for all the speakers in these trucks IMOP.

Changeing the door speakers first and go from there.........:D

I got new Infinites for my RL for Christmas. Now I just have to find time to install them. I debating on just swapping the speakers or going all the way and using some amps and sub from my last truck that are gathering dust. I'd like the better sound but I don't want to give up the space under the rear seat. What to do? :confused:

My RTL has a new head unit and is awaiting a mid 06 influx of $ to completely finish the dynamating amp and speakers. I agree with all the comments and just wish the improved audio was an investment I could realize a return on at trade in time.
Don't all companies skimp on Audio though? Most of us have never experienced high performance sound and car companies seem to know this. I thought at first it was a capable sound system and at this point feel I am (still) using bookshelf speakers sitting on the rear floor. If you pulled and boxed the entire honda system you might get $100.00.
I just want it loud and clean.
dsnove

Can somebody detail what speakers model etc. they are installing a give a little play by play on how complicated it was.

here you go....step by step....

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1585&highlight=speakers


http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1587&highlight=speakers

CGM55123 ,

Just curious, did you use the existing speaker wires when you installed the new speakers? If so, this makes the installation easier and a lot more attractive for me to do it myself. Also, do you or anyone else know If I can replace the sub using the existing wires. Crutchfield has a 200W Infinity Basslink that got very good reviews. It is an enclosed, powered sub similar to the existing one, only with 200W dedicated that I'm sure sounds much better. If one could use the existing sub wiring it would make replacing the factory sub fairly simple.

Thanks in Advance

I have the 160 watt stereo with the sub and it sounds fine to me. I played with the settings and tweaked it a little bit. It's just loud enough, and has just enough bass that I won't be messing with it anytime soon. Dunno which one you guys are using (100 watt perhaps). I hadn't really thought about it really until this thread. Once I tweaked the settings I was quite pleased, and I usually mod every vehicle's stereo within a month of buying it.
I agree. I've been a car-audio enthusiast for a long time, and I don't think the RL system is all that bad. It's very well balanced and very smooth. Loud? Maybe not, and I suspect that most of you who are doing the most complaining are doing so because you're listening at very high volumes, which this system is definitely not designed for. But at reasonable volumes, it's a very pleasant listening experience, especially after you mess with the limited adjustments. For me, the treble's all the way up, bass is at +1, sub is at C, and I find the sound pretty comfortable. I would like some mid-range adjustments to take a bit of the boom out of the 1000-3000khz range, but that might be asking too much of a stock stereo. Of course, having a father who's lost hearing in one ear, I'm pretty light on the volume compared to many - "loud enough" is good enough to me.

I agree. I've been a car-audio enthusiast for a long time, and I don't think the RL system is all that bad. It's very well balanced and very smooth. Loud? Maybe not, and I suspect that most of you who are doing the most complaining are doing so because you're listening at very high volumes, which this system is definitely not designed for. But at reasonable volumes, it's a very pleasant listening experience, especially after you mess with the limited adjustments. For me, the treble's all the way up, bass is at +1, sub is at C, and I find the sound pretty comfortable. I would like some mid-range adjustments to take a bit of the boom out of the 1000-3000khz range, but that might be asking too much of a stock stereo. Of course, having a father who's lost hearing in one ear, I'm pretty light on the volume compared to many - "loud enough" is good enough to me.
I to find nothing wrong with this system. Most likely the reason it doesn't sound good is your playing to loud, and have played your stereo's to loud for years. If you have hearing problems to begin with it's real hard to get things to sound good. But if spending big money on over priced speakers is your thing "crank up the volume"

The changeout is easy using the existing wires. I didn't mind the original system but just changing the speakers (front & rear) adds such a richness to the sound. Now it brings a smile on my face when I play the CDs. Easy to do, great return.

Amen FlaDan. My point of reference in terms of sound quality is my 06 Odyssey. The STOCK system in that unit is outstanding. The RL system lacks the high end and fullness that Odyssey system delivers in spades. The good news is it is an easy fix as the head unit has plenty of power for me. No complaints with the Infinity upgrade!

You kinda need to know how to EQ a system. The RL stock system is just fine.

You kinda need to know how to EQ a system. The RL stock system is just fine.

Hey Everyone, what's your usual stereo setting? Mine's:

Balance 0
Rear +3
Sub +3
Base +1
Treble +3
Volume 20-30

Sounds pretty good to me. However, I notice you don't need as much base with U2 cds!

Balance 0
Fade 0
Sub +1
Base +1
Treble +5
Volume 9-11

Hey, maybe if we get enough of these, we can give them a try and see if they make any difference to each of us.

Since I've "only" got a base RT model, I'm "stuck" with the single c.d. 100 watt system. Is is great? No. Do I yearn to replace it? Again, no. Would some after market speakers help even this system? Maybe. For now, I'm concentrating on the items I've bought just last week and need to install, plus the two items I've ordered from ebay that will be here in just over a week.These include.........
1)highly polished alum. side steps
2)Honda auto dim mirror with compass
3)carbon fibre dash kit
4) factory "custom" Honda grille
5)factory Honda fog lights with switch
I just installed the factory protective side mldgs too. Chrome wheels this Spring.;) :cool:

Just picked up my red rtl yesterday. Love it. I didn't find the stereo as bad as some say. I do feel it is a little muddy not clean. I like the blanket analogy. I will do the basic upgrade of the 4 door speakers.

I am no audiophile, but I think the speaker system in the RL is OK. Is it outstanding? No, but I think it is pretty good. I've heard worse.

After 5 months of RTL ownership, I just can't take it anymore. I'm working on the Infinity 6012si & 6010cs upgrade thanks to many posts and 1 helpful ROC member in particular. The stock system is just not loud or clear enough. So far, it is the only thing I have found to complain about in or on my Ridge.

I have replaced the stock speakers on EVERY automobile that I have owned!

Stock speakers in any car are just plain junk!

Swapping out the speakers is always a BIG improvement!

TL

I just traded in my 2006 Honda Element for 2008 Honda Ridgeline EXL-SR which is alomost $20K more. I must admit I the first thing I noticed was how poorly the Ridgeline soundsytem was comapred to the Element. The Element has a kicker sound system. The Ridgeline Bite... I am definitely going to swapping the speakers. Not sure yet.. with what.. but will be swapped.