What is the specific issue you are referring to?

 

My understanding is for really loud bass or other loader parts of songs it would noticeably reduce volume or compress the audio. There is a huge thread on this forum about it.

 

Here it is:

2021-2023 audio system problem - volume fluctuates

Hi, I just bought a 2021 Honda Ridgeline Sport and I suspect there is something wrong with the audio system. If not, the quality is disappointing. In some songs, at some times, I have the feeling that the some frequencies goes down and becomes muffled. A bit like like when we go up or down a...

www.ridgelineownersclub.com

 

That post is not clear enough to understand what the actual issue(s) are....'Some frequencies go down'.... ?! I have a '20 RTLE and it has no 'audio issues' - in fact it has a pretty good- for OEM stereo system. Inadequate amplifier power will clip your bass response- poor quality bass speaker(s) will distort your bass- and all other frequencies are not reproduced accurately, as well if your speakers are junk. I have seen some pretty awful OEM speakers in my previous Hondas- a quick virtual trip to Crutchfield helped that out, significantly. If you want window shaking artificially amped up bass for some unknown to me- reason, NO a RL stereo will not do it. I do not consider that an 'audio issue' with the factory stereo. You can get 4 12" woofers and a thousand watt amp and dedicate the entire rear seat to that purpose, I suppose.

 

TLDR all of that other thread, but in general it sounds like it was not a widespread issue. Also the pre-'24 RTL-E and BE sound great, the lower models not as great. You get what you pay for. In the '24 I think only the BE has the upgraded stereo.

 

I have a 2022 base system and have experienced what others have described as "issues". However the issues are easily managed by adjusting your device output settings. See here.

https://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/threads/2021-2023-audio-system-problem-volume-fluctuates.225836/post-3314013

Bottom line, I would consider it an small annoyance at worst. Also most have reported no such issues with the premium audio system, so that is an option.

 

I picked up a 2024 RTL on Friday and have no issues with the audio. My 2021 RTL was awful and it’s day and night difference.

 

Do you mind sharing what you paid for your '24 RTL? Looking to purchase one this summer.

 

I have an Android and my son has an iPhone. We were riding together listening to music from my phone and it did sound right. He went into the music app, DoubleTwist, and turned off the equalizer. That took care of odd playback. That was in our 2020 RTL. This past weekend my wife and I drove about 800 miles and listened to music from my phone and had no issues with audio quality or playback- other than the fact that DoubleTwist plays songs alphabetically instead of by track number for some reason. When I walk and use DT to listen to music it plays in track order.

 

I think the 2024 BE is an upgrade over the 23's I've listened too, and is certainly better than the standard system (which isn't terrible).

 

I ask becuase I want to know if the audio signal coming from the '24 factory system has not had any unrecoverable or unfixable audio signal modifications made by Honda. I am thinking ahead to see if a Digital Signal Processor can fully correct the audio signal for a custom audio system upgrade. 45k is a lot to spend on a truck with a dead end auto setup.

 

There are guys who have been down that road (have not seen anything about the 24's) but they all had to deal with Honda's built-in DSP signal. I don't think anything will be simple.

 

what about ANC disabling? is it the same as a '23 and just unplugging it? Or is it something more involved now with '24? I think the '23 pilot ANC audio system integration may be hard to overcome.

 

FL East Coast dealers near me are advertising the '24 RTL at $44 to $47k....! I see invoice on the RTL is $39.7k plus $1400 destination, I'm curious how you got it at invoice, with shipping included ? Seems they sold at a loss, if the numbers are correct.

 

FL East Coast dealers near me are advertising the '24 RTL at $44 to $47k....! I see invoice on the RTL is $39.7k plus $1400 destination, I'm curious how you got it at invoice, with shipping included ? Seems they sold at a loss, if the numbers are correct.
[/QUOTE

Worked with several dealers and ended with 2 that competed on price. Handled everything 100% via email. Took the winning dealer 5 offers to get me to price I was comfortable with. Cost breakdown

$44,200
$4450 discount
$1000 manufacture incentive
$995 dealer fee

 

Thanks for the reply WC Ridge ! So to this thread I see people posting Honda is doing some DSP baloney with the sound systems in the RLs ?! Creating an 'incompatibility with all other hardware' condition of sorts ? That sucks. I would say for the most part long as the impedance and spl are close to the OEs you could swap out speakers for better ones. Gosh just a few years back in my Civic EX which had a 'premium' sound system, the OE speakers were garbage and a quick 'Crutchfield upgrade' made a huge improvement. Of course tearing the doors apart took all day..... :-(