In bed exciters (speakers) good or bad idea? Poll

21914 Views 139 Replies 62 Participants Last post by Shawn Wyss, Jul 15, 2019

lbjgh

Discussion Starter · Mar 28, 2016 (Edited)

I think it was a waste of time and engineering resources personally.

I'm going to try and add a third option for the people who can't commit to a real opinion... i.e. the mushy middle with no convictions. :grin:

Edit: sorry I couldn't edit the poll to add a third option for the people who can't get off the fence.

1 - 20 of 140 Posts

Carsmak

· #2 · Mar 28, 2016

Like sticking the early RTL's with Sunroof's, can I get that much off because I plan to never use it. It would be one thing if Honda Liked to sell "options" and it was available upon request as an OEM upgrade. But the fact that they expended engineering resources on it shows the absolute lack of knowledge of the truck market and what truck buyers want and or need.

The fact of the matter is; the new model after 11 years get's marginal MPG improvements (suspected, not known) and no planned improvement of capability towing or hauling (suspected, not known), motivates me absolutely zero percent to replace my RL.

Reactions: 4

AG87BlkLX

· #3 · Mar 28, 2016

I'm not sure if Honda knows the Truck Market or is choosing to create their own market.

Reactions: 2

chiph

· #4 · Mar 28, 2016

I'll take a third answer: Interesting, but not something I'd personally opt for.

Chip H.

Reactions: 2

lbjgh

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 28, 2016

I intentionally only put yes or no... no waffling politicians.

Reactions: 1

zroger73

· #6 · Mar 28, 2016

The upside is that very little engineering was required for the in-bed speakers - there's not much to engineer. Surface transducers ("exciters") have been around for years and are very cheap to manufacture. Consisting of only a coil, magnet, and frame, they are basically speakers without cones. It's a safe bet that the entire system consisting of 6 exciters, an amplifier, wire, and software for the infotainment system probably cost Honda less than $100. Of course, I think most of us will agree that that $100 would have been better spent elsewhere.

bhodge10

· #7 · Mar 28, 2016

I think more people will use this feature more than they realize. I can't tell you how many times I've gone camping, working outside, playing basketball and wanted music. Always had to resort to a separate stereo (which is fine), but this definitely would be used a lot.

Keyboard

· #8 · Mar 28, 2016

Carsmak said:
Like sticking the early RTL's with Sunroof's, can I get that much off because I plan to never use it. It would be one thing if Honda Liked to sell "options" and it was available upon request as an OEM upgrade. But the fact that they expended engineering resources on it shows the absolute lack of knowledge of the truck market and what truck buyers want and or need.

The fact of the matter is; the new model after 11 years get's marginal MPG improvements (suspected, not known) and no planned improvement of capability towing or hauling (suspected, not known), motivates me absolutely zero percent to replace my RL.

I happen to like the moonroof on my RTL, and use it as often as I can. I'm glad that my Ridgeline came with it.

As far as the in-bed exciters ... I'm not excited about them. I can't see the need nor usefulness.

I didn't vote because my choice isn't available. Although it may be a stupid idea, I don't think it was a waste of engineering resources.

Knowing Honda, the in-bed exciters are probably a proof of concept for some other technology that they will be introducing down the road.

longboat

· #9 · Mar 28, 2016

zroger73 said:
The upside is that very little engineering was required for the in-bed speakers - there's not much to engineer. Surface transducers ("exciters") have been around for years and are very cheap to manufacture. Consisting of only a coil, magnet, and frame, they are basically speakers without cones. It's a safe bet that the entire system consisting of 6 exciters, an amplifier, wire, and software for the infotainment system probably cost Honda less than $100. Of course, I think most of us will agree that that $100 would have been better spent elsewhere.

I recall Joe mentioning an exorbitant amount of funding was spent on the complete engineering of the IBS system, maybe several mil or more? I agree that the components are cheap, but I think you will be charged a healthy premium (likely across all models, even those without IBS) for Honda to recoup those R&D costs...

Reactions: 1

martyn1075

· #10 · Mar 28, 2016

If Honda had other intelligent innovative features AND offered the bed speakers, the speakers itself would be no big deal. The truth is, the speakers ARE the big new feature that Honda is really jacked up about. Therefore the thunder impact is just ok. I don't think the public is half as excited as Honda is about this feature.

Adding an innovative feature like a in-cabin storage under the back seats or a slide out bed for instance would be far more impactful. oh ya and we offer the bluetooth bed speakers!

Ok now you got my attention in a big way. I actually anticipated and expected way more based on the fact the last RL was two maybe three refreshes away, and they had so much more time to lay down the thunder.

longboat

· #11 · Mar 28, 2016

Yep, an origami bed likely would have cost about the same R&D; however Honda would have to spend billions to build another factory to build all the Ridgelines that they would sell with an origami bed.

Shineaholic

· #12 · Mar 28, 2016

lbjgh said:
In bed exciters (speakers) good or bad idea? Poll
I think it was a waste of time and engineering resources personally.

well, based on NOT having heard them, I vote I don't know. How did you come up with that conclusion?

zroger73

· #13 · Mar 28, 2016

longboat said:
I recall Joe mentioning an exorbitant amount of funding was spent on the complete engineering of the IBS system, maybe several mil or more? I agree that the components are cheap, but I think you will be charged a healthy premium (likely across all models, even those without IBS) for Honda to recoup those R&D costs...

If that's accurate then Honda wasted an exorbitant amount of money. What is there to engineer? The exciters are a pre-engineered product. All Honda had to do was draw some mounting holes on a CAD drawing so that the composite panels would have something for the exciters to attach to. The most complicated part of the process would have been hanging a microphone in the bed to measure the frequency response so that equalization could be set in the audio system in an effort to improve the sound.

Shineaholic

· #14 · Mar 28, 2016

AG87BlkLX said:
I'm not sure if Honda knows the Truck Market or is choosing to create their own market.

Honda doesn't follow the leader, they strive to become the leader. In motorcycles also. The ridgeline is unique so I expect the new one to be unique.

martyn1075

· #15 · Mar 28, 2016

longboat said:
Yep, an origami bed likely would have cost about the same R&D; however Honda would have to spend billions to build another factory to build all the Ridgelines that they would sell with an origami bed.

I think that would be awesome for business but I'm confused they don't want to sell tons of RL's? I know we have talked about this before not that easy to buy and setup land facilities just to build one midsize truck in the model lineup. I'm sure Honda reps turned that down in a minute of talks. Still imo to make impact and succeed with selling these trucks I believe they needed to do something like this to really make that ok Im really interested now in a big way statement. 5k towing, maybe not the best off road, who cares! its got a slide out bed who else does that.

Now it has all the other great features and it has the bed speakers, bed extension or whatever else it could have been.

AG87BlkLX

· #16 · Mar 28, 2016

100MPG said:
Honda doesn't follow the leader, they strive to become the leader. In motorcycles also. The ridgeline is unique so I expect the new one to be unique.

So far that's not working for Honda in the Truck Market.

Shineaholic

· #17 · Mar 28, 2016

longboat said:
Yep, an origami bed likely would have cost about the same R&D

it kind of is an origami bed. it is a bed and cooler. Maybe even a tiny bath tub for the children.

colorider

· #18 · Mar 28, 2016

100MPG said:
Honda doesn't follow the leader, they strive to become the leader. In motorcycles also. The ridgeline is unique so I expect the new one to be unique.

20-25 years ago, I would agree with you on the motorcycle thing. They are so far from reality anymore, I have no idea where their head is......

(Sorry for the thread drift.....)

Shineaholic

· #19 · Mar 28, 2016

AG87BlkLX said:
So far that's not working for Honda in the Truck Market.

how many did they have left over?
:grin:
Anyway, I dont think they ever advertised it well. Everyone that had one, loves it and would buy another and I know several people that bought one after the other. I looked at the 1st gen MANY many times but was holding off due to financial situations and the crappy gas mileage. Or I would have the Sport. I am glad waited.
and this also!

Despite its low sales numbers,[2] the Ridgeline was one of the more profitable vehicles for Honda

Shineaholic

· #20 · Mar 28, 2016

colorider said:
20-25 years ago, I would agree with you on the motorcycle thing. They are so far from reality anymore, I have no idea where their head is......

(Sorry for the thread drift.....)

you're thinking sport bikes, they have a diverse selection of all types of bikes AND Scooters.

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