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

21905 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.

61 - 80 of 140 Posts

Uncle Festus

· #61 · Apr 2, 2016

I am surprised so many people hate the In Bed Audio (IBA). I think it is a great idea, would love to have it on my Gen 1.

Perhaps it is because I am an old fart and a rural guy. I remember a lot of fun times over the years with the engine off and the radio on - drive-in movies, freestyle wrasslin' with girls out parking on a soft summer night, playing ball at the park, fishing, working on fence, hauling hay -- lots of times that I have enjoyed having audio in the outdoors setting and did it by opening up the doors. IBA would make most of those activities more convenient and enjoyable. Would probably be very nice to take a nap in the bed of the truck surrounded by nice muted tunes.

I have not heard it in person, might sound like crap to the refined ear, but as somebody who watched a heck of a lot of movies at drive-ins and enjoyed them just fine in spite of the cheezy 25-cent speaker in the metal box, I suspect it would be good enough for me. Certainly a boombox would be cheaper and probably offer better quality, but then I'd have to lug it around and it would take up space in the bed, just one more thing to fool with.

I'd pay a few hundred bucks for IBA if it were rugged, immune to the elements, and able to control volume from outside the truck.

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Dnick

· #62 · Apr 2, 2016

Not surprised by the results; and I also like the idea.... who knows how well it's been executed though. But I also did not vote.

I'm not surprised because what isn't "brilliant", is the way this poll was created. I agree with a previous poster (OhSix maybe?).... the questions don't allow for the moderate opinion range... just totally polarizing: Either you Love it or Hate it... and that likely doesn't reflect the range of sentiment that is likely out there from people who can't have yet formed an opinion.

In fact, it seems odd that anyone can have much of an opinion at all at this point, except with regard to value (price tag for this feature in top line models). As far as judging the concept alone.... I have to feel that any resentment is rooted in the simple fact that this feature is offered, while other features members might have wanted are missing. A sort of "feature-envy"?

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eurban

· #63 · Apr 2, 2016 (Edited)

Having an in bed audio system might be OK.

Making it a cornerstone of your marketing plan is questionable at best. Especially so if you are putting it on the most expensive versions of the truck that those who would most want it would be least likely to be able to afford.

Having it be the "big surprise" to a group of GenI enthusiasts is idiotic.

lrtexasman

· #64 · Apr 2, 2016

Don't care for it, but it's only on high end models anyway. I'd rather have seen the money go towards more standard features in the lowest trim lines (at least some of the following are included). Like Nav, push button start, front power seats, power pedal adjustment, upgraded tow package (hitch, trans cooler lines), seating material, center arm rest, ect. Let the upgrades be things like a sunroof, premium leather, body molding, and entertainment system.

Dnick

· #65 · Apr 2, 2016

eurban said:
Having an in bed audio system might be OK.

Making it a cornerstone of your marketing plan is questionable at best. Especially so if you are putting it on the most expensive versions of the truck that those who would most want it would be least likely to be able to afford.

Having it be the "big surprise" to a group of GenI enthusiasts is idiotic.

^^^^^^^^^^^^ nail on the head IMO.

lbjgh

Discussion Starter · #66 · Apr 2, 2016

As the creator of this thread I intentionally wanted a binary type response. I assumed many people would end up in the soft mushy middle ground being too polite to say IBA was a terrible idea. I expect Honda lobbed softball questions at its market research groups which lead to the introduction of IBA.

Dnick

· #67 · Apr 3, 2016

lbjgh said:
As the creator of this thread I intentionally wanted a binary type response. I assumed many people would end up in the soft mushy middle ground being too polite to say IBA was a terrible idea. I expect Honda lobbed softball questions at its market research groups which lead to the introduction of IBA.

... which intentionally leaves out everyone who doesn't think this is either "brilliant" or "stupid". No?

So all you're going to get is the ratio of opinions on the extreme ends of the opinion spectrum. Which I don't think is what you were looking for. 'Won't tell you anything about majority opinion, positive or negative.

I'm just sayin'.....

mtb

· #68 · Apr 3, 2016 (Edited)

BAD... BAD... BAD...
Totally idiotic...
I would fire the team who put this monstrosity together...

AG87BlkLX

· #69 · Apr 3, 2016

mtb said:
BAD... BAD... BAD...
Totally idiotic...
I would fire the team who put this monstrosity together...

That would be a good start.

DogOnBoard

· #70 · Apr 4, 2016

mtb said:
...I would fire the team who put this monstrosity together...

Are you referring to the Gen2 overall or just the inbed audio?

johnk1

· #71 · Apr 9, 2016

IMO they are pretty stupid. Nice idea. Maybe offer a dealer option at the right price. Equally stupid is the dog talking. Cute yes but is that really how you will reach your target market? Just confusing to say the least. However, we'll never know what the h e double hockey sticks they were thinking.
Just my 2 cents.

dk miller

· #72 · Apr 10, 2016

I think this poll is waaay premature. How can me offer an informed opinion before listening to it to see how well it sounds.

lbjgh

Discussion Starter · #73 · Apr 10, 2016

It's not about the quality of sound it's the concept. Where is the locking tailgate? Oh wait the engineering budget was used up on IBS.

dk miller said:
I think this poll is waaay premature. How can me offer an informed opinion before listening to it to see how well it sounds.

Reactions: 4

lbjgh

Discussion Starter · #74 · Apr 14, 2016 (Edited)

It occurred to me I might have a use for the IBS.

A local drive-in movie theater is on the verge of closing and it would be neat to watch a movie from the bed... set up a couple of lawn chairs in the back and watch the movie. ... the drive-in is on the edge of some land development so lets hope Honda releases the RL before the drive-in goes tits up.

OhSix

· #75 · Apr 14, 2016

lbjgh said:
It's not about the quality of sound it's the concept. Where is the locking tailgate? Oh wait the engineering budget was used up on IBS.

If by "engineering budget" you mean research into executing a design specific to the RL2 - OK - money was spent on integrating existing concepts and products into the platform - but its doubtful that expense was significant enough to forgo development of other accessories/features. Nothing was invented for the IBA - so expense was low enough for marketing research folk to see an ROI.

longboat

· #76 · Apr 14, 2016

If you search the opinions thread, Joe mentioned how much it cost for the IBA (IBS?). I don't remember what it was, but it seemed awfully expensive for what it is.

I have to wonder if they didn't have to tweak some active equalizers to make sure they didn't get any errant frequencies in various locations. Maybe some low-pass and high-pass components to keep it from sounding too muddy...

Shineaholic

· #77 · Apr 14, 2016

longboat said:
If you search the opinions thread, Joe mentioned how much it cost for the IBA (IBS?). .

(irritable bowel syndrome different thread.)

Carsmak

· #78 · Apr 14, 2016

Yea, I remember Joe's Post on the In Bed Audio, and because it's rollout is so limited, "RTL & Black Edition" IIRC, it was something insane like $3500 per.

AndrePS

· #79 · Apr 14, 2016

wish there was a choice for
"I don't care about this option and would not pay extra for it"
If it came standard on all models, I wouldn't complain. But I don't care one bit if I have it or not.

FTM1

· #80 · Apr 15, 2016

AndrePS said:
wish there was a choice for
"I don't care about this option and would not pay extra for it"
If it came standard on all models, I wouldn't complain. But I don't care one bit if I have it or not.

I would not care about it but the Black Edition has it. I would get it for the interior also like the 400 watt power inverter the grille ect. I would not get model with IBA for the system alone.

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