'13 Civic LX sound quality

[black2002ls]

This is probably best answered by EW, but here goes.

I've had my '13 Civic LX coupe for a few years now and the sound quality is alright. Bass is lacking, and over all sound stage seems a bit weak. After doing some reading on Honda forums, it seems that Honda has done something with the head units to limit the power going to the rear speakers and using them simply for fill, they are open air. The front door speakers are sealed and I have the gratuitous tweeters in the door panels. A lot of people recommend adding an LCQ-1, though I was wondering if there was a less expensive option.

What I am looking for is a little better sound quality and more low end. I listen to a very wide variety of music that covers the spectrum. I'm not necessarily looking to change the component though it is certainly an option. I was originally thinking of adding a sub in the trunk to fill in the low end, though I use my trunk to haul barricades, signs, and tools for work so I would have to go small, something like an 8" which would probably meet my needs.

In my '97 civic coupe I ran the following setup:

factory head unit
Planet Audio 4.100 amp powering the factory components
JL 12w3 in a ported enclosure with its own amp

I got a lot of compliments on the sound quality of that set up, however, I did it mostly for the bass and amped the components so that the bass didn't over power them.

I'm not sure if the head unit in the '97 had the same condition where it limited power to the rear speakers or not.

I'm not looking to put together a big budget build, I put 500-600 miles a week on my car and have a lot of seat time, driving to and from work and around the subdivision I work in so I want to enjoy it a little more.

I have an old school Kove 504 that I've been hanging on to for FAR too long, not sure if it is of any use being 14 years old or not.

[EW]

The factory speakers suck but replacing them may not improve the bass that much.
If your Honda does not have a factory subwoofer, then it MAY not even have bass output. We can connect a RTA and see for sure. Attached is a picture of the speaker output on a 2016 Accord without a factory amp or sub. Best case it would be a flat line. See how the left drops off? That is all the bass being electronically removed by the factory headunit. If the factory system does not have bass output, you are not going to have normal bass output by adding an amp and sub unless everything is cranked up. An aftermarket deck fixes this problem but adds to the cost.

All is not lost if you keep the factory deck. Just add a 5ch amp, new speakers, and as big a sub as you can handle.

[black2002ls]

Originally Posted by EW

The factory speakers suck but replacing them may not improve the bass that much.
If your Honda does not have a factory subwoofer, then it MAY not even have bass output. We can connect a RTA and see for sure. Attached is a picture of the speaker output on a 2016 Accord without a factory amp or sub. Best case it would be a flat line. See how the left drops off? That is all the bass being electronically removed by the factory headunit. If the factory system does not have bass output, you are not going to have normal bass output by adding an amp and sub unless everything is cranked up. An aftermarket deck fixes this problem but adds to the cost.

All is not lost if you keep the factory deck. Just add a 5ch amp, new speakers, and as big a sub as you can handle.

Thank you. I am all the way out in Greenville, so it is a stretch for me to have you hook it up to see, though judging by the way I have it set up just to have some depth, that is exactly what it looks like.

I don't have the premium sound set up and have zero desire to swap the head unit unless it was for a factory unit with the proper output. I've been through one too many break ins for my shiny stereos to deal with all of that BS!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[spd2stang]

I'll have to get pics and video but EW did the sound in my 14 accord.. We went with the Fix82 jl processor and focal components with jl w3 on 1000/5 amp run full active with no rear speakers. It gets down.

[spd2stang]

BTW EW has the processor for the fix 82 come out yet? I'm ready for more.

[EW]

Yes it has. It is amazing.
http://www.jlaudio.com/twk-D8-car-au...m-tuning-98102