I have a 2008 Honda Civic LX coupe. I am fine with the mp3-CD player but the auxiliary input really does suck. Bass comes across as too strong while the highs and mids are muddled. I can even adjust the EQ on my output device (either a notebook or iPod) and the sound on my Civic, nothing seems to help. mp3-CDs play at much higher quality. I can play 128kbps CBR mp3 files from an mp3-CD and lossless files from my notebook/iPod, the mp3-CD will still produce better results.

I was looking at Honda's website and I could have the dealership install their 6 disc CD changer. I checked the prices of the 6 disc changer and the dealership is selling it for $850 and they want an additional $75 for installation. That is just way too much money to spend especially since I can run to Best Buy and get a CD deck with DVD capabilities for much less than that.

So now I am contemplating about purchasing an iPod installation kit since I cannot go to Best Buy or anyplace like that to get an upgraded CD deck. Best Buy sells a device that is compatible with my Civic for about $120 and they want an additional $20 for installation. The nearest Honda dealership sells a different iPod integration device for $200 and wants $50 for installation. What I want to know is will these devices produce better results than be connecting my iPod to my Civic's auxiliary input on the front? Both of these iPod connectivity accessories say that they use an auxiliary connection but I do not see RCA cables or the other cable used for auxiliary connectivity.

I just hate listening to muddled music and over half of my library consists of AAC files. I can ABX the results when I take a 128kbps AAC file and make a 320kbps mp3 file out of it (this is lossy-to-lossy transcoding) so I don't want to do that. I want to listen to my AAC files (they are not purchased from the iTunes Store but they were ripped from CDs that I no longer posses) and iPod integrations seems to be the only way aside from burning audio CDs with only 15 songs (that is not enough).

Any input on iPod integration kits would be nice and the quality they produce compared to mp3-CDs and my Civic's Auxiliary input.

 

Buy a better stereo? Maybe get yourself a Double Din or something for about 1000 give or take a couple hundred dollars. You would benefit greatly from the upgraded system.

 

I believe there's a difference between the SI with a 350 watt, 7 speaker (including sub) audio system compared to the LX with a 160 watt with 4 speakers.

Honestly, if you're real big on audio I wouldn't bother getting Honda's iPod interface...upgrade your deck and speakers and that would make a more noticeable difference than getting a better sound input.

 

I don't mind bass but I hate it when the pass is muddy. The highs and mids just aren't as they should be and neither is the bass. Everything about the auxiliary port is just toned down and I don't know why. The same thing happens in my other car with a Kenwood deck. The deck is compatible with mp3/WMA/AAC/WAV CDs, has an auxiliary input on the back, and can play mp3/WMA/AAC/WAV files from a USB device using a direct connection on the front of the deck. The auxiliary input for that Kenwood deck was all around muddier than playing an audio CD or playing audio off of a USB device. I don't know what it is about these auxiliary connections but the digital to analog and then analog to digital conversions are causing issues.

I can't upgrade the deck though. I can go with Honda's deck upgrade but I am not spending $1000 on a CD deck. That is just too much money for something like that. I ended up spending a grand total of $1000 on the audio equipment in my other car and that included two amps, four speakers, one subwoofer, and a new deck.

I just don't have $1000 to spend on upgrading the sound system whenever a simple $200 purchase may provide the results that I want. I wouldn't mind leaving my iPod in the glove compartment (or something similar) all the time. My main issue is not being able to play AAC files with my current CD deck.

Oh, just a little correction. It is the six speaker system that goes up to 160 watts (it actually goes up to 167 watts or something like that). I made sure that it had six speakers though, even says so on the sticker. That is one of the reasons why I went with the coupe LX over the four door model. The four door LX model had the bottom basement deck which only supported audio CDs, had four speakers, and had less than 100 watts of total power. That and the coupe I purchased came with a trunk liner, a spoiler, the mud guards, and so on.

I have already installed the bass system (two subwoofers with a dedicated amp) so my system is up to about 330 watts. The bass system was thrown in at 75% off by the dealership, they also threw in the window tint. My guess is that they had a whole stack of these subwoofers and amps lying around that they needed to get rid of. Either way I didn't mind spending $100 more to get a better system.

 

My bad, I wasnt too specific in what I posted thanks to that joint I smoked earlier lol. When I said 1000 dollar system that would include a new single or double din touch screen with navi. You would spend around 300 witout the navi though so maybe thats a better choice.

If you want better high to lows get your door speakers swapped and maybe some tweeters would do the trick. Maybe would run you a 100 or two and it would compliment your subs and amp quite nicely.

 

Ah, that is a little better. My only issue is that stores like Best Buy won't install CD decks in my Civic, they don't have the proper installation tools. I also don't want to install the unit myself. I really wouldn't mind spending $200-$300 on a new CD deck but the only place that will install one in my car is the dealership and they want way too much money for their CD deck and installation.

That is why I think my only option is to either install something myself or just go with a simple iPod control unit.

I think the speakers sound just fine. It is the performance of the CD deck when using an auxiliary connection. mp3, WMA, and standard audio CDs sound just fine but the auxiliary connection (only) sounds terrible.

 

I use the AUX on my Si... granted the Si comes with a better setup than the LX... I think it sounds great...

one thing I did notice is you HAVE to lower the volume on the iPod/etc... if it's all the way up the sound gets distorted... I have my iPod set to about 75-85% of maximum volume to get the best clarity through the AUX port on the radio... I also have my iPod set to "Treble Boost" for extra highs...

on the Si the stock amp has a lot of bass when the volume is low... once you turn it up passed 16 or so the highs get louder than the lows and it sounds great IMO... ie: on vol10 all i hear is bass... i also have a 12" sub with Alpine amp adding an extra 200-250 watts...

 

I guess part of the reason why I hear a bunch of bass is because the dealership installed those two subwoofers. I had to quickly learn to turn the bass off with the car speakers and only adjust the two woofers. I can turn the woofers almost all the way off and my auxiliary connection sounds pretty good. It is my understanding that the digital technology used to play audio form CDs is what is producing better results than the analog technology used to play audio through the auxiliary input (which is analog).

I have the same issue with my Kenwood car CD deck in my other car. The only thing is that it also has a direct USB input where I can just plug my iPod in and get digital sound. I am not kind of wishing that I had gone with the Honda Fit (my budget was around $18,000). I could have gotten a fully loaded Honda Fit for the same price I paid for my Civic LX coupe. I just couldn't go with the Fit because it looks like a bug. I test drove a Toyota Yaris but again, it was like driving around a bug.