Michael Angelos
New Member
Has anyone installed a volume knob? God I miss a volume knob lol.
Audio upgrade for clarity
- Thread starter HariN
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Cash Traylor
Well-Known Member
I haven't done it, however the infotainment system, as we know, is Android and can be reasonably easily rooted and external apps loaded. As such, it would likely not be terribly difficult to add an off the shelf "bluetooth" volume knob controller (amazon or ebay etc) or even a USB volume knob that supports Android and you can get a hold of the apk for manual adb sideloading. Like any mod or hack there are some drawbacks, but like many on this forum - we seem to be of the mindset that whatever Honda missed on the Clarity - we as a user group can fabricoble together for our own fun. If you try this report back. Rooting the headunit only has significant risks with some software loading as far as warranty is concerned, however I now know for a fact that the dealer "can" reinstall Android, however until someone on XDA gets a hold of the bootloader and original ROM there will likely be no way for us to revert to a non-rooted head unit for "temporary" service visits. However, it is software and there are a lot of bright people out there - give it time. I've just become accustomed to it and use the steering wheel control exclusively. As a side note, the panel that holds the push to start button has some room behind it if you installed a knob it could easily fit there, or the dummy cover under the headunit is another location, but you would need a "service loop" of wire there for removal. Good Luck! Send pictures!
Too much work, try to get used to the steering wheel controls.
Ben Miller
New Member
Same here
I sincerely hope this is my last entry in this thread for the stereo install. Kentucky was right, it was the ANC. The odd thing that was throwing me was the fact it was tied to engine start and not road noise, or engine noise, as it only did it on the first start per power cycle. Today I went in and unplugged the ANC module. This was actually the easiest thing I have done so far in regards to the stereo install or any mod to the Clarity. The dash panels come off surprisingly easy (I should mention that the "wood" dash trim comes off at a slight out and up angle, maybe 15 or 20 degree, you pop up the front, then pull slightly up and out with them).
Access was straight forward (once I had access to the visual aids). Now, I am sure I am about to tick off Murphy by saying this and tomorrow the gremlins will return, but so far the BOOM BOOM at ICE initial start is gone. I have photos and info attached for anyone curious and will be happy to answer questions, but it worked and so far no ill effects. My observations were that the ANC does actually reduce a bit of low frequency road and vehicle noise, but not a lot. It does effect sound quality and once disabled I had to "re-tune" the system EQ and amp adjustments, no big deal but was interesting, and really subtle - I'm picky. Honestly I think replacing the tires with touring class that have low road noise and better performance over the low rolling friction high MPG tires that come on it will make a bigger impact on noise cancellation than the ANC system does or did.
Now, probably everyone here will know I can't leave it alone forever. I now have the full wiring schematic for the ANC system including the BUS line for the vehicle speed and engine control system condition data. I suspect it is possible to have the ANC active but remove the engine/vehicle speed data which I also firmly believe was the problem. I never experienced the ANC feedback loop you can get with an aftermarket speaker system - it was only the ICE start. So, since it was very easy to get to the ANC module, I may look into selectively removing the two data pins from the harness I suspect contain the "offending" instruction/commands. If I later get it figured out I will post here. But if it ends up in a Crutchfield Mastersheet I expect a free something from them!
You just unplug the ANC module, secure the harness so it doesn't end up a source of rattle, and put it all back together. It works and I confirmed no major errors using the Infotainment self diagnostics to check the system.
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How do you go about removing the infotainment display? There doesn't seem to be any guidance in the post documents. Does it slide right out?
Michael Angelos
New Member
So far ive replaced the speakers with Infinity's and plan on adding an Alpine power Pack amp, an audio control LC71 and a Bazooka sub.
What are the noise cancelling concers? And whats the deal with the sub possibly picking up the sound of the car? Sorry I've read through these thread and found it a bit confusing.
John E Barbato
New Member
Does anyone know if the 2019 Clarity has addressed this speaker problem or the knob issue?
Honda has released no information regarding the 2019 Clarity PHEV--not even an availability date.
Cash Traylor
Well-Known Member
The ANC, at least in my car would create a bass pulse (about 4 of them) anytime the ICE would start up for the first time on a drive or be triggered from the throttle detent. This seems to be a data bus command and not something that the ANC is detecting over the cabin mics as it will happen identically whether driving or parked. It is on my list of things to do when I get some more time to play but the holidays have been very busy. I think it may be possible to suppress this behavior in the ANC module and keep the analog ANC. However, I need to figure out a more objective way of determining the function of the ANC system to determine if it is worth doing so. For now, my upgraded noise cancelling system post sound system upgrade will be a better set of tires that don't generate the road noise the high efficiency ones currently do. I detailed the ANC deactivation in an earlier post above.
Removing the infotainment system is easy, you pop out the little panel under it and the two bolts are exposed. It is very easy to remove after that. The fake wood trim pops up in front and snaps out at a 15-20 degree up angle (up and pull toward you). Sorry it took so long to respond but I have been swamped over the holidays. Final note here is that for those that really read through this whole post and upgrade saga, the Rockville sub (second one) has been working perfectly since the initial failure. I obviously got a dud, but I am not convinced that is not common with them at their build quality. However, for the price I have to say I recommend it as it fits so perfectly, really almost like it was made for that location on the back of the right fold down rear seat. When closed up, you almost don't need any mounts to retain it in place, no rattles at all. So, hopefully it will last a while and I don't blast it like I would in my youth so maybe I will get lucky!
Cheers and Happy New Year to all! As a side note, I have now had 3 other Clarity sightings driving around north Dallas in the past month, two in my local area! Guess they are finally catching on and I no longer am driving the only White Elephant on the Tollway... ;-)
Cash
Removing the infotainment system is easy, you pop out the little panel under it and the two bolts are exposed. It is very easy to remove after that. The fake wood trim pops up in front and snaps out at a 15-20 degree up angle (up and pull toward you). Sorry it took so long to respond but I have been swamped over the holidays. Final note here is that for those that really read through this whole post and upgrade saga, the Rockville sub (second one) has been working perfectly since the initial failure. I obviously got a dud, but I am not convinced that is not common with them at their build quality. However, for the price I have to say I recommend it as it fits so perfectly, really almost like it was made for that location on the back of the right fold down rear seat. When closed up, you almost don't need any mounts to retain it in place, no rattles at all. So, hopefully it will last a while and I don't blast it like I would in my youth so maybe I will get lucky!
Cheers and Happy New Year to all! As a side note, I have now had 3 other Clarity sightings driving around north Dallas in the past month, two in my local area! Guess they are finally catching on and I no longer am driving the only White Elephant on the Tollway... ;-)
Cash
The Honda Clarity web page now shows the 2019 Clarity PHEV. No knob. No claim of new speakers.
Michael Angelos
New Member
I installed a rockwell volume knob and had to run the system through 2 channels and it sounded terrible. I pulled it. I need to disconnect the ANC and I didn't even install a sub, but something about the amp sets off a hum even when the stereo is off.
I installed:
Infinity Primus PR6510CS 6-1/2" Component System
Alpine KTP-445U Head Unit Power Pack 45W x 4 Car Amp
an Audio control LCQ6
The sound is so bright I had to pull all the highs down with the LCQ and even disconnected the front tweeters. Did you have a lot of harshness? what speakers did you install?
Cash Traylor
Well-Known Member
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No not really harshness although I find anything in a tweeter other than silk or titanium harsh to my ears. But that is personal preference. My full install is detailed on page 3 of this thread. I went with the JL audio, they are very efficient. I think Kentucky went with the higher grade tweeters for his front pillar (full silk dome) and if I ever bother to further upgrade that would be the way I would go. However I am very happy with the C1's, as I said in my post, I achieved what I wanted which was a "Premium Factory Audio" system like a high end Bose or ELS Acura system. The limited parametrics of the factory EQ is obviously a limit in my system that the LCQ6 could help you with if you paired it with a remote EQ. However, how speakers sound is really personal. It's one of the reasons why this particular thread draws as much interest as it does occasional disdain from people "annoyed" by those that find the stock Clarity stereo "lacking" in performance for a touring class vehicle.
I am not in Pro Audio anymore, so take what I am about to say with a seriously large grain of salt as true specs on our system are ambiguous as to that is really under the hood. However, let's assume they are not lying about the 180 watt stereo. If that is the case and Honda didn't cheap out, it is likely 180 watts RMS (as that really isn't unreasonable to achieve, especially if they went class D). That said, you may have actually hurt your system performance by installing the Alpine KTP as it is also class D and well, one class D amp is bad enough. They are efficient, but most audiophiles HATE them when compared to A/B or even C (or AB). Your chosen speakers are certainly far better than the factory drivers but I have never heard them. As for the hum, I honestly doubt that is the ANC (but as contained in this post, I have been wrong before on that one). It is likely the combination of your audio amp/processor add on interacting with the DC/DC converters buck switch mode supply. Basically you have a noisy signal path or ground loop. I would take all that out, connect your replacement drivers to the factory system, flat the EQ and see how it all sounds to you, with a program you "know" how it should sound. I have very clear mental images of HOW a few select songs sound on high end reference systems. That's what I compare with tweaking things, since I don't have an RTA anymore. Best wishes, however this is all I can offer.
https://salestraining.honda.com/en/...Vehicle-Details/Interior/Clarity-Audio-System
The tweeters that I would/should have put in the pillars - but would have changed my budget goal for the system (my whole upgrade was just under $500.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_136C5075CT/JL-Audio-C5075-CT.html
The JL drivers I chose and am happy with: https://www.crutchfield.com/p_13699043/JL-Audio-C1-650.html
Cheers,
Cash
Michael Angelos
New Member
Michael Angelos
New Member
What woofer would you have gotten had you gotten those tweeters? If I return the amp I'm happy to apply that savings to the speakers.
Cash Traylor
Well-Known Member
Oops, it wasn't Kentucky it was Sniwallof.
Post is here: https://www.insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/clarity-speaker-quality.711/#post-10892
As for the woofers, I would have still installed the C1's, just replaced the front pillar tweaters with the C5075's vs the lower end ones in the C1 component kit.
As a side note, if you do go with an "amped up" system (but you need more than 45/ch) the Focal ISS or RSE 165 (but may not fit, maybe ISU?) Series are awesome but really need more power than the Clarity head unit or that Alpine can provide to sound good. The tweeters may sound more balanced to you and be a good bang for the buck - but you should go hear them in an audio store if possible. Again, speakers are very personal - call local sound shops and see what they have in their racks to listen to. Even compare brands as each brand has it's own engineering tweak that is unique to it's line.
Cheers,
Cash
Michael Angelos
New Member
And than you
DUDE!!! Thank you so much!!! I basically listen to classic rock, I just want Zeppelin II to sound good, which chokes on a bad system. I have unlimited installs at Best Buy so I just keep going back for tweaks. Checking all this out now. Thank you!!!
Michael Angelos
New Member
Crutchfield kept flagging high wattage items for this vehicle, you installed an 800 watt sub, was there any issues with that?
wjcarpenter
New Member
Alas. I tried this a couple of weeks ago with a USB volume knob that I already had. The result was good news/bad news. The good news is that operating the knob did cause an on-screen volume slider to appear, and it moved left and right as expected. The bad news is that it didn't actually control the volume for the radio. When I plugged in my phone and ran Android Auto, the volume control knob did control all those apps.
I would love it if someone cracked that final piece of the puzzle so that the knob would control the radio volume.
BTW, the volume control was "seen" on the passenger-side USB port, so that's nice.