Granted, the Insight EX is built primarily for getting great fuel economy and not as a rolling sound studio. Still, Honda's latest hybrid will likely see plenty of commuting miles and nothing helps blunt the tedium of a long trip home every night like a good sound system. Here's what you get and how it stacks up.
Opting for the EX version of the Insight means a single CD player with MP3 capability. Sound runs through six-speakers and the system is good for 160 watts. An aux input and iPod specific connection are part of the package and you can even play music from a PC card if you still have any of those. Since our long termer has the optional navigation system, that means audio functions such as tone and balance adjustment move to the nav's touch screen. Gettting the nav means Bluetooth as well.
How it Sounds -
Sound quality is good but not great. When the bass and treble adjustments are flat (right in the middle) the sound is rather thin and even a little tinny. You have to bump both up quite a bit for the sound to even approach well-rounded. After that bass is audible but not nearly deep or sharp enough for an audiophile. Highs are clear but that's were a little distortion starts to creep in even at moderate volume. There's a definite bias toward highs and in some cases downloaded songs were accompanied by hiss. Sadly, there's no midrange adjustment. Overall sound quality earns a B-
How it Works -
Most controls are easy to use and figure out even without cracking the manual. The graphic display that comes up when adjusting bass, treble, tone and balance communicates basic information in a simple format but you do have to pay for the navigation system to get this and the touchscreen feature. While it's nice to an iPod specific connection, the inter face is a little clunky. Unless you have that certain song you're just dying to hear in a playlist, good luck finding it. You'll have to arrow down five tracks (or albums or artists) at a time - this is incredibly frustrating. It may be easier to just switch to the aux jack and use the iPod's interface (provided the car's not moving). Redundant steering wheel controls mean you never have to take your eyes off the road to adjust volume or advance tracks. In terms of the interface, this system gets a C-
Brian Moody, Automotive Editor
adavis2493 says:
02:04 PM, 07/24/09
Can you evaluate the S5 Stereo?
briancam says:
02:18 PM, 07/24/09
I can't evaluate the S5's stereo b/c each time I drive it I totally forget that it even has a stereo - kidding (kind of). Here's a link to the stereo eval for an S5 that's not our Long Term car:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=121924/pageId=127440
canadia says:
03:37 PM, 07/24/09
I've got a similar setup in my '09 Civic EX coupe; i'd imagine the high and midrange drivers to be the shared with the insight. I can't comment on the bass as i've got an extra 190 watts and a 8" bass driver, but i noticed the same thing regarding the highs. They sounded tinny and harsh, particularly at high volume.
Well, after about 8k miles and extensive use, i'm happy to report that the stock system sounds much better once it's been broken in. No more harshness, and that's with the treble up +3. I also currently run the bass at -2, and the sub at 0. I find that with the bass turned up any higher, mids become overpowering and sloppy.
Overall i'm very pleased with the stock setup, and i hope once your insight speakers break in - if they ever get a chance to - you'll experience similar results.
Since i know sound can be very subjective, i'll provide a reference point:
'09 Civic EX coupe: A-
'08 Acura MDX: B+
'07 GMC Yukon Denali (Bose): C+
'98 Civic LX: D-
One system i'd love to audition is the $6.3k B+O rig they've got in the S8. That thing must be unbelievable.
canadia says:
03:52 PM, 07/24/09
On a related note, i just finished reading the evaluation of the S5. I tend to like a little brightness from a system, bias or no. Most stock systems today bloat the midrange to give the illusion of bass. I hate that. There are few things that i dislike more than boomy, thumping sound reproduction. Lima beans come to mind.
So, i wonder if i'd agree with the S5 > S8 conclusion.
@ Sir Brian Moody: I noticed that you had written the S5 eval as well. Jars of Clay? My ex-girlfiend loved that band. I think that's the first time it's come to my attention that anyone other than her, and a select number of semi-crazy people, listened to them.
briancam says:
08:34 PM, 07/24/09
B&O stereo in the S8 = awesome. Still, the pop up tweeter are too much - kinda harsh. Really I think the S5 is better sounding b/c it doesn't have those gimicky tweets. Jars of Clay are awesome - play the the track "Stars" on a great system and see if you're not impressed. Are you saying I'm semi crazy?
YOU SIR ARE... well, probably right.
Truthfully, Lexus Mark Levinson might be better than the B&O.
mbark says:
04:20 AM, 07/25/09
Thanks for posting about this, I would love to read more about this topic.
http://www.carforall.net
greenpony says:
05:53 AM, 07/25/09
Maybe it's a candidate for some aftermarket audio equipment.
hondacura4 says:
08:07 AM, 07/25/09
"Well, after about 8k miles and extensive use, I'm happy to report that the stock system sounds much better once it's been broken in."
Canadia, unfortunately a lot of people don't know this. A few years ago I purchased an 400W RCA Home Theater system for our bedroom (we have an ultra large master suite). After the initial hook up the thing sounded terrible. My wife suggested taking it back as the sound quality was garbage. I decided to keep it for a few days as with almost anything new it becomes much better after its been used for a while. After about a few days of consistent use the sound came through. Still have it today and it still sounds great. All this (good) noise for $224!
"One system i'd love to audition is the $6.3k B+O rig they've got in the S8. That thing must be unbelievable."
Canadia, Id like to sample the S8's B&O system as well as Jaguars new Bowers & Wilkins system. Jaguar is claiming a level of all around performance that no other system can match.
achenator says:
12:56 PM, 07/25/09
how about the 09 M3. Does your test car have the premium audio?
I have it and I think I liked the Logic 7 in my previous car( 335 )better
canadia says:
07:36 AM, 07/27/09
@hondacura4
My ears also perked up when i read that B&W would be appearing in some new Jags. I'm not surprised by their marketing spiel about revolutionizing car audio etc etc, but i am curious to read reviews once they're available.