Poor AM Radio sound

[jbird]

I have a 2007 CR-V EX-L with Navigation. I am very happy with the sound quality of the FM and XM portions of the radio, but AM sounds "muffled", even with the treble set all the way "high" and the bass "low". Any one else experiencing this?

[2RedV's]

I have a 2007 CR-V EX-L with Navigation. I am very happy with the sound quality of the FM and XM portions of the radio, but AM sounds "muffled", even with the treble set all the way "high" and the bass "low". Any one else experiencing this?

Welcome! ( I just sent you a private message)

Can someone with an 07 help here?

[jm2639]

The standard 270-watt six-speaker audio system on the 2007 Honda CR-V is pretty--well--standard in its quality of acoustic output. While it does have the admirable feature of a programmable subwoofer, output is muddy with little midrange refinement. One reason for this may be the ankle-level placement of the front door-mounted speakers, which have a lot of work to do to fill the CR-V's sizable cabin with immersive sound. Two tweeters at the foot of the A-pillars give some high-end clarity, but the overall acoustic experience is bass-heavy.

[c7e]

I have a 2007 CR-V EX-L with Navigation. I am very happy with the sound quality of the FM and XM portions of the radio, but AM sounds "muffled", even with the treble set all the way "high" and the bass "low". Any one else experiencing this?

just picked up my new 2009 EX on 08/11/09 and i am still getting familiar with things. i am also noticing the lesser quality sound on AM, but in my case it may be related to an ability to tune in the AM band sufficiently. Even a local 50,000 watt clear channel station that always tuned in great in all my other vehicles sounds and tunes like it is half way across the country. from what i understand the antenna is "internal". has anyone had the same experience, and is there a remedy.

[jreagan]

Well, compared to my old Ford, the AM in my CR-V (2007, EX-L, no Nav) is very nice. Not muffled.

[c7e]

Well, compared to my old Ford, the AM in my CR-V (2007, EX-L, no Nav) is very nice. Not muffled.

do you have an external antenna?

[jreagan]

Nope, the standard one built into the CR-V

[ROMAN]

Same here, have an '07 ex-awd, my AM works just as
good as my FM. Have a stock crv antennae.

[c7e]

jreagan and ROMAN ...

thanks for your input.

maybe it is just a loose plug/connecter that could be causing my reception issues.

[Malaka]

I've owned Japanese cars off and on since 1977. Their AM radio band universally poor. Don't pick up stations very well, and the sound is like a circa 1965 hand held transistor radio. Why? I don't know. Toyota and Honda suffer the same. Also, remember that AM band has a much narrower bandwidth, so it tends to

[c7e]

... Have a stock crv antennae.

Is the antenna visible in this image what you are referring to ?

My 2009 EX AWD (no nav) with 6cd in-dash WAS NOT delivered to me with an external antenna. I am trying to determine if it "should" have one or not. In the past week I have seen numerous Gen 3 CR-V's in LX, EX, and EXL trim, each and every one has had an external antenna. Considering that I am talking about approx. 20 sightings, I highly doubt they all had the NAV/Sat Radio option.

http://gallery.carreview.com/data/car/578/medium/honda_crv_01.JPG

[c7e]

... Also, remember that AM band has a much narrower bandwidth, so it tends to

i certainly understand that, but regardless a local 50000 watt clear channel station should NOT sound like it is half way across the country. By comparison our 2002 Civic has very good AM reception, and my now "clunked" 1989 Chevy Sliverado had excellent AM reception.

[jreagan]

Is the antenna visible in this image what you are referring to ?

http://gallery.carreview.com/data/car/578/medium/honda_crv_01.JPG

That is the XM antenna. Used ONLY for XM.

[c7e]

That is the XM antenna. Used ONLY for XM.

gotcha ...
just to be super clear, your Gen 3 CR-V only has the antenna mounting block on the roof.


to anyone:
Is XM available on LX trim models, as previously stated I have seen roof antennas on 20 plus CR-V's across all trim lines over the past week.

[Ken in Regina]

I have a 2007 CR-V. I don't know how the model designation crosses to the US models. It has the standard audio system - 6 CD changer, no navigation.

It does NOT have XM. .... It DOES have the antenna exactly as pictured above. Every new generation Honda I've seen around town and in the dealer's lot has this antenna.

As far as the difference in audio characteristics between AM and FM, I hear a difference in the vehicle. But it's exactly the same difference I hear when tuning between AM and FM on my good quality Boston Acoustics radio in the kitchen (roughly equivalent to the Bose Wave) and both of my stereo receivers. AM by its very nature will always sound muddier than FM no matter what you play it through. The better quality the audio system, the more noticable the difference.

[c7e]

I have a 2007 CR-V. I don't know how the model designation crosses to the US models. It has the standard audio system - 6 CD changer, no navigation.

It does NOT have XM. .... It DOES have the antenna exactly as pictured above. Every new generation Honda I've seen around town and in the dealer's lot has this antenna.

As far as the difference in audio characteristics between AM and FM, I hear a difference in the vehicle. But it's exactly the same difference I hear when tuning between AM and FM on my good quality Boston Acoustics radio in the kitchen (roughly equivalent to the Bose Wave) and both of my stereo receivers. AM by its very nature will always sound muddier than FM no matter what you play it through. The better quality the audio system, the more noticable the difference.

thanks ...

i have since learned from my sales rep that there was a change to an internal antenna on "later" 2009 models. "earlier" 09's could still have the external device on the roof like your '07. my particular ride has just the internal one. i have the same 6cd/6speaker system you referred to and i am experiencing unacceptable AM reception for a 50000 watt clear channel station located in my city. it sounds like it is half way across the country. i have an app't to have all the connections checked. if it isn't improved after that i could be getting an external antenna.

[Ken in Regina]

Yes, you should definitely get the system checked. We have a 50,000W AM station about 200km from here and we can get it clean and clear at any time. I generally listen to it when I travel and can easily pick it up for at least 5 or 6 hours of highway driving away from the station. That puts me about 700 to 800km away from the station.

[illegal]

I was going to say, sat. antenna's do not look like that. It is either in the window, or thats the am/fm one. Anyway most new radio's, especially aftermarket, could care less about am.

If you look at a ant. cable, the am signal is from the mesh wire around the plastic tube, that holds the single hair-like strand that is fm. The am wire is a ground. To amp up the signal, as a bandaid, you can strip some of the black shielding off the ant. cable, get some larger guage wire and solder it onto the am ground wire mesh, and then ground the othewr end to the frame of the car after removing all paint from that spot and using ring terminals and self tapping screws.

All this is best to do in a kick panel.

[c7e]

UPDATE ... my radio reception issue is resolved!

To Clarify, this was a RECEPTION issue and in retrospect I likely should have started a new thread topic.

As it turns out my 2009 EX AWD (6cd/6speaker/no nav/no xm) should have had an EXTERNAL ROOF antenna! There was some confusion between service and sales depts. due to the 2010 models that are supposed to change to an INTERNAL antenna and that some 09's could be that way as well. Per my request my sales rep. inquired about this before i ever left the lot during the initial delivery and was told that the antenna was internal. This was incorrect and a SMOOTH EXTERNAL ROOF antenna is now on my vehicle and all AM and FM stations are exponentially clearer and stronger.

As I have previously noted, the local 50000 watt clear channel station(WTAM 1100, Cleveland) that was dropping out completely at times and was weak most of the time was a clear sign to me that something wasn't as it should have been. In this case it was the missing external roof antenna.

[illegal]

awsome, that will def do it!

[Ken in Regina]

UPDATE ... my radio reception issue is resolved!

I love a happy ending. :)