Sound upgrade - replace eq with Viper4Android

mnestrud · Apr 24, 2019

For the those that weren't following I detailed my audio and sound deadening build here:

Speaker Upgrade and Sound Deadening Build Log https://www.crvownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=179442

Short of it is that I installed:
-Sound Deadener Showdown everything underneath the windows
-Infinity Kappa 60.11cs in front and rear doors
-Replaced oem sub with Rockford Fosgate Punch P3SD4-8, in oem box/location (& disabled ANC)

Note this is all done with the oem head unit and amp. The final broken piece is the stock head unit eq/sound processing. The eq is terrible. Luckily, you can install a pretty incredible sound processing subsystem on the head unit called Viper4Android. This is more than an eq and more deeply improves sound processing.

First, you have to root the head unit and install HondaHack. Instructions are available elsewhere.

Next, you need to download onto a fat32 formatted usb drive:

1: supersu and BusyBox from here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/an...neral/guide-how-to-enter-developer-mode-2017-t3621582/post79246951#post79246951

2: Viper4Android from here: http://www.autohack.org/apk/

Using Honda Hack, install supersu first and reboot. Then install BusyBox. Open BusyBox once you install it and follow the instructions inside the app to install it 'deeper'. (This is reversible). Finally, install Viper4Android app and open it up and install the sound driver. Probably need to reboot again but done.

Once installed go into the settings and force it to always use Bluetooth audio effect mode. That's it. Go into the fx sound settings and have fun.

Before doing too much you might want to go to the OEM eq and set everything to flat.

EDIT: as @Breaultk mentions below, there's an app for setting the default dsp to flat on non-premium-sound models: Look here for it.

I can't emphasize enough how much of a difference this makes. The sound is much more complete. There's no more dropouts in the mid ranges and the bottom end came back from nowhere.

Do not try to use newer versions of the apps. Newer viper doesn't work with our head unit and use different supersu and BusyBox at your own risk.

I'll make a follow up post with my eq settings, but I would love if others also did this and posted your speaker setup and Viper4Android settings.

mnestrud · Apr 24, 2019

This post outlines my settings. Please note that I tuned this by ear to the style of music I listen to most (live jazz / improv, hiphop) and also some settings noted below are designed for my specific speaker setup. Official webpage and description here: http://vipersaudio.com/blog/?page_id=43 .

Non-Viper Settings:

HondaHack: Very minimal setup. Almost everything is turned off and I especially am not doing anything with audio routing in there.
OEM / Stock Honda Audio Settings: Low/Mid/High eq all set to 0dB / center
OEM / Stock Honda Balance Settings: Front/Rear and Left/Right set to neutral. I like my rear speakers a little quieter, and in the 'neutral' setting Honda has the rear speakers set quieter.
OEM / Stock Honda Subwoofer output: turned all of the way up (only there with OEM sub, you might not have this)

For the FX Settings, as you can in the photos it is really easy to turn on some music and toggle one effect on and off to hear the effect.

Viper Settings

Show Notification: On (swipe down from top of home screen to access viper)
Lock Effect Mode: Bluetooth (then you only need to edit settings in bluetooth - unknown how this works with hondahack audio routing settings!)
FX Compatible Mode: Normal (default)
Set default storage: /storage/emulated/0/ (default)

FX Settings - Bluetooth Device
anything not mentioned below will be 'off'

Master Power: On
Playback Gain Control: On : Slight
Spectrum Extension: On : 0.7 : (turn off for lossless music) - helps undo compression artifacts
FIREqualizer: On - see description below
Differential Surround: On : 2 ms delay - I really like this effect. See Haas Effect for more info.
ViPER Bass: On : Natural Bass, 40 Hz - tuned to the range on my subwoofer
ViPER Clarity: On : XHiFi - 3.5dB - on the fence, but I felt it helped balance the bass
AnalogX: On : Slight : supposed to mimic the sound of a class A amp. I liked it <shrug>
Master Gate (Limiter): Default values : this is supposed to help with clipping - beyond my expertise to change

For the FIREqualizer, I tuned this to my specific setup, which has components and a sub. Under the OEM sound settings, my Infinity tweeters are overpowering and mids/bass are lost a bit... so much so that you can hear the tweeters and mid speakers as separated sound sources from each other (bad!). So I tuned the equalizer to reduce the tweeter frequencies and increase the bass/mid frequencies, and the results, combined with the other settings above, is that I just hear "music" and not separate lows/mids/highs, which is a significant upgrade - I thought I would eventually put in an aftermarket amp with an LC2i to get here... I don't need it at all!

Here are the specs of my aftermarket speakers, which are important since I want to address the issues I mentioned using the FIREqualizer.

Speaker	Freq. Response
RF-Subwoofer	38Hz-250Hz
Infinity-Door Woofer	45Hz-~2,000Hz
Infinity-Tweeter	~2,000Hz-35,000Hz

The strategy is to raise the sub levels and mid levels, and especially the levels where the different speakers overlap. Then, I significantly suppress the tweeter-only frequencies to address the aforementioned tinniness.

Here are a few more pictures just for showing off Viper and what it looks like:

Please post your own speaker setup, what amp and sub you have (if any), your own audio settings and results!

Milt83 · Nov 10, 2020

mnestrud said:
This post outlines my settings. Please note that I tuned this by ear to the style of music I listen to most (live jazz / improv, hiphop) and also some settings noted below are designed for my specific speaker setup. Official webpage and description here: 酷狗音乐 - 就是歌多 .

Non-Viper Settings:

HondaHack: Very minimal setup. Almost everything is turned off and I especially am not doing anything with audio routing in there.

OEM / Stock Honda Audio Settings: Low/Mid/High eq all set to 0dB / center

OEM / Stock Honda Balance Settings: Front/Rear and Left/Right set to neutral. I like my rear speakers a little quieter, and in the 'neutral' setting Honda has the rear speakers set quieter.

OEM / Stock Honda Subwoofer output: turned all of the way up (only there with OEM sub, you might not have this)

For the FX Settings, as you can in the photos it is really easy to turn on some music and toggle one effect on and off to hear the effect.

Viper Settings

Show Notification: On (swipe down from top of home screen to access viper)

Lock Effect Mode: Bluetooth (then you only need to edit settings in bluetooth - unknown how this works with hondahack audio routing settings!)

FX Compatible Mode: Normal (default)

Set default storage: /storage/emulated/0/ (default)

FX Settings - Bluetooth Device
anything not mentioned below will be 'off'

Master Power: On

Playback Gain Control: On : Slight

Spectrum Extension: On : 0.7 : (turn off for lossless music) - helps undo compression artifacts

FIREqualizer: On - see description below

Differential Surround: On : 2 ms delay - I really like this effect. See Haas Effect for more info.

ViPER Bass: On : Natural Bass, 40 Hz - tuned to the range on my subwoofer

ViPER Clarity: On : XHiFi - 3.5dB - on the fence, but I felt it helped balance the bass

AnalogX: On : Slight : supposed to mimic the sound of a class A amp. I liked it <shrug>

Master Gate (Limiter): Default values : this is supposed to help with clipping - beyond my expertise to change

For the FIREqualizer, I tuned this to my specific setup, which has components and a sub. Under the OEM sound settings, my Infinity tweeters are overpowering and mids/bass are lost a bit... so much so that you can hear the tweeters and mid speakers as separated sound sources from each other (bad!). So I tuned the equalizer to reduce the tweeter frequencies and increase the bass/mid frequencies, and the results, combined with the other settings above, is that I just hear "music" and not separate lows/mids/highs, which is a significant upgrade - I thought I would eventually put in an aftermarket amp with an LC2i to get here... I don't need it at all!

Here are the specs of my aftermarket speakers, which are important since I want to address the issues I mentioned using the FIREqualizer.

Speaker Freq. Response
RF-Subwoofer 38Hz-250Hz
Infinity-Door Woofer 45Hz-~2,000Hz
Infinity-Tweeter ~2,000Hz-35,000Hz

The strategy is to raise the sub levels and mid levels, and especially the levels where the different speakers overlap. Then, I significantly suppress the tweeter-only frequencies to address the aforementioned tinniness.

View attachment 130017

Here are a few more pictures just for showing off Viper and what it looks like:
View attachment 130019

View attachment 130021

View attachment 130023

Please post your own speaker setup, what amp and sub you have (if any), your own audio settings and results!

I want to thank you for this post and information! I'm not what you might call an audiophile but I was very disappointed in my CRv's sound and this change was incredible! Just the installation of the FX and driver, before changing any settings and with the factory EQ still on, made an amazing difference. I may not even change out my factory speaker now and leave the hardware as-is. Amazing transformation for only $25 (pro version of Honda Hack). Thanks again!!

JB in AZ · Apr 24, 2019

Nice job, mnestrud, as usual! I remember reading your "old" thread and envying your sound deadening process. Wish I had the ability to have done that with my CR-V.

I took a different, albeit more expensive route to sound nirvana.

Breaultk · Apr 24, 2019

Just to add to your post, you should be setting the dsp to flat. So that the EQ is actually starting with a zerod out signal

There is someone in the xda forums that released an . Apk that you just run that does this automatically everytime you start the car. Real easy to do.

Problem I have right now is knowing what to set the EQ to. At a loss for that after replacing all my speakers, adding a 4 channel amp, and subwoofer and amp.

mnestrud · Apr 24, 2019

Breaultk said:
Just to add to your post, you should be setting the dsp to flat. So that the EQ is actually starting with a zerod out signal
There is someone in the xda forums that released an . Apk that you just run that does this automatically everytime you start the car. Real easy to do.
Problem I have right now is knowing what to set the EQ to. At a loss for that after replacing all my speakers, adding a 4 channel amp, and subwoofer and amp.

Absolutely @Breaultk - dsp flat is great advice. Here is the link!

Note it is not for anyone on the touring or ex-l with upgraded sound (oem amp + sub). It won't break anything, it just doesn't work.

This is those with the basic oem system. What this does is 'reset' the tuning of the oem head unit to a neutral start position, which provides a 'clean start' for Viper4Android.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/an...neral/guide-how-to-enter-developer-mode-2017-t3621582/post76604112#post76604112

I will post my settings to the reserved post so hopefully that can help folks.

ultimagaina · Apr 24, 2019

Thanks for sharing. I might try that.

You inspired me to go for sound deadning as well. It took me 1 weekend day/door, but, two weeks after, I am very pleased with the results.

mnestrud · Apr 24, 2019

Awesome! Glad to hear it. You have to love car projects to take it on for sure, but it is fun and rewarding.

boldventure · Apr 24, 2019

Are there other equalizer apps that don't need the HU to be hacked?

Sent from my CLT-L04 using Tapatalk

Breaultk · Apr 24, 2019

Hacking the head unit is what allows you to install apks

Breaultk · Apr 26, 2019

Hey just a question, all those pics of the EQ, are those the settings after applying flat dsp or no?

ultimagaina · Apr 27, 2019

I applied the flat dsp settings as advised, but either they did noting, or they the HU came back with the same settings, after rebooting, without having to re-launch them each time, with the tasker, as suggested on XDA forum.

starks · Apr 27, 2019

That DSP Flat apk is kinda evil. Don't set it as an autostart app in HH. You can end up in a scenario where you get stuck in a grayed out Syscom Free Mode menu if you run the app more than once between hard reboots. It either starts too early or you're not able to get that hard reboot without pulling the appropriate fuse or battery.

But even then, you may face a situation where you have to use the HH recovery script and re-root to escape it.

This is why I hate the idea of how Viper works on this head unit. It's even riskier than Flat DSP in some respects and you lose that "keep stuff out of /system unless you know what you're doing" mentality that HH tries to promote.

Think about what's involved here.

* SuperSu: It wants to install its own su binary and you need to be careful to decline. Only used for the whitelisting that HH somehow isn't doing at times. Root apps like Solid Explorer don't even need this.
* Busybox: Doesn't HH already ship with a slightly older but valid version?
* Viper: The driver. Where the hell does that end up?

There are so many conflicting sets of instructions on how to get this working.

Not to mention that it's a nightmare to clean up manually, especially when I don't even trust the head unit's factory reset behavior to begin with.

mnestrud · Apr 27, 2019

starks said:
There are so many conflicting sets of instructions on how to get this working.

Not to mention that it's a nightmare to clean up manually, especially when I don't even trust the head unit's factory reset behavior to begin with.

You bring up some great points. I've been using Linux since 97 and rooting (and recovering) Android phones for a decade. Where I've seen mistakes is when folks do too much ( hence the Honda Hack service news article). I made it a point to provide working directions and call out that I'm not using any other apps or HH features to prevent conflicts.

I've read the entire xda thread and posted a set of instructions that worked for me and at least one other person. But you're also right in the risks and the confusing instructions depending on where you look.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

kgn0131 · May 26, 2019

How are you playing your media (bluetooth, carplay, etc.)

I installed everything although I couldn't figure out where you installed busybox "deeper".

When I turn on the different connection types, I don't hear any change playing with the EQ on any of them (after turning on).

I primarily use carplay for Waze and use both iheart radio and spotify.

Thanks!

mnestrud · May 27, 2019

Open the BusyBox app iirc. I use Android auto... Make sure in addition to BusyBox, you have the master viper switch turned on.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

VP9CRV · Sep 25, 2019

Hi everyone, a lot of good information on here about installs. I just put in new door speakers and a JL RD 900 5 channel amp. Now I need to tune it. Does anyone know at what volume the EX head unit distorts?

Accurus · Feb 13, 2020

Just adding a little info.

1. I can't get viper4 to work for apple car play or usb but works on Bluetooth.
2. I haven't put a meter on the head unit but my rather sensitive ears says about 28 volume is when distortion starts on the EX-L equivalent, I can't handle more than 25 on the stock speakers tho.

mnestrud · Feb 21, 2020

Make sure you have the viper setting to lock all inputs to Bluetooth.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Accurus · Feb 21, 2020

Will try again later. Dsp flat works, set it to auto start. Viper worked on bluetooth fine but I couldn't tell any difference on apple carplay, tried my wife's android and it worked on android auto. it is locked to blue tooth but I might try lock to headphone out as I saw on the xpaforum.

Accurus · Feb 23, 2020

you need supersu and Busybox to install viper, supersu grants super user full access to busy box and viper, busy box is some pre req program for viper. it's a linux thing for android.

4WheelSpyder · Feb 27, 2020

Thanks Accurus

Tracy 2017 CR-V EXL · Jul 23, 2020

We put in infinity speakers In the front doors, ($100 speakers), & sound dampening all 5 doors 100%, ($150). We used 80 mil Killmat, & 150 Norco closed Cell Foam over the top.
We did it last week.
Rich, crisp & nice base without spending a huge amount of money, and lowing the Dedible level in the cab by 5 Dsbl levels.
We considered just getting better speakers &/or replacement of all 8 speakers only. But why, if you can’t hear the difference? So instead we sound dampened all five doors, and replace only the front door speakers with infinity speakers.
We are considering dampening the floor, but we haven’t made a decision yet. We will however, Put in a woofer in the back similar to the woofer that is in the touring CRV. Nothing crazy, just enough to make a big difference.
Right now, The sound is amazing, the tweeters crack, woofer has much more bass, I can hear each individual instrument, and the sound is rich. If I didn’t dampen the doors, I think it would have made the cabin more noisy and the speakers may have sounded muddy without clarity. At this point, I will finish up the back doors and replace those speakers with the infinity $100 speakers. My car sounds great, and if we decide to do the floorboards and the wheel wells, I hope my car will sound like a high end car. I wish I could find someone who has done it already, to see if it’s something worth attempting. It’s fairly easy to dampen, simple, but takes time, but worth the work if you decide to do it.

kloker · Jul 24, 2020

Moving to Mobile Electronics section.

djjimmy · Jan 16, 2021

Hey guys I'm having (what I think is) a driver problem with V4A. I carefully followed the instructions @menstrud posted, but keep getting this message saying the driver needs to be installed. After clicking OK it says to reboot the system only to pop back up again in an endless cycle. I'm using the SuperSu, BusyBox, and Viper4Android versions posted above, and can't seem to figure out how to fix this. My car is a 2016 Honda Accord. Android Version 4.2.2 is on the HU. When I view the driver details in Viper is says Version: 0.0.0.0 , Status: Abnormal, Enabled: No, Audio Format: Unsupported, Etc. So that's leading me to believe the driver isn't properly installing for some reason. Any ideas?

Sound upgrade - replace eq with Viper4Android

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