Honda CRV 2.2 i-DTEC Innova Car Audio Review

Presented at the Geneva Motor Show, SUV Honda CR-V has made enormous progress of comfort from the previous model. We could try it for 1500 km in its high-end Innova, and enjoy the ride comfort. In this version, it has a fairly complete multimedia system and a hi-fi system with bass.

It lacks the video!

On board the Innova, one feels immediately Pullman in class with leather seats, its craftsmanship and rich sound equipment. With a well-encapsulated diesel and an automatic gearbox, it appears relatively quiet and comfortable. Only his mirrors generate a bit of wind noise on the highway, but not enough to be really annoying. And what comfort is all the more enjoyable, than the version Innova comes standard with a nice entertainment setup. At first turned on the radio, moreover we immediately felt the claw of a large specialist unit. Upon inquiry, the Honda satnav was developed by the domestic original equipment from Alpine Electronics. It benefits from the latest technology from the famous Japanese brand, such as compatibility with all mobile sources. To top it off, the CRV Innova has a system with 6 speakers plus a subwoofer.

Benefits: a good iPod control!

Let's start with the presentation of the source. It looks like a fairly standard handset with double DIN motorized front and 6.5-inch screen, around which will divide the main function keys. Rarest plants on the original, this screen is touch sensitive, which greatly facilitates the use of many multimedia features. Of course, this handset also has a steering wheel. Even better, it also has a voice command for the main functions such as telephony. The other highlight of this unit is its openness to mobile sources: he accepts it all!

This very good source has been developed by the OEM division of Alpine

Indeed, this handset has Bluetooth with downloading the phonebook and can store multiple phones (handy if you have a phone and a personal phone for work). In the small upper glove box, it has a USB port. It will control key and hard disks, but the iPod for the musical part. The graphical interface allows easy management of playlists just like on the iPod, with display lists of titles. In the central empty pocket, it also has an auxiliary input minijack for connecting the headphone output of any MP3 player.

This handset has a USB port can also play music from an iPod

The browser uses a built-in European maps on DVD-ROM. The latter uses an independent reader (housed in the double DIN), allowing the CD to the radio to always be free for music. For once, here is a constructor that does not make fun of consumers using outdated maps. This vehicle has an out in early 2010 maps last quarter of 2009. The functions are fairly standard and complete the wizard including roads, different methods of calculation, address book, ... To complete the picture, the CRV Innova is equipped with a rearview camera placed in the rear hatch. RDS tuner, CD player with MP3 capability, small equalizer, automatic preset radio stations, ..., basic radio functions are of course present.

In the empty central pocket is an auxiliary input minijack

For hi-fi, it has a facility to 6 speakers plus a subwoofer. The front channels use a kit 2 lane divided with 16.5 cm woofers and tweeters in door at the ends of the dashboard. The rear channels are content to full range speakers mounted in the rear doors. Finally, the subwoofer, operating in band-pass is located under the front passenger seat. Apart from the lack of video capabilities, this facility is relatively complete, and it's series! Let's see what it gives to use.

Discover and use: an excellent source, but lacking finesse listening!

The source is taken easily by hand. Compared to the latest sources aftermarket, the GUI is pretty bland, but it is very ergonomic and intuitive. We never needed the manual to use it. Only thing a bit special, the Bluetooth pairing in a phone is by the voice command and not by the menu functions of the unit. Once you know, it's not annoying, the voice command works great, fully recognizes the words. Certainly one of the best we've used.

This multimedia radio features a very effective voice command

It is mainly controlled by a USB or an iPod, which was particularly appreciated this unit. In fact, it uses the entire screen to display lists of albums or songs, and playlists can be managed like the Apple player. Too bad it does not display album covers for fun, because this iPod is truly effective control unlike some facilities that claim to original iPod compatible. Again, the ergonomics of this source is really good.

But without performing a browser camera alerts!

The rear camera has also been very significant. For starters, it starts as soon as we pass backwards, no need to wait for the soft start of the radio and no need to validate the security instructions (keep an eye on the road ...). In addition, it provides insight into specific parking in tight areas. It is also better to rely on it only parking sensors that give alerts too early.

The rearview camera is precise and starts instantly

Finally passions GPS. He proved simple to use, fast in computation and very precise in the guides. When changing direction on the radio, it splits the screen in two to display a wizard on the right of lanes very effectively. On error, it quickly recalculates a route to your destination. The guideway gives precise instructions, but perhaps a bit too early. All the usual functions of a GPS are present. It is unfortunate that this GPS cons do not have radar and alerts Text-To-Speech. However, it has a very effective TMC to navigate, taking into account the real-time traffic. It would also have liked a map with 3D landmarks for the fun side, but not essential. And then the mapping is accurate, and that is what matters!

GPS has proved convenient, fast and accurate

The RDS tuner and CD player are all that is most conventional. In addition to adjustment balance / fader and tone controls (bass and treble), the oscillator adjusts the level of the subwoofer. Now to listen, and we must recognize that for the original installation, it has been quite pleasant. The sound is dynamic and attacks are fairly straightforward. And for once, the subwoofer of origin is not there to decorate the car: it really works. The grave is firm, fast and rhythmic. In addition, the box being placed under the seat, the bass is well forward and easily localizable, which contributes to the pleasure of listening. While it does not like a big subwoofer subwoofer, but to listen to music very nicely every day, it is very effective, and this including on modern music.

The subwoofer has bowled by its effectiveness

For the rest of the sound spectrum, listening is quite alive and well modulated. You can raise the volume without worrying about favorite music for pleasure. But the mids are a bit of scale and acute lack a little finesse for audiophiles. Overall, it's a pleasant listen, but there is still a lack of precision that can disappoint audiophiles. The sound is pretty high, but the tweeters are too distant from the woofers. In everyday life, it remains nonetheless a pleasant listen for the general public, but fans prefer to change the way before a more audiophile kit and place the tweeters elsewhere.

In conclusion: 

This system is standard on Luxury and Innova versions of the ARC, but remain an option for other models. Overall it is a good system, especially the source. It is compatible with all mobile sources and manage very well the media such as USB drives and iPods. The GPS is precise and easy to use. And the touchscreen is nice, except for the volume, it is used more than the steering wheel. Critical issue is especially criticized the lack of video capabilities (or at least an audio / video), some missing functions (radar, Text-To-Speech) on the GPS display and lack of pockets discs. Given its qualities, the source should be preserved and be upgraded with a video interface for connecting a DVD player or TNT. This type of OEM video interface is easy enough on the market for aftermarket.

IPod control is handy with a real management Playlists

Regarding the sound, listening is generally pleasant and we especially enjoyed the subwoofer. He at once be efficient and be forgotten. It gives rhythm and texture to the music without being localized to listen. Having the bass right in front is very significant. In contrast, the HP lacks precision and subtlety, and really deserve to be changed. Since this is a location of 16.5 cm for the woofers and the doors were thick enough, it will be spoiled for choice on the market for aftermarket. Also to improve the quality of listening, it'll move the tweeters (platinum mirror panels). In short, this facility can be improved without major work and without much expense. But for the general public, we must recognize that it is really powerful: we have already tested the original facilities much more expensive, yet much worse! Finally, a photo gallery allows you to explore in detail the operation of the radio!

The HP before timbrent well but imprecise