We evaluated the Accord Touring’s 12-speaker Bose audio for staging, frequency balance, and road‑noise masking at a steady 100 km/h, using calibrated SPL measurements and back‑to‑back subjective listening on smooth and coarse asphalt.
Test car: 2024 Honda Accord Touring Hybrid on 235/40R19 all-season tires (36 psi cold), curb weight ~1,540 kg. Audio: Bose 12-speaker with Centerpoint surround and a dedicated subwoofer, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto. Measurement kit: miniDSP UMIK‑1 (calibrated), Class 2 SPL meter cross-check, REW for RTA. Source tracks: 44.1 kHz/16-bit lossless via USB and high‑bitrate streaming; cabin mic at driver’s ear height.
Highway runs were conducted at a GPS-verified 100 km/h, ambient 21°C, crosswind 5–10 km/h, HVAC fan at level 2. Baseline cabin noise measured 66–67 dBA on fresh asphalt and 69–70 dBA on coarse chipseal (A‑weighted, slow). Spectral analysis shows a broad tire hum centered at 180–250 Hz and wind noise rising from 800 Hz to 2 kHz. Staging is solid for a factory system.
With Centerpoint off (stereo), the image anchors firmly to the dash with a center lock on vocals; width extends to the A‑pillars, and image height sits just above the gauge binnacle. Centerpoint on increases envelopment and pushes width past the mirrors but slightly thins the phantom center on some mixes. Front passenger imaging remains stable; rear seats lose depth but maintain a coherent center. Stage collapses minimally with head movement—good driver tolerance.
Frequency balance measured at the driver’s position is pleasantly neutral with a mild V-shape tilt. Bass remains linear to ~45 Hz before rolling off; cabin gain fills the mid‑bass, but a 200 Hz bump (coinciding with tire noise) can cloud male vocals on coarse asphalt. Mids (500 Hz–2 kHz) are clean, lending natural timbre to piano and speech. Treble has a gentle lift around 8–10 kHz that adds air without sibilance.
Recommended EQ for highway: Bass −1, Mid +1, Treble 0 with Centerpoint off for best vocal focus. Lossless USB playback yields slightly tighter bass and better microdetail than wireless CarPlay; Bluetooth SBC/AAC is serviceable but softens attacks. Road‑noise masking at 100 km/h is competent. On smooth asphalt, spoken-word content stayed intelligible at 68–70 dBA at the headrest (about +2–4 dB over ambient).
On coarse surfaces, we needed 74–76 dBA average to prevent tire hum from veiling lower midrange detail; music with dense mixes benefited from 78–80 dBA peaks. The system retains composure up to ~88 dBA peaks before gentle compression audibly flattens kick drum transients. Centerpoint can help mask hiss-like wind components but is less effective against the 180–250 Hz tire band. Overall, the Accord Touring’s Bose setup provides convincing staging, a balanced tonality, and credible highway masking for its class.
For best results at 100 km/h: use lossless/USB sources, Centerpoint off, Bass −1/Mid +1, and consider quieter grand‑touring tires if you drive on coarse asphalt. If you prioritize whisper‑quiet cruising over dynamic feel, a vehicle with thicker acoustic glazing and softer-sidewall tires will net a few dB of extra headroom.
