How to adjust the sound effects for the 10th-generation Civic?
4 Answers
The method to adjust the sound effects for the 10th-generation Civic is: 1. Press the center of the TUNE knob on the right side of the audio system; 2. Press to adjust the sound, and by repeatedly pressing, you can switch settings between bass, treble, front/rear balance, left/right balance, and speed-linked volume control; 3. Press once to enter BASS (bass control); 4. Rotate the TUNE knob to adjust. The 10th-generation Civic is a compact 4-door 5-seater sedan under Honda. Taking the 2021 Civic as an example, its body dimensions are: length 4517 mm, width 1799 mm, height 1434 mm, with a wheelbase of 2700 mm.
I've been researching the audio settings for the 10th-gen Civic these days. You can adjust the sound effects by going to 'Settings-Sound' on the center console screen. The factory audio performance is actually decent, but the default settings are too conservative. I recommend adjusting the bass boost and treble gain first. Setting bass to around +3 gives impactful bass without being overwhelming, while treble at +1 makes the sound clearer. Remember to shift the sound field center two notches toward the driver's seat for clearer navigation prompts. Use the V-shaped EQ mode for rock music, and MID mode for vocal-heavy tracks. There's a noticeable difference in audio quality between Bluetooth and USB - my tests show FLAC files via USB sound much better than Bluetooth from phones. Also, worn door seals can affect audio quality; if the sound still feels muffled after adjustments, check your sound insulation.
For the 10th-gen Civic's audio tuning, it's essential to consider different scenarios. During my daily commute, I mainly listen to radio and music apps. When highway tire noise is loud, I adjust the midrange to +4 to emphasize vocals and reduce bass to -1 to prevent booming. During quiet night drives, I activate 'Night Mode' which compresses dynamic range for smoother volume transitions. When using CarPlay for music, remember to disable Apple's built-in equalizer in the head unit settings to avoid conflicting audio effects. For enthusiasts considering upgrades, adding a subwoofer may require an additional DSP since the factory amplifier can't handle high-power equipment. For testing tuned audio, I recommend Utada Hikaru's 'First Love' - the improved separation between vocals and instruments is particularly noticeable.
When I first got my 10th-gen Civic, the audio system felt muffled, so I figured out a simple tuning method: Go to settings and turn off SVC (Speed Volume Compensation), as this feature only makes the music louder with speed. For basic settings, set Bass +2 and Treble +2, then shift the balance one notch toward the rear. The key is the custom equalizer: boost 80Hz by three notches to enhance drum beats, reduce 500Hz by two notches to prevent vocals from sounding harsh, and increase 2.5KHz by two notches to make guitar tones crisper. Use this preset for Western pop, and switch to Jazz mode for Jay Chou’s songs. When downloading songs with covers to a USB, converting to 320kbps AAC format via iTunes is much better than MP3. Adding a center speaker afterward is cost-effective—just 200 yuan solves the issue of a floating soundstage.
