[Jereld]

I know the MKC comes with with Active Noise Control, to help reduce noise inside the cabin. What I am trying to figure out is if there is an on/off switch for it.

I am experiencing some road noise, and I am wondering if the ANC is working correctly. It doesn't seem any louder/quieter than other cars I have had, so I am skeptical of this feature.

I found the thread below, but it is from a year back, and there wasn't any resolution.

http://www.mkcforum.com/forum/lincoln-mkc-interior/23474-active-noise-canceling.html

I am just trying to figure out a way that I can temporarily turn it off, so that I can compare with it on/off. Or possibly find another way to confirm that it is working as expected.

Any thoughts?

 

[Honeyjack]

Sorry, no answer for you but wanted to comment that I find the road noise-LOUD.

It differs depending on pavement. Smooth blacktop is pretty quite but concrete roads/bridges?? Forget it! It's boarderline annoying.

I have a 2017.

 

[Jereld]

Thanks Honeyjack. I find the same thing with the road noise. Maybe I am spoiled by my noise cancelling headphones, and how good they work, but I guess I expected the active noise control to work a little better. I am hoping someone finds a way to enable/disable it so we can see what it is like with it on and off.

 

[LeeB]

I'm not sure that Lincoln's ANC is designed to lessen tire noise. According to this video, the MKC system attenuates "powertrain" sounds.

https://owner.lincoln.com/how-tos/vehicle-features/convenience-and-comfort/active-noise-control.html

The reference below limits ANC to engine sounds: "Active noise control heightens overall cabin sound quality by reducing unwanted engine noises while enhancing desired sound to help provide a more pleasant driving experience. Microphones monitor the sound profile of the cabin, which is then replicated and inverted by a signal processor to create an opposing acoustic wave through the speakers."

http://www.car-engineer.com/noise-reduction-solutions-2015-lincoln-mkc/

Why the system would be limited to powertrain/engine noise (if indeed that is the case) is a mystery. Who wants to hear tire or wind noise? Why isn't the system designed to squash them as well??

As someone in the other thread suggested, you could pull the fuse to the sound system (which apparently provides ANC) and see if there is a noticeable impact. I have never done so. I have, however, noticed a fair amount of tire noise on some surfaces. My MKC came with Continental tires. Tire Rack say Michelins are quieter. I'll switch when it's time to replace.

 

[Armstrongsmith]

Very informative thread.

 

[MKC4ME]

I find the MKC to be the quietest vehicle I have ever had. My RAV4 is much noisier, especially with 18" all-season tires, but actually better with the 17" Michelin winter tires which will be going on soon. I suspect you might be hearing more noise on certain road surfaces with the 20" tires than I hear with the 18" ones.

 

[Kyleg]

So do you need your stereo on but nothing playing if you want the sound system to do it's noise canceling thing? If you do have music on, I assume this is happening with the music (Added too)?

 

[midnite cruiser]

Most active noise controls ( I am sure true of Lincoln's) work best, almost exclusively against 'regular' predictable sounds. A mic system picks up the ambient noise and uses the sound system to emit a matched noise 180 degrees out of phase with the noise, which effectively cancels it.
Wind and tire noise don't fit that profile.

Lincoln owners coming from body on frame Town Cars are simply never going to get that rubber isolated cabin silence they loved. Unibodys can use semi isolated subframes in their suspensions-the tradeoff usually being detatched handling.

Engineers have a real challenge with "quietness". Low decibel measurements don't always translate to 'quiet'- high or low frequency? - rythmic (the problem above) or random (expansion joints)?
And, if they 'solve' one noise, the next type noise in annoyance becomes the one people notice and complain about.


I find the tire noise the toughest. My older Oct 2014 car dearly needs its third set of tires. Fairly quiet when new, they are getting slappy on expansion joints and one definitely has minor but noisy belt slip. From premium Michelins.

 

[kksam56]

Nice reply LeeB ; but the link seems gone
wish I could read and learn more

 

[kksam56]

Good to know this info MKC4ME; lovely to know MKC is the least noisy compared to the one you experienced. Wow
I thought Toyota may be less noisy; also good points on tire types being used (make, size, brands)
Thank you all for sharing the Knowledge !