What's wrong with the Bose sound system?
11-13-2012, 06:10 PM
#92
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Among other things I'm an audio engineer (post production sound for video). When I took ownership of my G last Friday, the thing that amazed me most was the quality of the sound at medium-loud SPLs. I listen mainly to symphonic/goth metal and I was amazed at the replication of the punch of double kicks, and this is with only bass and treble control. I guess it depends on what you are looking for, but there is no way that I could rate this Bose system negatively.
12-16-2012, 10:41 PM
#94
I added a parametric EQ in the signal path before the amps. Sounds 300% better.
Basically I boosted slightly the really low bass (the stock speakers and amps handle it very well) and boosted slightly the high highs to make it more crisp. Then I pulled out just a little from the upper midrange because those frequencies were grating on me. Everything is stock, other than the EQ. I run the head unit's bass and treb controls flat now. I've had some very expensive setups in my past cars, and this is very satisfying, albeit not "amazing". Stock system is very capable, it just needed tweeking.
Basically I boosted slightly the really low bass (the stock speakers and amps handle it very well) and boosted slightly the high highs to make it more crisp. Then I pulled out just a little from the upper midrange because those frequencies were grating on me. Everything is stock, other than the EQ. I run the head unit's bass and treb controls flat now. I've had some very expensive setups in my past cars, and this is very satisfying, albeit not "amazing". Stock system is very capable, it just needed tweeking.
Brian
04-29-2013, 02:16 AM
#96
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It is pretty bad
If there was one word to describe the Bose system it is "lifeless". Now I'm a mostly classical and instrumental music listener.
This "audiophile" system is heavily tuned for muffled heavy bass, which does not seem to go away no matter what adjustments are being made and there aren't many to make.
It lacks in equalization adjustments as noted elsewhere and the volume adjustment is also not fine enough so I seem to constantly have to adjust it because it is either one bar too loud or too low.
The sound lacks clarity, coloring and details. The soundstage and sound projection are terrible as the stereo effect simply does not seem to exist.
For example the JBL system in my wife's Camry sounds incredible next to the Bose. Even though the Camry is clearly more noisier car, the stereo system seems to deliver even the subtlest notes with crisp bass and high notes . And the sound projection is just incredible. With no fader adjustments, the sound stage seems to exist right in front of you.
This "audiophile" system is heavily tuned for muffled heavy bass, which does not seem to go away no matter what adjustments are being made and there aren't many to make.
It lacks in equalization adjustments as noted elsewhere and the volume adjustment is also not fine enough so I seem to constantly have to adjust it because it is either one bar too loud or too low.
The sound lacks clarity, coloring and details. The soundstage and sound projection are terrible as the stereo effect simply does not seem to exist.
For example the JBL system in my wife's Camry sounds incredible next to the Bose. Even though the Camry is clearly more noisier car, the stereo system seems to deliver even the subtlest notes with crisp bass and high notes . And the sound projection is just incredible. With no fader adjustments, the sound stage seems to exist right in front of you.
04-29-2013, 06:08 AM
#97
I'm no audiophile but all I can say is the Bose system has no kick to it. In one way there is more clarity to the system because I can pick out instruments and other parts of the music more clearly, things I have never heard in other cars or at home. Again, I have no high end systems anywhere in my life but I would love to have more energy to the sound and I'm not talking about adding tons of bass to the sound because I hate that. Nor do I just want to make it loud, the system can get loud but it's not enjoyable. I just want to "feel" the music as if I'm there in front of the band. I'm very interested in that equalizer setup MikeB did because it seems he found a relatively easy way to get that without having to do a lot of modifications to the system. Still can't believe this Bose unit only has bass and treble settings.
12-30-2013, 11:19 PM
#99
Registered User
Actually... my wife has a TL-S and the Acura Bose is much worse than in my G coupe. High end is terrible, soundstage non existent, no punch on the bottom end. All I added to my G37 was a side pocket sub (10" Alpine type R) and it sounds great. I know an audio shop where some guy spent close to 6K on a custom system in his G37... (dyne audio etc) I listened to it and it was only marginally better than stock sound with a good sub. Just my opinion... 
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<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>Thx
12-30-2013, 11:28 PM
#100
Registered User
I added a parametric EQ in the signal path before the amps. Sounds 300% better.
Basically I boosted slightly the really low bass (the stock speakers and amps handle it very well) and boosted slightly the high highs to make it more crisp. Then I pulled out just a little from the upper midrange because those frequencies were grating on me. Everything is stock, other than the EQ. I run the head unit's bass and treb controls flat now. I've had some very expensive setups in my past cars, and this is very satisfying, albeit not "amazing". Stock system is very capable, it just needed tweeking.
Basically I boosted slightly the really low bass (the stock speakers and amps handle it very well) and boosted slightly the high highs to make it more crisp. Then I pulled out just a little from the upper midrange because those frequencies were grating on me. Everything is stock, other than the EQ. I run the head unit's bass and treb controls flat now. I've had some very expensive setups in my past cars, and this is very satisfying, albeit not "amazing". Stock system is very capable, it just needed tweeking.
thx!!
12-31-2013, 02:09 AM
#101
Registered Member
12-31-2013, 09:18 PM
#102
Registered User
12-31-2013, 09:36 PM
#103
01-01-2014, 12:22 AM
#104
Registered User