Base vs. Bose speaker/sound
 

Hey,
Can anyone do a comparison on how both of these sounds?

Also, can someone tell me the locations of the speakers in both models?

Local dealer has no base Z's.

Thanks!

Are there 6 speakers in the Touring audio system, and is Touring an automatic upgrade to Bose? Also, any idea how many watts come with the Bose?

If I like nice sound, but I'm not sound obsessed, am I going to be OK with the Bose? I heard them the other day, but it was in a Z that was off and not moving...sounded pretty good...

I have yet to hear the Bose system. I wanted to hear it when I had the chance over at the dealership, but somehow missed that part.

Only two front speakers for the non-bose system huh? I'm assuming probably no aux ports for adding on devices as well.

Bose system was decent for stock. Nothing earth-shattering, obviously. What I'd like to know is, are the grilles in the rear positions still there, or do they have different interior panels there for the base model?

I am thankful I do not have to worry, or fuss with speakers or radios. I seldom, if ever, listen to the radio when I drive! If I do , it's a News station!

the base system, has an aux port on the radio itself.

it is funky to not have any rear speakers, but i have gotten used to not listening to music that much, that its ok.

well i went to test it out myself.
base has 4 speakers as you know.
one in each door panel and one in each side by the front windshield.

it does sound kind of weird when sounds are only coming from the front.

thus...i would get the touring.

I have a base Z.

As I have expected, the sound quality is not the best.

I am the kind of person who don't really care about sound system, however, I find myself that I need to upgrade to better speakers because honestly, its not really good.

I guess thats what you get for base..lol

I've got the bose system in my 370z, i expected the bose experience. As with all new car systems i've paid for it too is not worth the upgrade. Get the base knowing you are going after market. This coming from a guy who listens to more talk radio than music.

Bose is good, but not the best. If i could get money off with not having Bose i would. Then just special order awesome speakers and such.

Infinity Kappa or something.

Bump to save me from starting a new thread. :)

Purely in terms of sound, not taking into account the Base's advantage when it comes to ease of upgrading, how do the two compare?

There was recent mention by bigaudiofanat of the Base system sounding better than the Touring's. I just wanted those who have compared the two to opine.

I will explain why the bose system is worse than the base system. Yes the bose has more speakers and a sub and all. But it also has what is called "sound processing circuitry" What this dose is looks at the signal of music and looks at what parts will distort the speakers and what parts it can not reproduce. Than what it dose is cuts them out of the signal than amplifies them and sends them to the speakers. So bose knows there speakers can not take a lot of power nor can there amps put a lot of power out. That is why the put this in ALL there merchandise form car audio to HT systems. So those subs in the bose system are not going to put out much of any base. In fact I have hear reports that the base models produces more bass than the bose system. This is the main reason why the base model is better than the bose. Not even upgrading the speakers will help the problem as the amp and processor will still do what they are doing. There are many other reasons as well.

Indeed

+1 my G has Bose but i couldn't keep it stock.

What he said :iagree: Even if you get the base one you are probably still going to want to upgrade.

I agree with this, somewhat. Big is the man here so I'd trust his word of anyones but after listening to both bose and base I have to say it depends on what you want/like. I got the bose system and I've been kicking myself ever since. In my opinion it is a nice upgrade from base, but honestly if I would have spent the same money in an aftermarket setup I would have 10x the sound setup I have now. If you just like to listen to music loud, that sounds decent, with an OK bass hit, then the bose will be fine for you. If you're a sound nut who really cares about SQ, save your money, get the base, and do an aftermarket install.

Edit: Forgot to mention that if you do get the bose with nav/bluetooth/etc you will end up paying MORE if you dont like it, since you can't upgrade single components on it. From what Big and the others here have told me, bose is an all or nothing deal. You replace one piece you replace them all.

-William

Bose systems sound better than standard OEM systems (otherwise they'd not have a market entrance point) - but they sure as hell don't sound as good as a well-designed aftermarket sound system.

You would have to replace them all, but, you could do them in phases.

It's debatable which would be a better direction - but, I'd probably replace the drivers first, then replace the head unit/amp/crossovers,etc...

I have a touring and the bose sounds good for a stock system. If you want "good" sound the bose/touring is fine however, if you want REALLY good sound get the base or exclude the bose and upgrade.

I have sat in both base and bose models and listened to a cd. The bose system just faded out stuff as you turn up the volume. I mean what is the point to that if you want it loud.

Hey Big, quick question. Can you upgrade the Bose parts with better bose stuff? Looking around at prices if I wanted to completely replace my bose setup and keep everything I have working properly (nav, bluetooth, etc) it's going to cost a ton, is there such a thing as a good bose setup (bigger amp, better sub and speakers)?

Sorry to hijack the thread.

-William

Honestly it would not even be worth the time and effort it is all the same. And with the processor there it would not help ata ll. Also even if you were to bypass the factory amp and run the bose speakers off that. You can not do it because the bose speakers are a 2 ohm load you would fry your new head unit as they can only are stable at 4 ohms.

I have the base sound system. I put a Kenwood DNX9140 Nav DVD system in. It sounds great, but I want to make it sound as good as it can. I will replace the four speakers up front with nice 1 way components - but I plan on putting two ways behind me. I notice the car still has the grills in the back where the bose speakers would go, but are there wires I can connect too behind the grills?

The rear speakers have been discussed in anther thread most of us agree not to put anything there. Also I think you mean 2 way setup 1 way is just one speaker you have a tweeter and a woofer that is a 2 way. Yes you get a lot better sound from upgrading the head unit. No matter what you buy stock systems are nothing more than something there to play music. Even if it is the bose one it is not as good as what you paid for it could be.


Stock speakers vs aftermarket

http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/r...l/IMG_6039.jpg

As for the bose here is there sub amp now that thing can not push any sub hard. See the difference?
http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/r...ereoWork24.jpg

Lol :icon17:

Wow, I suddenly have a huge inferiority complex and really really really need to replace that bose amp before someone sees it. That thing just sucks lol

-William

LOL that is the thing though you can not just upgrade the amp if you do that you have to upgrade the speakers as well. Or you will have to use a jl clean sweep to integrate it into the bose system.

i didnt even see the bose until i was like "WTF IS THAT" lol ohhhh

I just upgraded my Bose w/ Nav this weekend with a pair of Focal 165VS and 1 Old 12inch Kove Armegeddon M Series DVC

I used the MTX Re-Q to and wired it to the harness that went into the factory Bose Amp to 2 Punch Amps. 1 600a4 and 250.1.

Coming from aftermarket stereo in my 350Z i was kind of worried of the SQ but it sounds pretty good to me. It's loud, it's clear, there's no issues with sound fading at high volumes. You turn it up and it gets louder without distortion.

The only problem i had was the remote wire wasn't strong enough to power on both amps and i had to run the remote for the sub to the lighter which really doesn't matter because as soon as you turn the car it powers up the amps anyways without the stereo being on so you can have sound for the navigation/voice commands.

If looking stock is important then get the Bose. If not then start from scratch.

I really wish Nissan would have teamed up with a quality aftermarket stereo company and put some real options into the audio setup. How nice would it be to have a system that really hits and not have to pull one door panel or trim pieces off. Hell I would pay extra if it was a quality system.

The Bose name for whatever reason some people equate to good audio.

Look at the picture above of the amp that is the size of a cigarette pack. OMG that is funny.

The base system is absolute junk, speakers can't handle any volume but hey I knew it wasn't any good when I bought the car. Definitely going to put a few grand into the audio which will make the car perfect.

They or no one rely does that. I mean even Mitsubishi and RF there systems are good but could be better. Most car companies are not interested in car audio they are more worried about weight and power. Even in there brochure they said "we have even shaved weight from places you would not think of like 5 pounds was shaved from the audio system" I mean that is directly form there words. Like I said the only real way to get a system is put on in yourself.

Vw has dynaudio sound upgrades.. Why couldn't Nissan use them. Would of been great.

Never heard of that and if they do they do not use much of it.

actually they are worried about cost. if you want good audio they know people will go aftermarket...like we do.

they will give you the bose quality audio as part of their
marketing scheme as a good system and for 99% of the
normal folks out there the bose will do it for them.

But in the z's case they are worried about weight like I said they said it right in there paper.

I just upgraded my base speakers with Dynaudio (with Precision Power 1000.4 amp) this last wekend and I am ecstatic!

How is the bass in the bose model? is it decent or horrible?

I have the bose and the bass is decent. I'm not an audiophile like many of the guys responding to this thread, but I have no problem with the bose set up.