Bose System Sucks?
 

Hey all, I got a new '13 Nismo a week ago with 35 miles on it. I'll admit I didn't compare the Bose system to non-Bose and just checked the box to get the Bose system. I'm listening to the stereo now, and I have to say...it doesn't sound great. I know it's a sports car so the stereo quality is likely an afterthought, but even with the upgraded Bose speakers I expected it to sound decent. Right now I think my 2004 Sebring sedan with stock speakers sounds better, honestly! There is more bass and fuller highs, while the Nismo sounds tinny with no bass at all. Even cranked the bass to +5 and treble to +2. Is something wrong with my system, or with my brain for expecting it to sound better than it does?

B.O.S.E = Buy Other Stereo Equipment

I checked out both the Bose and non-Bose systems systems before buying. The Bose system is less extraordinarily super unbelievably crappy, but it is still pretty crappy. My first mods were speakers/amps/HU.

I like a nice car stereo, though I cannot claim to be an audiophile. The car is the only place I can turn up the volume and not be interrupted, so I needed to upgrade. If Recaro made a combo racing/toilet seat I'd buy one so I could drop anchor in peace, but I digress.

Anyway, if you want something that makes noise that you can whistle to, keep the stock system. If you enjoy music, its time to go shopping.

The BOSE should only cost about $100 more than the stock system.

Did some more testing at lunch today. FM radio sounds good, satellite radio sounds muffled, and my aux port has tons of noise/hissing. I'm using a blackberry bluetooth adapter which is powered from the 12v socket in the center console. Is this normal? It sounds clear when the car is off, or when plugged into my phone (and not charging). But there is a massive ground loop hum coming from the 12v socket while the engine is running.

Welcome to your alternator (well usually) and/or interference from other things in the car (charging and such)

so $105 then?

It's really not bad for a stock system, and one of the better offerings I have heard from a Bose unit. From the cars I have owned in the past it is better than the Bose on a 350Z Roadster, the base and Bose from a C6 corvette, better than the Infinity system on a Eclipse GT or a Hyundai Tiburon, and tied with a new Monsoon systems from the F body Firebirds and Camaros in my opinion. It could have more power in the base department, but I can hear clarity and detail I have not heard in most other stock systems.

The Bose system is, by specification, a simple upgrade over normal. From experience however I can tell you, the Bose system is 10x better than most stock systems. I happen to be a bit of an audiophile and can honestly say that it is amongst the top stock systems I have heard.

It does sound like you may have some alternator interference. I suggest you comment that to your dealership, since it could be as simple as a bad ground. In general however, the system is designed to not sacrifice quality, for volume. I suggest you also check the EQ before you decide to entirely replace it. IMHO an additional 10" sub and replacing speakers with higher end and less distortion, and upgrading the amp is all you need to have a high end system. As a comparison: close friend of mine owns a 2013 STI, and his sound system sounds like s**t. Compared to the Bose system is like comparing in ear headphones to noise canceling headsets.

At the end of the day however, it's your car. So if you don't like it, change it.

Completely agree. The OP's system has something wrong. No bass? In a car with two subs?


The Bose systems in new cars have great sound....at moderate volume. Anyone expecting to have a thumper with this system will be very disappointed as the Bose electronics clip the sound at high volume to protect the speakers.

I would read up on this before making your choice.

http://www.the370z.com/audio-video/4...bout-bose.html

While I expect few to rate the Bose system as excellent it is a pretty good car stereo. Most (if not all) Bose systems are designed not for true fidelity (impossible in a car anyway) but for a sound that most ppl find pleasant (psychoacoustics). Apparently, you are not one of the most.

The Bose system in the 370Z was not designed for high volume (above 20 or so on the volume indicator). If you want to thump, you'll need a new system.

Actually not true. The Bose system doesn't even come close to audio quality whether it being a car or at home. A simple set of Polk speakers can blow the quality of the Bose paper speakers away. Read over my write up on them and it may explain why they are in more ways than one utter junk.

Depends on what one wants from a car stereo and what one's definition of "audio quality" is.

I have read many of your postings and agree with most of your criticisms of the Bose system. I just disagree about how important those "deficiencies" are in a sports car cabin. For the casual listening I do in the car, the Bose works great for me. I would certainly be less forgiving if it were in a larger, quieter vehicle or I wanted to blast my music at very high levels (anything above about 20 for my ears). YMMV

I guess I'm one of the minorities that appreciate the Bose system. At one point I "needed" 1000 watts of power pushing 2 12"Alpine subs with blah blah blah...and then I got laid and grew up.

Oh and I can speak for Polks; in 2 years time I sent 3 speakers back under warranty from a simple 5.1 surround in the house. Good thing they come with a 5 year warranty. So far one year with the Bose in the house and 2 in the car and no issues.

Exactly my point. While it may not be a harman kardon system, that has a cross over for each speaker and a unique channel per speaker, it is a good setup with quality until a point. Besides, if you wanted something ultra why would you expect a Bose system to be top notch? Spend the 4k it would cost to buy each component, and then spend another 1k getting it installed (assuming you cannot do it based on the description of your issues).

Polk? That is a mass produced/oriented brand. Sure, it sounds decent, but you are buying cheap.

+1.

Same here. I went the Kicker route myself, but after the 2000W system derailed my sunroof, and I got married, I got rid of it.

I've experienced said nuptials and copulation, but it hasn't changed my enjoyment of dual twelves one bit.

Unfortunate that Polk hasn't treated you well; I've done two recent vehicles (6 pairs) with Polks (in part) and have had no problems.

I didn't like the Bose system at all , but certainly do begrudge anyone who does.

Even a normal personal that listens to music at normal levels can hear a quality difference between bose and a normal system. I am a audiophile, I own way over 1,000 cd's and all music is ripped in flac for full uncompressed. I do not like massive amounts of bass I like a fully clear level sound production. A bose system which processes and omits many of the frequencies a normal set of speakers can reproduce is not quality in my mind or ears. If the system works for you great, however even in a altima or audi a bose system is still as bad to my ears as ipod earbuds.

Yes polk, bose is also a massive production company, over 80% of their speakers are just paper nothing better than a base non bose system. A set of polks actually has a silk tweeter rather than paper and a reinforced surround for the woofer for better reproduction of sound. I'd take polk over bose any day, now if you invest in some even better speakers (more than 100 bucks) than you will really blow the bose system away. 2 4 inch (speakers) in a trunk with a tuned port isn't a sub to me.

In an A-B test, yes, even someone with not-so-good ears can hear the difference. But few could tell you which is the most accurate. Yes, there are some ppl that have perfect pitch but they are few and far between.

I feel sure that your home system is fantastic. But we are talking car audio where the acoustics defy true hi-fi.

I have over 2000 LPs, just under 1000 CDs, plus numerous 8-tracks, cassettes, MD discs, &c. I get high-end stereo equipment for the house, where the environment is conducive to sound reproduction, but not for the car. Putting high-end gear in a car, especially in a small cabin like the 370Z, is like polishing a turd, IMNSHO.

But if your ears can hear that much difference and you are willing to replace the factory system then, by all means, go for it. We all have different ears and I recommend that ppl get the stereo that sounds good to them; not the one that sounds good to me or the salesman.

PS: I've never tried earbuds - I'm a headphones kind of guy.

Regardless of our individual opinion on how much we like the Bose system, the facts are simple. It is not meant to be a thumper system, and it is definitely better than the normal equipment (quality of head unit, amount of speakers, nominal watt handling rate, distortion at average listening volumes, etc).

Sounds like OP has some not ordinary problems. Lets agree to disagree. Oh, and OP, have you taken your Z to the dealership? I am sure they can check it out if you are not fully sure how to check your grounds and what not.

I checked the subwoofer in the truck and the screw holding it down was loose. Tightened it up and it sounds a bit better. I'm still using +4 bass and +2 treble though. Always below 15 volume, typically between 9-12. I can feel the air move out of the subwoofer port, and it vibrates, but it's not the best sounding sub I've heard haha. Guess that's what you get when you mount a sub on top of the spare wheel!

I think it depends on the sound source as well. I fixed the bluetooth hissing with a better 12v to usb adapter, and some internet searching shows that sirius radio does have a muffled sound compared to CD/FM.

Our cars have little to no sound deadening material. So unless this thread is referring to listening to music with the car not moving and the engine off, it's pointless.

I have the bose in mine and its worlds better than my 09 was. So ether your deaf, or your system/what your jacking into it are broken. Also, if you havent yet, use the eq settings, as the ones it comes with default make it sound like a 1980s boombox being played in a tunnel. could just be that BB too. I know If I play music off my Ipod its much better than if I use my phone.

Was your '09 stereo base or Bose? I'm assuming base but it could be read that the newer Boses are better. I like the Bose in my '09 Touring (not great but more than good enough for a small sports car) but it does suffer at higher volumes (over 20 or so).

What eq settings are you using?

my 09 was also a nismo. they didnt put bose in them till 13 except in japan......

Throw that Blose sh!+ away! LOL! O!-I just read that link that BIG Audio posted...sux for Blose owners....Always go w/base system, then trash it, and buy aftermarket. Drop => 3 $LARGE$....always gonna sound better than OEM...

I already went through my "sweet base bro" stage back when I drove a grand am GT at 16 years old. Now that ive grown up a bit.... honestly the bose system is fine. Besides, who wants 2 big dumb *** looking 14 in 35lb each rockfords with a giant amp and 20lbs of cable, matting, and caps in the car when your tracking it? you would have to be a complete ******* idiot. Also..... this car ALREADY doesnt have cargo space, so why fill the only little spot you can carry something up with **** that only serves the purpose of impressing OTHER people?

Guilty as charged on (almost) all counts;
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/03/e6e6y9u5.jpg

But at least I am more modest than one of my colleagues:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/03/a5eqa5at.jpg

Sadly what your saying here is very far from the truth. There might be some people that want what you described however doing a quality aftermarket set fo speakers even powered by an aftermarket head unit would have much more clarity over the bose system. That is why a lot of people say the bose system sucks. I myself am a huge SQ audiophile and want the most accurate sound i can get, bose doesn't even come close to that.

I am sorry to say but I test drove a 2012Z with the bose and the leather, and honestly I wasn't impressed. I looked on this forum and everyone didn't like the bose, or said it wasn't worth the upgrade and I agree. I am going to do my HU when I do my first oil change.

I have an 09 Touring that was purchased in Dec of 09. I have had zero issues with the bose system and I like it. When I want it to hit I just turn it up, I've never even messed with the bass or treble. I guess it depends on how critical you want to be, hell I had it turned up one day and was just cruising down the street to my buddys house and he could hear my music clearly from a block away. For a stock system I give it a thumbs up.

It might be worth going back to the original post (see below). The post wasn't a poll and didn't ask for a debate on whether or not the Bose system is any good. The question was whether or not the performance the poster was experiencing was normal for that system. Having heard the Bose and non-Bose systems, it sounds to me like the performance is pretty standard for his system; that is it is functioning normally and his disappointment in his system likely won't be cured without modifications to or replacement of that system.


Some of this is subjective (do you like what you hear in your system), some of it is objective (are the components relatively high quality and does the system faithfully reproduce recorded sound)? For many of us, we differ on the answer to the first question. The answer to the second question might well be no. Finally, there is the question of value - again a subjective question; is it worth having the system to get a factory install that is clean, neat, with a warrantee for the price you pay despite the short comings of the system (there will almost always be short comings). I think this is some of what Bigaudio was alluding to and the sorts of things he spoke of are what leads some of us to go non-stock, whatever the system our Zs came with.

Well said :)

I TRY to listen to my stereo but I invariably end up listening to my car....:)
I like every clanky little sound it makes, from the rear end whine, to the drivetrain noise, to the wimpy stock muffler.

Plus, I'm listening for ......changes......in the engine and drivetrain sound. But, after a minute I forget about paranoia and enjoy listening/driving.

Lol thats the exact opposite of what i do. Its annoying to me that the induction sound and tranny whine is actually louder than the exhaust. And wouldnt be so bad if the noise coming from said exhaust was actually good. Thats why i just ordered an ark dts. Little deeper tone then the FI and isnt PLEASE PULL ME OVER loud like the motordyne and doesnt make that dumb wheezing sound when u let off the gas.

I am not sure what your expectations were in the "Bose" option, But sounds like you are not very happy with what you have... Fortunately there are several options you can choose to better your sound using the bose amp and speakers, or you may decide you want to overhaul the full system...

Either way Bose system in your 370z is limited to it's capabilities... for some it is more then enough for others it is not adequate... It is your personal experience that counts. But what you are experiencing with bose is with in the norm.

Wicked C.A.S.*::*MAGIC BOXES*::*Nissan*::*370Z Corner Stage1 Package. Stereo system JL AUDIO

Above is a basic upgrade many 370Z owners opt for... No loss of space an much better sound then what you have now. Sports cars deserve a good sound... it makes them that much more enjoyable.

Is this what people with OEM Navi w/BOSE are using?