Sound advice needed

It's nothing to do with the head unit, as they're all the same across the range. It'll be the Bose setup on the new model, i.e. the amps and speakers. I had thought the system would be identical but obviously not.

Well it's been said before, Bose is not really a premium system or a premium brand, it's just average at best. With the likes of Volvo providing DynAudio kit in their cars it's time Audi wised up as things have moved on a tad.

What amazes me is that loads of people think it's pretty good, even on the old A3 (which is the worst Bose system I've heard). Even the Bose system on my mates Cayenne (yes I know, don't go there) sounds average to me & certainly not worthy of a £50k car. They're very good at innovation, their Acoustimass system is good for what it is, their Wave radio & PA speakers likewise. But it's all at a compromise to sound quality, or maybe to be more accurate sound flexibility. There is definately a Bose sound, and if you don't like their take on what it should sound like then tough. Certainly in a car you need lots of sound flexibility to overcome road/engine noise and even more so today with MP3/iPOD sources providing further quality variations from the original recording. Every notch on the Bass or Treble should make an audible difference and ideally you want adjustable EQ even if it's just a range of presets, anyway I'm ranting as usual, nurse?

yep couldnt agree more lots of car audio companies out there whom are perfectly capable of putting together good sounding systems for car companies vovlvo and dynaudio is a perfect example
bose is a very well known name throughout the world as most people have seen or heard the lifestyle home systems

bose ran a competetion a few years ago to come up with a catchy slogan
for promotion of there products

"no highs no lows is must be bose "
"not even god knows why you choose bose "

funnilly enough these two didnt win

" Blatently Overpriced Stereo Equipment "
at a guess

my advice would be to seek out a car audio specialist as opposed to buying a kit from one manufacturer
choose the components and equipment wisely and youll end up with a system which not only sounds better than the bose but is also cheaper
than it is from the dealer
heres a link for you also which may help with many of your questions about kit and such http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/vbb/