Anyone here actually like the bose system?

[fran-s3]

Hey guys/gals!

Just curious more than anything! I've had my S3 for few months now with the full bose system and I have to admit I really rate it a lot! So really my question is does anyone else like it or is just me LOL?! Was expecting it to be far worse then it actually is after reading comments on here... Maybe I have low expectations LOL!

I've always had upgraded sound systems in all the cars ive owned, ok not award winning setups.. My ICE specialist has always uses american speakers (as he insists there technology are better than most, and from what I've heard I agree!) like ground zero components, and personally I rate the vibe subs which I've used.. which has always impressed me in my previous setups.

Im NOT saying my bose system is better than any of the setups I've had before because it isn't, but it definately a huge improvement over standard and personally enough for me to stick with it for a few years to come if I keep that car that long.

PS connected up my alpine x001-XDA head unit and it sound even better now! Much more clearer especially with the inbuilt specialist equliser setting it has on 'flat' funnily enough.. Well impressed!

 

[Beenie]

Same here, I had read a few post and was ready to rip it all out and start again, but it's really not bad at all!

 

[EssVier]

I like mine, had it a week now, and its a nice sound, with good treble and bass.
Me and my muso mate have a tune to test all my car's systems, Role Model by Eminem.
BOSE gets a second place to my Phoenix Gold and Focal set-up I had in my old 206!

 

[stoakseya4]

Absolutely. Turn it up to 30 (if you dare), and absolutely no distortion, doubt I can do that with my current Concert system !

 

[fran-s3]

Thanks for the feedback guys, glad it's not just me then!

 

[dualmono21]

NO !!!!!
The stock equipment is ok the bose equipment is little better mine was in the car about a week.
Where speakers are made makes little differance as essentially its copper wire wrapped round a cardboard tube which goes up and down on the end of a cone (the most differance comes from material choices from the cones themselves)
its HOW you install them and the ATTENTION TO DETAIL that makes the differance in any good car audio system
its very easy to pick the best (most expensive) of everything on the market but still end up with a mediocre sound system
HOWEVER its also possible to pick very cheap items off ebay and make a fantastic sound system for very little money

a little time and re-search and its possible to make an awesome system for less money than anywhere like halfords will have ever heard

 

[alijames]

NO !!!!!
The stock equipment is ok the bose equipment is little better mine was in the car about a week.
Where speakers are made makes little differance as essentially its copper wire wrapped round a cardboard tube which goes up and down on the end of a cone (the most differance comes from material choices from the cones themselves)
its HOW you install them and the ATTENTION TO DETAIL that makes the differance in any good car audio system
its very easy to pick the best (most expensive) of everything on the market but still end up with a mediocre sound system
HOWEVER its also possible to pick very cheap items off ebay and make a fantastic sound system for very little money

a little time and re-search and its possible to make an awesome system for less money than anywhere like halfords will have ever heard

Have you got any pics anywhere of your install?

Cheers,

 

[AndyMac]

The Bose system is particularly bad in the 8L A3/S3, not so bad in other flavours, so you need to be specific on the Audi model as it varies dramatically with the model.

 

[dualmono21]

this is a few shots of the latest incarnation of my audi
ive done a lot of installs in various vehicles but this is without doubt the hardest vehicle ive worked on

http://community.webshots.com/user/dualmono21

 

[fran-s3]

The Bose system is particularly bad in the 8L A3/S3, not so bad in other flavours, so you need to be specific on the Audi model as it varies dramatically with the model.

Arr ok, thought it was a generally regarded as a poor system in all Audis...

Scarily enough mine is the 8L S3! Maybe my car has had a brand new bose sub fitted at somepoint in its life time due to failure of the old one, (not spotted it in the history though) as it still manages to make my back window vibrate without any ratlely noises being experienced by a lot of people! I can confirm it's def a bose sub before anyone suggests it might of been upgraded LOL! The clarity and treble produced by the tweeters is good, def could be better though... Can't be bothered to replace the tweeter though, I bet there alll part of the complicated bose setup..

 

[AndyMac]

Funnily enough the tweeters on the Bose system are the same stock Nokia tweeters from the non Bose system, it's the only bit apart from the HU that isn't Bose

 

[fran-s3]

Really? Intesting!! Easy to replace or has it got some complicated wiring system that doesn't allow anything else? Nokia make tweeters? Never knew that!!!

 

[AndyMac]

Very easy to replace as they just run in parallel to the main speakers. If you want a dramatic improvement then just pull the HU and snip the earth wire going to the Bose pin on the back. This will return the flat lifeless Bose EQ to the much more lively sweeter sounding smiley face EQ that we all know & love. You'll get a much better response from both the treble & bass controls as well.

 

[SteveTDCi]

I hate the way BOSe boost the bass at low volumes, and tbh I think the bass that it does give out isn't very good.

 

[SteveTDCi]

this is a few shots of the latest incarnation of my audi
ive done a lot of installs in various vehicles but this is without doubt the hardest vehicle ive worked on

http://community.webshots.com/user/dualmono21

Thats a nice looking system, I like the tweeter builds

 

[fran-s3]

Very easy to replace as they just run in parallel to the main speakers. If you want a dramatic improvement then just pull the HU and snip the earth wire going to the Bose pin on the back. This will return the flat lifeless Bose EQ to the much more lively sweeter sounding smiley face EQ that we all know & love. You'll get a much better response from both the treble & bass controls as well.

Very interesting, thanks for that Andy! Does it matter if your running a non standard head unit? Funnily enough as I said earlier my alpine mp3 headunit makes it sound even clearer and punchier than the oem RNS-D sat nav audio system I was using... (it's not in my head LOL I had to turn the bass down below half way as some of my Hip Hop tracks were to bassy!)

 

[AndyMac]

No sorry, only effects the stock HU, but the difference in quality from the Alpine is partly due to the fact that the stock HU was strangled by the Bose flat EQ.

 

[dualmono21]

Thats a nice looking system, I like the tweeter builds

thank you its not quite as extreme as some of the other vehicles ive done
like my old seat leon
but to me an install has to match the car
audi,s are beautifull prestige cars so i wouldnt want to put loads of subs or six by nines everywhere.
this is a friend of mine "brian petrie"who lives close to me he is a little further down the road with his install than i am
but this shows you exactly what can be done if your willing to put the time and effort in
brian incidentally very kindly did all the aluminium work on my car as he is a british aerospace engineer by trade
http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=329&Itemid=1&ed=2

if you look at the pictures at the bottom youll see his a4

 

[Id]

No. Have the Concert 1 in my 01 S3.

Had it for 2 days and currently planning a nice subtle install.

Blaupunkt Bremen head unit
Eclipse 6" 3 way splits in custom pods in the front
DD 10" sub in custom fibreglass enclosure in the back left, removing the stacker and standard woofer, then using that area for a chunky 4ch amp.

Designed to tie in nicely with the overall look of the car.