Bose System....Safety/Your Confidence in it?

[K-Dash]

I have the bose system, and as much as i've heard plenty of complaints about its quality I love it, however, the only thing i am concerned about is how long it could last or what speakers should be the prominant ones.

Is there anything anyone does to preserve or improve the sound on their system settings.

e.g. fade to the rear by 3 to bring most of the bass away from the front. or is that not how it works.

 

[N8]

Me 2. I LOVE my bose, must be the must that people play out of it.

 

[PNH80]

I've never had any complaints about BOSE...But then again i've never been a car audiophile. I'm into my home hi-fi gear but the car stuff is a bit over my head.
All i know is that it's plenty loud enough, crisp and defined enough and has more than adequate bass response.
I've actually heard more complaints about the B&O system in the A5 than the BOSE in the A3. Also the BOSE in my A3 sounds better to me than the BOSE system fitted to the 997 Carrera....

 

[Matt]

If it goes wrong then I'll get it replaced under warranty.

Its a good enough sounding system for me when a CD is in. But the radio quality isn't so good. Maybe not much can be done about that unless it had DAB?

 

[Amchlolor]

I didn't have any problems/complaints with my BOSE set up either.
A bit more adjustment in the HU would have been nice.
Only way I could get it sounding good was to whack bass and trable up to max.
I'd love to hear the B+O set up in the new A4, for comparison.

 

[Staz]

I think there is too much volume at the very high frequencies. I have to turn the volume down sometimes on a song I know I normally don't have a problem with. I have tried turning the bass right up and the treble down but it doesn't really fix it.

I think my hearing is a bit messed up from years of shooting rifles and other explosions I have to endure!

 

[PNH80]

I'd also like to know what BOSE is like with a different head unit. I'm guessing if there's a weak link in the set up it's the Audi equipment...not BOSE.

 

[Amchlolor]

I'd also like to know what BOSE is like with a different head unit. I'm guessing if there's a weak link in the set up it's the Audi equipment...not BOSE.

You're 100% correct.
My MD fitted a different head unit to his BOSE equipped TT.
Sounded miles better.

 

[mac1403]

I have a Becker HU fitted to mine and the sound quality is awesome.

 

[SteveTDCi]

I'm one that doesn't like BOSE the bass is horrible, not tight and controlled the sub gets on my nerves at low volume all it does is destroy the sound. AS for preserving it ? why just turn it up if you like the sound the only way to protect it is to turn it off. As for fading it to the rear ... erm nope, if anything fade it towards the front unless of course you drive from the back seat.

 

[Gti Jazz Blue]

Well it isn't bad for a standard fit option. Much better is available aftermarket. There is a thread in the ICE section where I posted pics of the Bose components.

Put it this was I can feel the mid range from my Focal Utopia Mids in the front doors.

One of the best stock systems that I have heard is the one in my Mrs 02 MX-5.

Paul

 

[L60N]

I'd also like to know what BOSE is like with a different head unit. I'm guessing if there's a weak link in the set up it's the Audi equipment...not BOSE.

Changing from the BNS to the RNSe unit brought the sound to life in a way i really didnt expect.

It went from very tinny/trebly with little base to a very warm, vibrant, tight sound.

All to do with the internal amp me thinks. Others would agree..

 

[Gti Jazz Blue]

Changing from the BNS to the RNSe unit brought the sound to life in a way i really didnt expect.

It went from very tinny/trebly with little base to a very warm, vibrant, tight sound.

All to do with the internal amp me thinks. Others would agree..

What internal AMP the Bose Amp runs all of the speakers in a Bose setup, the HU only supplies pre outs. It may be that the NAV is a better quality source, which is why the TT Bose sounded better with a different HU. Take a look at my thread and the picture of the Bose amp it is tiny and runs all of the speakers.

Paul

 

[EAGLE79]

The BOSE system in the car is brillaint and should be taken on what its for. BOSE is a refined make that concentrates on clarity and sound reproduction.

It might not have the high end bass people want, but these people have normally slung a 12" sub in the boot of their previous motors..... its not design to do that and if thats what you want your better off not spec'ing BOSE and doing an aftermarket fit out.

Mine sounds the nuts and with little adjustments here and there depending on the volume sounds amazing.

 

[L60N]

What internal AMP the Bose Amp runs all of the speakers in a Bose setup, the HU only supplies pre outs. It may be that the NAV is a better quality source, which is why the TT Bose sounded better with a different HU. Take a look at my thread and the picture of the Bose amp it is tiny and runs all of the speakers.

Paul

oh.... can you link me??

In either case, the difference since changing really is night and day!

 

[Gti Jazz Blue]

Here is a picture of the Bose amp :-

Whole thread is here : http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?t=40815&highlight=56k+picture+warning

Paul

 

[PNH80]

Hmm, i'm not convinced about changing the HU not improving sound through the BOSE.
As i said above i'm no mastermind on ICE but i know my onions hi-fi wise....
An amp and speakers are only as good as the source media. The BOSE to the best of my knowledge is a power amp and speakers. The Audi head unit is the pre-amp i.e. controls the bass/treble/mid/volume output. Correct me if i'm wrong?
So changing the head unit has got to make ALL the diffrence. It's generating the route signal!

 

[PetrolDave]

The usual rule if you are on a limited budget is to get a great source first, then upgrade the amp and finally upgrade the speakers.

 

[Gti Jazz Blue]

I'm sure in some cases (like the upgrade to Nav) that you can get a better sound from the Bose set up by improving the source. There is a distinct limited though to the end quality, given the amp and drivers used in the Bose system.

The tweeters are the same as stock in a Bose system.

Paul

 

[SteveTDCi]

The BOSE system in the car is brillaint and should be taken on what its for. BOSE is a refined make that concentrates on clarity and sound reproduction.

It might not have the high end bass people want, but these people have normally slung a 12" sub in the boot of their previous motors..... its not design to do that and if thats what you want your better off not spec'ing BOSE and doing an aftermarket fit out.

Mine sounds the nuts and with little adjustments here and there depending on the volume sounds amazing.

But thats the thing BOSE does not do bass, people automatically relate bass to a big sub and thats not the case, BOSE trades on its name it doesn't mean that its any good.

 

[Amchlolor]

But thats the thing BOSE does not do bass,

The BOSE set up doesn't give great bass at low volume (standard is better for that).
But I wouldn't go as far as saying as it's got no bass.
I found the bass perfectly acceptable at higher volumes.
I play the bass guitar too, so I'm a bit of a bass fiend.
Proper bass mind, not thump-thump-thump dance stylee bass drum crap.

 

[SteveTDCi]

I find it too much at low noise too distorted it just sounds eurgh !

 

[Amchlolor]

I find it too much at low noise too distorted it just sounds eurgh !

You sound like the drummer and guitarist I play with.
Sharrap, I'm the heart of the band (turns amp to 11).

 

[Caesium]

My BOSE sounded 100% better with my 10" JL in the boot.

 

[Metalex]

I don't know if it's just my experience, but a lot of people with these ultimate sound systems aren't really fans of music.

 

[Gti Jazz Blue]

I don't know if it's just my experience, but a lot of people with these ultimate sound systems aren't really fans of music.

Err actually it depend of what type of system it is SQ or SPL personally I am into SQ and play a very rounded collection of music through my ultimate system.

Paul

 

[Amchlolor]

I don't know if it's just my experience, but a lot of people with these ultimate sound systems aren't really fans of music.

Unfortunately, a lot of these people are fans of forcing their choice of music on other people.

 

[Metalex]

Err actually it depend of what type of system it is SQ or SPL personally I am into SQ and play a very rounded collection of music through my ultimate system.

Paul

I wasn't really commenting on what sort of music. Just an observation that very often the people who go to vast expense are often the same people who would very rarely put music on in the house or go to a gig etc. Genuine music fans.

Unfortunately, a lot of these people are fans of forcing their choice of music on other people.

I just point and laugh at those types.

 

[newbiecrg]

For a factory option I think BOSE suits the bill!!

I am quite happy with it and the fact as no matter how high I cranck the volume... distortion is pratically absent!!

If you intend to go aftermarket sure there more options (also more expensive) but the BOSE is a tidy and quite good sound system for a car...

Pedro

 

[Amchlolor]

Has anyone heard the B+O set up in the new A4?
The Bose is now the middle option in that car.
Standard > Bose > B+O

 

[SteveTDCi]

I'd like to try the B&W system in the Jags, as for music, I don't get chance to go to gigs, but as for the home system i've spent enough and have it on as much as possible.

 

[Amchlolor]

I've heard the Mark Levinson upgrade in a Lexus.
That was outstanding.
But £1500.....

 

[EAGLE79]

But thats the thing BOSE does not do bass, people automatically relate bass to a big sub and thats not the case, BOSE trades on its name it doesn't mean that its any good.

Steve,

My BOSE system which i'm sure is the same set up as yours does bass. Now what i agree with is that it does not do all types of Bass well. This however is governed by the BOSE Sub set up in the boot wall.

There are many factors in setting up a system which all can effect the type of music you play. Some tunes will sound wicked on the BOSE whilst others may lack a little. By pure fact of where it is position means that the port design, box mass etc will not allow it to give a real weighty feeling like some one with an aftermarket 10" sub in a special made box.

That is my point.