I bought this car for how it drives (LOVE IT!) The Bose sound system was kind of a bonus (I got a GT) - I'm not really an audiophile... okay, not at all. But I know good sound when I hear it... I think.

I have a question that will serve as evidence to the above: How high can I turn the stereo up without blowing the speakers? Really, that's my question. When I drove the car for the first time (I've had it 10 days), I turned it up to 16 and thought it was great. Since then, I've turned it up to 23 and the mirrors look the old BigFoot video!

Also, does it matter what kind of music; e.g. rap, when maxing the stereo - I had an Eddie Bauer Expedition before this (top off line Ford stereo) that was fine at the "max" untill Eminem's new song (this goes back over a year) was on the radio every 45 minutes. The same volume level blew the factory sub the first time it played that song. I don't like Eminem anymore.

Okay, I've shown my ignorance and age (yeah, I'm a 30-something guys with thinning hair... and yes, my wife drives a minivan :) )

Thanks... and feel free to make fun of me for these questions... I would :)

-Mark

If you can listen to it at MAX vol for an extended period of time, your hearing may go out before the speakers :P

I listen to it up to 21 on days when Im on the highway witht he windoes open..

bose isn't great for LOUD applications rather high fi apps like classical music or lighter jazz (that is why the nickname is Blows/Blose)...my recommendation:

keep the bose and add an aftermarket sub...that way you can keep the bump bump bass down on the bose speakers and the BUMP BUMP into the sub which allows the volume WAY up without blowing the factory speakers

I ususally keep my volume between 20 and 25. When the windows are down and sunroof is open, always on 25. Never had any problems.

Listening to Live Phish, Bela Fleck, DMB shows - MAX sounds great
Rock - 20-25 has to be someone special to get to 25...like RATM YEH!!
Hip-Hop/Rap (which is Outkast or Roots, hate all the other Crap) - 21
Jazz - 18 (Jaco Pastorius will demolish some speakers)
Blues - 20
R&B - 23

oh yeh..and turn off Audiopilot...it messes everything up,..,.

I guess I'm the odd man out, my volume is usually off, but when it's on, it's in the 8-12 range :)

You guys didn't even make me feel stupid - thanks. I agree XeRo - 90% of rap/hip-hop sucks (speaking as the middle-age white guy) but every once in a while (beastie boys, Outkast, etc.) I'll give in.

Jason - don't feel bad... I'm usually listening to NPR and AM news... probably not what the Mazda/Bose engineers had in mind for this car huh.

Thanks... I'm going to go crank NPR at 26! ;)

We wouldn't do that. It would be the cat calling the poodle black.

You guys didn't even make me feel stupid - thanks. )

Jason - don't feel bad... I'm usually listening to NPR and AM news... probably not what the Mazda/Bose engineers had in mind for this car huh.
LOL, that is what I do - just news. If I want music, I use my OEM mp3 player. I was thinking about xm/sirus just to get more news stations...

I like to be able to talk to the person next to me, music or not. Loud noise isn't good for my 6 year old anyway.

oh well damn...when you throw the kids in the mix...hell no the volume doesn't go loud..

stays around 8-12..loud music not to good for 13 month old...even though she likes to bounce around to it...

oh yeh..i forgot the Beastie Boys...listen to them too..