Wankeler

Howdy all,

Just curious as to how many people still have their BOSE systems stock.

Is it stock cause you're satisfied with the sound or just haven't upgraded yet?


It's an OK system for a factory system I guess... it plays all sorts of stuff that *I* listen to adequately. I know it can be improved though... it sounds a lil muddy at times. I definitely have different settings I prefer depending on the type of music I've chosen to play for my drive.

If you have upgraded... what did you get/install?

Cheers

P.S. pics are always welcome!

mikeb

I like the bose but it has NO bass
I had 2 12inch JL w3 subs installed with audio bahn 600 watt amp and amp tray

mikeb

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KC_RX-8

Here's what i did to my 8.....

http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.p...threadid=11338

AfroCreame

THe Bose in the 8 sucks. It's muddy at low volume. Another thing that I've noticed is that 1 and 2 are too soft on the volume settings, but when you goto 3 it sounds clearer but it's quite a bit louder. I'll probably just live with it as I wanna spend money on other things.

Squidward

It's kinda sad that you upgrade to Bose, and then it turns out you have to UPGRADE again to be satisfied..

yeah, I'm in the same boat... but I don't plan to upgrade, on that principle.. I can live with the sound, it's decent, but not the best, but I simply don't like the idea of having to upgrade again.. almost embarassing to me personally.

mikeb

why would it be embrassing to upgrade

KC_RX-8

I'm with you here mikeb..... Some people just don't like the extra bass but not all subwoofer are made just to hear the bass..... mine is set to hear the thump and here every word as well.

Naginata

Still stock, and I'm pretty happy with it.

Previous system is an Eclipse in-dash with Pyle Millenium 6x9's in the back and Blau's up front, in a 93 Dodge Intrepid. So audiophile I'm not (in my car, anyway )

khoney

I'm happy with the Bose. I'm not at all into hip-hop, so it has plenty of bass for my tunes, which range from metal to classical. I have tried out some of my audiophile test discs, and have been pretty happy with the results. There is a dead spot in the low midrange, but that's probably due to the size of the interior. The muddiness at low volume I have found to be a problem with the AudioPilot, not the speakers.

Oh yeah, it does a decent job with a Japanese O'Daiko drum (can't get much more bass than from a 200lb drum).

But, a 3-minute drum kit solo from the Sheffield Drum & Track Disc absolutely blew me away. The percussion was not the least bit muddy. To say the bass sucks is more than a bit of exhaggeration, IMO. However, I do agree that you will not get the booming, shake-the-car-next-to-you bass that some people think is a sign of quality. I just don't happen to be one of them.

Squidward

sort of a principle thing... I guess...

I mean I just spent some money to upgrade to the BOSE system, only to take it home and swap it out for an aftermarket system.... unfortunately a waste of money in the end.

Efini 8

i think the BOSE is fine in comparison to other vehicles. I mean I had a system in my Celica with 3 x 12" subs and it was cool and all but I think my hearing is affected by such bass. its great to have hard hittin bass with those songs that you love to bump, but also I think I will allocate my money in other parts of the car first.

AfroCreame

For me, I could care less about thumb, bump, dump or whatever in my car. The point is that the stereo just sucks. This isn't the base radio, this is the ohh ahhh "Bose" stereo. It's lack of midrange, muddy at low volume, and other complaints are why it gets my thumbs down. Try listening to the Bose in the G35 Coupe, or the Premium radios in the new Expeditions/Navigators. Now those systems sound great and has all the thumps you want.

mikeb

I paided for a great car and now I'm paying to make it better and more unique

Squidward

I agree... the Bose upgrade in this RX-8 could be so much better.. the Bose upgrade for my Audi TT was awesome...

Driver8

Just added a Kenwood 10" enclosed subwoofer and am really pleased with the results. The Bose system sounds much better.

Now if there was just a way to redirect the tweeters a little bit. If you cup your hand around the tweeter to reflect the sound towards you, it's amazing to hear how much high end is coming out. It's just all being lost given their current position.

mikeb

please post pics of your sub
and you should do a search on the tweeter position because someone redirected their tweeters and was pleased with it

Driver8

Here's the Kenwood sub.

mikeb

nice
whats powering the sub

Driver8

It has an integrated 100W amp. Here are the specs:

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/product/pr...&productId=148

mikeb

nice, I bet it sounds great

Omicron

Dunno, I think it's pretty good for a factory system. I plan to upgrade the door pillar speakers, and MAY add a sub. We'll see.

But I do have a question for everyone. While I understand that bass is omnidirectional, if you just add a sub in your trunk (as most seem to have done) don't the back seats block most of the bass? Or are the acoustically transparent to low bass?

Thanks...

mikeb

omicron,
its just like any car
my back seats dont block my subs
My rearview mirror shakes from my 2 12's
dont worry about the backseat

Omicron

Thanks Mike, might have to throw a sub in mine just to see what it sound like... :D

bobclevenger

Mine is still stock and most likely will stay that way. It sounds fine to me. I record live music (a local Irish band) and the Bose system reproduces what is on the recording. It doesn't add gobs of overblown bass, but I don't want that. It doesn't produce ear-splitting volume, but I don't want that either. And I certainly don't want my rear-view mirror to shake! YMMV