ironqqq

The audio system is the #1 factor in my decision for either the Sport or Touring Package.

As far as I can see it, the only differentiation between the 2 packages is addition of moonroof and Bose system. There's the mirror, but who cares. I'll probably end up buying a Broadway Convex to replace. So in effect it costs $1600 to add a moonroof and better stereo. I want the moonroof, but additional cost of buying the whole package and worry of the stereo system being a flop worries me. I could live without the moonroof too.

Does anybody have specs on the stereo? The presskit said that the standard system will be 4 or 6 speakers power by 100 watt head unit.

There was a comment on rotarynews.com that said the he was told the doors had 8" woofers in the Bose system. I find it hard to believe there's a woofer in the door. My question is whether the stereo will be good enough in the Bose system?

If someone had some specs on the speakers and amp and the placement of the speakers that would help greatly. From what I've gathered so far

The Bose system has 9 speakers as mentioned in the press kit. There will be 4 tweeters, one at each door and 4 midranges. There are 2 midrange in the front doors. Where is the remaining 2 midranges? Are they in in the rear door or in the rear deck? Looking at hte pictures of the trunk from the Detroit show, there does not appear to be speakers in the rear deck. I'm lead the believew the woofer is under the seat? Any speculator or even better, any facts?

I spent alot of time in my car. I do about 30k a year driving... and the stereo means alot. If this was anyother car, I would not care so much cause I could easily swap the components, but it's not gonna be easy on the RX-8, so this is why this plays such a large role in my decision. Plus the extra $1600 bucks for the touring package adds $34 bucks to my monthly payment. I sat in my friends IS300 and although the stereo had very good highs and excellent balance, it just didn't have thump.

Can anybody confirm whether the car has an indash changer? It appears to be indash because I see the "LOAD" button, but I've never dealt with indash changers before.

Perhaps I'm just making it too hard.

IWANTanRX8

If you want an early preview of the RX-8's Bose stereo, check out the Mazda 6 with the Bose. I haven't heard it myself, but I've been told it very impressive. Hmmm....wasn't there a thread on that subject from a while back? I'll have to do some forum archeology and come back later......

Hercules

Sorry to let you down, but it's a NINE (count it, N-I-N-E) inch woofer in the door, a two inch tweeter where door mirrors should be, 2 6x9s on the rear deck along with their own 2 inch tweeters and an 80mm center tweeter.

I posted it before, but here's the image:

Hercules

Let me also add, that if you listen to the Mazda6's Bose, I for one was pretty impressed with it.

Giving you an idea of what I run in my car, I have Infiniti speakers (8 of them, 4 tweeters, 2 woofers, 2 6x9s) and 2 12" polk audio subwoofers, powered by 1200 watts of Rockford amps.

Granted the 6 doesn't match my car in power or clarity but I was impressed.. it's got very good sound reproduction. What I look for is overall volume and clarity. The first, because I drive with my windows open during nice weather and thus I like to have the volume loud enough where I can hear the music. Secondly, clarity and let me tell you.. it's excellent. I can only tell you to check it for yourself.

With the RX-8 having more speakers than the 6, and special woofers in the front for midrange... I've no doubt that the system will be much better.

IWANTanRX8

Ah, here it is:

http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.p...highlight=bose

Sputnik

Well, if you look at the design, you will realize that the 9" speakers in the front doors are not subwoofers, but act like midbasses instead (not dissimilar to the BOSE setup in the Miata, which utilizes 8" midbasses), which will both limit their mid-range clarity and the ability to play low frequencies. There do not appear to be any dedicated subs in this setup.

The stereo does include a 6 CD slot-loaded changer (*shudder*).

The final answer as to whether it will be good enough for your personal tastes comes from you listening to it. Although that's admittedly kind of tough right now, you should be able to get an idea from the Mazda6 setup.

---jps

ironqqq

reading the previous thread about the AudioPilot in the 350Z it kind of scares me. This is gonna be a tough choice.

The base system in the RX8 is pretty much inadequate. I will no doubt switch all the components and drop in a sub. I will have to put a head unit in the storage box below the AC controls, at least 2 amps, 6 speakers, cross overs, and a sub. that will probably cost me at least 1000-1200 bucks to do. I'm worried about the 5.5x7.5 midrange. I'm going to get some custom fabrication or spend a few extra nights in the shop at work to make some panels or soemthing to mount 6x9's.

With the Bose system, I dont' see a switch from the pictures of console to turn off the audio pilot. That worries me. If I want to change components, I'll still have to do custom work to fabricate the frount mounting brackets. Having seen you guys rave about the great audio clarity from the Mazda6 Bose, I have no doubt about the clarity of the system. I'm willing to sacrify a bit of thump to hit the very lows. When I listen to Sir Mix Alots, Baby Got Back I want a little thump, when I listen to Orbital's, The Saint, I want to hear the rumble of the lows. Ok.. I'll just have to out and find a Mazda 6 this weekend and use that was my subjective test.

For reference, my system in my 96 Accord is a 200 watt JVC head unit, 6.5" Alpine 2 ways front, 6x9" Alpine 3 ways in the rear, and an Infinity Basslinke 10" powered sub in the rear. The Basslinke doesn't provide a lot of thump, a moderate amount, but it puts out the lows I need, a great compliment. The only grump I have about my system is that the front are much weaker than the rears.. but hte rear and sub sound great. If the RX8 system can provide at least the same amount of bass, I'm sold.

Like I said before, I spend alot of time in my car. I spend enough time to empty my 12 disc changer in 1 week of driving time and I relish my music. I spend about $60 - $100 bucks a month buying music. Though my system doesn't have to be top notch, it has to put out the lows and give me a little thump, just a little.

It's gonna be a tough one without being able to test the system before I buy.

Thanks for your input guys.

Jud

Chances are there is no button for audio pilot. My cougar had something like that. You pressed the volume button down for 3 seconds, or something like that, to activate it. It's been so long since I used that HU I really can't remember, but I do know there was no specific button.

ironqqq

I went to the L.A. Autoshow today and I took some pics of the console and rear amp. This car had leather, bose stereo, no sunroof though.

Here's the Amp located on the rear deck of the trunk. I think you can easily do all kinds of stuff with that group of wires.

http://www.ironchef.info/qqq/rx8/boseamp.jpg

And here's the center console. You can rip out that junk and put a single DIN unit there. I'm going back tommorrow to the car show. I'll bring a ruler with me.

http://www.ironchef.info/qqq/rx8/console.jpg

if we get the base model, do you think it will have an amp or will it be powered by the head unit? If there is an amp, it will probably be in the same location, allowing for easy modification since there will be pre-outs on the OEM unit. I'm sure a factory manual will be able to tell you which wire is which.

I know the bose stereo will sound good, but will probalby have crappy components, paper cones and what not and will go to sh$t in a very short period of time. It's still a dilemna.. I think it will cost at least $1200-1600 for me to install a custom stereo.. even if I did the work myself. If I get the touring package, I get a moonroof and mediocre stereo system that I can't modify (well, I can, but I won't have money to mod it).

Sputnik

The problem with BOSE systems is that they use proprietary setups. Which means that it's not just a matter of finding the right wires. The signals between the head units and amps are normally non-standard, making it a more difficult process than just wiring in an aftermarket amp. Same goes for the speakers themselves. For example, in the Miata (I know, I keep using that as an example), the speakers are 1 ohm speakers, not the 4 ohm speakers that we normally get with aftermarket.

If we get equipment that we can easily swap out, then great. All I'm saying is that we can't rely on that until we get our hands on it.

BTW, since you are returning to the show (I hope this isn't too late), would you be able to take a measurement for me? I'm merely interested in the distance between the "ribs", where the 6x9 and the amp are located (basically, between the two yellow lines that I've added to the picture I've attached). I'm interested in how much room is in there for installing aftermarket equipment.

Also, if you could get the width measurement too. Thanks.

---jps

Quick_lude

Are you talking about pre-out on the HU or the amp?

ironqqq

I didn't go back to see the car again. so no measurements. I couldn't get any dealer to give me MSRP.. so screw it. I'll just keep on saving.