Seriously, i would think that even a factory amped setup would sound a bit better than this.

Whats the deal, am i all alone in thinking the factory bose system is garbage? When i replace everything, will i be ripping out paper speakers?

 

And which car would you be talking about? My car's "Bose" system was so bad I'd just leave it off.

Bose is really around because of their marketing, aesthetic design, and the existence of cloth-eared gits with money to burn who can't tell the difference between a tape and CD. (Yes, I have a friend who asked what the difference was, and wants a Bose stereo.)

 

all you bums bought into the hype so live with the consequences!!!

 

But wait, isn't Bose the best? That's what the sales rep at <insert any big electronics store or car dealership> told me.

 

It has to be good because it costs so much.

 

I've never been impressed by Bose. I was wondering why everyone was so hyped up about it....guess now I know why (Bose's marketing team are geniuses)

 

I am one of those people that got hooked on Bose based on one of those showroom presentations at their factory outlet store. Prior to my Bose system I had a Fisher system that I bought long ago at May Co when I first moved out of my parents house. Hearing the Bose system made my Fisher system sound like crap so I bought a reconditioned Lifestyle II system. I was happy with it for a while, it sounded much better than anything I had owned before.

Then, I bought my TSX and upgraded my speakers. The sound quality of just the Avincar speakers was way better than my home Bose system. I guess if you don't ever hear good SQ then you don't know what you're missing. I tried adjusting the Bose system to sound more like my car stereo and I just couldn't do it. So, I started listening to higher end systems at Best Buy's Magnolia, the Good Guys (before they closed up shop), and Ken Crane's. This is when I realized how poor the Bose system was. I did my research and assembled a system that I am very happy with (Denon receiver & DVD/CD player and Wharfedale speakers) and even managed to sell my Bose Lifestyle system on e-bay for $550.

 

This reminds me of my mom and dad, my mom had to have a bose system. She paid a little more than a 1000 for it I believe. The bose in the rec room, but my dad has his pieced together system downstairs. It rocks the hell out of that bose stereo...lol...I cant stand bose and their fake, imitation surround sound...My mom now agrees that bose sucks...But their Ipod system sounds somewhat decent not for 500 though...

 

I happen to like my factory bose set up. hmmmm.

 

It's not like it sounds horrible or anything. It just won't sound nearly as well as a high-end system. The annoying thing about Bose is that so many people have been convinced that they are the best speakers on the market.

 

bose is OK in the home, but ive got Sony and Infinty for that... then as for my car, no bose, ive heard it in other cars..... better than some aftermarkets, worse than a whole hell of alot of um dare I say my old Infinity Reference sounded better, and I dont wanna hear another bose after taking in my new Focal K2s........... bose is definately for the older crowd that dont care too much and cant really tell the difference....... personally I never really liked um never will

 

i dont see what the problem is lol... im just fine with my Bose system and the subwoofer isnt bad, i think it sounds good for stock, of course it cant compare to aftermarket subs but to each his own.

 

funny that you mention that, because the only part of the bose system i like on my buddy's Mazda6 is the subwoofer, I mean its amazingly good for something thats a small black box on top of the spare tire........... I couldnt stand the highs, I mean they werent bright, they werent mellow, just a big mushy mess, and at the cost of some of these bose stereo options its better to go out and buy aftermarket stuff

 

Look at your average buyer of audio and they have no idea what sounds 'good'. I would never consider myself an audiophile, but I know what's crap ... and what's not crap (just like wine). Bose for most will exceed their expectations. For stock, my 2002 TL-S was better in the price range than the other cars that I sat in. The system was not the deal breaker for me, but a nice option that was 'standard' (I would have felt ripped off if that was the 'upgrade')

So ... to each their own. I'm sure if you spend (how many thousand) to upgrade the speakers, I'm sure your results will vastly improve. And furthermore, you can't compare home audio to car audio. Way more selection (and pricing) in home audio than car audio. At least, in my observation in Canada.

 

My mom happens to be one of those people who believe Bose is the best. The sound above average to me. I was planing to upgrade to Polks in my 3.2TL-S and my mom told me not to because Bose is the best sounding. She said this, of course, with full confidence and without having ever heard Polk speakers before.

Hell, I picked out the cheapest Pioneer speakers at my work, 2 6.5s and 2 6x9s in the back and they have more bass and sound crisper than the TL's Bose system with a subwoofer.

 

I have, and have had, several piece of Bose equipment. Some of it is superior; some crap.

Good:
301s
401s
Mediamates
Wave Radio
Triport headphones

Awful:
Center channel
AM3
AM5
901s (I know, sacrilege!)

It's really a hit or miss proposition. I've never heard a Bose car system that I thought was good. One sounded like a speaker in a hollow cardboard box. Lesson I've learned ... approach all Bose components/systems with an open mind. One thing though ... customer service has always been very good for me. YMMV.

 

Can you just replace the factory mids with aftermarket speakers with no modification?