Why are Bose systems hated?
 

I don't know too much about car stereo systems, but I do know people loves to bash the Bose systems. So I'm wondering what the reasons behind it is... because I'm guessing Bose is the apple of car stereos? I mean do they have decent products but you can get more bang for buck with other brands? I'm not an audiophile by any means but only problem I have with my Bose system on the 370z is that the volume cap limit seem extremely low.

We don't hate the Bose in our Z. Love the volume Auto-Leveling.

Bose = Buy Other Sound Equipment
Ok, past that, you are right, you can get more bang for your buck. Since the car comes stock, in the touring, it is a nice upgrade. I love my music (an audiophile with a budget), but for me, a car stereo system can be nice but nothing I would ever invest heavily in. The sound stage is never right, you are limited by many factors, and in this type of car I want to enjoy the ride (which can include music) but usually is actually the car I want to hear.

Because they broke like crazy on the Z32's and have a lousy rep of durability. They don't last long. And they are overpriced. Just look in the Bose store.

Like a LOT of of other brands of electronics equipment, the company makes a wide range of products from relatively poor to higher end models.
In the case of BOSE, they have had a poor reputation in older Z and G models for being imbalanced and of generally low quality (speaker failure sooner than expected).

The set ups in those cars were undoubtedly horrible. BOSE has made terrific sound systems, the one in the M35/45 premium surround package is a perfect example of this. It has crisp highs and rich deep lows through a 14.2 speaker set up. The standard model comes with an 8.1 BOSE set up, which is noticeably less balanced and true at higher volumes.

The point I am trying to make is that when people are saying "BLOSE" and 'Bose = Buy Other Sound Equipment" they are usually referring to specific set ups that haven't performed well. This doesn't mean all BOSE systems are horrible.

My 97' Infiiniti QX4 has BOSE speakers that are still working wonderfully and sound better than some of the OEM set ups in my friends BMW's and Audi's.


As long as the audio quality meets your needs then there is no reason to fret. Audiophiles will never be satisfied with a stock arrangement, but I'm sure they know not to expect anything to meet their standards.

What's the general feedback with the Bose system in the 370's?

I would like to know opinions from you guys as well! =)

The Bose head units on 350Z's (in the UK at least) are/were actually made by Clarion in France and have many reliability issues, especially with the CD player in cold weather and the amp packing up. If you contact Bose they say it's nothing to do with them - despite the unit having BOSE stamped on the front of it.

In terms of sound quality I'd describe the 350Z Bose as 'satisfactory'. The stock speakers are actually crap - same as you'd get in any Nissan. If they're the same quality in the 370Z they'd be one of the first things to remove and upgrade.

All in all, I think that Bose try to make themselves out to be something they're not, but they are a tiny bit better than your average car sound system. They are too expensive for what they are.

The other problem w/Bose is that it virtually impossible to upgrade components - they're all propietary stuff w/weird wiring, unique head units, spks ohms (e.g. 2ohms), strange size spkrs, they mount their amps near or at the spkr location, spkr output reflects builtin amp equalization. Pretty much the only upgrade is to pull the whole junk out and go custom otherwise leave it alone and listen to the engine tunes!

Bose is a marketing company. They use crap components in everything but their highest level professional studio level equipment. Nissan should stick with Rockford Fosgate for their upscale audio systems IMHO.

Mine sounds pretty good :)

Considering that it's a stock stereo, it sounds pretty descent. It's on par with my friends Lexus IS250. My expectations were that it would not sound like the 2-12inch W6s and Aftermarket JL-VRs I had in my 350Z but that it would sound as good or better as another stock stereo. I think the Lexus as something like 14 speakers and for the Z only having 8 it sounds pretty good.

Now if you want something to sound like a $3000 system then the Bose is not for you. I've spent enough money on stereos over the years and I think i am done with stereo upgrading. I am really pleased with the quality of the Bose. The bass doesnt' thump like 2 12s but how can you really expect that?

:werd:

In the 350z community, it's known as the "blose" sound system for a reason. Speakers are junk, if you've ever pulled them out. Not to mention parts tend to break pretty often. And you have to upgrade the entire system since the speakers are made with really non-standard impedances.

Example, after the 3rd replacement of the Blose subwoofer, my friend decided to just replace the entire system. Soon after another friend with the Blose asked the first if he had any recommendations on headunits. His only choices were to either replace the entire system or get another Blose head unit. :shakes head:

They might produce some quality equipment but from the applications I've seen, they are junk.

I have gone and actually purchased bose equipment for my home before. The speakers were awesome, great sound. But I've had a bose system in probably 3 of my cars now, and all of them have barely sounded better than stock.

Not an audiophile by any means but I really do like the Bose system in my 370. I certainly don't feel the need to change anything. I guess the only thing I wish it had was a little more bass, but it's one of the better factory sound systems I've heard.

This sounds promising! =) I'll throw in my opinions when I get my car next month.

M4 Stang, same here, it does lack some deep base. I was able to by equipment 10%below cost :tup:, so I got some nice stuff when I worked in an AV store five years ago:

In my current vehicle I have MB Quart separates powered by a JL 3004 amp and a JL CLS110RG-W7 powered by a JL 5001. Great sound quality. I listened to one song for 30 minutes before I got to the dealership; once there, I popped in the cd and was not totally sickened by the bose set up, it wasn't really that bad. I am OK with Nissan's bose sound system.

Bose is not bad for what they are, but they are expensive. Talk to any audiophile and they will spit on Bose as a "high end audio" company. Simply put, the only thing amazing about them is the amount of sound they get ut of their tiny speakers, the problem is, even with that kind of feat, it doesn't change the fact that they are tiny, and won't be very full or robust compared to other larger speakers that cost a fraction of the price.

As far as cars are concerned, they get the job done, but again, are way overpriced for their performance, and have issues with longevity. And trust me, if you think the hate for bose is bad in a car forum, you do not want to go to an audiophile forum lol.

"No highs no lows, must be Bose"

I am a complete and total audiophile - within reasonable limits, mind you. The Bose in the Z33 was a complete let-down of expectations after you read about the 10" subwoofer behind the driver's seat. It was a complete rip-off. Absolutely ZERO sub-bass from the subwoofer, I don't think it can play below 100 Hz and the rollof at 100 Hz is probably 30dB per octave. Just ZERO sub-bass. Worst excuse for a subwoofer that I ever heard. I am quite sure I could build a sub with a paper plate - glue on a bobbin with a voice coil and some foam surround and a basket and magnet, put it in an enclosure and it would sound better.

The 10" "sub" from the 350 is SO bad that My wife's base system gets more sub-bass from jusr her two front (door) speakers than I get out of my BLOSE "sub" on my 07 350z. But even with her system, you have to fade all the way forward so the rear speakers in the same non-enclosure as the sub don't mess up the bass response. One major problem with the BOSE sub in the z33 is they did not even try to seal the rear chamber off from the front. Remember your early days of car audio when you thought you could just sit your 6x9's on top of the rear parcel shelf or on the floor and then you realized that you could not create bass unless the soundwaves from the rear were sealed off from the front or they would cancel eachother out? Well, appparently Bose and Nissan never got the message in the z33.

I think the bose bass in the z34 sounds 100x better than the bass in the z33. and it sounds like the z34 has more power. My own complaint with the z34 has to do with the placement of the tweeters on the dash rather than the side mirror housings. The dash placement of the tweets really kills the imaging since you are now listening to the tweeters directly on-axis - it reflects off of the windshield.

So the z33 Bose has a better soundstage and imaging, but the z34 has 100x better sub-bass and gets slightly louder overall.

But overall, yes, Nissan needs to hire Rockford Fosgate to do their stereos. Or infinity. One of the best OEM stereos I have heard was in a rental Kia Amanti with the Infinity stero - nice!!! If infinity could do it cheap enough for the Kia, they could do it cheap enough for Nissan.

Nissan/Bose OEM stereos FTL!!!!

In Bose's sub/jewel cube home audio speakers, there are highs and lows, just no midrange!!!! listen to them back-to-back with some very reasonably prices NHT bookshelf speakers - night and day.

I used to be a car audio installer back in college and can remember the VAST quantities of early 90s maximas that used to come in with dead bose systems. The drivers were very cheap treated paper cones (fronts were tiny too). One thing they did do to help remedy the small, cheap drivers was to use a molded plastic ported enclosure to enhance the lower frequencies. The enclusure also doubled as a housing for an internal amplifier (the most common part that failed over time).

From what I've seen in general (including some bose bookshelves I still own) they start with cheap, inexpensive speaker materials as a base, but then build slightly better than average enclosures to help optimize the capabilities of said drivers.

So yea, they sound better than your typical plastic home theater in a box systems (or your basic car audio speakers which are screwed directly into the metal door skin without any sort of enclosure/baffle). But you can do MUCH better by purchasing decent aftermarket speakers and focusing on a quality install (<-- this is key!).

I'm not trying to bash bose as they are more than sufficient for 99% of the people out there. It's just that there is potential for so much more while spending quite a bit less.

I notice the Bose system in my 370 seems too quiet. I dunno, it's hard to describe. Not enough crisp highs and definitely a lack of boom in the base. I'm comparing this to the Rockford Fosgate system in my Mitsubishi Outlander which blows the doors off with incredible sound!

So I can upgrade the speakers/sub to another manufacturer or do I have to stick with Bose products?

You can always upgrade a system regardless of who makes it. A Bose system will just be a bit more involved and likewise, cost a bit more too.

Not exactly
 

You need to match the impedance of the speakers to the impedance of the amplifier that is powering them. Most after-market speakers are 4-ohm. Some subs are 3.2 ohms and even 2 ohms. The lower the impedance (ohms), the less resistance the amp sees through the speakers and the closer to a direct short you get. Good aftermarket amps can handle 2-ohms with no problems - some even 1-ohm.

Many OEM systems have amps and speakers operating at different impedances - usually higher than 4-ohms. so you should know the impedance ratings of the bose speakers and subs if you plan on only replacing them.

Usually no one knows what impedance the OEM systems are workign at and if you plug in aftermarkey speakers, the bose amp could get fried quickly.

Some folks replace them amp and subs both - there are aftermarket converters that convert the pre-amp signal from the OEM head unit to a proper voltage for the after-market amps and then you use your aftermarket speakers.

pac-audio makes such converters as do many others.

good luck...

sorry if this question was answered already but if I purchase the 370z w/ sport package and touring I heard that I won't be able to change the Bose system with another one or it is very difficult to.
is this true?
and is it possible for me to get the touring without the bose system because I like all the other features.
thanks. (:

is there a way to upgrade the bose factory system? like giving the thing more bass?

I also got tired of the stock systems in my 350Z and upgraded, in part because I really wanted nav and my car didn't have it. I wound up spending allot more than I wanted to, but the sound is really nice now!!

Wound up with three 10" subs under the strut, wickedcas door pods and sql speakers in all stock locations.

You should REALLY take the time to read the post right above yours.

my bad my computer is broken so I'm using my iPhone...

BOSE = Badly Overpriced Stereo Equipment

:hello:

all I'd like to know is
if I buy the touring can I still change the speakers and all the other stuff without any trouble.
I don't know much about audio systems at all but I just hate the Bose system in my 350 and I'm sure I won't like the one in the 370.

I checked crutchfield.com and it listed a handful of aftermarket speakers/sub/etc that is supposedly compatible with touring editions(BOSE.)

Now I'm wondering if it actually IS compatible or if it just listed crap that's compatible with the base model.

^bump

There are quite a few threads about this. I don't quite remember off hand. I believe the one is called DNX7140 I wanted it.

Basically to sum it up he had trouble finding a headunit that was compatible with the way the bose system is set up. I suggest that you get the molding for the base 370z that goes around the head unit. This molding is a very good fit for alot of the double din units. If you notice on some pictures the touring z vs. the base z have a different molding that goes around the headunit. Hope this helps

I really had to respond to this trashing with my opinion.
350Z Bose CD Changer was really bad. Mine was replaced 3 times under warranty.
370Z is a different story at least as far as quality goes. If you are a hooligan and looking for extreme lows then this is not for you. However if you are looking for high quality sound Bose would be the right choice. However to get the most out of the system you MUST use the CF card. You can transfer 350kbps mp3s and play them at an astonishing full quality. If you put the CD in, or XM or rip the song on the HD it will not do justice to this optional Bose setup. I don't know what stock system supports but my guess is not much more then 128kbps.

On my Bose with CF card I am hearing sounds in songs that I didn't even know existed. If you don't plan on using CF card, don't bother going for Bose.

Whats a CF card and is it a standard item in our Zs?

Yes, please give more detail on this "CF card"

I really don't want to rip out my bose system which I paid extra for. If there is a miracle card to really open the bose system up, I want details.

Compact flash card

Just a quick note about the CD v. XM v. rip.
The CD will be the best quality unless you do a lossless rip to your compact flash card, which it sounds like you have but CD is still technically better. I rip all my music at lossless WMA which makes it maybe 1% less than a CD quality but I am to lazy to get that 1% back. :P

Also, the base stereo can only handle CDs or Auxiliary input but the limiting factor is not the head unit but the speakers. They have no lows and the highs are pinched.