It's all about perspective. For me, the quality of the speakers in the sound system was an absolutly miniscule component of the value of the Touring package. I can't even conceive of the concept of forgoing the Touring package because of a perceived lack of accurate music reproduction, even if I believed that that was true.

Sorry for the confusion. He was asking about the option of Bose so he doesnt have to do anything to the car... such as, getting an aftermarket system. I and many others feel the same.

Some peeps may not think the Bose is up to their "standards". I say its good enough, and better than stock. Don't need to go all out for a special or more expensive set up if its gonna be a loud environment anyways. Final point, I would say the Bose system its better than stock... which was the question.

Comes with dual subwoofers, auto-dimming mirror (which I hate), Bluetooth (I use everytime), etc. So why not?

Base<Bose<Basic Aftermarket<Mid of the road aftermarket<High end with sound dampening.

Bose will cost just as much basic aftermarket upgrade and sounds worse but saves you the worry of having someone you don't know rummaging through your new car.

If it were me I would save the money for when you are ready to get a real sound system.

The debate about Bose is never ending and no matter the detractors there still a market for them and they are still going strong. Bottom line is they are decent-good for their purposes.

There are many factors going into a system and not always the all ending "quality" of sound. Integration, packaging, price point, ease of use, etc are all factors as much as sound. There will always be compromises. Every vehicle is full of compromises. Agreements between designers and engineers to marketer to distribution must be made. Bose no matter the hate is designed to be "good enough" for the masses while fitting into the structure defined by the manufacturer. Are there better alternative? Absolutely!!! As much as "better" wheels, intake, exhaust, etc. than what's equip on our cars. Even the P1 has compromises, mainly comfort for performance.

All that said is don't knock it just because they are using "paper" cones. It works and that's what it was designed for. Decent sound quality while provide exceptional integration to the system. Is it great? Not to my standard in fact I think it's just okay but it works well enough in the Z for 75% of the time. A noisy environment that demands exceptionally higher db to overcome the environment. Something that the Bose is barely good enough to manage. But it's not bad and when taken into consideration of OEM integration, it is good. I have installed many system and have some serious plans for the Z but seems to be happy enough to not start tearing things apart.

If you don't mind doing some extra work, then I would go aftermarket. That will usually yield better sound. Keep in mind some modification will be necessary and by the time everything is added together (labor, parts, etc) it could be more than you are willing to pay. I'd say go and listen to it and if you're good with that and likes the OEM aspect go with it. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how it's made or what technology is used, how small it is, if the sound is good enough for you, that's all that matters. Your opinion is the only one that matters

He wants a Nismo- with or without "Bose Package" for $1350. Not after market... its just with or without.

Nismo, this is not the Base model which a lot are probably thinking about. Includes auto dim rear mirror w/remotes, 8 speakers and dual subwoofers, satellite and bluetooth all in that price. Yes, $1350 and done.

Bose = buy other stereo equipment ;)

If these bose pictures of paper cones are considered (quality) than I'm nuts for installing high end speakers made from different materials.

Those "tweeters" have no business calling themselves that. They can't put any decent amount of sound into the high ranges. They're big enough to fit an entire aftermarket tweeter into the cone.

So true and the bose home stuff isn't any better. People have been pushed into think their sound is (amazing) when it is anything but.

yah, bose makes good portable PA gear for musicians... like their towers.

im not sure about their headphones either.

Bose home equipment is absolutely awful. Thats how I began learning about them.

It actually sounds very good IMO. I dont need a competition stereo yet its wayyyy better than most factory stereo's. Great clarity, the sub can hit pretty decent with the right songs too.

I have a theory for the bose lovers that i was talking to my friend about. We are pretty sure it's the placebo effect that it's all in your head from the marketing. If I could do a serious double blind study with a base system in place of the bose system we are convinced that people would thing it would still sound (amazing) simply because it has the bose logo on the door. I have a german friend who was all about his bose system until I sat him in my altima with a focal setup. With him saying wow I never heard that in that song and the clarity is amazing. Ya I think bose has people brainwashed.

true..and not arguing with that.

but let's not forget not everyone's into sound or stereo's to begin with. it might sound good to them even if it's not an audiophile system. hell, normal folks are so messed up, they even think corolla's look good. :ugh:

I think you don't realize that there are a LOT of people, probably the majority, who simply don't care.

I went through an audiophile period when I was a kid. Built some nice speakers with Altec 891A's, EV horn midrange. Some nice dome tweeters. Fancy crossovers. Big old 400 watt Phase Linear amp. Turned up my nose at anything less than Sheffield vinyl or maybe Deutsch Grammophone. Now, especially in the car, it's rare that I even go to the trouble to engage music from my iPhone over Bluetooth. I pay Sirius $160 a year for their shitty compression algorithythms, but that's ok because I rarely listen to anything more intricate than Fox News.

I know great audio. I don't think Bose is great audio. I just don't care.

or that's it's good enough for most people.

The funny thing about people who loves them or hates them, they are the same. They have preconceive thoughts that does not matter in totality. The argument that it's shitty equipment because of paper cones, size, designed, etc is the same as arguing VVEL is better than pushrod better than VTEC, etc. It doesn't matter, there are limitations and advantages. If it works, it works. Bose works well most of the time, in most environment and situation with most type of music. Where it excel and that applies to most if not all OEM system is packaging and integration and dependent on the level, better acoustic tailoring for different trim levels. Remember the hated "equalization, processing, filtering?", there are reasons for it like reduce distortion, tailoring to different fabrics, keeping that 3 years warranty active all while achieving decent sound for most people.

People bitch and complains about how it's over price and whatnot and fail to realize that to replace it requires installation and associated cost not always factored in the equation by equipment alone. The axxess module, adapters, speaker wires, remote, power, labour all adds up.

Funny how many "audiophiles" decry them yet multi-Billion auto industry continue to buy into their ********. It is what is is and Bose do serve a purpose. It might not serve yours but I wouldn't knock them so readily. Absolute statements are never true and just because you don't like them doesn't mean it doesn't fit another person's needs.....I know what's good for you so let me show you why your tastes are wrong.:ugh2:

This. And the percentage will likely rise. One need to look no farther than how many people watch movies on their tablets or smartphones and are completely happy with the experience.

yep, kinda like you guys thinking those sushi sold at supermarkets taste good. lol.

Heh heh. Or who spend a lot of time, money, and headaches getting their Nav screen to display their DVDs instead of just bringing along a retina-display iPad and some Velcro.

I said earlier, for some people car audio is a hobby unto itself. I get that. The nice crisp, clean audio (until you start the car and drive away, anyway) is just a side benefit.

For me having everything conveniently installed and sounding decent makes it for me.
I was installing stereos and speakers since before most of yall's balls dropped, and for me it's just too much trouble to rip it all out and cram something else in.

Are you talking about your balls or stereo here?

I haven't noticed any Bose "lovers" in here. I think all of us who have "defended" Bose have acknowledged that it is not the system for everyone and that it is far from hi-fi. The point that we are making is that nothing you put in a car is going to sound "right" and you quickly reach the point of diminishing returns so why spend a lot of money trying to reach an unattainable goal?
Yes, there are people that are impressed by the name on the box but I haven't seen them in this thread. I don't care what it says on the label if it sounds good to me.

IMNSHO, it is the placebo effect that causes you to think that one can get hi-fi in a small car. It ain't gonna happen. Nothing in a car is going to be hi-fi. Throw all the fancy equipment at the problem that you want to but you've still got a crappy listening environment.

"If I could do a serious double blind study with a base system in place of the bose system..." You can't, so it doesn't matter.

But if you think you can hear the difference, then go for it. It's your ears that matter, not mine. ;)

BAF knows that a better (louder) system can be installed in place of the low end Bose head unit, that's what he's alluding to.
The high end Navi Bose is rather more difficult and people with those are happy with them as they realize the expense and the bother to replace/rip out the system hits the brick wall of diminishing return almost as soon as you realize that your HVAC controls visual feedback go missing when you remove the Bose Navi head unit. I can't testify as to how difficult crafting another display / adapter to replace all of that would be. I don't think in the 2 years I've been following this forum that I've ever seen any one do so for the Navi system.
For some irrational reason, the anti-Bose sentiment is almost as strong as the anti-Apple vs. the anti-Android camps.

that's funny cause i own Bose (on my G), ipodtouch 5, and android phones. :D not to forget, i also own a macbookpro and thinkpad.

Yeah I have all the flavors too, just like the iPhone for music management/consumption better than Android. I use my Galaxy Nexus for testing Android compatibility but use iPhone 5 / 5S for music / daily driver.

Can't wait to see the new larger iPhone. They finally got it, he he.

Oh yeah, FWIW, what is REALLY hilarious is most of the "famous" name brand makes, ALSO make the so called "sh*tty" Bose headunits for the OE installs.
Bose can't make a car audio head unit, they just aren't set up. All they do is specify the feature and EQ set, then the famous makers design it for them and sell it with BOSE on the panel. SMH
A classic example of the "Pot calling the kettle black".

There's a lot of cross breeding than most people are aware of.

I can't count the number of speaker, head units, cd changer head units, and amps from bose I have pulled because of failure over the years.

Whereas, see...what matters to me is that every car or truck my wife or I have owned since at least 1999 has had Bose audio and neither of us have had any kind of audio failure. AFAIk Bose is good to go.

Consider yourselves lucky, bose bends you over for replacements out of warranty.

By my experience, I don't count myself lucky, I consider it to be the norm.

I do, considering how many I've replaced in multiple vehicles in 8 years.

So....based on your experience I'm supposed spend the time, effort, money and replace my OEM Bose system even though it works perfectly for me, is on warranty for as long as I'll own the car, and completely meets my music quality expectations? I don't think so.

There's only one reason to go through the significant expense and/or headache of replacing my Bose system and that would be only if didn't perform up to my needs.

Your screen name declares clearly where you're coming from. I get it, and I respect your expertise. I, and about half the people who voted in this thread, Just. Don't. Care. No offense meant.

No what I am saying is if it works for you and it isn't broke don't fix it however getting back on topic is the bose worth it? No

Bose is not obviously worth it to YOU but obviously for Mac, its fine. When taken into consideration the integration, OEM packaging, price point etc, It's okay for me 75% of the time too. What some of us is saying is that given the car environment and use, the fine points of "sound quality" is being fulfilled fine.

What we don't do is go around and make absolute statements or express opinion FOR someone else no matter what our experiences or history in the scene have been. Some of us have been in the industry for years and we've learned that everyone's tastes are different - from the type of music to needs to usage and we respect that. Given their interest, it seems to be best to guide rather than direct. I am an advocate of letting them judge it for themselves and see if it meets their needs. There's no problem of demonstrating the differences but to simply state ones' point of view as facts is simply not accurate when one does not know what is important to the person who has the most vested interest.

Excellent adjunctive point....not the best quality audio system, but as part of the total Touring package, absolutely fine for me. Would I pay a little bit more for that package if they included a better sound system? Yes. Is Nissan going to spend that extra money per car to provide a better sound system? Absolutely not. They will always be more concerned about price point and unit cost than they will be about sound quality.

And, a neutral opinion from someone without a vested interest in replacing said Bose would carry more weight. I still stand by the facts that the same guys making Pioneer/Kenwood/JVC/Eclipse/Jensen/Roadmaster, all make the head units for Bose also. It's a very small world in the car audio makers, they all use the same factories and chipsets and DVD loaders.
BTW the same few factories also make ALL the speakers and amplifiers for ALL of the famous brand names also. How do I know all of this? I visit the factories in deep dark mainland China and talk to the engineers and see the "Famous" brand radios lying right next to the "Roadmasters" in the same factory hehe.

I like the Touring package also, especially the leather. But to some its a big "unnecessary" $5k option. The case of the OP is that he wants a Nismo, and the Bose package is only $1350, which includes:

Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Radio Data System (RDS)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
HomeLink® Transceiver
Eight speakers, including dual subwoofers
Speed-sensitive volume control

I still dont know how this is "not a good option" instead of stock radio.
I guess people love stock radio...:icon14:

That's exactly how I feel. I've ripped apart almost every car I've ever owned and frankly, I already grew tired of it.
What's worse, most of the time the aftermarket systems I would install or have install, would end up sounding just a tad better that the OEM's.
I have the BOSE w/Navi right now... Its ok

:icon17: u suck at stereo mods, huh?