Upgraded Sound Systems?

bpang1234 · 02-21-2016, 01:35 AM

So who is doing big upgrades to their sound systems? Bose or Regular?

I'm getting the Bose obviously but I am still curious if anyone will be looking into improving on it.

For instance, my current car has the Bang & Olufsen system which is pretty fantastic other than the subwoofer frequencies. So most of us have taken out the stock tiny subwoofer and put in 10-inch subs in free-air setups to great success. Wondering if the Bose system needs anything like that or more drastic additions to at least cover the audible range.

suzook · 02-21-2016, 06:04 AM

The stock Bose sounds great, but could use a little help in the sub dept.

laynlo15 · 02-21-2016, 08:32 AM

I've done the Memphis rear deck speakers with Memphis amp. Sound pretty dam good.

Lethalphoenix · 03-01-2016, 03:07 PM

Going all out with component JL's in front and JL coax in rear with 2 12" JL W6 subs in the trunk. All said and done should be about 3k with all the amps connections ect.

FlightSoftware · 03-01-2016, 03:14 PM

I know several people on here like the Bose. And it may be pretty good for a car stereo, but honestly I think at least some new speakers would help.

I have Axiom Audio at home, so I'm a little picky. But the bose in my 2LT sounds worse to me than the Shaker system in my '06 mustang. I'm going to try some higher bit rate MP3s just to make sure it isn't the audio source. The speakers just don't thrill me... I've played with the limited eq and it thumps ok, if that's what you like, but there's not much higher freq stuff... no definition, it's not crisp (to me).

Don't think it's the installation, or there's a problem. I think it's the typical "No highs, no lows, must be Bose" phenomenon.

bpang1234 · 03-02-2016, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlightSoftware

I know several people on here like the Bose. And it may be pretty good for a car stereo, but honestly I think at least some new speakers would help.

I have Axiom Audio at home, so I'm a little picky. But the bose in my 2LT sounds worse to me than the Shaker system in my '06 mustang. I'm going to try some higher bit rate MP3s just to make sure it isn't the audio source. The speakers just don't thrill me... I've played with the limited eq and it thumps ok, if that's what you like, but there's not much higher freq stuff... no definition, it's not crisp (to me).

Don't think it's the installation, or there's a problem. I think it's the typical "No highs, no lows, must be Bose" phenomenon.

Finally someone who I am looking for.

I enjoy having bass but I don't need a huge system like the other guy. Just appropriate additions to the stock system to get it up to a nice level of definition.

I really am spoiled by the Bang & Olufsen system in my Audi and I know that Bose has never really made anything comparable (at least from all the cars I've been in). At best, I hope it is just a change to better front speakers and better subs that would do the trick...I really don't want to deal with a full system if I don't have to.

Luigi91 · 03-02-2016, 02:39 PM

What irritates me the most is how much vibration there is in the door panels from the speakers. Really want to get a good 12-15" sub in the trunk to take away some of those lower frequencies from the Bose speakers.
I have found that you really have to turn up the midrange on the EQ with these Bose speakers to make them sound even decent...but once you get the EQ right, they are pretty good.

cellsafemode · 03-02-2016, 05:32 PM

With these oem setups, isn't a lot of the low and high pass filtering and tweaking of the equalizer (other than the dummy one they give you access to in the head unit) mainly handled by the oem amp.

It seems unlikely you'll be able to correct what you believe is wrong with the Bose system without replacing the stock amp so you have full control over the various channels and can undue the Bose speaker specific modification they are using since you are no longer using bose speakers.

if i were going to modify the audio system, replacing the amp would be first before replacing any speakers. Then I'd be able to correct the bias they have for front speakers and start from a clean state that I have full control over as far as filter sand sensitivies and bass boosting. etc.

ussj4brolli · 03-03-2016, 12:41 PM

i had an older Eclipse amp that was made by Bang & Olufsen and it was the greatest amp ive owned. I had 1 amp hooked up to 2 Eclipse Titanium Sw9122`s and my Camaro shook apart. I had an amp for the 4 upgraded speakers, too.

Unfortunately right now i am literally trying to figure out how i hook things up to my deck. I have a 1LT RS with a 7in and i do NOT have the rear amp, so im digging around trying to find out how these are connected and what i can do. I want two amps in my car - one .4 and one .1. I have the non-bose system so i "require" this to be crisper, cleaner, and louder.

AC48 · 03-05-2016, 11:07 AM

I'm also curious about doing some upgrades at some point to the audio system. Where is the amp located on the Bose set up? Does the 8'' head unit act as the amp for the system or is there a separate amp located somewhere else in the car? I'd love to be able to get at the amp and replace that while adding a small sub without having to tear apart half the interior of the car. I did that with my last car and granted it was an Evo, it rattled like crazy after tearing apart the interior to wire everything up and reinstall.

I'd like to play around with the stock speakers once a lot of the lows are taken care of by a sub so see if I could get away without replacing them. I had JL Audio component fronts and coax rears with a sup set up in my Evo, sounded great, would be even better with a car that actually has some sound deadening in it.

02-21-2016, 01:35 AM	#1
bpang1234 You can only YOLO once. Drives: '16 2SS & '15 Subaru Forester Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Albany, OR Posts: 1,677	Upgraded Sound Systems? So who is doing big upgrades to their sound systems? Bose or Regular? I'm getting the Bose obviously but I am still curious if anyone will be looking into improving on it. For instance, my current car has the Bang & Olufsen system which is pretty fantastic other than the subwoofer frequencies. So most of us have taken out the stock tiny subwoofer and put in 10-inch subs in free-air setups to great success. Wondering if the Bose system needs anything like that or more drastic additions to at least cover the audible range. __________________ 2016 Camaro 2ss -Summit White / Ceramic White -8A, NPP, MRC, Ceramic White package plus knee pads, black bowties. -1st Car to have the "full" SEMA High Performance Graphics kit from 6LEDesigns. -1st Car to have the 6LEDesigns Blade Spoiler. -Borla S-Type w/ custom H-Pipe -Procharger P-1X Stage 2 Last edited by bpang1234; 02-21-2016 at 01:48 AM.

02-21-2016, 06:04 AM	#2
suzook Drives: camaro Join Date: May 2013 Location: Stony Brook,NY Posts: 1,756	The stock Bose sounds great, but could use a little help in the sub dept. __________________ 2016 2SS,A8,NAV,NPP,MAG Ride,Sunroof Hyperblue/JetBlack

03-01-2016, 03:14 PM	#5
FlightSoftware Drives: '95 Corvette, '06 Mustang, 2LT RS Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 428	I know several people on here like the Bose. And it may be pretty good for a car stereo, but honestly I think at least some new speakers would help. I have Axiom Audio at home, so I'm a little picky. But the bose in my 2LT sounds worse to me than the Shaker system in my '06 mustang. I'm going to try some higher bit rate MP3s just to make sure it isn't the audio source. The speakers just don't thrill me... I've played with the limited eq and it thumps ok, if that's what you like, but there's not much higher freq stuff... no definition, it's not crisp (to me). Don't think it's the installation, or there's a problem. I think it's the typical "No highs, no lows, must be Bose" phenomenon. __________________ Mosaic Black 2LT/RS, V6, manual, dual mode exhaust, heavy duty brakes, adrenaline red, lighting and convenience package, black bow ties

02-21-2016, 08:32 AM	#3
laynlo15 Drives: 2022 Lt1 A10 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: clark, mo Posts: 8,882	I've done the Memphis rear deck speakers with Memphis amp. Sound pretty dam good.

03-01-2016, 03:07 PM	#4
Lethalphoenix Drives: 2013 SS// 2016 SS Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Stafford Va. Posts: 140	Going all out with component JL's in front and JL coax in rear with 2 12" JL W6 subs in the trunk. All said and done should be about 3k with all the amps connections ect.

03-02-2016, 02:39 PM	#7
Luigi91 Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 181	What irritates me the most is how much vibration there is in the door panels from the speakers. Really want to get a good 12-15" sub in the trunk to take away some of those lower frequencies from the Bose speakers. I have found that you really have to turn up the midrange on the EQ with these Bose speakers to make them sound even decent...but once you get the EQ right, they are pretty good.

03-02-2016, 05:32 PM	#8
cellsafemode Drives: 2016 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: California Posts: 3,522	With these oem setups, isn't a lot of the low and high pass filtering and tweaking of the equalizer (other than the dummy one they give you access to in the head unit) mainly handled by the oem amp. It seems unlikely you'll be able to correct what you believe is wrong with the Bose system without replacing the stock amp so you have full control over the various channels and can undue the Bose speaker specific modification they are using since you are no longer using bose speakers. if i were going to modify the audio system, replacing the amp would be first before replacing any speakers. Then I'd be able to correct the bias they have for front speakers and start from a clean state that I have full control over as far as filter sand sensitivies and bass boosting. etc.

03-03-2016, 12:41 PM	#9
ussj4brolli Drives: 2x 94:Z28s - 2x95:Z28s - 1x16:1LT Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Reno Posts: 232	i had an older Eclipse amp that was made by Bang & Olufsen and it was the greatest amp ive owned. I had 1 amp hooked up to 2 Eclipse Titanium Sw9122`s and my Camaro shook apart. I had an amp for the 4 upgraded speakers, too. Unfortunately right now i am literally trying to figure out how i hook things up to my deck. I have a 1LT RS with a 7in and i do NOT have the rear amp, so im digging around trying to find out how these are connected and what i can do. I want two amps in my car - one .4 and one .1. I have the non-bose system so i "require" this to be crisper, cleaner, and louder.

03-05-2016, 11:07 AM	#10
AC48 Drives: '16 2SS Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: NH Posts: 122	I'm also curious about doing some upgrades at some point to the audio system. Where is the amp located on the Bose set up? Does the 8'' head unit act as the amp for the system or is there a separate amp located somewhere else in the car? I'd love to be able to get at the amp and replace that while adding a small sub without having to tear apart half the interior of the car. I did that with my last car and granted it was an Evo, it rattled like crazy after tearing apart the interior to wire everything up and reinstall. I'd like to play around with the stock speakers once a lot of the lows are taken care of by a sub so see if I could get away without replacing them. I had JL Audio component fronts and coax rears with a sup set up in my Evo, sounded great, would be even better with a car that actually has some sound deadening in it.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password