[ember1205]

Originally Posted by jamala00

Ya, I can't find any documentation that GM changed anything with the Bose system in the Camaro from 2016 to present.

Dude... open your eyes... it's right there in front of you! It COSTS more now than it did before. That MUST be how they improved it!

[keep_hope_alive]

Originally Posted by Msquared

keep_hope_alive, I hope you start a thread on your build if you do one! If you're going to do separate mids and tweeters in the dash, then in the AF line I would think you'd want the GB25 and GB10 instead of the GS series. But I'm sure you already know that.

Thanks, Matt. I have extensive build logs on all my vehicles. You can see the previous vehicle here (being driven by my 16-yr old daughter): https://www.caraudio.com/threads/201..._alive.570687/
I'll do more than just a system, I'll go thru my extensive acoustical treatment process and it requires removing the interior entirely, only the dash will remain. Removing the windshield and liner put this process on a timeline that requires I drive my truck. While this seems like a perfect winter project, I avoid panel removal/install in cold temps due to cracking/breaking concerns. I don't yet have my separate project garage insulated/heated. My attached garage is, but I can't kick the wife out of it just so I can work on my car centered in the space. We'll see what the winter holds but my expectation is Spring. I also do wiring for classic muscle cars in a buddy's shop that is large and heated, but he also paints cars there and it's not really clean, very dusty. I could keep the car covered and store the panels covered, and maybe I do that... who knows what I'll feel like. I prefer working in my own garages.

I've met Andy W. and discussed his drivers and the design philosophy. Hybrid Audio has more success than Audiofrog, and I'm friends with Kilf K and Ben Z and can take advantage of their tuning prowess (along with my own). As an IASCA SQ judge, I've heard a lot of cars with the GB series. They are good. I've heard a lot more with Hybrid. I'm friends with Adam and Phil who started Karma but they don't have a small-format mid in their Allure series yet. The one thing that nearly all of the best cars in the world have in common is a front 3-way ran active with DSP. That said, your arrangement has gained a lot of popularity and has great success with imaging accuracy (for obvious reasons).

[jamala00]

Originally Posted by ember1205

Dude... open your eyes... it's right there in front of you! It COSTS more now than it did before. That MUST be how they improved it!

LOL... Kind of my point... "I paid more for my new car" So the Bose system has to be better right? I don't think GM changed anything.

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by jamala00

LOL... Kind of my point... "I paid more for my new car" So the Bose system has to be better right? I don't think GM changed anything.

There have been more reports on the 19+ cars sounding better than a mere placebo effect would explain. I'd love to hop into a newer 2SS or ZL1 just to check this out, I'm very familiar with the shortcomings of the original Bose audio system on 2016-2018 Camaros.

[Msquared]

Originally Posted by keep_hope_alive

The one thing that nearly all of the best cars in the world have in common is a front 3-way ran active with DSP. That said, your arrangement has gained a lot of popularity and has great success with imaging accuracy (for obvious reasons).

I don't doubt that at all. My particular "build" (I'd just call it an upgrade) had priorities to stay cheap, light (no sub, no significant acoustic treatment, etc.), and space-efficient. It was definitely far from an all-out SQ build, but it's doing exactly what I needed it to do, so I'm happy. I'll be interested in a real full-effort SQ build if you do one in spring!

[Idaho2018GTPremium]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

There have been more reports on the 19+ cars sounding better than a mere placebo effect would explain. I'd love to hop into a newer 2SS or ZL1 just to check this out, I'm very familiar with the shortcomings of the original Bose audio system on 2016-2018 Camaros.

Yes, agree. I’ve seen many people say they have had early Gen 6 Camaro BOSE and then get a newer 20+ and talk about how much better the newer system sounds. GM may not necessarily advertise the improvements made, could be just software or amplifier improvements. Who knows.

[pauly1119]

Originally Posted by Saberscar223

Right now thats the deciding factor for me getting a Fully Loaded LT1 or a 1SS is it worth sticking with the lt1 or will I regret not getting an SS. I just came from a base LT1 and the speakers werent the best but at the same time I cant afford a 2SS.

Is there anyone who’s experienced both?

It’s not a great stereo in my opinion but it’s good enough. I enjoy the mixed tones of music with the sounds of the exhaust. I would opt for the Bose option.

[pauly1119]

Originally Posted by Idaho2018GTPremium

Yes, agree. I’ve seen many people say they have had early Gen 6 Camaro BOSE and then get a newer 20+ and talk about how much better the newer system sounds. GM may not necessarily advertise the improvements made, could be just software or amplifier improvements. Who knows.

What’s funny about this is I think my C4 corvette had a better Bose stereo then my cars today. I have a few newer cars with Bose stereos and non of them sounded as good as my C4 corvettes going back to 1985.

[laynlo15]

I had a 16 SS without the Bose and had to upgrade with rear speakers and an AMP. My 2022 Lt1 has the Bose, it sounds decent but too much sound in the front and not enough in the rear even though I continue to adjust more that direction you still can't hear it very well. Plenty of power for my ear without distortion and pretty tight bass. So all in all its not bad. The Bose in my 2022 Silverado is dam good for factory so impressed with that for a factory stereo.

[keep_hope_alive]

Originally Posted by laynlo15

I had a 16 SS without the Bose and had to upgrade with rear speakers and an AMP. My 2022 Lt1 has the Bose, it sounds decent but too much sound in the front and not enough in the rear even though I continue to adjust more that direction you still can't hear it very well. Plenty of power for my ear without distortion and pretty tight bass. So all in all its not bad. The Bose in my 2022 Silverado is dam good for factory so impressed with that for a factory stereo.

All modern cars will have the majority of the sound up front. The reason is this: when you listen to things, they are in front of you. When you go to a concert, you don't turn around and face the back wall. You face the band. When you watch TV you want the sound to come from the screen so the sound matches the on-screen action. Surround sound just puts 10% of the info behind you, and it's just the ambience effects.

The stereo is trying to recreate the sound stage, and front speakers can do that (with a bit of tweaking and time delay since we don't sit in the middle). Front speakers can create a sound stage that places vocalists and instruments on the dash, which is the biggest benefit to the Bose System since it has a center. If you listen closely, you will notice that each singer and instrument is specifically placed across the dash. That is very intentional.

The idea that we have a wall of sound behind us is an old way of doing things, back when there wasn't any room for large speakers up front. But that wasn't because it was a good idea, it was just using available space. I've been in mobile audio design/install since the mid 90's, and it's been a passion the entire time. I've met plenty of people who are still stuck on sound being behind them in a car despite being in front of them everywhere else. I get it, it's just what some people love about a car stereo - it seems to come from all around them. I still build sound system for people that do this, because it's their car and they get what they want. I understand that it can seem hollow or weird to not have sound behind you when that's what you're used to.

Once you learn to appreciate a sound stage, and the realism of being able to pick out each instrument and each singer across the dash, it resolves the feeling of emptiness behind you.

[Camaro fanboy]

i was a hifi geek for 30 years. searching for that golden sound is very dangerous for your mental health lol..i went round and round in circles for 40 years. almost all hifi is complete and utter crap. more you spend it just gets brighter and more ear splitting.
in 40 years i never heard a system that made my jaw drop. i gave it up in the end.

[keep_hope_alive]

Originally Posted by Camaro fanboy

i was a hifi geek for 30 years. searching for that golden sound is very dangerous for your mental health lol..i went round and round in circles for 40 years. almost all hifi is complete and utter crap. more you spend it just gets brighter and more ear splitting.
in 40 years i never heard a system that made my jaw drop. i gave it up in the end.

This past weekend was world finals for automotive sound quality competition in IASCA, MECA, and EMMA. Every car there would meet your jaw drop criteria.

On the home hifi front, I really like Avant Garde or Wilson Audio speakers and Balance Audio Technology for amplifiers and sources. Granted, those are $100k+ audio systems.

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by Camaro fanboy

searching for that golden sound is very dangerous for your mental health lol...

Yeah, this thread is getting dangerous. Starting to make me feel guilty for not spending $2000 on a car I use for my 12 minute commute!

[keep_hope_alive]

Originally Posted by ctrlz

Yeah, this thread is getting dangerous. Starting to make me feel guilty for not spending $2000 on a car I use for my 12 minute commute!

The automobile is one of the few places you actually listen to music while sitting still on a regular basis. As such, it makes sense to invest in building a system capable of producing a proper sound stage.

People commonly set up left and right speakers everywhere else but never stay still equidistant from them to hear what left and right can accomplish. If you're not equidistant and still, you might as well just have a mono cluster (which I do in auditoriums).