Bose Stereo Woes

[Chris5150]

I have a 997 C4S with the premium Bose system, audiopilot, surround sound etc, lots of speakers. Is it just me or is it rubbish?, in fact I have never had a Bose system I liked at all. Previously had a 996TT with the Bose and it was booming and tinny, also a while back I had a Nissan 350Z with the Bose stereo, again I found it tinny & boomy. It is though in my latest car I find it most dissapointing, I mean its a March 06 car so I would expect a great stereo, especially when Porsche rant on in the sales paraphenalia about the inside of the car being permantly monitored and the vast number of speakers etc...so why is it so rubbish?..am I missing something here?.
Just got out of an M6 into the 997, and the stereo on the BM was superb in comparision to the 997....Bose is not a patch on Harman Kardon at all, in fact it seems to me Bose is living on a past reputation, as I have yet to come across anything they do that lives upto the hype.

 

[YvesD]

Dont know whether its just the fitment in the 911 but I tend to agree with you, its not very good at all when compared with other 'high end' systems.

Best car HI-FI I have had so far was the Logic 7 system in my old 535d. Absolutely superb and miles better again than the Harmon Kardon in the M3.

Mine seems to be music track ( genre ) sensitive, ie some play very well and others pants !


Yves

 

[okellyt]

Chris

One of my other sad habits is being a bit of an audiophile in my spare time - the bose systems presentation style doesn't suit all its a little bright and emphasises the dynamic side of the music played - making it not only very music sensitive but also a bit like marmalade, you either love it or you hate it

I have the Bose upgrade in my Boxster and it seems fine, much better than the basic or upgraded stereo. So I have gone for the upgrade in the 997 I have on order. The negative feedback here ahs me worried now.

Just spent some time with Mercs premium system in an 350 SL and that was pants - initally very impressive sound but evenutally tiring, not very natural and with very poor definition for individual instruments - I was pleased to get back to my Bose which gave a lot more detail.

I haven't had a BM since the E36 models but the stereo in that was particulalry horrid

In the prefect world you'd want Krell to do in car but I am guessing from the limited listening I've done to in car
stereo's the Mark Levesinson in the Lexus seems the best.

But if you like driving Porsches do you really want a Lexus? On balance I'd live with the Bose

 

[Chris5150]

Glad its not just me!....funnily the radio always sounds ok, but Cd's ummm not very good at all. As Yves correctly points out, some cd's sound ok & some sound rubbish, it is not good to have to be permantly changing audio settings from cd to cd just to get an acceptable sound. Its about time Porsche dumped Bose and used another Company for their in car systems, like I said I have never come across a Bose system in a car that sounds good. My other car is a 2000 Golf GTi, and it comes to something when that stereo sounds better and works better than the so called state of the art system in a £75k car....really struggle to see what Bose has done to attain its reputation, I would steer clear of it wherever possible!!

 

[nsm3]

I was talking to a colleague about this yesterday.

The BOSE in my Audi TT was fine but upstaged by the Harman Kardon in my M3.

However, the BOSE in the C2S isn't a patch on either of them - strange!

 

[YvesD]

In the prefect world you'd want Krell to do in car but I am guessing from the limited listening I've done to in car
stereo's the Mark Levesinson in the Lexus seems the best.

I'd echo that. Mate of mine has the current GS300 & the hi-fi is very, very good, at least as good as BMW's Logic 7 from what I can remember.

Yves

 

[marlin]

I think mine is very good,but then again I didn't pay for it for it it was in the car when I bought it, and my expectations were not too high[]

 

[mbrands]

The best car stereo I've heard lately is that of an Aston Martin V8 Vantage with stereo upgrade. Absolutely awesome.

 

[okellyt]

I wonder if there is a difference here - talked to a couple of Boxster owners with Bose upgrade, all like theirs. Seen the threads here for 997 owners and they seem less fussed

Is there a difference in the Bose stereo as implemented in 997 vs 987?

On the basis of how much better the Bose was in the 987 than the standard and upgraded setero's I've ticked the Bose option for my on order 997. I am beginnng to wonder if I've made a mistake....

Does any one have a view if the Bose upgrade is worth the money over the standard Stereo in the C2S?

Regards

Tom

 

[Black80XSA]

Tom,a lot of BOxster owners rave about Bose, but i can take it or leave it in my 987S - sometimes it sounds quite good, other times the surround function makes the band sound like they are playign in an aircraft hanger.

I guess it depends on your preferences in music and what you expect from the system, but its far from hi-fi, and probably no better in the car atmosphere than a £100 hifi would be in your lounge at home. Yes it sounds different to the sound package, but that doesn't mean better.

 

[YvesD]

I am beginnng to wonder if I've made a mistake....

Dont worry, its OK and I certainly would not be without it, there are better systems out there but to retrofit into your Porsche ? serious money.

Leave the box ticked.

Regards

Yves

 

[okellyt]

Yves

Ta - will keep faith with the Bose[]

Tom

 

[Guest]

I had the Harmon Kardon system in my Mini Cooper S before and it was slightly better and less distorted. Having had the standard Porsche system though, the Bose is just essential, especially in a roadster as otherwise you cant hear anything with the top down!

 

[Julio Geordio]

I believe I'm right in saying that the "standard" system in the 997 is the equivalent of the premium system (not the BOSE, but an upgrade from the then standard) in the 996. I think it's all right myself. It's good enough when I'm cruising along, and I usually turn it off altogether when I'm having some fun so that I can listen to the engine and exhaust.

Having said that, I'm getting an M3 next (when it eventually comes out) and I will be ticking the Logic 7 box for that.

 

[YvesD]

Having said that, I'm getting an M3 next (when it eventually comes out) and I will be ticking the Logic 7 box for that.

OI, Julio, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !

Logic 7 yes, but why the backwards step to an E90 M3 ? You know it wont satisfy on the level the C2S does, even if it appears as fast on paper. ( which I doubt as BMW will have to make it much quicker than the M5 which in itself is not as fast as everyone would have you believe, way too heavy see ).

Loved my E46 example to bits by the way.

Yves

 

[okellyt]

Julio

I trust that it is a new M3 as well as keeping the 997S - that would be good!

Had the premium stereo thingy on my 986S and couldn't hear it most of the time[], so went for the Bose on my current 987S, I found it a big improvement on motorway travelling for work which I do a lot of.

So when ordering the 997S I automatically ticked the bose box, then read the various critisism's on the forum and got concerned. However given everyone kind feedback, I'll stay with the BOSE []

If I am blatting down back roads the stereo is definately off![][][]

Thanks

Tom

 

[Julio Geordio]

Yeah, I know that the M3 won't "feel" as special as the 997. I've had the 997 for just over a year now and every time I drive it, I still have a big smile on my face, I love it.

However, kids are very much on the agenda now, so I have to be realistic, and the M3 will be more practical. Ok, I accept that it's not going to be the world's most practical car, but it should be an adequate compromise. They're bringing out a touring version too, which may be an option for me. The other thing which slightly disappoints me is that the a facelift is imminent for the 997, and that does p*ss me off a bit. This model has only been out for 2 years, and already I'm thinking I need to sell it so that I don't get lumbered with an "old" model.

Mind you, I put down my reservation fee in July '05 for the M3, and I read a couple of weeks ago that it may not be launched in the UK til Jan '08 now i.e. a 2.5 year wait, so I'm getting a bit hacked off with that too. Decisions, decisions.

 

[okellyt]

Similar thoughts here - but as the wife is a petrol head we agreed to get and keep the 997, which will allow child seats and limited storage for short trips and weekends.

We'll then buy an older cheaper car as the family transport - we'd be less upset if its trashed by kids, school and or tesco runs

You could buy an older M3 and keep the 997 []

Or sell the kids and buy a turbo [&:]

Tom

 

[Guest]

Bose is good value, but at the end of the day its not very much money in Hi-Fi terms - try upgrading to decent car hi-fi and you'd be lucky to get the amps for less than the price of the BOSE, let alone, speakers wiring install etc. I'm happy with it for the price I paid for it. Keep the box ticked.

 

[Chris5150]

Quote...
Bose is good value, but at the end of the day its not very much money in Hi-Fi terms - try upgrading to decent car hi-fi and you'd be lucky to get the amps for less than the price of the BOSE, let alone, speakers wiring install etc. I'm happy with it for the price I paid for it. Keep the box ticked.
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Sorry but totally disagree, the whole point of my thread was that I have found Bose stuff rubbish in every car I have come across it in. Also how you can say 'good value' is quite beyond me when the HiFi in a £20k BMW out performs the Bose stereo in a £100k Porsche. Like I say in my opening Post, I have no idea how Porsche can go on about stuff like the audio Pilot/Surround sound & huge number of speakers when quite simply the Bose stereo is second rate in comparision to many cars I have driven that cost half as much.