PAPorscheGuy

I have the optional Meridian stereo in my Range Rover Sport with more than 20 built in speakers, so of course I was initially disappointed with the Bose in my 911.

However, I’ve been playing with the sound settings and I feel it has dramatically improved the sound quality. This includes shifting the fader back to just behind the front seats. increasing the base beyond flat (eg +5), checking surround and unchecking linear. I highly recommend you try this before you consider replacing the Bose tuner and/or speakers.

PTS-BRG

You can tweak the Bose to your hearts content but nothing will make it sound good. Better than Horrible can be achieved, but it will never sound good.

LexVan

Next step. Buy MusiCar Tweeters.

ClassJ

It’s not that bad for me. Honestly the biggest upgrade most of these systems need is less background noise and better source material.

Sirius and FM are basically trash, we are left with CD’s and HD streaming as options. I have a few early 90’s CD’s that I feel sound better than newer options. They don’t sound bad in the car.

barncobob

BOSE sounds better the LOUDER it is..

spiderv6

BOSE is garbage in whatever setting you hear it. Great marketing company, horrible audio company.

Leave it all switched off and listen to the glorious sounds from behind.

Unless of course you are in a .2

rugu6869

My car has BOSE and it's not too bad. Of course, I only ever listen to a 3.0L twin-turbo flat six
I usually don't even have it on. I'm one of the guys who would opt for a radio delete.

Is the BOSE really that bad? When I have played with the settings, it did change the sound quite a bit, but it never blew me away.
I guess it's listenable.

Wolpertinger

I've never really had much more than basic audio, so I'm actually very happy with the Bose system in the car. My source is usually through Amazon music, HD whenever possible. Mind you I have tinnitus and hearing loss from 30 years in the air force, so maybe I'm not the best judge.

justabout

After ordering 3 Porsches, each with the Bose I rarely listen to music in the car. Not sure if the Bose caused that or I just changed.

Harsany

I had the Bose system in my first 991, now I have the Burmeister system in my current 991, I wouldn’t say it’s a ton better, but yet I didn’t find the Bose system to be terrible.

isugoo

Checking surround and unchecking liner do give bit more space filling fuller sound than other settings for sure.

I'm a fan of Bose for soundbar 700 series and their bluetooth speakers. Reasonably priced and sounds good for the price. But in the other hands, for 991, I see no hope.
Tried many different setting changes, checking and unchecking but I gave up.

I'm finally biting the bullet and moving to full front 3 ways + optional subwoofer on the deck.
A lot of money but I really hope this can bring me a joy of listening music while driving.

Jack F

Clearly we all perceive sound differently. Some say Bose is horrible. Some say it is excellent. Most say it’s decent. Some have hearing loss, tinnitus. The 911 is a tough car to get great sound in. No sound damping in rear and doors is a problem. The car was designed for a purpose and great audio was not on the list. Those that have applied sound damping to doors have said the difference was substantial. And this was with all factory speakers. This seems like a really cost effective place to start. As a DIY, it would cost $150. Paying a shop would be about $750. Someone on this forum applied sound damping to most of the interior and then said the car was too quiet and was going to remove it.

stout

Years ago, I bought a decent set of "higher end" tweeters and mids along with a clean amp, new head unit, and large bass tube for my college car, a Merkur XR4Ti. It was all on a college budget, and all from the Harman outlet in SoCal. Spent a few evenings in the college physical plant's parking lot installing it with a friend.

Funny thing was, the stock Ford of Europe mids were noticeably better than the Harman stuff with the new head unit and amp. So they stayed, along with the stock rear speakers as fill. System was very good…much better than my 991's Bose system. And I have to suspect the speakers in the 991 Bose system are better than stock Ford Sierra speakers were back in 1989.

I just wish there was a way to get a graphic EQ in or with PCM. The tweeters are on my list, but having the ability to adjust more than bass and treble might make a huge difference. The fact you have this big screen, and not only no EQ but not even midrange, is insane.

Upscale Audio

I use an Ipod and have a nice mix of music and put it in shuffle. You can use an app called EQU and use equalization to make big improvements, but unfortunately, the EQU has to "manage" the music so if you use the PCM to change tracks it goes back to the Ipod controller and the EQ turns off.

With a good parametric EQ you can make a ton of improvements. It can't make speakers do what they cannot do, but you guys should really try it. If you have any input on how to overcome the problem with skipping tracks let me know.

My Alfa Romeo for some reason lets me use EQU to equalize sound as well as the car controls to change tracks.

F355bob

I loaded a bunch of songs on a stick and transferred to the jukebox. Bose sounds pretty good ,much better than Sirius