HF_992

Hi guys,

topic has been up before, thought I’d add my thoughts anyways

Short version; when it comes to 992 specifically - strongly recommend to go for Bose (even if you’re not very into audio)

——

Ok…so I had the opportunity to fiddle around a bit this Sunday, got my own 992 (Bose), one 992 with base, and one with Burmester.

Together with a good friend and some nice coffee, hours listening to music a Sunday - could be worse



Apologize in advance for spelling errors etc, English is not my native language..

Before I start the comparison, I would like to level my reference; my home audio system consists of lower high-end components selected to work together, and is set up with some knowledge in room acoustics.
I’ve probably spent a lot less on gear than the most of the hard core guys out there, but like to think I know a thing or two about sound reproduction, hence this small writeup could probably be a valid comparison that 9/10 could relate to.

My opinion is not applicable to other 911 generations or other platforms (for ex Macan, Panamera, Cayenne etc), since I find that the upgrades on those (Base/Bose/Burmester) sounds very different and has different advantages depending on plattform / generation.

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The settings used

Fader & Balance 0/0 on all three (since I find that 0 fader doesn’t mess up the front stage too much as long as one stays away from the awful surround mode)

Sound conditioners OFF (using TIDAL Master/Hifi streaming and also hi-bitrate music on memory card)


Base system
Bass +1
Treble +3

Bose
Bass 0
Treble +2
Surround OFF (sounds catastrophic turned ON with some instruments appearing totally wrong located)
Linear ”for audiophile experience” ON (this reduces the boomyness a lot, but also cuts the low end a small bit almost like a sub sonic filter)

Burmester
Bass 0
Treble +3
”Pure” setting (equivalent to Bose’s ”Linear”, and also doesn’t mix up any surround-soup)

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Song listened to

Graham Nash - Better Days (2008 Stereo Mix)

London Grammar - Hey Now

RY X - Deliverance

Hara Noda / Wildson - I Am Better Off (jazz version instrumental)

Boz Scaggs - Thanks to you

Shelby Lynne - Just A Little Lovin’

Asgeir - Heart shaped box

Parcels - Overnight

Daft Punk - Giorgio by Moroder (from 03:33)

Steely Dan - Jack of Speed

George Benson - The Ghetto

Neil Young - Harvest Remastered - Heart of Gold

——

Base system presents a quite powerful proposition, with plenty of mid-base and reasonable high party factor. If no comparison is available, most people would probably feel it’s adequate for listening to low-res radio or background noise turned down to not interfere with PSE.

However, where the shortcomings of base really shine thru is

-stage’ing; voices and instruments are positioned at driver/passengers knees, and with a huge gap on the front hood where the action was supposed to take place.

-midrange sounds very harsh on acoustic material, treble more ”ok” but still not good enough to listen to in a critical manner.
The kick-snare on Graham Nash - Better Days doesn’t come close to natural, and most part of the sub-base on Boz Scaggs - Thanks to you becomes a non-articulated muddy mess.
Vocals from Shelby Lynne and Asgeirs take on ”Heart shaped box” feels like played thru a budget rental car or home depot kitchen stereo.

In my opinion not reflecting the overall price payed for a 992, and not providing a hifi-experience in any way.

——

Bose

This is where it happens, seems to me as the Bose-department really got a lot of free-riding from the Burmeister-guys doing the hard work (?) with the 992 platform.

Bose adding hi-fi to the base experience thru;

-proper stage’ing with vocalists and instruments positioned on the front hood where they belong

-very good integration between different components, no obvious blanks (for ex not able to locate subwoofer/low end reproducer

-sufficient amplifier power for the sound levels most people could come to listen to

-actual sub-base (though not overly powerful low-end, but totally sufficient)
Boz Scaggs, London Grammar and Daft Punk instantly becomes so much more interesting.

-clarity in treble I haven’t experienced in Porsche/Bose-systems before

-mid range sounds decent, the boomy feeling from Standard is practically gone

——

After jumping back and forth between Bose and Burmester for hours listening to the same material, we could conclude that the difference between the two of them could be seen as minor, also taken in consideration the non-beneficial environment with small cabin and reflecting glass, not to mention the road- and beautiful engine noise when driving. I personally needed to have the vehicles stationary and engines turned off to hear any differences.


Burmester

-sounds a bit more natural on vocals and ’organic’ instruments. Very minor though. I bit like removing a thin silk cloth from Hannah Reids voice on ”Hey Now”

-slightly better focus in sound stage, vocalists and instruments are placed with greater exactness.

This makes soundstage more realistic, and therefore even more of a hi-fi experience. Then question if I would’ve been able to distinguish that driving on the road? Probably not.



-couldn’t hear too much of the supposed magic spark of the AMT-tweeter. Could be that the amplifier limits the potential a bit. But the added third tweeter in the center speaker cluster seems to contribute to the two remarks above with voice reproduction and exactness in sound stage.

-could probably crank it a bit more..even though I would never do that (very high sound levels already). Days of boom blast are definitely over

——

Criticism, and some things one might find taken care of in more expensive OEM systems like Naim/Bentley and the bigger sedan vehicles with highest Burmester option (Panamera & S-klass etc)

-none of the higher systems manage to expand the sound stage beyond the a-pillar, the sound stage remains fairly centered lacking a huge amount of width

-none of the systems produce the details in treble and richness of a high-end home audio system (not surprisingly when even the Burmester-components are a lot less expensive than probably most high-end home audio components)

-all three systems naturally suffer from insufficient dampening of the doors and other body components. It would simply cost Porsche too much (and weigh too much..) to cover everything with dampening. That becomes obvious when you hear the powerful woofers rattle everything in this road focused sports car.


Best regards
/HF

Dan Nagy

Thanks kindly for this review. My build hasn’t locked and I was thinking about this today.

KCviper

Nice review/thoughts. Thanks for sharing!

Holli82

Thanks for your playlist. It sounded great on my home hi-fi

Brad911

Well-crafted and excellent English! I have the Bose in my new 992 (picked it up last Thursday). Both door woofers are blown or so it would seem ... heading to service center next week. Look forward to hearing what this system is supposed to sound like!

Can't wait!!

diononiz

I have a mid level system at home (B&W Diamond 804d3, HTM2D3 Center, McIntosh MC302 and MC8207 Amps and MC2500 preamp for audio) and have never heard anything in a car (including the Naim, Meridian etc) that sounds close to what I have at home. In a Porsche 911 with road and tire noise, I am not sure it would be a great place to listen to music critically. (unless the car is perhaps parked) I prefer to hear the exhaust and the engine, to me that is the true music in a car.

That being said, having done several back to back comparisons with home audio systems, the time, energy and focus required to do it is quite a large undertaking. I really appreciate this comparison and applaud anyone wiling to go to through this to provide feedback to the forum. Thank you!!

carson2

I went with base, primarily for reasons stated above (I don't think you get much of a quality audio experience in a loud sports car), and because I mostly listen to talk radio (sports/news/etc). Now I'm kind of regretting not at least stepping up to Bose - base is really pretty weak. Anyone know if the dealer can do that for a reasonable cost? Or would it be better to just go to a good car audio installer?

SDK Autos

Yep good review.

I have the Burmester, it is glorious but nowhere near the premium Porsche demand over the Bose. I managed to negotiate and get it for 1/3 the price, otherwise I would of stuck (happily) with Bose.

SDK Autos

Agree, I have B&W 802 Nautilus and 802 Diamonds at home with MBL250 amp (the Nautilus are much better then the Diamond BTW) - glorious speakers. Even the Burmester in the 992 does not compare.

Dan Nagy

I would be interested to know how (details) that negotiation was accomplished.

doug992

similar situation here.. my daily is tuned with Hertz Millie / Audiofrog / Image Dynamics .. i opted for the base system.. however i appreciate the dedication to this research

NigelPlays

I wish i had the 8 series Bowers and Wilkins. I only have the 6 series in my apartment.

Anyways my burmester was shaking today. Crazy base and perfect sound

Nero - Crush on you
Treble -1
Bass + 6

Let me know what you think.

Bluehorizon

Thank you for this detailed set of thoughts on the different audio choices! I also dig your driving gloves

slc4s

Is it weird that the better looking speaker surrounds justify some of the price for me? LOL.

still need to sit in a car with the Burmeister... the bose sounded ok to me but not great. Something tells me I'll react exactly the same to the burmeister due to the environmental constraints of making that system excellent.

I'm all for turning off the stereo and enjoying the motor but more often than that I'm in traffic and want the best stereo possible to enjoy in those moments. Just wish it wasnt as much of a premium over Bose price wise.

clutchplate

Why would you do a sound check with the treble jacked up? Any sound professional would bypass the eq altogether. You say the Burmester sounded "like removing a thin silk cloth" but the treble was at 3 while the Bose was at 2 so that could be your difference.