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Bose made their name in the industry by combining advanced acoustical theory with entry to mid level drivers(on lower power) to produce a sound that was far beyond what anyone thought those drivers could do. This performance was a breakthrough during their inception, and it's what eventually earned them a spot in the automotive field.
Using low-cost components and elaborate speaker enclosures allowed them to keep production costs way down for the manufacturer. And with the Bose name growing popularity, they could charge a premium for the option. Anyone in business knows this is the ideal situation for any manufacturer looking to maximize profit margins. Problem is that the cost to manufacture quality speakers has gone down substantially since this approach was introduced, but Bose, in an effort to maintain their placement in the industry, still insists on the classic methods – they just aren't effective anymore!
That's not to say that Bose is worse than what it used to be(although I wouldn't argue that they're better by any means). In general, we have access to more high-resolution and high-definition audio sources than we ever have before. That means that our reference for quality sound has substantially changed since the 80's. Since what we understand about the music listening experience will ultimate dictate our satisfaction with a certain system, more consumer awareness is a bds thing for Bose in the long run.
If I had to make a random guess, I would say that Bose is going to survive in the automotive industry riding on the back of the US Domestic market. I wouldn't be surprised at all if within the next 5-7 years we see them phased out of the European market altogether.....(nor would I be disappointed)
I think they made their name in the audio industry with their miniature ceiling mounted speakers and average sounding bass modules which were meant to be hidden so a new listener would say wow... those tiny speakers sound great. But that was a long time ago and many still bash them because of those systems. If I want to listen to music critically I'll go into my sound treated recording studio and play a DSD disc, raw 24 bit tracks or sometimes vinyl. But music in a car is like playing music in my studio with the vacuum cleaner running so I have low expectations for car audio. If I can hear the bass with the top down and the highs don't make my ears bleed I'm good and the Bose is adequate for that.
There's an old audiophile saying. "Friends don't let friends buy Bose", which is similar to a saying in the service industry; "Sometimes when you pay peanuts, you get monkeys". Unfortunately the Bose in a Porsche costs more than peanuts, but it still Blows.
Strange isn't it? The 718 Boxster outperforms anything in its class (by most evaluations--including mine) and people add a stereo system that underperforms in most ways except by the quality of their advertising.
I bought Bose 901s in 1977 after being impressed by the bass (ah, youth). It wasn't until later that I realised it was very unrealistic and overblown and the required equaliser detracted from the music even further.
My daughter's purchase of a minimal system whose whole cost was less than my speaker's cost sealed my dissatisfaction. As I set up her system in her bedroom I knew that the MUSIC sounded better there than in front of the 901s. When Bose offered an almost-no-cost upgrade to the newest model because the speaker surrounds perished completely (yes, all 18 drivers!) I took it and sold them immediately.
Sometimes age and experience do lead to a bit of wisdom.
Bose sounds crappy as you pick up the Porsche, so you have to adjust the sound and Bose setting. Once tuned, it sounds great. You should get at least the Bose option. Don't drive around with a transistor radio.
___________________________
Present:
2017 Cayman, Graphite Blue
2014 VW Jetta GLI Autobahn, Silver
2009 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, Silver -- Gone 4-wheeling, rock crawling and camping at Moab, Utah x 6.
Gone, but Not Forgotten:
2009 Mercedes Benz SLK280
2004 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
1999 Audi A4
1992 VW Jetta
From: On a pygmy pony over by the dental floss bush
Originally Posted by thunderstrike
Bose sounds crappy as you pick up the Porsche, so you have to adjust the sound and Bose setting. Once tuned, it sounds great. You should get at least the Bose option. Don't drive around with a transistor radio.
I've tried all adjustments on the Bose system in my 981 BS and to my ears it never sounded as good as the non-Bose system in the GT4 I had. I was driving both cars back to back for a while before I sold the GT4, using the same music source, so the comparisons were relevant from my perspective. It has nothing to do with the interior space of the cars (Boxster vs. Cayman), it has everything to do with the speakers, mounting for the speakers, and the electronics driving them.
There are better aftermarket alternative then bose imho.
But for resale value it may be a wise option to chose. You can always have an aftermarket upgrade from the bose package if it is disappointing. The advantage is you already have the amps installed and probably only need a speaker upgrade for a decent sounding audio system.
Bose sounds crappy as you pick up the Porsche, so you have to adjust the sound and Bose setting. Once tuned, it sounds great. You should get at least the Bose option. Don't drive around with a transistor radio.
No, you should order the base Sound Package Plus and upgrade that, because both the Bose and the Burmester operate via a MOST 150 fiber-optic interface, which is next to impossible to upgrade. The SPP isn't reliant on a MOST interface at all -- it outputs an analog signal from the head unit (i.e., the PCM module), which means one can add an amp and DSP unit relatively easily.
As for the posters who say that fidelity doesn't matter in a car such as a Porsche: Try listening to, say, an audiobook at highway speed with an OEM system, then try doing the same on an upgraded system with good speakers and plenty of power. Then, do the same with a Bluetooth phone call. The difference -- and the intelligibility -- is staggering. High quality audio does not just apply to music here.
I just replaced my whole sound system in my 964. I bought the Sony Sony MEX-XB100BT (doesn't need an amp), cheapest set of Focal component and 4 inch speakers, and an alpine sub that fits behind the drivers seat. Total cost was $600 not including installation. It blows my upgraded BMW X5 system out of the water.
This combined with the fact that i use my phone for navigation means I will never pay for an upgraded system again...I am just going to get the base system and pay to upgrade it.
I enjoy music, but after giving it some consideration, I will be driving with the top down a lot, and listening to the revs.. not as harmonious as the flat 6 was, but the little boxer 4 has some personality when you play with it. I was going to abstain from any Nav / Connect, but at the last minute decided to add navigation.
Between the Mahogany shift lever and Miami Blue seat belts, I believe mine will forever be a one-of-a-kind!
There's a lot of misinformation in this thread about the base/Bose stereos in 718s. I ordered my car with the base Sound System Plus on purpose for two major reasons:
- because I abhor Bose anything, and
- because the base (SSP) stereo's sound is relatively easy to upgrade.
Anyone who says that you won't be able to get good sound out of the base stereo is plainly not very knowledgeable about audio upgrades in cars, much less about sound quality in general.
The SPP runs off an internal amplifier and is not connected to a fiber optics-based MOST network. Those are huge advantages because the PCM is outputting an analog speaker-level signal straight to the car's speakers. That means adding an amplifier, better speakers, and a DSP unit is pretty simple. If you order the Bose, you're automatically handcuffed by a MOST system -- and, in the case of PCM4, a MOST 150 system, which is not compatible with any aftermarket MOST adapters such as a MObridge unit yet.
In addition, the doors have an OEM space large enough for an 8-inch driver. That means that with a bass driver designed for free-air enclosures, good sound deadening on the doors, and enough amp power, you may not even need to add a true subwoofer.
Finally, your sound quality is only as good as your source material. If you're using 256kbps or lower digital files from a streaming service, you're never going to get good sound. One great thing about PCM4 is that it will read most lossless digital formats except AIFF, and you've got not one but two SD card slots at your disposal for lossless audio files. Use that and the CD player -- and if you absolutely have to stream, Spotify Extreme is really your only halfway decent option.
That's far more than I know about car audio, but as an audio enthusiast the first thing a Porsche/Bose owner should do is set the system to "linear" I think it's called. Whatever it's called take the surround sound processing off- surround sound is for home theaters. The system sounds far more true to life without any signal processing, and if you're the only one in your car most of the time, bump the balance a bit to the right of the car which I feel centers the stereo image a bit. Also, my personal preference is to fade the sound more to the front speakers since that will put the performance in front of you rather than on top of you, or even worse behind you. If you tweek it with care the Bose system can sound truly great to my critical ears. Not as great as PSE, mind you.
There's a lot of misinformation in this thread about the base/Bose stereos in 718s. I ordered my car with the base Sound System Plus on purpose for two major reasons:
- because I abhor Bose anything, and
- because the base (SSP) stereo's sound is relatively easy to upgrade.
Anyone who says that you won't be able to get good sound out of the base stereo is plainly not very knowledgeable about audio upgrades in cars, much less about sound quality in general.
The SPP runs off an internal amplifier and is not connected to a fiber optics-based MOST network. Those are huge advantages because the PCM is outputting an analog speaker-level signal straight to the car's speakers. That means adding an amplifier, better speakers, and a DSP unit is pretty simple. If you order the Bose, you're automatically handcuffed by a MOST system -- and, in the case of PCM4, a MOST 150 system, which is not compatible with any aftermarket MOST adapters such as a MObridge unit yet.
In addition, the doors have an OEM space large enough for an 8-inch driver. That means that with a bass driver designed for free-air enclosures, good sound deadening on the doors, and enough amp power, you may not even need to add a true subwoofer.
Finally, your sound quality is only as good as your source material. If you're using 256kbps or lower digital files from a streaming service, you're never going to get good sound. One great thing about PCM4 is that it will read most lossless digital formats except AIFF, and you've got not one but two SD card slots at your disposal for lossless audio files. Use that and the CD player -- and if you absolutely have to stream, Spotify Extreme is really your only halfway decent option.
i have a base stero . Any recommendations for amp and speakers. Have been thinking of doing something to the base stero
