Bose sound system not quite up to snuff?

[sor]

The problem is likely that many of us are used to listening to music in an unbalanced way - with the bass boosted and having 10x amp power vs treble.

When people say a system is made for classical music, that usually just means it is a full range balanced audio system rather than bass pumped.

Some of these car systems are very nice and cable of making bass that will shake the mirrors without distortion, but to do so you also have ear splitting levels of treble. Thats how my wife’s B+W system is in the Volvo, it can sound like an aftermarket sub and shake the car if you crank it, but you need earplugs

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[gbhumphrey]

I like the Bose very much. I’m an average pop listener and found, that surround + equalizer +10 bass and +8 highs ist perfect for me. but it really took some weeks to sound as good.

Equalizer? Please post pic. I dont have that.

 

[CJ-4S]

There's a very basic EQ with only bass and treble sliders.

Here's a comparison between Bose and Burmester in the Taycan which might be interesting. Using the 3D surround and then pushing the balance forward sounds like a good option in the Burmester.
https://www.whathifi.com/hi-fi/i-sw...i-fi-in-the-porsche-taycan-and-was-blown-away

 

[porschemacanev4S]

My initial reaction to the Bose sound system in my Macan 4S was similar. I was not impressed - but after about 4 weeks of regular listening the sound began to improve dramatically. I think the break-in period is very real. I’m now super happy with the system. It sounds balanced, powerful, and clear to me and I’m a bit of an audiophile. Give it time - it’s going to improve.

 

[oceancatch]

My initial reaction to the Bose sound system in my Macan 4S was similar. I was not impressed - but after about 4 weeks of regular listening the sound began to improve dramatically. I think the break-in period is very real. I’m now super happy with the system. It sounds balanced, powerful, and clear to me and I’m a bit of an audiophile. Give it time - it’s going to improve.

What's your settings? I was about to say the only thing I find a bit disappointing is the Bose. I'm comparing it to Bose in my wife's Audi Q7 and also the standard sound system in my ICE Macan. The Bose in my 4S sounds like listening thru a tin can. I tried several settings but none of them seems very good. Hopefully it's really a break-in issue!

 

[porschemacanev4S]

What's your settings? I was about to say the only thing I find a bit disappointing is the Bose. I'm comparing it to Bose in my wife's Audi Q7 and also the standard sound system in my ICE Macan. The Bose in my 4S sounds like listening thru a tin can. I tried several settings but none of them seems very good. Hopefully it's really a break-in issue!

I promise you it’s a break-in thing. Mine also sounded hollow and sharp for the first several weeks. Listen to music you like and listen to it loud (like level 20+) for longer amounts of time to speed up the process. At some point the system suddenly felt like it “woke up” and now I have deep satisfying bass, warm mids and nicely blended highs.
I use surround mode. I believe I have Bass +8 and treble +4. Will verify next time I go for a drive.

 

[MatC21]

I usually don’t like surround settings but this is definitely improving BOSE sound a lot. Plus changing the bias a bit to the front.
It is like night and day.

 

[Warren]

I'm what is commonly known as an "audiophile." Gasp. The Bose stuff is no great shakes but background noise from the road, wind, your aging hearing, bluetooth signal path and the audio source factor into the sound's output. The audio source is a biggie, likely the biggie followed by the listening environment . Head rests behind your ears also matters.

 

[Station]

The speakers need to be broken in before they reach their full potential. Play music with full dynamic range and at a good volume for a few weeks

This is not the case.

I drove a factory Turbo demo with 7,000 miles on it and the BOSE is horrifically bad. Sounds like a handheld AM radio playing a Yankees game in 1960 in a bodega. Even with Treble and Bass compensation active.

In addition - BOSE says explicitly that their systems are made to not require a break-in. Per BOSE "Bose engineers pre-condition drivers during production and rely on onboard digital signal processing (DSP) to maintain the target response from day one. If any audible change does occur, the system’s adaptive EQ usually compensates automatically."

The Macan EV BOSE is system is not up to snuff by luxury car standards. Sounds like it should be in a base Wrangler.. It would be nice if Porsche offered and update which included something from Bose which enhanced the audio; DSP modification or similar.

 

[sor]

Seems some people really like it and some really hate it. Ahhh subjectivity, you cheeky monkey. If only there were a readily available, objective and reliable way to benchmark sound systems.

 

[Petzi]

Seems some people really like it and some really hate it. Ahhh subjectivity, you cheeky monkey. If only there were a readily available, objective and reliable way to benchmark sound systems.

furthermore on one side are the musicians and soundengeneers that want a linear sound and there are the hifi enthusiasts that want always more than whats there.

 

[PanameraFrank]

The Macan EV BOSE is system is not up to snuff by luxury car standards. Sounds like it should be in a base Wrangler.. It would be nice if Porsche offered and update which included something from Bose which enhanced the audio; DSP modification or similar.

This is nonsense and there's no point reading anything else you wrote. You don't like it. Cool. But don't make outrageous bogus patently false statements.

The only system I've experienced in a similar cost car that was notably better is the upgraded system in the BMW iX. The eMacan Bose is in the same tier as everything else, and I've owned & rented a lot of cars at this price.

This Bose complaint thing on here is such snobbery. It's perfectly fine. If you want better they have an option for that!

 

[Station]

I've experienced in a similar cost car that was notably better is the upgraded system in the BMW iX. The eMacan Bose is in the same tier as everything else, and I've owned

Oh, you'll keep reading and commenting. But I enjoy the fact that you point out that you've owned many cars in this bracket, as if the rest of us Porsche owners haven't. (yet you accuse snobbery)

I've always been fine with Bose. Never a complaint. In fact I would describe it as solid with a wide spectrum. More than sufficient.

The point is that the latest Bose iteration is an "upgrade" over the base audio that is included on the car but sounds the same. So in my opinion upgrading to $4800 Burmester is almost a requirement.

If my wife points out the poor quality of the Bose audio in the Macan EV without me cueing her, that's saying something.

 

[oceancatch]

This is not the case.

I drove a factory Turbo demo with 7,000 miles on it and the BOSE is horrifically bad. Sounds like a handheld AM radio playing a Yankees game in 1960 in a bodega. Even with Treble and Bass compensation active.

In addition - BOSE says explicitly that their systems are made to not require a break-in. Per BOSE "Bose engineers pre-condition drivers during production and rely on onboard digital signal processing (DSP) to maintain the target response from day one. If any audible change does occur, the system’s adaptive EQ usually compensates automatically."

The Macan EV BOSE is system is not up to snuff by luxury car standards. Sounds like it should be in a base Wrangler.. It would be nice if Porsche offered and update which included something from Bose which enhanced the audio; DSP modification or similar.

Since I asked the question here earlier I can circle back on this - I can actually tell there's a significant different after about 3 weeks. I picked up my 4S late April and by now the sound quality has hugely improved. Still not as good as my Q7's Bose but much better than day 1. I think it will continue improve a bit more!

 

[Petzi]

Oh, you'll keep reading and commenting. But I enjoy the fact that you point out that you've owned many cars in this bracket, as if the rest of us Porsche owners haven't. (yet you accuse snobbery)

I've always been fine with Bose. Never a complaint. In fact I would describe it as solid with a wide spectrum. More than sufficient.

The point is that the latest Bose iteration is an "upgrade" over the base audio that is included on the car but sounds the same. So in my opinion upgrading to $4800 Burmester is almost a requirement.

If my wife points out the poor quality of the Bose audio in the Macan EV without me cueing her, that's saying something.

this is not possible. a system without a subwoofer can not sound „the same“.
my impression is the less is to criticize the more absurd claims are made.

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