I am just curious and don't want to get flamed, but why does some people on this forum continue to try to enhance the Bose sound system performance? They have put amps behind the system to bring up the sound quality at high volumes, replaced speakers but not the headunit, so on and so forth. Bose has a great reputation in high-quality home theater speaker systems, and just a few years back, began developing home theater systems such as the lifestyle systems and the wave radio. Bose DO NOT make high-end sound systems for automobiles. They never tried to, because each cars has different cabin parameters. So, they never tried to develope high end speakers for them. Believe me, I wish they would. Bose make the factory radio systems for Ford and Chevy performance and luxury cars. They never meant their systems to be used as high-end equipment. Nissan used both Bose and Clarion systems in the Maximas and to be honest...they sound like s.hit when it comes to sound quality and high volume clarity. That is why guys in those car audio magazines replace their factory systems for aftermarket, high-end systems.


In my opinion, if anyone wants to enhance their sound systems, replace the entire sound system; radio and speakers. It'll pay off finacially in the long run. But if you want that "high quality sound" and try to keep the Bose name........................................


i hope you have a lot of money.

 

actually you are wrong.. i have been in a number of acuras and other cars with great sounding bose. just because it sounds poor in the max doesnt mean bose makes poor automobile stereos.

 

I can't speak for the other autos that have Bose installed, but you're right it does sound like s*hit in the Max. No matter what car you have, all of the factory systems lack low end bass. A lot of them are good enough on the highs and the mids, but you really need a separate powered sub to get a good sounding system.

As far as the "High Quality Home Theater" Bose is a joke I listened to the "Wave" Radio and it sounds good...for a clock radio...not for $500! I love the commercials "You don't have to fill your room with stereo equipment to get theater quality sound". Guess what? YOU DO! I heard a Bose Home Theater system with one of their "non-powered" subs. Yea, that thing was plucking away like a cat trying to get out of a cardboard box. I mean, come on a non-powered sub???? WTF???

Well, I've had people who have these "Home Theater In A Box" who were very happy until I played my home theater for them. They almost wet their pants. For the record, I have an Onkyo receiver, Definitive Technologies L&R (with 15" powered subs in each), Polk center channel, and Wharfedale surrounds. Total I've got:

5 - 1" tweeters
8 - 5.25" mids
2 - 6.5" mids
4 - 8" mid woofers
2 - 8" woofers
2 - 15" subwoofers

23 Speakers Total.

Now, how is the "Lifestyle System" or "Wave Radio" going to compare to that???? It's not. Granted, I spent a lot of quan on this setup but everything in it was a great value when taking into account performance. But $500 for a clock radio? That's just nuts.

Oh, I'm still not done with the home theater...but then again I'm insane

 

You ask a very legitimate question. I cannot speak for others, but as for me, here goes:

1. Money. I just bought the car, still owe on it, and don't have a lot of money sitting around. I had the choice between stero mods or other mods, and I went "other" but still needed more bottom end, so I added an amp and sub.
2. Burn-out. I got tired of stereos. I am 25, married, and am on my 5th car. All have had SOME form of stero, from add-a-sub to 3 amp 8 speaker systems, with changers and processors and the whole 9 yards. I just got tired of doint it. Why? My last vehicle was a Jeep Cherokee. I have had 3 of them. The first one was all bass, the secont was nice for SQ. The 3rd was very "listenable", with nice components with plenty of power, a JL vantage box, and a nice head unit. I also did a full sound deadening- which got screwed up because the deadener was crap. It messed up my doors, locks, windows, and generally made a mess. After that, my wife asked me not to F w/ the stereo in my new car too much, and I was happy to comply.
3. Theft protection. The bose looks basic. I live in an area where stuff gets ganked all of the time. It is 100% stealth.
4. Simplicity. Sure I miss my remotes, but it is easy to use, and has large buttons. We old people like that.
5. Sound. FOr what I listen to (mostly talk radio while commuting), it sounds pretty good. I never thought I would listen to talk radio, but I do, and for that, it is okay. I know of people who have kept the factory headunit and used high-level inputs or decent adapter and changed the speaker and added amps. If I do ever replace the speakers, I will buy a 2- channel amp and run new components, leaving the Bose HU and rear speakers in place. I get a fairly decent signal with the inputs on my RF amp, and with as low as I play the stereo, I doubt that audible distortion will be a factor. Plus, I still have the option of swappign out the HU, running RCAs, and adding some cheap 6.5"s in the rear later.
6. Looks. Few aftermarket HUs look as clean as the Bose, and w/ a GLE (wood and leather), most HUs will be too flashy and look silly. And I think that the single DIN will look odd, while most double DIN are overpriced and look like a fireworks display.

Anyway, that is my reasoning.

 

Sounds nice for your Home Theater. Myself, I haven't done much to my home theater for about 2 years. I have had my KLH hometheater speaker system for a lot longer than that. I recently bought a Pioneer A/V, Dolby Digital 5.1 ch DTS reciever, and a Go Video DVD/Hi-Fi Stereo VCR. I am running the optical cables through those and my PS2. But my main home attraction is my 61" projection screen TV.


Well, enough about that....... back to the Maximas.