My dealer is trying his best to transfer in a car for me but, everytime he calls another dealer it has already been sold. I want Pewter or Gray with black cloth and sunroof. No Bose. There is not one within 200 miles of B'ham. He is now looking for one with Bose. I did a search and couldn't find one good thing that has ever been said about this option. Does every 2K2 Bose system have a problem with inferior sound or the hat rack rattling, or multiple other complaints I have seen. Basically, to get the car that I really want, am I going to get an option that is going to cause me nothing but problems. I would appreciate replies from people who like the Bose as well as those who don't
Thanks

 

I'm kind of ambivalent about my Bose stereo. On the one hand, I haven't had any problems with the rear deck rattling, (it came braced with the blue shims around the subwoofer from the factory and also has the carpet pad underneath the rear deck) but then again I don't primarily listen to bass heavy music. The sub is kind of weak, though, I miss having a real subwoofer in the trunk. The speakers seem to lack presence, and the amp is underpowered. I'll bet a quality 5-way amp would bring the speakers to life. The head unit itself is pretty nice, I like the 6-disc in-dash feature, and I can also play my crusty cassette tapes as well. I'm not sure I could have gotten much better sound if I took $800 and had to do it myself. $800 doesn't buy much as far as doing a complete, kickin' system.

I consider this basically a stock stereo, and as such, it's not bad.

 

I am an Audio/Video installer, and deal with varying sorts of surround and stero setups every day. Before I got my Max (2k2se) I had little hope that the stero would be good, considering it was designed and manufactured by BOSE. In the industry BOSE is not very highly regarded, and is considered to mostly crap. Too my surprise the system in the new MAX is actually pretty good.
Most of the derogitory comments made about it come from people who are used to aftermarket system with high quality (and expensive) speakers and amplifiers. My personal opinion is that for a factory car stero it's quite a bargain. The intigration of the head unit is excellent. The stering wheel controls and the in dash changer really make for a very refined and elegant looking system.

I would definitely go for the option

 

This is the first time that I have gotten the upgraded sound system in a car and I dont mind it at all. My rear deck hardly rattles (only does on certain songs and from there not much) so I dont bother. To me like alembicf1x said to put a good system that I would want to do would cost me more then the option cost, especially if I had it installed. If I did it myself I think it would just P!5s me off and I had installed all my previous ones. So overall I like it. and besides when I wanna annoy that car next to me at the light with his windows down I can turn it up and they usually will become annoyed

But to each his own!!

 

The only thing I love about my Bose is how it sits really quietly in the closet.

 

My 2k2 has bose, if you don't play bass heavy music, get it. But it deals good with bass on some songs and others it sounds like crap.

 

How does the non-bose system in the Max sound compared to the Bose? Anyone ever compare?

 

for 1000 bucks..that bose is a peice of junk...lets see...
New Stereo-300
New 6 1/2" speakers, 2 pairs= 300
Decent amp=200
10"sub=100
box/wiring for sub/amp=100


*bingo*..thats just using some decent equipment..1000 bucks..you could have a stereo that has better features..hits harder..and sounds cleaner at high volume than that BOSE

 

My friend's '00 SE doesn't have Bose and when you turn up the volume pretty high, the speakers start to sound crappy. I actually like my Bose system. I lsiten to all Rock music and the stock sub adds a nice touch to the low tones. When you turn it up, there is no distortion from the speakers at all (like the non-Bose systems).

 

I am satisfied with my Bose in my 2K2, really enjoy the 6 disc in dash. However the Bose i had in my 97 SE seemed to have sounded better with the volume up. I was surprised after my 2K2 purchase and the Bose seemed inferior to my 97. The Bose is the only thing which seems less in my 2K2 as compared to my 97.......JAKE02

 

but how can that happen...the 97 didn't have the sub-woofer like the 2k-2k2 do

 

the 97 bose is much betta then the 2k-2k2 one. even without the woofer the speakers have better bass, and the system is much louder, and still sounds clear.

 

ya that's what i said, it's not the greatest but it's pretty damn good and for 800-900 bucks you couldn't do better yourself. 6cd in dash is great and teh speakers get kinda loud but SOOOO CLEAR, plus the steerign wheel controls only work with factory headunits but the sub is weak.

 

my steering wheel controls work with my Kenwood you DO have to buy an adapter though

 

Bang for the buck. To replace the system, a new hi-end head unit with a steering wheel control adapter would cost as much. Does not match the system I had in my Probe, but, for a factory system, it can be pleasant to listen to. From my standpoint, upgrades may consist of new front seperates and a better sub. Just trying to decide whether or not to lose some trunk space

 

No Highs, No Lows - Must be BOSE!

Yep the High-end Bose is low end S**T.
Bose is all marketing. The only engineering done at BOSE is how to make things cheap. They equalize the crap out of inferior, mis-applied speakers and the result is a very compresed dynamic range.

Don't get me wrong - I own two MaxSE's with the "high end" BOSE "system." Wanted something to listen to till mod time. My wife's 2kSE sounds fair..she's not picky and it sounds fine to her. My 2k1SE rattles like mad - did the velcro thing - more to do to calm down the rear deck.

Someday the system has got to go. Speaker recomendations welcome....not major rework wanted! Also, don't want to mess with tearing into the dash to change out the head unit. Is the only amp in the system under the rear deck? Any recommendations for swapping that are welcome too. Note - not interested in trading my truck for a woofer....only replacing the one on the deck.

 

You know i gotta say I've been pretty happy with mine. The sound is damn good for factory... no, it sound like a custom system you get setup yourself, but like a couple ppl said, for $800 you're not going to get much better.... and you don't have to worry about someone breaking into your car to steal it. The only thing I was truly annoyed with was the rattle in my 2k Max.. but that's fixable... My 2k2 i35 doesn't have that problem.

But everyone's demands are diff so I'd take some of your CDs over to the dealer and test drive it and crank it yourself and see if you'll be happy with it.

 

I got my 2k2 without the Clarion system which is excellent.Ive always been a huge Clarion fan and said screw the bose when I found I could get my max with a Clarion.The sound is great and I didn't have to pay extra for it.

 

I have to agree that the Bose upgrade sounds pretty good. I do listen to music with bass and the sub only rattles occassionally with certain songs. It really doesn't get to me all that much.

I also agree that the '97 Bose sounded a little bit better. I think that might be because the two rear speakers were up on rear deck instead of in the rear doors like the 5th gen Max. The rear window makes a great ramp for sound and the cabin isn't filled with sound (from all ranges) when the two back speakers are down at the rear passengers feet.

Just my $.02.

 

All in all it's a good deal. I love the head unit, speaker placement could be better (but that's Nissan's fault not Bose), and it's a little boomy at low volumes on the radio. Sometimes the bass is just over powering at lower volumes, especially on the FM/AM. I really like the sound of it cranked up to about 25, but it even sounds good all of the way to the top (31, strange num for the max vol). At 25 there isn't a ton of bass, but it's nice and tight.

Go for it, you won't regret it. If you do, ah, sorry dude.

 

Still crying for my $1000 I spent for this underpowered crap. Plus the $1700 or so to get the "comfort and convenience" package that allows you to buy the Bose package.

What a rip-off!

And if you add to this my 2 months I was fighting with Nissan and the dealer to fix the damn rear deck buzzing while they professed ignorance about it, it seems that it is a very high price to pay for th "Bose" sound.

On the other hand, if you are not picky, it is convenient to have it all pre-installed. By the way I have a 2001 SE, same basic design on the rear deck.

As for the 97 Maxima, I gree that it had a better sound than the 2??k. The reason was exactly that: The sub-woofer was not there!!! It all went downhill after that. You should see the design of this crap when it is taken apart! Laughable sound enclosure for all this energy being pumped through it.

By the way my 98 Camry had better sound thasn this crap and it was only $300 extra.

 

No Bose here, i have the regular Clarion-OEM radio.

Changed the speakers to Infinity Ref (605cs/652i) - $60
Added an Infinity Basslink (2nd hand, mint condition) - $160
Wires and stuff - $100

Voila! Cheaper than Bose and sounds a whole lot better w/o giving up precious trunkspace.

Don't have to deal with the rear deck rattling either.

 

no 6-cd changer.

 

That's where satellite radio comes into play

 

Sounds great I like it