Any Boxster owner actually have the Burmester in their car? - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

As a result of my PEC visit timing, my spec is likely to have passed the lockdown date before I get to Silverstone. I'm also a 340 mile round trip from my chosen OPC (selected on the basis of my future home location, not my current one), so I'm in a position where I need to tick the sound system option 'unheard'. As this car (BGTS) will be my one and only (could never afford another) new Porsche, it will be a keeper, and as such I don't want to have any future regrets re option selections. I currently have the Bose box ticked, but the consensus of opinion on here is that the Bose is cr#p! Did anyone out there do a side by side comparison of the Bose and Burmester systems before purchase, and if so did you get the Burmester? Was it £1,800 better than the Bose? Cheers

I have Bose. I don't think it is crap. I've seen quite a few Boxster/Cayman but don't think I've ever seen one with Burmester. £2,600 stereo in a £40k car sounds a bit OTT to me.

I compared SPP and Bose in a Cayman with Burm in a 911. I went with SPP in the end, partly due to be charged £400 extra if I wanted anything else (Went with CDR+) and partly because I couldn't bring myself to spend so much on the Burm even though my home setup cost significantly more.

I am a big AV fan and like my sounds at home (where I've got the option of Stereo sound, which is how music should be heard). I've got the SPP in my 981 and it's fine, although most of the time it gets turned down just to hear that gorg engine note. My advise is to spend the extra money on other options, or just save it.

At anything over 30mph these cars are too loud to make anything of a decent stereo. If I was speccing from new there's no way I'd spend money on Bose/burrmester, there are so many other options that you could really enjoy for that sort of money.

Burmester is truly epic - heard it at the PEC. You'll want to sit in your car in the garage to listen to your CDs rather than in the living room. If it's a keeper, you like your tunes and you have the money then I'd say go for it. Otherwise don't sweat it - the car itself will give you ample enjoyment. Edit: to answer your question more directly: Bose is not crap IMHO and is a sensible upgrade - lets you enjoy your tunes with the roof down (important to me). Yes Burmester is £1800 better than Bose. Enjoy the car Boxster GTS one of best cars I've ever driven Edited by Oso on Thursday 20th August 08:19

I tend to agree. In my negotiations I got the order to include Bose for the price of SPP, which felt like a decent deal.

When I was choosing audio options for my Cayman I listened to Bose and Burmester in 911's (they are the same systems in 911's as in Boxsters and Caymans). I ended up with Burmester and it's truly epic. I have a great system at home but its a Victorian terrace house in London so the opportunity to enjoy the music there is limited, in the car I can play whatever I want at whatever volume I want and not disturb anyone, it's where I enjoy music now. I have a GT4 coming in November and I would get Burmester again if I could (It's not offered as an option in GT4's). Every time I get a courtesy car from the OPC the very first thing I notice is how poor the stereo is. I make a point of trying to see what's installed, easy with Bose or Burmester as it says so on the door speakers but to see if its the base system or SPP+ I check to see if there's a fader control, courtesy Boxsters have always been SPP+ so far. Look on the Porsche used car locator and search for Burmester to see if there's one near you in the network that you can listen to.

paralla said: When I was choosing audio options for my Cayman I listened to Bose and Burmester in 911's (they are the same systems in 911's as in Boxsters and Caymans). I ended up with Burmester and it's truly epic. I have a great system at home but its a Victorian terrace house in London so the opportunity to enjoy the music there is limited, in the car I can play whatever I want at whatever volume I want and not disturb anyone, it's where I enjoy music now. I have a GT4 coming in November and I would get Burmester again if I could (It's not offered as an option in GT4's). Every time I get a courtesy car from the OPC the very first thing I notice is how poor the stereo is. I make a point of trying to see what's installed, easy with Bose or Burmester as it says so on the door speakers but to see if its the base system or SPP+ I check to see if there's a fader control, courtesy Boxsters have always been SPP+ so far. Look on the Porsche used car locator and search for Burmester to see if there's one near you in the network that you can listen to. Could you swap the Burmeister from your current car into the GT4?

VladD said: Could you swap the Burmeister from your current car into the GT4? It's probably possible but upgrading SPP in the GT4 will be easy enough. I have a plan for it that will hopefully bring it somewhere close to Burmester without too much hassle or expense. All fully reversible.

Many thanks for the Burmester input. If I'm country lane driving in my current motor (JCW Mini) then the music is typically off, as hearing where I am in the rev range is important to me for approaching the next corner or overtake opportunity. I doubt whether this will change at all for the BGTS. However, like paralla, I tend to do most of my music listening (at volume) on tedious A roads, or motorway journeys, and we will in future be enduring 4 or 6 hour motorway runs back to the Midlands, or further North, on a monthly basis. So, man-logic applied, my spec's just crept past the £65k mark. But I have at least eliminated one more "Why didn't I..." possibility from my future enjoyment of the porker. Now, for heaven's sake will somebody please lock down my spec!!!

Zeddsded said: So, man-logic applied, my spec's just crept past the £65k mark. But I have at least eliminated one more "Why didn't I..." possibility from my future enjoyment of the porker. That's the thing. I haven't heard the Burmeister either, but if you don't specify the best, you'll always wish you had! I have got Bose on my 987 and it is fine for what it is (a neat, factory looking system that goes loud if you need it to) but it is certainly nothing like my halfway decent home setup and also not as good as if I had given the half the money it cost to a competent after market installer to put something decent in. I am not sure I'd want to do that anyway, especially on a new car.

Just noticed this thread Zeddsted, I too have a BGTS on order, November build. I am also past £65k, but I don't have Burmester, at the moment it is Bose but considering the SPP. One extravagance I have is the GTS Interior pack - expensive but I think it looks great and gives a very special look to the interior. I won't get to Silverstone before lockdown either - and I haven't even driven a GTS! The S was excellent, and when options were added I was in GTS price bracked, so was very lucky in obtaining a build slot, an opportunity far too good to turn down. Like you, it will almost certainly my one and only new Porsche (will be my first Porsche too), I intend to keep it a while and want to spec it right, but I'm very aware it's easy to get carried away with options. Returning to the sound system I tend to listen to Radio (DAB if possible) most of the time, with perhaps an hour or two of my own music on longer journeys if there is nothing much on the radio. So for me the Burmester is a definite no and it's a difficult one between Bose and SPP. I'm bearing in mind too that once up to speed in these cars IMO the background noise will drown out the finer quality of high end systems. My order has only been sorted this week - very very excited! Bet you are too. Edited by Gorsh on Saturday 29th August 09:28

Gorsh said: My order has only been sorted this week - very very excited! Bet you are too. You bet! I've watched every single Boxster and Cayman YouTube video (several times) and can't wait for my PEC day at the end of September. It will hopefully ease the yearning for the final 2/3 months before delivery. I ticked the GTS exterior pack, but not the interior pack, so yes that's funded the Burmester. I had to try and demonstrate a token gesture of willpower or it would have ended up as a £70k BGTS. Happily I have no niggling "Should I..." thoughts re my spec, so I'm comfortable that I've got it right.

Gorsh said: Just noticed this thread Zeddsted, I too have a BGTS on order, November build. I am also past £65k, but I don't have Burmester, at the moment it is Bose but considering the SPP. One extravagance I have is the GTS Interior pack - expensive but I think it looks great and gives a very special look to the interior. I won't get to Silverstone before lockdown either - and I haven't even driven a GTS! The S was excellent, and when options were added I was in GTS price bracked, so was very lucky in obtaining a build slot, an opportunity far too good to turn down. Like you, it will almost certainly my one and only new Porsche (will be my first Porsche too), I intend to keep it a while and want to spec it right, but I'm very aware it's easy to get carried away with options. Returning to the sound system I tend to listen to Radio (DAB if possible) most of the time, with perhaps an hour or two of my own music on longer journeys if there is nothing much on the radio. So for me the Burmester is a definite no and it's a difficult one between Bose and SPP. I'm bearing in mind too that once up to speed in these cars IMO the background noise will drown out the finer quality of high end systems. My order has only been sorted this week - very very excited! Bet you are too. Edited by Gorsh on Saturday 29th August 09:28 I really appreciate the extra, effortless power of the Burmester system on motorways. My S has 20" wheels and PSE which probably makes it noisier than most, I crank up the tunes to drown out the motorway noise.

I have it.....but as I only collected the car four days ago and not had chance to drive it since, I haven't got a clue what it sounds like! Journey back from the dealer was spent listening to the Sports Exhaust... I am based in Worcester so if you are local you can happily come and listen for yourself, to the exhaust and the sound system. Bishy

I've got it in mine but wouldn't order it if making the same decision again, it's not that good in my opinion. Yes it's more than adequate for an in car system but given the car is rather noisy anyway it's hardly a listening environment for the audiophile :-) Stick with the Bose and spend the difference on something else would be my advice...

PJLarge said: I've got it in mine but wouldn't order it if making the same decision again, it's not that good in my opinion. Yes it's more than adequate for an in car system but given the car is rather noisy anyway it's hardly a listening environment for the audiophile :-) Stick with the Bose and spend the difference on something else would be my advice... Exactly my thoughts - and that was without listening to it!! So it's Bose for me (not built yet though) and it will do just fine - IMO no point in a high end system in a noisy sports car.

I've had BOSE in a 986 and 987 and a 997. It's massively better than the laughable standard sound system. Many Porsche drivers are, I suspect, at an age where they are listening to Radio 4 or LBC whilst in the car. As such the basic sound package may be adequate. If you like listening to music in the car the standard system is woeful. Apart from a thing else it can't reproduce bass. BOSE is one of the only options where it frankly IS cheaper to spec from the factory than seeking to source AND installl aftermarket. You would struggle to get speakers, amps and a discreetly as in factory installed sub for the money Porsche charge for BOSE. It's a good system for the cash. I experienced burmeister in a borrowed GTS 991 recently. Awesome. Best in car audio I've ever heard and a move on again from BOSE. I'd certainly spec if means allowed it.

Gorsh said: Exactly my thoughts - and that was without listening to it!! So it's Bose for me (not built yet though) and it will do just fine - IMO no point in a high end system in a noisy sports car. True - but you could make the same argument for SPP.

bcr5784 said: True - but you could make the same argument for SPP. Fair comment, but with a lot of things there is middle ground (SPP and Bose in this case) and it's a matter of opinion or strict budget which determines the one to go for. To me the Bose gives the best balance of features and quality for a reasonable cost.

Not sure what you ended up with, but I agonized over the very expensive decision for months and ended up with the Burmester -- love it, even with the top down and sport exhaust wailing! Like you, it will be my first/last new Porsche Boxster. It is also great in grid lock with the top up........

I have Burmester on my CGTS. Also have driven other Caymans and Boxsters with all the other sound systems. You get what you pay for but Burmester isn't cheap. The sound quality is noticeably better though. When you turn it up it isn't trashy like some speaker systems. That said, I do find myself turning it off to listen to the engine from time to time. Is it worth it? Only you can tell. I enjoy having it though and am glad I do. Would I save the money for something else? Maybe but it's a trade off with a myriad of opinions on this forum. On balance I think I'd spec it again. In my view it's better than spending it on more expensive alloys or Carmine Red paint.

In my 2 1/2 months (and 1,000 miles) of ownership I've only 'really' listened to the Burmester once (on a 4 hour drive up to the Midlands), but I was genuinely impressed. On rock tracks with some really loud bass on the intro I was sure the vocals were going to come through in woolly fashion, but amazingly they were laser sharp and truly impressive. Yes, I spend most of my 'B' road time revelling in the exhaust note, but I was in the fortunate position to throw my perfect spec at my once-in-a-lifetime Porsche, so I have the Burmester on tap for those more tedious motoring moments. If you spend the money you won't be disappointed.

My new Spyder has it as part of my tick list Looking forward to it !!!