Bose vs no Bose

Has anyone done an AB or otherwise compared a 996 with the Bose option against a 996 without the Bose option? Is there a significant sound difference? Can the Bose option be added on after the car is built and delivered?

The Bose is significantly better than that the no Bose... However that is not to say the Bose system is good. The biggest improver of the Bose system is the "sub-woofer" it put that in quotes because it barely passes as a sub in my book. Plus there are extra speakers and an outboard amplifier. Some have opted for the Bose knowing that it is bad, but if it is there that means the car already has the wiring in place and speaker cavities and grills in the door so they can pull it all out and replace it with better stuff.

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Yes, the sound of $100 bills from the owner's wallet being flushed down the toilet is absent in the non-Bose car. Seriously, for someone that's looking for some decent sound quality, start with the base audio system and have a reputable shop install some decent speakers, maybe a 10" sub if you're so inclined, and an amp. If you want to keep a stock appearance, leave the head unit. Either way, you'll end up with a better-sounding system for less money than trying to install the proprietary Bose equipment, which would probably require the replacement of everything but the wiring.

i had low expecations from the outset so i was actually pleasantly surprised with the boom/sound quality of the stock bose system. so much so that i probably won't spend any $ in getting more/better sound in my 911 much like the M3. the M3's HK sound system is slightly more quality, but the M3 guys complained about the stock system just as much as you guys.

I like the sound of my stock Bose system in mute. 90% of the time I need/prefer to hear the sweet sound of the motor, especially at > 4k So for me, any money spent on sound will be applied to mechanical music. My 4Runner, though, could use a better system.

Bose is quite good at their primary function: Marketing. They command top dollar from an uneducated public for components that are average at best. Do a search on "no highs, no lows, must be Bose". If you want decent sound you'll need to go aftermarket. And you won't need to spend a lot to improve on the stock Bose setup.

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that's romantic and cute and all, but not true for me even in the best sounding car i've ever owned which is my current c4s with pse... there are certain times when i want to hear the engine/intake/exhaust... most of the time, though i want my gangsta rap. G G G G unit! i'd argue that the n/a 3.6 w/ pse is one of the best/unique sounding cars out there... that can rival the italians just because it's so unique sounding, so trademarket 911. kinda in between american v8 rumble and italian v8 shriek.

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I have a Bose home stereo system that is far from "average at best". Bose DOES have a high quality product and the reputation to go with it. That would have not lasted long based on just marketing. I know there are better systems to be had, and most of the time you will pay either comparable or additional $ for them.

The Bose in my 911 is better than the Bose I had in my '03 MB Clk500. This isn't a reference audiophile systems by any stretch of the imagination, but it is certainly above average for the sporadic use it gets; PSE is what I listen to 90% of the time...now THAT's the best soundtrack!

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Hmm..... G G G G unit or P-car sound... Thanks, I'll stick with my romantic side even though my wife says it does not exist.

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Oh no, another victim of the marketing machine that is Bose. Ever disassemble a Bose speaker? It will quickly dissolve the illusion of quality that you have.

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Oh yes, There are many higher sound quality systems to be had. I am a victim of a nice system that has very good sound quality, function and reliability. The small, easy to hide cube like speakers put out just fine for me. But I do agree that it is not for everybody and not my #1 choice. The P-car system is just fine with me as well, when I listen to it.

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lol

I almost didn't post what I wrote because I thought I might offend someone here and I generally don't like doing that. But Bose is a lightning rod topic among people who are audio devotees. Many who spend a lot of time on the subject of audio get downright evangelical in trying to save others from Bose marketing. I'm not saying Bose is junk, but for the dollars spent one can do better. On the subject of the Bose system in my C2, I think it's pretty week. I also prefer the sound of my always on PSE.

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It's a noble effort, for sure, as they're just trying to keep people from wasting their money, but it still sometimes falls on deaf ears. It's not that I WANT to argue with the Bose crowd, but by the mere fact that they purchased the stuff, it's clear that they didn't do their homework and yet they proclaim it as Real Good Stuff because a pothead at Best Buy told them it was. Cars excluded, of course, because of the crappy way that audio systems are sometimes packaged. I didn't want the Bose system in my other car, but I DID want nav and laser cruise and some other things that were only available in an option package that included the Bose system for (gulp!) $9500. I believe it was one of the first Dolby 5.1 systems installed in a car and...it royally sucks *****. There you go, you could argue that I paid more for my Bose crap than anybody...and I'm still willing to say that it sucks *****. I don't care if someone wants to buy the stuff, but don't be surprised when someone points out that its professional reputation is pretty poor.

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I always thought potheads knew the good stuff IMOHO that is.

Attempting to put a great sounding audio system in a car is, IMO, an exercise in futility. Cars have terrible acoustics and an audio system is competing with too much noise to get really excellent sound quality. Car audio systems are like cell phones that take pics. They get the job done but the quality is lacking.

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I've gotta disagree with you there, Tim. If one were so inclined, a 996 could be made in to a great-sounding vehicle, especially since the subs could go up front. I've got a couple of buddies that could make a 996 infinitely better than the Bose system with nothing more than a decent set of component speakers up front and two 10s in the front trunk all run off a small amp. True, home audio is a lot easier, but I find it so much more rewarding to enjoy my music on the drive home, even if it's on the stock CD-220 system.

No doubt the Bose could be improved upon, but the improved sound would good but never GREAT, IMO. (Knowing full well that GREAT a subjetive term).

Y'all must have like super-sensitive superman hearing. but then i expect nothing less from my rennlist brethren.

I do have BOSE in the 996. I'll keep it cuz I'd rather spend $$$ on performance mods. If you really want to be disappointed by BOSE, get the $300 IPOD home docking station that sounds like the worlds most expensive clock radio. I had mine a day, a returned it for Griffin docking station at less than half the price.

I just completed a full upgrade of my stereo last week and the sound is awesome compared to the stock Boze. The system consists of a Nakamichi head unit with OEM colored LED's, Audison LXR6.9 950W amp, Morel Elate 3-way components up front, Hertz 100w coaxials in the rear for fill and two 6" Morel sub woofers in the Boze box. All speakers use the factory grills for an OEM look. Other than the Nakamichi head unit, which looks very OEM, you can not tell anything is different. All factory wiring was utilized, except the front 3-ways required one more set of wires to the dash due to the two components located there (very easy run - 5 minutes, no obstacles). I have a photo album for anyone thinking of doing this...it will give you some insight to what's involved. Here is the link: http://gallery.rennlist.com/gallery/stereo-install

deckman and others are right, serious home 'philes would never consider Bose. But the Bose in my car, while pretty ordinary, is good enough for me. I enjoy winding the engine out whenever I can, so to me in a Porsche the audio system is secondary. It's always amazed me when guys spend big bucks on car audio...between 70+ dB of wind, tire and engine noise, a car just isn't a hospitable environment for true high-quality sound.

no bose and put in your own system

John D-what was the approx price of the components on that beautiful job?

About 4K. List is closer to 6K.

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My thoughts exactly.... the only difference is.... you phrased it better than I did.

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<shrug> The car audio guys aren't trying to get their system to sound like a proper home system, they're trying to get decent sound in the car relative to what was in there before--a much easier task with an outcome that's no less enjoyable.

Seems like the new sound accessory should be a microphone that you place in the engine compartment or attach to the muffler, then route that signal through the stereo.

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Agreed, the sound can be improved compared to OEM, even when considering the hostile environment (audio wise) of car interiors.

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... which is why people spend money on it. I guess it depends on how you feel about music and what you like to listen to. I just upgraded mine because, when I choose to listen, I want to be able to hear it and enjoy it. My modest upgrade put some detail back into the music that could hold its own against the engine and ambient sound. You have to remember that the minimum audible difference in volume most ears can detect is something like +3dB, I think, and an amplifier has to more or less double its output to achieve +3dB. If you want loud, or even if you just want detail (like I did... I'm a jazz fan), the modification dominoes start to fall pretty quick and, before you know it, it's not hard to justify replacing the whole system.

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...especially since you can improve the stock system dramatically for less than, say, the price of a new set of rims.

Knowing what I know about the stereo system now (after my install), I think it can be dramatically improved for about 1.5-2K. I went larger than I would have otherwise because I ended up trading one of my SpeedTech Exhaust systems to a stereo guy in exchange for components and it worked out really well for me. If I were to do it with cost more in mind, I would go with the smaller Audison amp, keep the factory head unit and replace the speakers all around with something less expensive than Morel, but good quality such as Focal or similar. The install would still be very similar to what I did, with the exception of the head unit swap and the wiring harness adapter related to it. I had a similar system in my 993tt and loved it -my car is a daily driver and I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. Sure there are times when I turn it off and listen to the motor and there are other times when I like to crank Led Zeppelin and have it sound like they are in the car, live...What I am saying is having an upgraded stereo is a nice option, which I personally derive a lot of pleasure from.

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Exactly what I did. I spent a little over $1500, did the install myself and it made a HUGE improvement.

so if i want a lil more oomph, what would you guys recommend? I want more bass, but a tight bass, not a huge 12" sub kinda bass that rattles people's windows.

Hey Ben - the 3.6l have a little diffesent set-up I believe, but here's what I did w/my 3.4l sub wise. https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...stereo+install

The guys who did mine showed me a tidy 4" sub in a tube that mounted in that valley behind the back seats. Looked pretty slick. I don't recall the brand but, for you, I'd phone him and find out.

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Get wider wheels!

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It depends on which Porsche you are talking about. For a Cayman, the Bose isn't worth the extra money. I can't find a difference listening to the Sound Plus stereo versus the Bose in the Cayman. For that car, there is an issue in speaker placement which more power and better quality speakers can't compensate. In a 996 Coupe it is a different story. Surprisingly, this is one of the best sounding and most balanced systems out there from the factory. It isn't as good as the Mark Levison in the new LS600, but it is pretty darn good compared to what else it out there. It is a huge step up from anything you can get in an M3 and years ahead of the Bose in a Corvette. It has mutliple amps with 12 speakers: a tweeter and mid-range in each side of the dash, woofers in the doors, a tweater and midrange on each side of the back seat and 2 subs in a vented enclosure behind the back seat. For cabs, you get one instead of 2 subs and it is placed on the floor between the driver and passengers feet. With a lot of Bose stereos they have a lot of highs and lows with nothing in the middle. With the 996 Bose 4 different ranges of speakers are used so it has balanced sound for the entire audible range. When one of my friends was ordering his 997, I told him to get the Bose at least for the resale. It is much harder to sell a non-Bose car. He ordered it, but didn't like it at first. The problem was he never adjusted the sound settings. I went through the book and started adjusted the low, mid, high and positioning settings, having him listen to it each time. He now loves it, better than listening to his home stereo. You can do anything you want to on the aftermarket side. I have yet to see a complete aftermarket stereo done right on these cars. People do pretty hideous things to these cars to improve the stereos. They box up the floor behind the front seats, so you can't move the seats back. They make big tacky boxes that require the rear seats to be folded all the time. They place large amps on the floor of the trunk to completely eliminating the trunk's useability. None of these make the car look more attractive to buyers when times comes to sell it.

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I got company! Welcome to the victims of the marketing machine A non profit organization affiliated with the potheads from best buy that have the good stuff

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With 911 prices spanning from $70k to $190k, I'm not sure I believe that the lack of a specific option makes the car difficult to sell. People make stupid modifications to all kinds of cars; don't condemn them all because some people don't know what they're doing.