Bose - I think I know what bugs me about it now

I did a test yesterday at highway speeds (at the speed limit), and I think I know what it is about the Bose system that bothers me. Its the mid-range, oddly enough. I can live with boomy non-descript bass, and the treble is fine - its the voice level frequencies, maybe even lower end mid-range. I listened to a song I know really well and love, and I couldn't hear the lead singer (a baritone type of voice, but it wasn't opera). Then I noticed that the volume started to change during the song, nothing can be more irritating! The settings for sound level compensation were "off". I suppose I have a poltergeist. I'm not posting to see who else thinks the Bose system is poor, just wanting to know if this lack of mid-range clarity is what you may be experiencing (for those who feel something is missing).

I've noticed the muddy midrange too, and it is predominantly because of the rear speakers which have really muddy midrange. Sounds much better by fading forward to +7. That helps midrange, while stillgiving a touch from the rear for a bit more spacial fullness. With front bias,need to boost bass to plus 2 (which becomes less boomy, yet deeper) and treble drop to minus 2. I also turned off surround and audio pilot. Give it a try. I set it that way a few months ago and no longer have to obsess over tweaking sound endlessly. That alone is a great sign.

re: poltergeist, don't forget that you have to adjust these settings individually for radio and CD audio. Maybe that explains why the volume changes when you thought you turned off audio pilot.

Scopacetic: Thanks dude. I think you're right, I probably didn't set it up on the CD side. Will try your recommendations re setup. I thought I had it a few months ago too, but this great CD that I love drew attention back to the troublesome Bose .

so if you have to do all over again, will you order the $1000 bose options?

I'm torn. It doesn't work for me at all compared to what competitors (ie BMW ) offer at a lower price point. However, people still give it value on resale. Its the "upgraded" stereo - so it must have value. Probably worth the price, but contain your expectations. I told my salesman, "I find it boomy and it lacks clarity". He said, in typical fashion, "well, I guess I must like boomy music then". What do you say to that? Other than "wake up, my man, you had a bad dream, you dreamt you were a car salesman".

People have talked about swapping out the rear speakers for some quality drivers, but I haven't heard any reports. Part of the problem may be the Cayman interior. It's pretty small and with the domed roof probably has all kinds of reverberation.

Check if the system has any 'noise canceling' function or any other artificial sound processing and if possible turn it all off. If that microphone in the dash is providing any noise cancelation then it may be the problem.

Canuck, I found the same thing when we got the Bose system in our first Audi and so I didn't get it in either the 2nd Audi or the Cayman . Don't know what the stock system will sound like in the Porsche (I'll find out on Tue or Wed!), but in the Audi the stock system is MUCH better.

Lack of midrange is charecteristic for most all Bose systems, home and auto...tiny neodymium surround speakers with large subs can't really help but create that sort of sound.... that's why Home Theater In A Box systems still can't replace a good set of towers... that said, I still ordered the Bose in my soon to be manufactured Cayman S , have a Bose that works well enough in my Silverado SS(mid range weak, but....if I want perfect sound, I'll listen at home- my home system is pieced together Yamaha) It is a problem found in many 'cubed' type systems, some of the DSP function may exacerbate the issue as well... good resource below.... http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/loudspeakers.php

I agree. Can we replace the rear speaker? Which PRO speaker will fit/work? Experts? HELP...COCO

Okay this thread has gotten me really mad! ...mad at myBOSE andmostly mad at Porsche for giving it to us! I think my BOSE is absolute rubbish. I bought my Croc from the lot but if I could have ripped out the BOSE system with fiberoptics and all and handed it back to Porsche I would have.At leastit would have been $950 less on the price tag. Audiophiles have a saying about BOSE , 'If it has no highs and it has no lows, it must be BOSE .' It is very odd that the BOSE system in the current Acura RL (Honda Legend)is so good. Why did we get sacked with the crap from BOSE ? The Porsche engineers certainly know how a car should handle but they must be deaf! I think replacing the speakers and audio system will be my first 'performance mod'. Once I do that I can finally drive without the disctraction of a pounding migrane everytime I listen to the stereo. Okay I'm getting off the Soap Box now....

I believe the exact phrase is 'no highs, no lows, must be Bose '. 25 years ago Bose made their name in home audio and they made excellent, well-respected products. That all changed over the years and they now occupy the low end of the fidelity market (which is the most profitable). But, they have excellent marketing and are an OEM supplier of car audio systems that are nowhere near as good as the masses expect them to be. It's also necessary to understand that the acoustic environment (car's interior shape and size, panel construction, and speaker placement) play an even more important role in what you hear than the speakers and head unit themselves. Porsches are notorious for having lousy acoustic environments, and thus no system will sound very good in them. Reports of other cars' Bose systems sounding good are due to the other cars' better acoustics and/or speaker placement.

Naa, I think the reason is the noise cancelling system. Anybody got a manual to check on this? Find that mic and disconnect it.

I find the Bose system sounds great when I listen to it with the engine off. With the engine on it appears to cancel the sound quality of the Bose system . I like the egine sound better

I figure thats the intent of the system, to cancel the engine noise. Sounds like its a dud based on your comments. Try the same test again with the mic hole blocked. I read some where thats its a small hole in the dash.