Bose Sound Quality?

[geektoad]

I've never been a fan of Bose, but this is...not horrible. however it does live up to the old adage "no high, no low, must be Bose". The bottom end is just not there, and after the Bang & Olufsen in the S4 i traded on the truck, I'm going to have to tweak this.

 

I've seen JL mentioned a couple of times, but not their Stealthbox. I know they have one that replaced the center console sub for the GMT-900.

 

Does anyone know if they have a similar unit for the new platform, or if the existing part number will fit?

 

I'd rather not give up any space under the rear seat if I can get a JL 10" in the center console to replace the Bose.

[GMC-AT]

no stealth from JL yet for the 2014. I have been looking

[diannabill]

You guys must all be younger and wealthier than I am. Ahh, I remember those days well!

[Cap'n Pete]

My Bose radio is the best stock radio I've had in a vehicle to date. Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

Agree 100%. Now, I'm not saying I've driven every brand of vehicle on the market (far from it ..... I stick pretty close to "home"! ) ... but I've been in other cars, and aside from a full aftermarket system, have never found one factory system to be head-and-shoulders above another.

 

So I've had my truck for a little over ~24hrs so far, and thus far, VERY SATISFIED with the Bose (w/center console sub). I'm into listening to heavier music as well (ie: XM37 - Octane) .....and fairly loud too (not maxed out, but enough to get the sub kicking so you can FEEL the bass). This system has just as much kick (and very good CLARITY) as a cheap sub/amp combo I had back in my highschool / college (broke!) days . I have no plans to upgrade any of the components at this point.

 

In short: is the Bose as good as a well put together aftermarket system? No. But is it a good factory stereo system? Absolutely!

[Jon A]

Speaking of sound quality and XM, what bitrate are they streaming on their music channels these days? Back when I had it the bitrate was so low even the best stereo in the world would sound like it was playing in the next room and you were listening to it through a wall. It was OK for the talk channels, but other than that....

 

With subscription, Pandora streams at 144 on phone and computer which is close enough to CD quality it's really hard to tell the difference. I assume this will not change when streaming through the Intellalink? How does it sound to people who have tried?

[2014GMC]

I am underwhelmed by the Bose system. Highs sound terrible, low end Is muddy. Soundstage is limited to above the dash. No matter how I adjust it I cannot get anything decent out of it. Last ride was a 2006 F150 with the high end factory system and it sounded great! Loud, clear, great highs and decent low end from the 6" sub under the rear seat. I hate the idea of tearing out the whole system and replacing it all but I cannot listen to this for the next 10 years! I have only had the truck 5 days and love everything else about it. Any tips or suggestions with the Bose that I am missing?

[DanMan_S]

This has always frustrated me with GM. My last 3 trucks with the Bose system (2009 Silverado, 2007 Silverado and 2005 Silverado) have had really, really crappy sound quality. I don't understand how we are paying for a premium system that sounds like this. It's almost like GM is playing a cruel joke on us. My last Chrysler, an SRT Cherokee had a FANTASTIC stereo and I definitely miss it.

[bogeypro]

I love the bose. Sounds better than my 2011 did.

[Brian M]

Interesting topic. Had Sony in my F150 and it was ok. Had JBL in several Toyotas. Best was in a 2000 Avalon. The 2005 Avalon and later the 2013 Avalon JBL's seemed to get worse.

 

I remember the first "Delco-Bose" system debuted in the 1984 Corvette and that set the reputation for Bose in GM's. Before that I remember the monikers of "Symphony Sound" and "Concert Sound" in the Caddy's and Buicks my folks had.

 

This truck is ok. It is very quiet so it changes the dynamic of the sound.

 

I also believe that XM and streaming music has lost some of the quality that CD's and even other analog media produced.

[GMC-AT]

Good point... the music quality is everything. You guys streaming from Pandora, XM, etc... that quality is degraded junk. Try HD FM... or better yet music from your SD or USB (assuming you have downloaded quality files)

 

When I play my own music ( over 256) the quality is great. Although, the system could use a little more base.. which I plan to add sometime.

[Jullian is not my name]

I added a Kicker shallow mount sub in a box I made myself to add to my Bose system. It is a definite improvement, but its still no custom stereo. The sound on the Bose really starts to let me down at high volumes, but when just cruising around, it sounds great to me and the $500 price tag for the Bose was well worth it to me. On all my old vehicles, I would do a complete tear-out, but I don't have the need to do that on my '14, which is saying something for the Bose.

 

If anyone wants to see my how-to on wiring an amp, I posted some info here: http://www.silveradosierra.com/mobile-electronics/2014-sierra-w-bose-adding-amplifier-speaker-level-t107898.html

 

This was a pretty simple install that really helped things out. I didn't want to take all my under-seat storage space and there's not enough room on the rear wall of the cab for more than 1 or 2 amps anyway. So clean space for amps and speakers becomes an issue without spending a ton of money for some custom work.

[rrobin2569]

I added a Fox Acoustics box to my '14 with two 12" Kicker CompR 800 watt RMS subs and a Kicker DX 1000.1 amp. I am in the process of replacing the Bose speakers, just trying to figure out which speakers to go with:

 

the Kicker QS65.2 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008B5JPTS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1J591FG01X1VA&coliid=I3LTSJ8IKZX0EHor

 

the Hertz DSK 165.3- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008B5JPTS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1J591FG01X1VA&coliid=I3LTSJ8IKZX0EH or

 

rCtx65cs - Image Dynamics 6.5" Component Speaker System- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NNOZNQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1J591FG01X1VA&coliid=I1DP93FH2RGX4F .

 

I am leaning more towards the Kicker, just because I have had no issue with them so far and I can use the high line inputs on the amps without having to get a line converter.

[KARNUT]

I don't have the Bose, I get the best sound from plugging my I phone or pod into the usb, downloads or Pandora.

[rrobin2569]

Correct. Bose isn't even an option for the SLE. You have to have th SLT to get the Bose system. I'm wondering if anybody knows of a sub box that will fit the new double cabs or if the crew cab box will fit in the double cab. Also, I'd love to uprgrade the entire system just as C25A1guy did, however I don't know what speakers will fit without a decent amount of modification. Does anyone else know?

Try Fox Acoustics.

[RobDarden]

I really like mine. The sound never gets distorted. Make sure you have HD radio turned on if you listen to the radio...it sounds even better.

 

 

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