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Hey all,
BOSE: 25 W amplifier x 4 (mids, tweets, twiddler)
100 W amplifier x 1 (subwoofer)
BASE: 30 W amplifier x 4 (mids, tweets)
35 W amplifier x 1 (subwoofer)
Thanks. |
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quote:
Originally posted by tigmd99
Hey all,
BOSE: 25 W amplifier x 4 (mids, tweets, twiddler)
100 W amplifier x 1 (subwoofer)
BASE: 30 W amplifier x 4 (mids, tweets)
35 W amplifier x 1 (subwoofer)
Thanks.
For a vehicle as large as the MDX that is not enough power! My RX300 had a 280W sound system and was awesome! |
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| Have Touring/Navi... think sound is good.... also is excellent, compared to my wife's Odyssey (2000). I'm happy with the Bose, altho never considered myself a true audoiophile! |
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Hey all,
The RX300 sound system is 240-Watts (max) to seven speakers, 2 of which are 0.75 tweeters, and 1 of which is a subwoofer. The optional Nakamichi system is 230 watts (max). Strange thing, the brochure of 2001 RX300 states the sound system to be 244-Watts (not 240).
I do agree with the above about this being a good system (both base and Nakamichi). Lexus have always been excellent in their audio stuffs. BOSE is average or maybe above-average in today's market...however, it is losing ground VERY quickly to other brand names, especially the Mark Levinson of Lexus and, to a much lesser extent, the Harmon Kardon in BMW's.
Thanks. |
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I'm no audiophile and I don't have an MDX (yet) but that wattage thing is a bit misunderstood. Most of the power used needs a few watts. Dynamic headroom helps lessen the need for more wattage. Speaker effeciency also plays into the picture. It is for these reasons that it can be difficult to compare systems based on wattage alone.
I suspect that the MDX is a 200 watt system. 4x25=100 pluss 100 more for the subwoofer( base is a big power draw!) Althouhg I thought the bose had more than five speakers?????
On similiar systems one probably couldn't hear the diff from 175- 250 watts. Decibels drive the volume, not wattage. Also distortion comes in big. Just listen to the volume change on ANY system. Doubling the power never doubles the decibels!
Again I dont' have an MDX, so I'm not "sticking up" for its system at all, but if one does compare specs, you need to look at the entore picture. |
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Redwing,
Yes, it is a bit unfair to compare the BOSE with other systems. BOSE system in MDX has 8 speakers (2 tweeters, 4 woofers, 1 twiddler, and 1 subwoofer). The 4 small amplifiers power the 2 tweeters, 4 woofers, and the twiddler.
BOSE systems, in general, are not well-regarded in the aftermarket arena. There is a saying, "No highs, no lows, must be BOSE". BOSE is really good at marketing their systems. They chose to rely on their distant past reputation rather than upgrading their quality. Their speakers are made of paper and glue (OK for home system, but bad in the harsh environment of cars), while most aftermarket speakers are made of superior stuff (polypropylene, kevlar, etc.).
The only high-tech stuff that they do is their so-called "subwoofers". I put a quotation mark b/c these are not really subwoofers but just over-sized woofers. Their subwoofers use an expensive magnet, called neodymium. This is a very thin magnet (1/10th the size of regular ferrite magnet). This allows BOSE to fit big speakers in the doors and save trunk space (because the magnet does not intrude into the trunk space). If you look at the subwoofer on the Acura TL or Cadillac Seville, you will notice that it is very flat...nothing protrudes into the trunk. The design of the subwoofer is also unique in that it is an "inverted" design...that is, the magnet is on the same plane as the speaker itself (most speakers have the magnet behind the woofer)...this is due to the neodymium's small size. Therefore, these are FLAT speakers. The downside is that these speakers don't have much excursion that is needed for bass due to their design. Therefore, BOSE subwoofers are very limited in their bass production. Thus, all you do get is a booming sound, not deep bass.
BOSE speakers are also 1-ohm stable...most speakers are 4-ohm. This allows BOSE to power these speakers with tiny weak amplifiers. These amps are usually located in the doors next to the speakers. The BOSE amps are not very good...they don't last long (some even catch fire in the hot sun!)...but because these speakers are soooo efficient, the amps do an OK job. The problem with 1-ohm stable speakers is that they are not very stable and they too blow out within a year or two (in addition to the paper & glue quality of the speakers). To decrease the risk of failure (and prolong life of BOSE components), BOSE engineers limit the amount of bass and high frequencies to their speakers...thus, compressing the response frequencies...too much highs can destroy their tweeters quickly...same for too much bass on their "subwoofers". Therefore, BOSE speakers tend to be decent in the midranges, but not very deep on the bass nor the highs. All of them lack detail in their reproduction. THis is OK for the average folks who buy cars. BOSE need to upgrade their quality period. Just look at Lexus and the Mark Levinson system (Nakamichi before that)...ML system actually uses some very expensive aftermarket stuffs. Yes, ML system is expensive and BOSE is usually standard equipment on most cars. However, when i buy a Mercedes CL600, i want an excellent system, not a system that you can get in a Pontiac Grand AM.
Sorry about the length. Now, i do like the MDX and for the purpose, BOSE is fine on the MDX.
Thanks. |
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tigmd99,
Don't see MDX listed under your signature, so have you ordered one or what? On another thread, someone did some simple Bose reengineering and put chokes on all the speaker wires to create a crossover network. This person claims that this modification did wonders to clear up the midrange and higher frequencies. Since you seem to have more Bose knowledge than most what is your assessment of this relatively simple mod. I personally like my Bose but admit the McIntosh system in our Subaru VDC Wagon is a better with the same power but greater clarity and not quite as boomy base. An in-dash 6 CD changer is a dealer installed option with the latter compared with the Bose system that comes with the touring package. |
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Remery,
The mods is a good idea b/c BOSE speakers tend to be full-range; that is, they reproduce all the bass and high notes, while the subwoofer produce only bass notes. This creates a problem because woofers (6.5" in diameter) are never good at producing deep bass (that is what subwoofers are for).
Anyway, from reading that guy's mods, the "hand-made" crossover would clear up the midbass/midrange, b/c it cuts out the distorted deep bass from the woofers. However, this would have no effect on the high frequency (tweeters).
So, yes it would help with the midranges, but "no highs" would still apply.
I am thinking of ordering an MDX...still waiting for next year's redesign-4Runner (and maybe the RX300).
Thanks. |
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Nice explanation Tigmd99. Bose is real garbage. I have found the base system in my 92 Lexus SC400 much better sounding than the Bose in my wifes 99TL. We ordered the tour package but I had to bite my tongue because it included the Blose sytem . Now that Mark Levinson system in the new SC430, that is heaven. To bad the car costs 60k and is butt ugly.
Frank |
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I believe the mods you guys are talking about came from a post by sajakake. I printed this out and took it to a local audio shop. They, however, warned me not to make this mod or the add an L-pad to the sub because of fear it would burn out the amp or head unit. Anyone else been told this?? Also, those who have made this mod, has it really improved the sound that much.
I, for one, believe the Bose is crap. I used to think the Harmon Khardon in my M3 was lousy but it is a symphony compared to the Bose. I'm starting to become of the opinion that the only way to get real decent sound out of this system is to gut the amps and speakers and replace them with something other than the 1 ohm garbage that was used. |
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I have a 95 Maxima with a Bose system (without a sub)
that I think sounds very good. When I saw the touring package had the Bose, I thought great.
Wrong. Replacing speakers and amps are high on my list. |
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The Bose system in the MDX is fine, my wife doesn't know the difference. Personally, I've never kept any stock radio in any of my vehicles...evidenced by my 2 Macintosh amps pushing 2 JBL 10" woofers, 4 JBL 6" in the doors, 2 Tweeters and stock 6x9's in the rear for "fill"...my Chevy is always rockin'...
If you are not an audio nut, the Bose will work perfectly.. |
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