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| There was an add for the new lexus in the NY post today.This is the car you can talk to to put the ac on change radio,etc.They were proudly touting their 300 watt Bose system.Seems like Bose must not be as bad as some members out there think.Just think for another 20,000 bucks you can get 100 more watts |
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quote:
Originally posted by mdxwannabe
There was an add for the new lexus in the NY post today.This is the car you can talk to to put the ac on change radio,etc.They were proudly touting their 300 watt Bose system.Seems like Bose must not be as bad as some members out there think.Just think for another 20,000 bucks you can get 100 more watts
With all due respect, I'd like to make a correction: It's the Infinity Q45 their talking about! - and yes I've heard this 300 watt system and it's awesome - almost as good as the Mark Levinson system in the LS 430, but then again not quite the same ! |
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| do NOT purchase the touring option just for the stereo.... it is extremely weak for that price.... you can upgrade with your own components for less money and get a MUCH better system... read some of the posts in the audio section to get some ideas |
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| I personally don't think the Bose is that bad. The six-CD in dash changer works well and the Navi voice is integrated into the front speakers and automatically turns down the radio/CD when giving directions. Some audiophiles have posted their displeasure in great detail in the Audio section of the forum. You should take a dealer demo out in a variety of conditions to formulate your own opinion. |
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Over the years Bose had does some pretty good installations in specific OEM packages and some very poor ones.
Even in those that sound OK or better you are still stuck with a NON-STANDARD set of components and were (until recently) at the MERCY of Bose/your manufacturer for repair/replacement parts.
In the MDX there is flat out [bold]not enough power [/bold] to deliver the kind of sound levels that such a BIG interior volume of vehicle needs to sound good. Factor in the sunroof, wind noise, cargo area and it is SHOCKING that the Bose system "maxs out" so low. Then look at the poor quality of the drivers (speaker cones) and be appalled that this is a PREMIUM product being deliver in 2001 with technology that is INFERIOR. It makes you feel like you are getting taken...
OTOH the CD changer is slick, the integaration with the Nav system is first rate, and there are probably even some other systems that sound worse...
So, is this "a big deal"? Probably not. It is just VERY irratating that other manufacturers have the good sense to deliver better systems, with more standardized components for approximately the same money -- though as the Bose is "rolled into" the Touring Pkg. it true cost is well disguised....
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The BOSE system is not the key reason to get the Touring PKG. but just a nice reason. The main thing that I do not care for w/the 6 disc in the dash is that you can't do random play througout the 6 discs! Just random within a single. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a six disc changer, for it to be like a jukebox?
Overall, the sound quality is mediocre at best. I just installed a Blaupunkt system in my SAAB for less than 300 bucks (200 max watts) that sounds worlds better than the Acura/Bose system. But that is a totally different vehicle.
Anyhow, personally, I think the fact that you get a much nicer set of wheels (IMHO), the BOSE sys. the memory seats, the roof rack (standard), and the second power seat for your compadre make the package on the whole a good bet. Why spend all that $$ and get the "base" wheels, that (as i state, IMHO), look very "base". |
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| I like my Bose system although it is not quite as good as the McIntosh that came in my wife's Subaru VDC. The latter has better sound clarity but lacks a 6 CD in dash changer and the controls are not as slick. I personally like a lot of base which the Bose delivers. If you are one of those folks that likes to hear every timbering overtone of a triangle being played, then the Bose may fall short. I have found that boosting the treble all the way and putting the base just a bit above neutral provides the best sound for my ears. You can spend the money and change out components but how much time will you actually be spending in the MDX to warrant the investment? The choice is yours. |
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I had a PF'01 and I loved the Bose system that came with it. It had all ( and I mean, ALL) the controls right on the steering and the sound was definitely rich.
Sound on MDX is about the same but control wise, the system is pathetic. You can't switch the thing on/off, you cant change CD, you can't change between CD/AM/FM/Tape, In AM/FM mode you cannot go to channels which you haven't preset. To me, Acura guys went shortsighted on this one. Remember, this is a *luxury* vehical we are talking about.
-Han.
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| I thought the limited control options on the steering wheel were an issue before I got my MDX, but, after 2 weeks, don't see this as a problem at all. The dash controls are positioned so well ergonomically that I find myself gravitating to these vs. the steering controls, so, to me, there's no issue! |
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Actually I miss those features a lot due to the fact that I am not that tall (5-5) and so when I am in a relaxed position while driving ie. fully laid back on the seat, my hand doesn't reach the those buttons. I have to pull myself forward and then press the buttons.
Another lack of feature is the absence of one touch buttons. SunRoof has to be kept pressed to open or to close. The sidewindows don't close on one touch. Pass. side window doesn't open either.
sorry, there is another flaw. The buttons for the sunroof are on the leftside of the driver. The pass. simply cannot use it.
I would say, if Acura had given all these features (which are not novel by any means) I would give them 100 out of 100 marks. Still, I think MDX a great thing to drive. I just love the smoothness.
-Han.
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After reading all the posts on the Bose in the past, I was curious when I got my MDX in. I had a very nice Alpine & Boston Acoustics system in my 99' 4Runner that I had installed, so I was sure to miss that! However, I dont really mind the Bose. The steering wheel controls are nice to have, although more control functions like switching between sources would have been cool. While the quality is not the greatest as others have mentioned, I don't think the sound quality is that bad. I know that Bose system in the MDX doesn't even compare to the Mark Levinson system in the Lexus or the system in the new Q45. Those are $60,000 cars..which I would expect to have more niceties in them!
I think depending on how long you are going to keep the car, you have to ask yourself is it really worth spending extra money on nice aftermarket car stereo gear that you won't get back when you sell it/trade it in? Thats a question only the owner can answer. I took all of my upgraded gear out of the 4Runner because I paid over $3000 for the upgraded gear at a car stereo store and knew I could not sell the car for more. I am going to sell the upgraded gear on Ebay and will be lucky to get less than $1000 I'm sure.
- Dustin |
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but there are many other Bose systems out there that sound much better, including the one in my Mercedes E320. I do think the 6 disc in-dash changer is much nicer than one in the rear. You don't have to stop driving to change discs! The upgraded Lexus audio system tend to be the best ones from the manufacturer, in my opinion. I used to drive a '93 SC400 with an incredible Nakamichi system with a 12 disc changer. With that capacity in the changer, I would go for months without changing discs.
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But, are there much better Bose systems in SUV's out there?
We are not talking the same enclosure in an SUV as a regular auto. The auto has a trunk for much fuller base where as the SUV does not. SUV rear speakers have to fire sideways vs forward toward the driver in a car. It's not that the Bose is so bad, more as the environment we listen to it in.
I fully agree that the Bose in the MDX is underpowered. It almost has to be at full volume and distortion to overcome wind noise if the windows are down. I wonder if Bose makes any higher wattage speakers and amps for other vehicles that would fit the MDX? The sub seems to be fine to me.
I just don't know how long the speakers will last at high distortion volumes. |
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quote:
Originally posted by accmdx
But, are there much better Bose systems in SUV's out there?
We are not talking the same enclosure in an SUV as a regular auto. The auto has a trunk for much fuller base where as the SUV does not. SUV rear speakers have to fire sideways vs forward toward the driver in a car. It's not that the Bose is so bad, more as the environment we listen to it in.
I fully agree that the Bose in the MDX is underpowered. It almost has to be at full volume and distortion to overcome wind noise if the windows are down. I wonder if Bose makes any higher wattage speakers and amps for other vehicles that would fit the MDX? The sub seems to be fine to me.
I just don't know how long the speakers will last at high distortion volumes.
Try listening to the Bose system in the Infiniti QX4. It's also an SUV and it sounds just "out-of-this-world". After listening to the QX4 Bose, it becomes pretty obvious that Acura did some serious cost-cutting !! :( |
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