Well today i spent lots of quality time with my new G and i thought i'd put put a little review of the Bose System. I haven't been exposed to the 2003-2004 bose system so I can't compare the new one to those. However, i'll post my impressions as a general music lover and not a hardcore audiophile. Your mileage may vary, but this is what i think:

In terms of sound quality, its pretty decent. I listen to all kinds of music including hip-hop, rap, and rock songs. All the songs I played sounded like they should, but i did notice a little hollowness to it at low volumes.

The bass is surprisingly deep. From what everyone was saying about the 03-04 system, i expected the bass to be non-existent. I'm not sure if they changed that but i'm pretty satisfied with the bass output of the system. Compared to my parent's 2002 TL-S bose system, there's definitely more kick to the bass in the G's system.

I burned a CD full of Mp3s to see how the MP3 function is handled. I have to say that it kinda sucks lol... I put all the songs on the CD without separating them into folders, which I think i have to so i can organize them. It does not use any ID tags for the MP3s but instead just lists what number song it is based on an alphabetic sort. So you don't see the name of the song or artist at all. Kinda blah but at least it plays MP3s lol... I'll try separating into folders to see what happens, maybe it'll display the folder name at least.

Other than the MP3 capability, everything else is like a normal system. The volume **** is definitely a good thing, cuz I can't imagine using buttons for that. No cassette of course, but who needs cassettes anyway?

Is it the best system out there? No... is it a decent system? yes! I think it's a good system and meets my needs for now until maybe i get enough cash for a better system lol... I think most people will be happy with it.

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2005 G35 Coupe Auto DG/G
Prem / Nav / Sport / Aero / Splash Guards
Z-Tube / Pop Charger / Clear Corners

 

please let us know about the mp3 features. i'm really curious myself too if you can categorize the files into folders and how you can access them.

 

i say its very average as well. given the 2004 acura tl also has a bose system that is much much better than infiniti's, i was hoping with the 2005 updates, they would attempt to match the competition, they didn't even try!

 

Coming from an 04 the Bose seems to have gotten weaker. The bass doesn't seem to be as crisp. Maybe I'm just crazy though but that's the first thing I noticed.

05 G35C 5AT/DG/Stone/Prem/Sport/Aero

 

Thanks for the review. Look in your manual though, cause I remember it saying that it does use ID tags. Wellz maybe you have to mess around with it more perhaps? If thats all it is when it comes to the mp3 as you stated, then it would sux big time. Wellz, mess around with it more and give us an update..hehe..late.

(ON ORDER) 2005 G35 6MT COUPE - BLACK ON BLACK - NAV - AERO KIT W/ SPOILER - SPLASHGUARDS - TRUCK MAT

 

yea i just read about the ID tags but you have to press and hold the DISP button to make it work... i'll play some more and post.

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2005 G35 Coupe Auto DG/G
Prem / Nav / Sport / Aero / Splash Guards
Z-Tube / Pop Charger / Clear Corners

 

ok the ID tags work but the text display is limited to like 10 characters... so basically worthless... I thought it would scroll the name, like it does with the radio but apparently not. No big deal i guess since you'll probably know the song from the first few seconds anyway, but would have been cool.

You can do a couple things with the display:

1. Display the folder name
2. Display the file name
3. Display the track title
4. Display the artist

all those seem limited to the 10 character space. And no matter what you do it will always order the MP3s in the order they were written to the CD. However, if you organize music into different folders, you can jump to different folders, but the order in the folders is always the same. Folder organization is definitely a must lol... as i have learned, putting all the songs in the root folder is a no no... but also if you have a lot of folders or MP3s, the load time is increased... right now i have around 140 or so songs and it takes like 3 to 4 seconds to load... so imagine if i had some sort of folder hierarchy set up...

You can randomize them.. but when you hit next instead of giving you the next random MP3, it plays the next in order... You have to wait til the end of the song to play a random mp3. I found that a bit annoying.

The system definitely isn't perfect, but at least its something. Not as convenient as lets say an Ipod or other mp3 players out there.

I took another hard look at the system, and it is a bit unbalanced as far as highs and lows. It seems the sweet spot for me is around volume level 20. Anything higher and the highs are overpowering the bass significantly and depending on the song gets very annoying fast. Anything lower and I don't have enough bass. Most people will probably leave it around 12-14 for normal listening. I suggest trying it out yourself if you care about the audio system at all. I found some songs sounded great and others sounded like crap...



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2005 G35 Coupe Auto DG/G
Prem / Nav / Sport / Aero / Splash Guards
Z-Tube / Pop Charger / Clear Corners

 

does anyone know what they actually changed in the Bose system from the 04 coupe?

by the way, i keep my levels at +4 bass, +2 treble, everything centered, and the volume is usually around 20, although it still sounds good up to 25 depending on the song of course.

Steve


G-Squad Hi-Res Gallery

 

The Bose system in my '04.5 G Coupe takes a dump all over the one in my previous 3.2CL TypeS. The '04TL's system wasn't very impressive either, last time I was in one.

 

I just picked up my 05 last night (in the rain of course). I'm coming from an 2002 I35. What I am surprised about is Bose hasn't come up with better technology in their radio systems. It would be nice to instead have a better EQ system to get rid of "hollow or dull sounds, specially with a MP3 player. I would like to see a 4 band parametric EQ or something, just so you can tailor your sound to match what you find enjoyable. Also, have you also noticed when you increase the Treble the "highs" don't really get accentuated all that much from 0 to +5. I wonder what frequency you are adjusting when you mess with the bass and the treble. Its a great stereo for stock, and I guess it keeps the after market radio in business. Its nice they add an MP3/WMA player, but I figured from 2002 to 2005 the internal compnents of Bose would advance as well.

 

What I am surprised about is Bose hasn't come up with better technology in their radio systems.

Hahaha....Actually, if you have read anything about Bose, their technology is actually to make their systems sound like crap (ie, no midrange and lots of bass). This is because Bose's market research determined that more bass makes people think is sounds better. Its amps EQ for lots of bass and treble, with no midrange, making everything sound hollow and muddy. This is why at 0 Bass setting, I feel like there is already too much bass in my G coupe.

Bose is NOT an audiophile brand, it is a pure marketing machine, and extremely overpriced at that. People think bose is awesome because they advertise like crazy and since it is expensive, people think it is good quality. for their home systems, they use extremely cheap components, made of PAPER cones when every other quality speaker company uses better and more durable materials like metals, kevlar, polypropelene, etc.

Check out this website for some anti-Bose acoustimass info.

The common nicknames for bose are ''blose'' and "no highs, no lows, must be bose!" This is because they use (paper) cone tweeters in several of their home speaker systems instead of the industry standard domes and horns. Their "bass module", not to be confused with a subwoofer, does not play deep bass, but is tuned to blast loudest at the frequencies that shake things in the room and sound boomy so people will go 'oooohh'.

I wish I had shopped around a little more to get a G w/out the Premium Package, but I was impatient.


2004.5 6MT DG/G Coupe | Premium | Aero Kit | ClearBra | See profile for pix

 

In response to mikeinaustin's comment.
The '04 TL has the Acura/ELS 5.1 surround sound system. It was made in conjunction with Panasonic. It is not a "Bose" system (dunno about the speakers though). It sounds considerably better then the MDX's Bose system. But my moms lexus es300's pioneer system (not mark levinson) beats the pants off them both.

From what i've been reading in the forums it seems like a equalizer/amp is a good investment for the G. Thats what I plan on doing when I get mine.

I wonder if Bose is still using a Clarion headunit for the 05 models.....

Gonna buy: '05 6MT Sports Coupe

 

bottom line is you're not gonna be getting the G for its kickass stereo lol

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2005 G35 Coupe Auto DG/G
Prem / Nav / Sport / Aero / Splash Guards
Z-Tube / Pop Charger / Clear Corners

 

I never bought a $30K+ car that had a decent sound system.
Have had to replace them all!

I do not even have my car yet, and I have already invested in a high end audio set up for it!

__________________________________________________

On order:

2005 Red on Wheat Automatic (NON-Sport model & Proud of it!)
Performance Tire & Wheel Package (18” Tires with 18” 7 spoke rims)
Sunroof
Splashguards
XM Radio
Trunk Mat

Aftermarket (in hand):
K&N Air Filter
Z-Tube
Lex Sheild Headlamp Guards
Lanzar Vibe531 5 Channel 1600 watt amplifier
4 JL (VR650-CSi) Speakers
1 stealth subwoofer by 4080

Aftermarket on order:
Stillen Exhaust


<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by Switch on 11/04/04 01:16 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

I think the stock audio system in most cars are downright pathetic. And if you want to "upgrade" the stereo, it is really expensive. So basically the car companies see it as a big profit area.

I wonder how much more it would actually cost them to put in a decent system vs. crap.


2004.5 6MT DG/G Coupe | Premium | Aero Kit | ClearBra | See profile for pix