I've read many reviews saying the stock stereo system is not up to par and recommends upgrading to Bose. Is that true?

 

I never had the opportunity to listen to the base model's stereo but, in my opinion, think the Bose system is overrated. It sounds okay for the average listener but if you consider yourself somewhat of an audiophile, or are at least serous about your music, you'll probably be disappointed. I don't consider myself an audiophile but I think I know sounds good.

I've never been a fan of Bose speakers. Their marketing people do a great job of making it seem like their speakers use some magical technology to produce big sound. It's really just trickery. I've always felt that Bose speakers lack midrange because they tend to use only a single driver to produce high and midrange frequencies while using tuned acoustic ports to produce non-directional bass. The drivers producing the highs and midrange are too small to put out serious midrange sound levels and only seem to work for the highs. The bass produced by the acoustic ports do fill a room, or a passenger compartment, and can be tuned to hit hard but while lacking accuracy. In the end, the Bose system in the G35, and all Bose systems I've ever heard, tend to have a hole in the midrange frequency response. I think Bose systems sound both harsh and boomy at the same time.

The Bose system in the G35 also lacks a lot of tuneability. You can only adjust the treble and bass five levels either way from center. You can't adjust crossover points at all nor do you have any midrange control. I guess it's this way because Bose supposedly creates each sound system specifically for the acoustics of every car's interior.

2004.5 Diamond Graphite/Graphite G35 6MT Sedan
Premium Package • Navigation • Splash guards • 350Z intake duct • Stillen high-flow airbox • Underbody diffusers

 

Beware that the Bose upgrade in the coupe and sedan are different. May of what you read in terms of negative comments are from the coupe system. The sedan system isn't as bad in my opinion. The only probelm I had with it was the super high crossover in the 1" tweeters in the doors. I changed the crossover capacitory to a lower cut and they sound great.

 

Polks or other 50$ speakers are a great way to upgrade the sedan. I can't imagine having no subwoofy. The coupe guys must hate that. Just dropping the x over with those new bigger tweets is easy cheap and 80% better than stock. THe lows are there just need the midrange and highs. Polk rocks

2003.5 DP 5AT Sedan
14.2 @ 97.18
Z-Tube
K&N Drop In & Airbox Mod
10 Wire Hyper-Ground
Crawford Plenum (V4)
UR Crank Pulley
Hotchkis Sways (M/M)
Polk EX-3500 Tweeters/Shock Sensor/H-Liner

 

I'd like to do the same. Can you tell me where the amp is on the '04?

2004 G35X
Diamond Graphite • Premium Package • Navigation

 

I have the standard system in my car. I think it is OK for now. I got an I35 loaner with the Bose and it didn't sound as good as my stocker. Maybe it's a different system than the G but it's my only comparison.

Mark

2003 Sedan AT. Ivory Pearl/ Willow
20% tint. Z-tube. Clear Corners w/ PIAA.
Aluminum Pedals

 

Bose is a marketed system. Its great for novice listeners, but if your an audiofile, its crap. I don't know how Bose got themselves contracted to all these car dealers, but I can't stand Bose. If you ever take a look at the speakers, there isn't even a magnet. IMO, I wouldn't upgrade. Save your money and buy an after maket receiver and speaker....you would truely appreciate the difference.

 

Certain music sounds better then others.

04 6MT Sedan - Z Tube, K&N Drop-In, 04 Z Suspension

 

I just turned in the loaner I was driving for one day. It had Bose, my car doesn't. Sound difference is insignificant. You just get more annoying punch and the clarity is crap. For $900 they are asking for Bose you can upgrade stock system with Focals all around and install nice amp. Sound difference will be night and day.

***04 G35s 5AT/Sport***
***04 Volvo XC90 T6***

 

I have to totally agree with marvinclt. Bose has a great marketing department and they cater to the unsuspecting listener (or rather, the people who aren't that picky about how their music is reproduced). Bose, as far as I know, still uses paper cones for their drivers and their magnets are tiny.

I personally feel that Infiniti should have gone the route of Lexus and partnered with an audiophile-level company comparable to Mark Levinson (which Lexus is using). Keep Bose for the Nissan products and use better audio equipment for the Infiniti line.

However, for me, my Bose system is fine. I actually rarely listen to it since I enjoy listening to the engine instead. When I had my S2000, I upgraded the stock speakers (talk about cheap) to Polks. They sounded exponentially better but I still rarely listened to the stereo. 9,000 rpms sounded better than the stereo ever could.

2004.5 Diamond Graphite/Graphite G35 6MT Sedan
Premium Package • Navigation • Splash guards • 350Z intake duct • Stillen high-flow airbox • Underbody diffusers

 

Bose 1word ---sucks!!
Our Bose system is horrible! I think Maximas have better Bose system than ours for some reason...Hey some people might disagree but the system has too much highs/lows and it lacks midrange.
Only thing Bose is good for is home theater!

03.5s/Brillant Silver/Premium/Sport/Winter Pkg

 

bose is crap - it's pretty upsetting that i can't even adjust the midrange only the bass and treb. however, i can see why bose is so attractive to car manufacturers because of it's relatively small size and weight. remember that car designers have to worry about packaging and size requirements when designing the cars.

 

In our case they should have done double din with 6-disc changer in one if they were concerned with space and size.

***04 G35s 5AT/Sport***
***04 Volvo XC90 T6***