Which system do you have?
Do you find the M a bit ... heavy on its feet?

John Feng

 

re. Feng "I know this is flame bait, but. Get a SPL meter (anyone). Go measure using one of the commercially available test discs. How much output do you get from your PC speakers at 30Hz? How about 40Hz?"

It's not how low you can go and it's also not how loud you can go. I don't need stadium PA sound levels in my car.

Of course my 129.00 PC speakers have better bass than the SOW because I can adjust the sub separately. That means the relative volume of the bass frequencies can be whatever I want it to be compared to the mids and highs. That's something the SOW cannot simply cannot do. With the SOW you are "stuck" with whatever relative level of bass you can get with the bass at max. You can't reduce the mid/high frequency, only high frequency, which leaves you with too much mid range (because for some reason Bose choose not to include a 3 band EQ on the SOW).

You need to go back and read the posts on this forum and other car forums and read the #1 complaint about the new SOW... no bottom end. My question is, was it worth it? Was the money Bose saved on a 3 band EQ or a bass boost button really worth it? You've ended up with a lot of people who think the system sucks, some of whom may decide not to buy the car because of it. In other words, what you think does not really matter. It's what the public thinks that matters.

If the public decides it loves pitch shifters because they love vocals that sound like Donald Duck, and car makers respond by putting a pitch shift button on all their systems, but you don't because it's not "accurate" then don't be suprized to see posts that your system sucks because you can't shift the pitch. Likewise, if the public likes the bass boost and you choose to leave off a bass boost button or at least a 3 band EQ that would allow you to boost the bass, then don't be surprized to see posts that your system sucks because it has no bottom end.

 

That the SOW system doesn't have bass is still an odd comment to me. Which model are you talking about? The coupe? I have the sedan and there is obviously enough bottom end in the system, especially by the standards of any other decent oem systems I've heard. Not staggering gut wrenching bass, not subwoofer with a 200watt dedicated amp bass, but plenty of usable bass.

After having listened to this system for over 3 weeks I can't believe anyone would truly pass on the car because of the quality of this stereo system. It's not the state of the art system of all time, but to say it's unlistenable and sours the rest of what the car has to offer is quite a leap. Remember that it's an oem system. Yes, upgraded and touted as something great (do you really believe this kind of hype ever?), but an oem system just the same. BTW I do own a home audio system, and have owned systems for decades worth $25k+. So what? This is a car, not an accurately tuned room with the listener placed in the perfect position for imaging, etc. It's a noisy, vastly flawed environment for sound reproduction and they did a good job with this system in comparison to many. It's true they could have given the user more control on the head unit but I look at the system for what it is - a really good oem system. Just remember that we only paid a paultry amount more for this stereo than the stock unit. If you are unsatisfied by a large margin, that is why the after market car stereo industry exists.

I wouldn't master a record solely on this system, but I'm not so ignorant to expect that kind of a system for the money constaints of any mainstream auto manufacturer. I give Infiniti credit for caring enough to hire a team to tweak their sound system at all, and I'm happy that it's designed after the model of accuracy instead of the pedestrian hyped frequency extremes model.

 

Great post, I agree with everything you have stated. Oooops, I am not supposed to agree with someone, RLampke doesn't like that.

I agree about the bass comment. I find it has more than enough bass for a car audio system, but I guess everyone has different tastes.

 

No worries Shane, lol, healthy discussion, agreeing, disagreeing in a constructive and polite manner is fine, and most here are very good at it I'm pleased to say
-- Just the odd one causes a problem for everyone and needs some special attention.

Colin

 

Sotagear, I just noticed in another thread that you are a recording artist. It's nice to hear feedback on the SOW from someone in your line of work.

 

Sorry guys call me weird but I like the system and enjoy listening to it everytime I'm in the car.

 

"pedestrian hyped frequency extremes model"

Well, this proud member of the unwashed masses of musically illiterate headbangers still only rates the SOW as "tolerable". I can get a little bass out of it by shifting the front/rear fader mostly to the front but the bottom end honestly sounded better in the Bose system in my 2003 G35 Sedan.

The highs and mids in the SOW are much cleaner than the Bose system in my 2003 G35 Sedan and what bass there is with the SOW is tighter. My problem with the SOW is not in the quality of the sound, it's with the lack of EQ adjustments and the lack of volume in the low frequencies compared to the mids and highs.

 

While waiting for my car to arrive, I didn't think it would be acceptable to post about my impressions of the SOW, but with such negativity (12 pages worth) toward this system, it's been getting me down. On my 4 test drives and 6 other times at the dealer I played with the system for a few hours in total. I prefer detail first, followed by accuracy and then I do like a little added/exagerated bass, because it add's some fullness at a lower volume, but just a small bit extra and I'd rather it the went to accuracy as volume went up. I'll add that I'm coming from a Jeep Liberty and Nissan Altima who's systems jsut suck, no other way to put it, even with trebel cranked to max it still sounds like you have ear-muffs on. But I do have a excellent near top-line HK & Denon system and love my SACD & DVD-A player. I fully appreciate quality audio

So I went to the dealer again specifically to check on the SOW, to make sure I wasn't just caught in the new-car hype where everything is "the best". Well after another 45 minutes in the car on the showroom floor (granted not in motion) I'm calling you all crazy!!!

The extra time in the drivers seat, I can tell you that you either have bad hearing, don't know what to listen to, or you are a member of avsforum, where you swear you can hear the difference betwen 12 and 14 ga. speaker wire, when I know you I could hook your speakers up with an lamp cord and you'd fail the pepsi challenge.

For an in-vehicle system, it's fantastic, the highes are THERE, and you can get really good detail out of them, listen to some stringed instruments. Vocals are outstanding, crisp. From some one who's never seen a studio... it's certainly what i'd expect from a studio. the Bass was there, had punch, but it wasn't overly done, but it was there.

So to all of you out there that may have wasted your time reading this thread (like me) don't get down.. the systems a great deal better IMO then this thread makes it out to be... to someone who say's the system is a "deal breaker" all you can do is laugh. I've test drove everything that competes and listened first hand... there's nothing better out there, unless your better is 12ga instead of 14ga speaker wire.

 

Interesting. A live performance has sounds coming from all around the listener. Direct from the source and reflected in multiple ways. A good 6.1 DSP processor will do an excellent job of reproducing the live environment in your listening room.

I have a 6.1 system in my home theater room and I assure you, it does not ruin the sound stage. It recreates it as though they were playing in my house. There is no other goal for hi-fi gear.

 

I have not spent my time reading the previous 12 pages to this thread. I have had home stereo's that cost over 6 figures, I have had a car stereo that was over $45k(designed for sound quality, not SPL) and enjoy the SOW system in this car. Its by no means the best, but it is a mobile enviroment and is clearly built with in a price constraint and I feel it is highly enjoyable. Its is not the last word in any arena, but for a daily driver with a lot of flexibility it works for me. The bass is good, staging is ok, it images a bit, the cd player is above average, micro and macro dynamics are superb except at either extreme. My main complaint is its linearity, it goes from too quiet to too loud too quickly.

I am different from most audiophiles, as I have evolved I don't worry about the last bit of detail, or if it images the best, I want the sound to be non-fatigueing and enjoyable, which the SOW is both.

 

Hey, Good for you kring , I also find the system satisfactory for sure. It gives me the sound I like to hear , It is all a personal preference.
I tend to disregard some threads like this , especially when over 20 posts on this thread are by the same person who habitually seems to enjoy dissing stuff, not once but many times over on not just this thread but many of the threads he participates in on this forum.

 

I believe I've stumbled into this same category of long-time audiophile. The non-fatiguing and enjoyable part is what I look for nowadays, at least in my car audio system.

Gone are the days and nights that I would just sit in front of my home audio system and listen for hours on end, enjoying every bit of detail, imaging, soundstaging, impact, etc, etc. Now I turn on my way too expensive system most of the time while I'm doing chores around the house, and the only time I sit in front of it for hours is when i watch a movie while using it as a part of my Home Theater system. Times they are a changing!

 

Ditto, so true, with a lot of us.

 

+1 on all my Infinitis tho the M's 5.1 sounds best to me. I suppose it should with all its features and speakers.
That doesn't diminish the quality of the other 2 I've had. I've liked them a lot.

Wayne, I quickly scanned for the 'offending' posts and could find only 10. These were quickly eliminated, but if you find any more 'clutter' -- let me know and I'll unclutter....

Enjoy the thread. I've not heard the SOW yet but look forward to the pleasure....I'm sure it's a delight.

Colin