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I don't own a C7 but I hope to get a used one with the 2LT package.
I want the extra goodies and I hope the Bose system sounds as good as my Bose Companion 20 computer system speakers that I have for my work computer. It sounds amazing!!
just jumping in on this conversation-I love music and in my daily driver (2010 Dodge Charger) I have a great aftermarket stereo system. I'll agree though-when I drive the Vette, 90% of the time it's just that sweet exhaust I'm listening to.
My vert top's down most of the time, so I stopped by a local car stereo shop last month to see what they have to improve the sound, esp more base.
Surprisingly, shop owner actually said that the factory Bose system is pretty good & without adding bass boxes & other obtrusive amps & boxes to my limited vert trunk...
My vert top's down most of the time, so I stopped by a local car stereo shop last month to see what they have to improve the sound, esp more base.
Surprisingly, shop owner actually said that the factory Bose system is pretty good & without adding bass boxes & other obtrusive amps & boxes to my limited vert trunk...
Yea I've done a lot of aftermarket sound system installs (I like my music) and stuff just takes up space. You could maybe stuff an amp under the passenger seat which would allow you to get more volume, but the Bose system is pretty difficult to mess with from what I understand. I have a C4 and I just put in all aftermarket stuff, it's easier than trying to upgrade piecemeal, especially with how integrated all the Bose stuff is. I'm not sure on a C7 if you even CAN replace the dash unit? From what I understand it's tied into the operation of the rest of the car.
Most of the time I listen to the car and exhaust.
Sometimes play USB songs just loud enough to hear for background music.
But a lot depends on the road noise since some are noisier than others.
Other times with top off, windows down, and Volume cranked up real loud, it sounds great
Sitting still with the engine on or off, the Bose is pretty good.
I set it to Driver sound with Treble and Mid Range close to full, and Bass at 5/8 +.
One thing I find is it doesn't handle songs with Heavy Bass very well even with the Bass set low.
Different songs will sound better than others no matter what the settings are
I'll side with the exhaust folks, 42 delete of course. Strange because in all my other vehicles, I always have music on. Something about the Corvette that makes me leave it off.
I think the stock Bose sound system on my LT-2 Z51 (2017) sounds pretty damn good. Not spectacular, but certainly adequate for a car in this price range. What surprises me is the lack of threads and articles about people upgrading the speakers in the car. What would probably make a big difference.
That being said the bass response from the door speakers is so strong that if the bass is turned up to high I can feel it rippling against the fabric of my left pant leg.
Talk about great sounding exhaust....I've got TSP LT Headers, no cats, and a Corsa Xtreme exhaust. For me, THAT is what a great exhaust sounds like...and it IS LOUD!.
I also like music...and the Bose system didn't do it for me. Some may think this is overkill, but I didn't lose any trunk space. It fits perfectly in the void between the trunk storage and driver's cabin.
I'm having trouble with my Bose radio as well. 2009 3LT Convertible. Sounds like an AM radio. No bass at all. Bought it that way, didn't care a few years ago because I too, would turn the radio off and put the top down. Now I'm driving it a little more ( with the top up ) and I knowtise the poor sound quality. Any quick answers ? Or who should I take it too ? I live in TX and heard Earmark is pretty good. What ya'll think ?
I do 2k to 5k mile road trips, annually. Ive been doing those since my first '97 C5. While I love the sound of my '16 C7's exhaust, they don't do much for me traveling the Interstates for 500 miles at a time.
Need my music! When it comes to those times, the Bose system is adequate, but not great. Must say, better than the Bose in my two C6's.
HK in my '13 MINI, and whatever in my '15 Jeep GC are superior in sound. However...
Neither as much fun to drive as my Corvette!! So, even with mediocre sound, I pick the C7 over either of them when it comes to a road trip!!
(Maybe I'm hearing those C7 pipes more than I recognize! )
Interesting Thread! I don't listen to music except when driving the Vette! Have a multi-speaker sound system in the house but seldom have it on-frankly too busy.
Love the Vette, my NPP set at Track for all driving modes BUT the tire and road noise is so loud need the sound system playing to drown it out! Not complaining about the noise, it's a sports car and I bought it for performance.
The added sub woofer in the rear (2 & 3LT) was missing in my C6. Good addition, helps drown out the tire noise. I have ~1000 songs playing from a flush thumb drive in a USB. It automatically plays in shuffle mode when I start the car. Seldom turn it off! No back sides of hits as on XM so don't use it although the Grand Sport comes with a year "free." For me "free," like the free oil changes is not worth it- did all my own changes in the 2014 C7 and the first 500 miles in my Grand Sport!
Yep, Janis Joplin singing "Cry Baby" is much better than road noise, IMO! Can still hear and enjoy the NPP and almost as loud, the "sucking sound" from my low restriction aFe intake at WOT!
Every. System needs a different setting but my settings are treble 70% full midrange 2/3 notches up from half way
and bass 2/3 notches up and The quality is great using the memory Chip card compared to usein a phone Bluetooth
You bring up an excellent point here-bluetooth audio is horribly compressed. Always hardwire or use a memory card when you can, your music will sound considerably better.
I was asked earlier today at work how my Bose sounded?? The radio has been on only twice.....at the dealer.....wife wanted to hear it....
The music the exhaust makes ( fuse 42 pulled....Track mode ) is all I want to hear 24/7!!!
If GM....Chevrolet....Corvette.... had a radio delete option....I would 100% click that box!!
You've used your radio two times more than me. Although I have to admit, I've answered my phone through CarPlay a few times before while parked but even that is limited to a handful of times since I have a very strict rule against talking on the phone while driving. And yes, if I could delete the radio to remove a few pounds, I would absolutely do it.
The horrible stereo stopped me from buying a F-Type.
Wish the sound was a bit better in the Vette convertible.
Not good for a $65k+ car. But could be worse.
If you have a great HDTV and you hook up a VHS tape player to it and play a movie, you will say the TV is lousy. But it is the signal that is fed into the set that makes you say it is lousy. No adjustments will make the picture look good. Same goes for the Bose system for sound.
The Bose system sounds pretty decent, but that is when you put in media that has been recorded properly with little to no compression. It also has to do with what codecs were used to record the music and so on.
My experience.
XM radio - terrible sound quality
AM radio - terrible sound quality
FM radio - just above terrible sound quality
Properly recorded music on a USB stick - sounds pretty good.
Maybe the HD FM Radio on the 2018 will sound pretty good too. I haven't heard one yet.
08-02-2017, 06:30 PM
