C7 General Discussion General C7 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Stereo sucks

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 13, 2018 | 02:45 AM
  #21  
sunsalem's Avatar
sunsalem
Race Director
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 11,905
Likes: 2,148
Default

Originally Posted by Kevin A Jones
Did you buy your C7 to drive or listen to music?
Considering how lousy the LT4 sounds, I prefer music.

Originally Posted by malexand123
The HK (Harmon Kardon) system in my Hellcat is light years ahead of the Bose system in my Vette.
I have the same in my 2018 Jeep G.C. Overland and it does sound much better.
Old Feb 13, 2018 | 06:38 AM
  #22  
sTz's Avatar
sTz
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 6,140
Likes: 2,745
From: Northeast
Default

Originally Posted by White Speed
15 Vette Z512lt.. Can’t believe that a Bose system with 9 speakers sounds so tinny! Took it to dealer just after I bought it to see what was wrong with the sound. They told me with 7 speakers up front and only two in rear creates that sound and that the bass was up front instead of rear. Had a friend that understands trebles, mid ranges and bass agreed it sound terrible. Had him adjust the settings and brought mid range way down, improve somewhat. Should sound like a concert hall. Thoughts please !
If you have the 2LT, as mentioned ^^^, then you have the 8” sub in the rear as well... and yes, the system can sound “tinny,” especially w/satellite radio.

Originally Posted by Kevin A Jones
Did you buy your C7 to drive or listen to music?
Both...
Old Feb 13, 2018 | 07:02 AM
  #23  
Frodo's Avatar
Frodo
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,439
Likes: 590
From: Tellico Plains Tennessee
Default

I find the audio system adequate for the purpose, that is to provide driving music to augment my driving experience. Sure, it isn't music hall quality but that never even entered my mind when I decided to order my C7. With all the engine, road, and wind noise you can't enjoy that kind of quality anyway.

Like most any product, you'll find owners unhappy with this or that feature, this or that function, whatever. You can't hit a home run for everybody. I wonder what a Corvette with the perfect audio system would cost. Also add in the perfect nav system, perfect HVAC, perfect heated/cooled seats, perfect brake pads and rotors, perfect HUD, the perfect ambient noise control package, perfect exhaust, perfect engine and drive train cooling package, perfect interior carpet, perfect PDR, the perfect manual and automatic transmissions, the perfect ride height, perfect leather and padding on the console lid, and the perfect position for that damned little button that opens the rear hatch that you hit with your knee.

Even with all it's shortcomings I love my '15 3LT coupe.
Old Feb 13, 2018 | 07:14 AM
  #24  
JDM111er's Avatar
JDM111er
Pro
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 708
Likes: 51
From: Huntersville, North Carolina
Default

And MP3 is horrible in this day and age. HD flac would have been the way to go.
Old Feb 13, 2018 | 07:38 AM
  #25  
plasboy's Avatar
plasboy
Drifting
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 232
From: Licking MO
Default

My ears are bad enough that I miss some fidelity but I can still tell a difference. Not real impressed with with the Bose. What really bugs me is the head unit is so intigrated that you can’t switch it out.
Old Feb 13, 2018 | 08:58 AM
  #26  
jimjimsC7's Avatar
jimjimsC7
Pro
 
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 662
Likes: 485
From: Ohio
Default

I just ordered a GS so I can't speak as to the quality of the sound system but not really concerned, that's not why I ordered the car. If I truly want to listen to high fidelity music I'll head to to man cave and spin some old vinyl while sipping some scotch.
Old Feb 13, 2018 | 01:22 PM
  #27  
wrecker3's Avatar
wrecker3
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,851
Likes: 1,871
From: NEW WINDSOR NY
Default

After coming from 1989 C4 with a Bose radio that sucked as it got older. I had to rebuild the amps over the years ( cheap capacitors ). I have no problems with the radio in my 2016 Z-51 2LT Corvette.
Old Feb 13, 2018 | 03:24 PM
  #28  
Zidane's Avatar
Zidane
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,289
Likes: 86
From: Kennesaw Jawga
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Default

I don't know where y'all are coming from...I think it sounds great. I have it oriented to the driver and turned the treble and bass up a little - perfect for me!
Old Feb 15, 2018 | 01:17 PM
  #29  
Silver C7's Avatar
Silver C7
Burning Brakes
Photoriffic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 807
Likes: 313
From: New Jersey
Default

Bluetooth loses output and sounds cloudy or muddy. When I plug the same device into th USB port the improvement is dramatic. I listen to music all day (some ilistening is job related) in a studio environment. While my ‘16 base Stingray dosen’t sound like a studio, the audio is more than acceptable for me.

The device you play your music from and the form of transmission, has a lot to do with the sound reproduction.

Last edited by Silver C7; Feb 15, 2018 at 01:18 PM.
Old Feb 15, 2018 | 03:51 PM
  #30  
corvette72778's Avatar
corvette72778
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 158
Likes: 29
Default

My 2LT 10 speaker Bose is the best and by far the loudest sound system I have ever heard on a stock car. It's the first system I don't take to max volume. I have an Acura RL and my 16 Vette's radio is better!

Last edited by corvette72778; Feb 15, 2018 at 03:51 PM.
Old Feb 15, 2018 | 04:17 PM
  #31  
speed4tu's Avatar
speed4tu
Drifting
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 420
From: Eastern NC
Default

Sounds ok. Like already stated it sounds ok for the type car it is. Already went crazy on the stereo on my bike and it sounds amazing, so i use that when I wanna hear some real tunes. Not dealing with it in the Vette.
Old Feb 15, 2018 | 04:50 PM
  #32  
Foosh's Avatar
Foosh
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Default

Try the settings in posts #13 and 25 in the thread below, and please report back.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...io-system.html
Old Feb 15, 2018 | 04:58 PM
  #33  
Avanti's Avatar
Avanti
Race Director
25 Year Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,964
Likes: 6,768
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Default

It's a car, not a "concert hall." With some adjustment, it works okay for me for what it is.
Old Feb 15, 2018 | 05:09 PM
  #34  
JerryU's Avatar
JerryU
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,981
Likes: 12,383
From: NE South Carolina
Default

^^^

Just posted something similar to what I have repeated below BUT you hit the nail on the head! Depends what you listed to and how you set the balance! Mine is fine for 95% of the >1000 songs I have on a thumb drive that play in shuffle mode when I start the car and is seldom off! Using Blue Tooth or Pandora is different and worse!

First you need music to drown out the tire and road noise! Bought the car for performance and did not expect concert hall sound! When I want that I go to a concert! (Wife is VP of the Women's Symphony Guild so did that this week! )

Compared to my C6, which I always felt lacked base, IMO the added rear subwoofer in the C7 is significantly better, if as you say it's adjusted properly. Depends what you listen to but for 95% of what I play it's fine for me. There are some songs that are a bit boomy, like a more current "Joplin sound" by Josh Stone but Janis Joplin originals sound fine for me! "Cry Baby" drowns out all tire/road noise at the volumes I use!

In my modified S10 I added a subwoofer and amp with a remote control adjustment **** mounted on the console. Then you could adjust the bass on the fly, useful for certain songs. With the C7, as with most cars, you have to pick an average balance.

Last edited by JerryU; Feb 15, 2018 at 05:16 PM.
Old Feb 15, 2018 | 05:39 PM
  #35  
Tarheels1's Avatar
Tarheels1
Racer
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 430
Likes: 10
From: Angier, NC
Default C7 Poor Audio Quality

It is very obvious that BOSE is under contract with GM. That is very unfortunate due to the fact that BOSE hasn’t done anything to improve sound quality in at least 30 years. The equipment for cars and home entertainment is equal in quality-very poor at best. My C6 Vert was completely changed out by a local person. Wow what a change in sound quality.
Yes, many buy Vettes for various reasons. If you love all the above, but hate the sound system, it must be changed to improve the sound. One thing to help matters is to get your car ‘sound proofed’. The biggest thing I did first was remove the entire interior and apply RAAM MAT. It is very lightweight and added a mere 7 lbs! It made the very so quiet my son thought the car had different tires! He noticed the difference ASAP!
ARC amps are very small and normally fit where the BOSE amps once were. FOCALs or JL drivers will fill the bill on the speakers.
Old Feb 15, 2018 | 07:38 PM
  #36  
phil hunter's Avatar
phil hunter
Pro
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 541
Likes: 38
From: Temecula CA
Default

Interesting. Guess I don't hear as well as I used to since the system in my 2LT GS sounds just fine to me. Wasn't that great out of the box, but with a little tweaking of the audio settings it's better than most cars I've had.


Phil
Old Feb 15, 2018 | 07:43 PM
  #37  
vdavenp802's Avatar
vdavenp802
Drifting
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,587
Likes: 90
Default

Originally Posted by White Speed
15 Vette Z512Lt. Can’t believe that a Bose system with 9 speakers sounds so tinny! Took it to dealer just after I bought it to see what was wrong with the sound. They told me with 7 speakers up front and only two in rear creates that sound and that the bass was up front instead of rear. Had a friend that understands trebles, mid ranges and bass agreed it sound terrible. Had him adjust the settings and brought mid range way down, improve somewhat. Should sound like a concert hall. Thoughts please !
hat is wrong with you. It does have a concert sound. Period.
Maybe you need to get new ears.
Makes about as much sense.
Why dont you complain about your tires not being round enough.

Get notified of new replies

To Stereo sucks

Old Feb 15, 2018 | 08:48 PM
  #38  
sunsalem's Avatar
sunsalem
Race Director
 
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 11,905
Likes: 2,148
Default

This is an amazing conversation.
IIRC, this is the first thread on the subject where there is an ACTUAL difference of opinion regarding the audio system quality in the C7.
In the past, the consensus was in today's terms the Bose system was the equivalent of a 1918 Victrola.
Anyone who thinks this Bose system is great either needs to have their ears looked at or go to their local Audio/Video shop for a demo of aftermarket mobile sound systems....seriously.
There is much, MUCH better equipment out there.
Old Feb 16, 2018 | 07:10 AM
  #39  
Millerrock's Avatar
Millerrock
Burning Brakes
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 865
Likes: 326
Default

They need to go to a different source
Old Feb 16, 2018 | 09:12 AM
  #40  
LIStingray's Avatar
LIStingray
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 466
From: Long Island New York
Default

Originally Posted by corvette72778
My 2LT 10 speaker Bose is the best and by far the loudest sound system I have ever heard on a stock car. It's the first system I don't take to max volume. I have an Acura RL and my 16 Vette's radio is better!
The audio in that Acura must really suck for anyone to say the C7 Corvette has even good audio quality.
I have had both 1LT (9 speakers) and 2LT (10 speakers) Bose systems in the C7, and both suck in the same way - not great clarity, boomy lower frequency (80-120 hz) mid-bass and far too much midrange. You can adjust out a fair bit of the dominating mid-range, but there is no cure for the clarity or bass issues. The extra subwoofer in the 2LT doesn't improve the sound and makes the bass issue more pronounced.
My three Jeeps with the Harmon Kardon stereos are way better than the Bose crap in my C7's.

Last edited by LIStingray; Feb 16, 2018 at 09:12 AM.



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:21 PM.