Bose system question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 501
Likes: 402
From: Maryland
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Bose system question
I've got a 2019 3LT and I've read so many posts here about owners disliking their C7 sound systems. I think it sounds great. In fact it sounds better than the other vehicles I own or have owned recently. What vehicles are dissatisfied owners comparing their Bose systems to that they like better? I currently have a 22 Lexus IS350 with the upgraded Mark Levinson system and it doesn't sound nearly as deep or good as the Bose. I also own a Silverado, not as a good. My wife's top of the line Highland, not as good. My recent GMC Canyon Denali, not as good. My friends Mustang and Jeep Renegade, not as good. Even a friends Mercedes doesn't sound better. So what's better?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 668
Likes: 917
From: Iowa
I don't have much to compare to since all of my sports cars I have owned were older and I never upgraded sound systems. The C7 base Bose system is wonderful to me and I choose to be comfortably ignorant of better systems. It is a great stock system on a base model. It is way better than my top of the line, at the time, 2016 Toyota Rav 4 stereo system.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,040
Likes: 939
From: Bonney Lake Washington
Having sold and installed car audio (though decades ago) I have kept up.....Bose overall is okay, lacks clarity and sharp roll offs at average frequency extremes i(between 30hz and about 15Khz) which supports my personal experience (through six Vettes) that highs are lacking crispness and lows lack punch. It's not a terrible system but not nearly what it proclaims, its fair and significantly improving it is spendy due to the proprietary nature of the drivers and (common in all makes now) the fact that you have to deal with a central "black box" which controls the drivers.
Nevertheless beauty is in the eye and ear and if it suits you no further comment is needed, enjoy
Nevertheless beauty is in the eye and ear and if it suits you no further comment is needed, enjoy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,520
Likes: 536
From: Hampshire, IL
Your ears are what you hear with not others. Years ago I was shopping for speakers and the salesman had me listen to 5 sets of speakers.
The price was from $100 to $700 and my ears could not tell the difference. Go by what you hear not what others hear.
The price was from $100 to $700 and my ears could not tell the difference. Go by what you hear not what others hear.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
The audio on our 2017 2LT sounds great when parked with the motor idling.
At 20 mph, sounds decent.
At 40 mph, not so good.
At 60 mph, sounds poor.
At 80 mph, no music but just noise.
I'd consider trying to reduce the interior noise level before I tried upgrading the equipment.
At 20 mph, sounds decent.
At 40 mph, not so good.
At 60 mph, sounds poor.
At 80 mph, no music but just noise.
I'd consider trying to reduce the interior noise level before I tried upgrading the equipment.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1,253
From: Northeast
If your source material is really good (mine is) then yes, Bose sounds pretty damn good. You want a good example, put this recording on whatever you use to play back music, crank the volume to at least half, set your bass, mid, highs appropriately and put it in center point and watch the Bose come alive. This is with a 2LT. It's all in the source material!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 956
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From: FL
The audio on our 2017 2LT sounds great when parked with the motor idling.
At 20 mph, sounds decent.
At 40 mph, not so good.
At 60 mph, sounds poor.
At 80 mph, no music but just noise.
I'd consider trying to reduce the interior noise level before I tried upgrading the equipment.
At 20 mph, sounds decent.
At 40 mph, not so good.
At 60 mph, sounds poor.
At 80 mph, no music but just noise.
I'd consider trying to reduce the interior noise level before I tried upgrading the equipment.
Most bass heavy things sound fine. But the system lacks any upfront highs or sound stage.
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C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
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I am not an audio expert by any means but at least for me the factory Bose system in my car sounds just fine. I mostly listen to talk radio with the occasional change to music format.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 118
Likes: 42
I used to work for a car audio installer years ago and still enjoy great music recorded properly. I'm the guy that usually buys the high end speakers and spends extra on good quality interconnects. I find the Bose system in my 1LT Stingray pretty decent. Well at least at lower volumes. As you turn up the volume to louder levels the processing clips the highs and lows as others have pointed out. If you are happy with it then just enjoy it. I find that I rarely turn mine up loud enough to notice the audio quality and I usually have the top out on nice days which makes that even more difficult. I'm usually too busy listening to the engine and exhaust sounds so I don't notice the audio quality so much.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 733
From: Phoenix, Arizona
If your source material is really good (mine is) then yes, Bose sounds pretty damn good. You want a good example, put this recording on whatever you use to play back music, crank the volume to at least half, set your bass, mid, highs appropriately and put it in center point and watch the Bose come alive. This is with a 2LT. It's all in the source material!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHs2mRodDvw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHs2mRodDvw
Last edited by Flattman; Mar 21, 2024 at 11:50 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2020
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From: Northeast
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 1,220
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From: Phoenix, Arizona
@C7GSM7VERT
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,024
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From: S.F. Bay Area,CA
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 GS convertible. Hearing loss in one ear from working on jets, so my hearing is a bit sensitive. Even with the top down going over 65, I still think it is a good sound system. I'm not the audiophile I used to be, but the Bose 10 speaker system is comparable to the best I've ever heard before. At any speed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 668
From: North Fulton Georgia
I solved my audio concerns via new Infinity Reference speakers all throughout except for the rear Bose amplified sub-woofer. Brightened up the sound to my satisfaction. Didn't cost an arm and leg either. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 767
From: Lindenhurst, IL
The best audio system I've had in a car was ironically in the worst car that I've ever owned - a 2005 Mazda 6. One of my favorite cars of all time - 2000 BMW 540i - had the worst audio system.
I have to admit, I rarely use the audio system in my C7. I'm almost always enjoying the sounds of the Corsa exhaust, which is the real music to my ears. However, on my 800 mile trip home (after purchasing the car) I found that the audio system performed pretty well playing Spotify through Android Auto. I've found that most systems sound their best when playing digital music off of an SD card or thumb drive, or HD Radio. Regular FM or Sirius are brutally bad, typically.
I'd rate my 1LZ C7 system above average.....but not great.
I have to admit, I rarely use the audio system in my C7. I'm almost always enjoying the sounds of the Corsa exhaust, which is the real music to my ears. However, on my 800 mile trip home (after purchasing the car) I found that the audio system performed pretty well playing Spotify through Android Auto. I've found that most systems sound their best when playing digital music off of an SD card or thumb drive, or HD Radio. Regular FM or Sirius are brutally bad, typically.
I'd rate my 1LZ C7 system above average.....but not great.
