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Ok, so after reading this thread and some others, I experimented a bit today and got the stock 10 speaker Bose setup sounding MUCH better. Thanks to the various people who made different comments and shared bits of info... but the settings that really seem to let you crank up the volume more and get better quality and less bass distortion:
Connect Android Auto via the USB cable, a high quality one like Anker, rather than bluetooth. Now on Android you can go into the developer settings and change the bluetooth audio codecs so perhaps you could achieve the same quality wirelessly, but I will have to experiment with that.
Set sound mode to Counterpoint with fade and balance in the dead center.
Set your EQ to have bass flat at 0dB, no boost... Midrange, put it halfway DOWN between 0dB(flat) and the lowest setting, and Treble 1 click UP from level.
All of those combined made a much improved audio experience.
Glad to see you were able to sort things out...
I prefer to listen to my music library strictly through a USB thumb drive which I've found produces the best overall clarity...
Also, I see you didn't mention Bose AudioPilot? Did you play around with the Bose AudioPilot setting to see what works best for you as well? You can find this in Settings > Audio menu...
These are my settings below:
Unfortunately, the one thing I find really lacking in the C8's Bose system is a proper multichannel equalizer. The very basic tone controls (bass, mid, treble) that you'd find in a Cobalt simply does not provide enough granularity to really dial in the sound quality...That said, what I'd really love to have in my C8s' 14-speaker system is a decent 8-10 channel EQ... Also, it would be nice to have access to the Amps DSP to play around with the 16-channel crossover filtering to further refine the sound...
There are actually a number of variables that need to be considered when making even basic EQ adjustments...
.
With the limited tone controls we currently have in the C8 this is what I've found works best for me given all the variables I mention above...And of course YMMV depending on your own unique set of conditions!
I turned the Bose pilot off. I understood that function to be something akin to it adjusting he volume to compensate for road noise? I disabled it and with the other changes I made, it really does sound WAY better now...
I turned the Bose pilot off. I understood that function to be something akin to it adjusting he volume to compensate for road noise? I disabled it and with the other changes I made, it really does sound WAY better now...
Ok, so after reading this thread and some others, I experimented a bit today and got the stock 10 speaker Bose setup sounding MUCH better. Thanks to the various people who made different comments and shared bits of info... but the settings that really seem to let you crank up the volume more and get better quality and less bass distortion:
Connect Android Auto via the USB cable, a high quality one like Anker, rather than bluetooth. Now on Android you can go into the developer settings and change the bluetooth audio codecs so perhaps you could achieve the same quality wirelessly, but I will have to experiment with that.
Set sound mode to Counterpoint with fade and balance in the dead center.
Set your EQ to have bass flat at 0dB, no boost... Midrange, put it halfway DOWN between 0dB(flat) and the lowest setting, and Treble 1 click UP from level.
All of those combined made a much improved audio experience.
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I played bass guitar for many years so I have an ear for sub-tones. It's comical how this thread has devolved into an audiofile topic. That should not be the case. I don't consider myself an audiophile. I have never participated in audio competitions either. I did not buy the C8 for the sound system. I bought the C8 because it punches above its weight class as a performance car. The Bose system is certainly not the worst car stereo I have experienced. IMO it exceeds expectations for the type of car you are driving. I love the sound of motor. The Bose is a consolation prize.
I don't think anyone has said "you should buy the C8 for the sound system". I don't think anyone has said "you shouldn't buy the C8, because of the sound system".
This whole thread is a straw man argument past the first post.
Why? Its a discussion on how to get the stock system to sound decent. I usually have aftermarket systems, or a decent stock system that is augmented with aftermarket subs and amps... Most stock systems can go pretty loud and clear if you reduce the bass, and then adding a simple quality amp and sub fills that back in and balances it out.
The Bose system sounded like crap to me, compared to what I am used to having in less expensive cars. But several folks tossed out some ideas and I changed how my phone connects and fiddled with the suggested settings and it sounds MUCH better now.
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by Dave'sManCave
Why? Its a discussion on how to get the stock system to sound decent. I usually have aftermarket systems, or a decent stock system that is augmented with aftermarket subs and amps... Most stock systems can go pretty loud and clear if you reduce the bass, and then adding a simple quality amp and sub fills that back in and balances it out.
The Bose system sounded like crap to me, compared to what I am used to having in less expensive cars. But several folks tossed out some ideas and I changed how my phone connects and fiddled with the suggested settings and it sounds MUCH better now.
That makes the thread successful, in my book.
Your comments are perfectly fine as every is entitled to their opinion. I was accused of a straw man's argument, which my response was completely relevant to the OP's post of being satisfied with their sound system as opposed to a Lambo. The OP never asked for an opinion on how to improve the stock system. If someone wants to offer that advice anyways, that's fine. But I don't see the point of using "straw man argument" as a response when the conversation already moved in a different direction after the original post. It was rather entertaining
I prefer to listen to my music library strictly through a USB thumb drive which I've found produces the best overall clarity...
Also, I see you didn't mention Bose AudioPilot? Did you play around with the Bose AudioPilot setting to see what works best for you as well? You can find this in Settings > Audio menu...
These are my settings below:
Unfortunately, the one thing I find really lacking in the C8's Bose system is a proper multichannel equalizer. The very basic tone controls (bass, mid, treble) that you'd find in a Cobalt simply does not provide enough granularity to really dial in the sound quality...That said, what I'd really love to have in my C8s' 14-speaker system is a decent 8-10 channel EQ... Also, it would be nice to have access to the Amps DSP to play around with the 16-channel crossover filtering to further refine the sound...
There are actually a number of variables that need to be considered when making even basic EQ adjustments...
.
With the limited tone controls we currently have in the C8 this is what I've found works best for me given all the variables I mention above...And of course YMMV depending on your own unique set of conditions!
how do you get this eq? My 24 just has 3 horizontal sliders with no db indications.
IMO the everything BOSE sounds like crap. They try to get sound with a lack of power by manipulating the speaker enclosure. If BOSE didn't have a custom fancy box behind every speaker it would sound like a 1960s AM transistor radio. Did I just date myself? Nothing beats quality speakers driven by good separate amplifiers and matching crossovers. I changed the factory head unit in my Toyota Sequoia and left everything else stock and it kicks *** compared to the C8 BOSE. If GM changes anything for 2025, lets hope it is a standard double din head unit mount and an easy way to add some quality components. Or, a system (stereo) delete option. While I'm wishing... a quality transmission, less tech and a 10 year 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. Unfortunately, the warranty would put GM out of business being the way they are built.
You can build an excellent car system with as few as five speakers. 2-ways up front and a sub can do it.
I have a 2lt HTC, and our system is ok. My .02 the capability is reasonable but the factory tuning focuses more on what Chevy/Bose thinks people want to hear, rather than a balanced sound profile. The factory tuning is trying to hide the lack of real low end, using the same types of trickery that portable bluetooth speakers do, boosting midbass to give the impression of good bass response. There's also a ton of processing going on in the rest of the range. You see this in many, many applications, and they know their target market so it is probably what most people prefer. But it's not a balanced sound tuning.
I'd be a lot happier if the factory system just included a true 5 or 7 band eq that allowed me to get a balanced sound profile at low and mid volumes.
In the end it doesn't matter much because the car at speed is still loud, but I wouldn't call the sound system a strong point. It's ok for 1LT and maybe 2LT price ranges. It should be better approaching 100k MSRP trims.
I believe '24s have a different setup so I'm not sure where you'd find it.... Hopefully someone with a '24 C8 can chime in to assist...
The EQ settings on my '23 C8 is located under the "Sound" menu....
FWIW, Just took pic of my 2924 3LZ E-Ray Sound Controls. Same as before.
Think my 14 speaker Bose is fine for a Performance Sports Car. Mine plays 99% of the time as it did in my 2020 C8 Z51, 2017 Grand Sport and 2014 Z51 to drown out tire and road noise. Considering the outside noise when driving spending money to "make better" is silly. Will never sound close to the new 70-million-dollar Performing Arts Center in town!
SIDEBAR
Went out to the car because the one thing I am not happy about the 2024 Infotainment System is the need to pay a monthly fee to get street mph speed limits to display.
Did for a month when I had the trial OnStar. Now I have Apply CarPlay working for NAV. BUT it does help display street mph which was showing with OnStar.
Called OnStar for their "Cheapest Plan" I can get that to show as well as their NAV and other stuff I don't need: $29/month.
Been trying to find out what Google "plan" will cost which no doubt goes to GM while Google steals all my info so they can sell stores I'm about to pass that info so they can have 10% off coupon display and distract my driving. For enough ad money Google/GM will probably shut my car off so I'm forced to stop.
It's NOT the amount money but the principle of not wanting to pay a monthly fee for what was free in prior Vettes for a 3LT/3LZ!
Frustrating
But it is more than I Pay Netflix for what I might use once/mo.
SIDEBAR
Went out to the car because the one thing I am not happy about the 2024 Infotainment System is the need to pay a monthly fee to get street mph speed limits to display.
Did for a month when I had the trial OnStar. Now I have Apply CarPlay working for NAV. BUT it does help display street mph which was showing with OnStar.
Called OnStar for their "Cheapest Plan" I can get that to show as well as their NAV and other stuff I don't need: $29/month.
Been trying to find out what Google "plan" will cost which no doubt goes to GM while Google steals all my info so they can sell stores I'm about to pass that info so they can have 10% off coupon display and distract my driving. For enough ad money Google/GM will probably shut my car off so I'm forced to stop.
It's NOT the amount money but the principle of not wanting to pay a monthly fee for what was free in prior Vettes for a 3LT/3LZ!
Frustrating
But it is more than I Pay Netflix for what I might use once/mo.
Jerry, have you tried using your phone as a hotspot (not CarPlay) and connecting it directly to the car? Other people have used this method to replace the OnStar plan and I believe the speed limits will display. And @Andybump has confirmed the hotspot can be used simultaneously with CarPlay on his 2021 if you desire to do that.
^^^ Funny. That may be why I believe I had street speed showing after OnStar said it was going to be discontinued. When I was having issues with NAV it was suggested I eliminate Hot Spot. I did but the solution turned out to be something else.
Thanks, I'll go back to setting the phone to Hot Spot! My plan is fixed price regardless use!
The Bose 14 speaker system is good but not great. The sub is Meh at best. OEM speakers are always cheap paper cone speakers, so it takes a lot of different sizes to get good frequency response.
Same or better could be done with fewer high quality speakers.
Jerry, have you tried using your phone as a hotspot (not CarPlay) and connecting it directly to the car? Other people have used this method to replace the OnStar plan and I believe the speed limits will display. "And @Andybump has confirmed the hotspot can be used simultaneously with CarPlay on his 2021 if you desire to do that".
Yes, verified it for my 2021, using an iPhone in hotspot mode. I did show that both connections can be done simultaneously. And CarPlay continued to function, including Waze. I did also call up a weather app in the infotainment system, which would require data, and it worked which verifies it can use the phone as a network enabled network. I did not mention that part before.
^^^ Funny. That may be why I believe I had street speed showing after OnStar said it was going to be discontinued. When I was having issues with NAV it was suggested I eliminate Hot Spot. I did but the solution turned out to be something else.
Thanks, I'll go back to setting the phone to Hot Spot! My plan is fixed price regardless use!
Unfortunately setting Hot Spot on Phone and in car did not give me street mph! Somehow paying OnStar their lowest $29/mo to get it is crazy for all I want. Apply CarPlay working fine for NAV. Map Shows and I can ask Siri to Navigate to etc. She knows the street speeds BUT GM preventing it from displaying.
I empathize with Mary Barra having to pay worker's salary increases ~39% (those that will be left after automation and lost sales to folks like BMW in our State. but I won't pay for it. In fact, my wife is on her 3rd BMW X5 SUV built in the Western part of our State where they have 11,000 non-union workers. GM will lose market share on base cars to other cars built in the USA and worse to those that will come in from outside the country! Shame BUT I will not donate with a monthly fee!
