Audio Satisfaction?

[AJC]

I have a 2009 CTS with the stock Bose system and Bose Blows period.

[sfrase]

AJC,
As the owner of the base 8 speaker Bose system, I'd have to agree with your cogent assessment of the problem.

scott

[chinorider]

While I am not an audiophile, I do agree that the 8 speaker Bose system on my new 2009 CTS sucks !! I had the Bose on the 2003 CTS and it was a magnitude better... looks like some audio upgrades will be in my near future.

[AJC]

Not only is the Bose system slop but the placement of the rear speakers make no sense. Why would you place the speakers in the bottom of the rear door where you cannot here them at all. GM built a great car but what were they thinking for the speaker placement when there is plenty of room in the rear deck for the speakers. If the speakers were in the rear deck the system would should full.

[bkiersz]

Glad to see I'm not going crazy. I had a 2007 CTS with the Bose system and it was very good. I picked up my 2009 AWD 3.6DI and on the drive home I just figured I had to get it home and adjust it. To my surprise there was no setting on the three band equalizer that would make the system sound remotely good. It does sound a little better with CD's than with the XM or FM, but still light years away from my old CTS. Sad. My 2000 Boxster's stock audio system sounds better. Ok, maybe not but it's close.

[Poopie D]

I have had many cars with "premium" sound systems. I find my 10 speaker CTS system is better than the last generation CTS but it seems that the mids and highs are overpowering the lows no matter how I adjust them.

My favorite audio system is in my 2002 Envoy. Even to this day, nothing I have ever heard in a factory setup compares!!!

[bkiersz]

Originally Posted by Poopie D

I have had many cars with "premium" sound systems. I find my 10 speaker CTS system is better than the last generation CTS but it seems that the mids and highs are overpowering the lows no matter how I adjust them.

My favorite audio system is in my 2002 Envoy. Even to this day, nothing I have ever heard in a factory setup compares!!!

I wish I had gotten the 10 speaker system, but my car was a demo so I didn't get to upgrade.

[smooth_ride]

Originally Posted by Poopie D

I have had many cars with "premium" sound systems. I find my 10 speaker CTS system is better than the last generation CTS but it seems that the mids and highs are overpowering the lows no matter how I adjust them.

My favorite audio system is in my 2002 Envoy. Even to this day, nothing I have ever heard in a factory setup compares!!!

I had a 2002 Grand Prix GT, the audio was great.

[smooth_ride]

One of the things that I do is to turn the fade to around -8.

Before I left work today, I moved head towards the center armrest. I did notice that the sound there was actually pretty good. I wonder if I make fade to -9 or even -10.

[tr's-cts]

Originally Posted by AJC

I have a 2009 CTS with the stock Bose system and Bose Blows period.

I have the stock 8 speaker system as well. Although it is better than some....I have heard better.

So, let me ask this question....Do you ( or anyone) think that by adding 2 more speakers in the rear deck on both sides of the bass....would that add better sound. Can the unit handle it as well? Granted...over the years my ears have lost their edge...but I still like a good treble and mid range. I listen to such music as ...well anything on XM between 7 and 26. I also like "escape". "Pops" (70) as well as "classic rewind". That should give some idea.

[sfrase]

Smooth ride,
Funny that you say that. Fading to the rear speakers by about -8,-9 helps balance the sound out for the entire cabin. But really..the audio quality doesn't come close to the mid level stereo in my 2001 Volvo S60. Atrocious.

The XM is compressed, too. I did a quick comparison between the XM feed and a live, WNYC broadcast of Jonathan Schwartz's Sunday Show. The live WNYC broadcast was much clearer.

Ah well. I guess this is what we get for only $45K.

scott

[carnut108]

Originally Posted by smooth_ride

One of the things that I do is to turn the fade to around -8.

Before I left work today, I moved head towards the center armrest. I did notice that the sound there was actually pretty good. I wonder if I make fade to -9 or even -10.

What you did was cut the sound coming from the front center speaker, allowing you to hear the stereo separation from the rear speakers. I have disconnected my front center speaker ( among many other things) and it gives a much better stereo sound.
The center speaker may have a place in the 5.1 but in the 8 speaker system it just screws up the stereo separation.
By moving your head to the center of the sound stage it will sound better.

[C "T" ess]

I contacted Bose about amping up the rear speakers because I too have faded to -8 to get any sound out of the rears. Bose promised to get back to me, but like most consumer product suppliers I have never heard from them. It makes me re-think all of the other Bose products I own.

[sfrase]

And the fact that you can just upgrade the bloody system to the version you want through Cadillac infuriates me..but I'm not angry or anything.

[tr's-cts]

Originally Posted by C "T" ess

I contacted Bose about amping up the rear speakers because I too have faded to -8 to get any sound out of the rears. Bose promised to get back to me, but like most consumer product suppliers I have never heard from them. It makes me re-think all of the other Bose products I own.

I too faded the rear to -7. Does sound much better. But I feel I'm loosing power and quality. That's why I was wondering if enhancing with a couple of speakers would help or hinder.

Let us know what you hear.