Audio Satisfaction?

[ngiardina]

I am awaiting delivery of my CTS, and my question to current owners is this...is the NAV audio system sufficient if a subwoofer was added, or do I have to add amps and speakers to the whole system?

[NJRonbo]

I basically asked the same question you did a few weeks back prior to
taking delivery of my CTS. You are going to find mixed feedback though
most people on this forum are very happy with their sound system.

There is a 300 watt Bose system in this vehicle. I just returned a 3-year
lease that also had a 250 watt top-of-the-line Bose system. I personally
do not think that the CTS system is as good as the one I had. Audio is not
as crisp as I would like it and there is definitely a lack of major subwoofer
presence.

However, as I always say, sound is subjective. Many people here love the
sound system in the CTS. I am an audiophile who is very sensitive to sound
quality so I probably am more demanding than most. I really feel that you
can get tremendous sound in a vehicle with the right system.

As far as bass is concerned, I think there is enough, though not overpowering.
I have my bass settings turned all the way up and I can feel vibration in the seat.
This is not nearly the best bass I have ever had, but I don't feel the need to add a
kicker box in the trunk.

I think overall you'll be satisfied with the audio system in the CTS --- especially
when using 5.1 DVD audio.

I do hope you'll come back to this thread and let us all know what you personally think.

[ngiardina]

Thanks Ronbo. I am thinking of purchasing the Alpine Imprint 650 to remove the factory processing and add some audiophile-grade components to the system. I definitely have to wait until I hear the car, though. Again, thanks for the advice.

BTW - Where did you get your car, I'm in Jersey also.

[NJRonbo]

I leased my CTS through Gold Coast Cadillac in Oakhurst. They claim to be the world's
largest Cadillac/Hummer dealer. The sales manager said he has quite a few lots filled
with vehicles scattered across the area. They are GREAT people to deal with.

Things may be a bit better now because of the economy but I really felt these guys
were taking me for a ride on pricing. They even said that they were charging more
because the car was in such demand. Perhaps they can't be solely blamed as I priced
my CTS lease throughout this fine state and it was difficult to find other dealers who would
even match the lease deal I was quoted so it just goes to show how expensive things are
around here. I say all this because some of the lease deals posted on this forum from
other areas are sharply better than what I got. You have to scratch your head and ask "why?"

Getting back to the audio....

I would very much appreciate you coming back to this thread and posting your thoughts
on what you think of the vehicle's audio system. I just have have another luxury vehicle
with a Bose system to compare it to and in my opinion it falls a bit short. However, I must
say that after two weeks, my ears are warming up nicely to the vehicle's audio. In all, it's
fairly good and you might find you need not to make any additional tweaks to it.

[mgm2003]

I have a 2008 CTS and have found that the 'regular' BOSE upgrade is mediocre at best. Ok.... I find it annoying. When I listed to music on my home system, or ipod I can 'hear' all parts of the track. On the CTS Bose system, it clips out pieces of music--you just don't get the same level of quality sound. I think the 5.1 Bose option is the best of the bunch, no doubt about it, but it's so overpriced for what you get.

[08CTS]

I love the system...it's the best audio system that I've ever had, and that includes Audi, BMW, and Porsche...in fact my Porsche has the "top of the line" Bose (AKA Blose as they say in the Porsche forums) with a sub right between the seats, at about shoulder level. To put it mildly, when compared to the Caddy's system, it SUCKS

[NJRonbo]

It's fun to read these responses, as they are exactly what I expected.
Sound is heard differently between individuals so it can be difficult to
get agreement across the board though everyone is right with their opinions.

[gm_eng]

I think it's a great sound system. The Centerpoint setting takes the stereo signals and converts them into a simulated 5.1 output. When I turn my head from side to side, it sounds like different tracks from different speakers. I admit, my hearing isn't as good as some, since I spent 10 years around military jets and another 10 in a car factory, But I can tell the CTS system is better than the Bose system in my last Seville and my C6.

[omegafiler]

It's probably also important for folks to make a note of what source they listen to the most. Or at least what they are basing their opinions on. For example, if you primarily listen to XM or FM... then it's going to suck no matter how awesome the stereo is.

[Pucks]

Originally Posted by omegafiler

It's probably also important for folks to make a note of what source they listen to the most. Or at least what they are basing their opinions on. For example, if you primarily listen to XM or FM... then it's going to suck no matter how awesome the stereo is.

Well, lets be fair. XM sounds 10x better than FM. Raise up the volume on FM and the distortion is much more noticeable than XM. Between XM and my IPOD, it depends on the track as to which sounds better. There is a wide variety of quality I find in different IPOD tracks. It might be the source - some I've purchased in the iTunes store, others I burned from a CD, etc.

I would say the Bass is somewhat "lacking" at times, it just seems a little weaker than I'd like.

FYI...I have the upgraded stereo with NAV.

[jjsC6]

I just got rid of a M45 Infiniti with Bose 5.1 surround and got the CTS with same. The M45 had better imaging and smoother sound - the speakers in the seats really helps. The CTS has a fuller sound - better bass for sure. A friend is is much more of an audiophile and has ridden in both cars made the exact same comment without me even saying anything. I can't say one is better than the other because they both have strenghts.

I will say I'm satisfied with the 5.1 in the CTS. It's not the best stereo out there, but for a factory system, I rate it pretty damn good.

[Southern]

It's certainly one of the best sound systems available. Doubt me? Go try them.
I spent every day for nearly a month trying out Mercedes, Infiniti, BMW, and Lexus automobiles and their sound systems.
Yes the Lexus Mark Levinson system is better in overall sound quality.
And yes the CTS is FAR better than the Infiniti Bose system.
I would say it is every bit the equal of the Mercedes Benz Harmon Kardon system.
And frankly I don't remember what the BMW had, which should tell you something.

SOME of the acceptance will be wrapped around the music selected.

I do not mean to demean anyone here, but I just call them as I see them.
BTW I owned my own Electronics store in oakland NJ and sold every big name you can think of in Home Audio.
I was also the warranty station for all of them. 23 companies in all.
And I was not just the sales man.
After my Career at Bell labs, I was the owner and chief engineer of the company.

Systems that are used for string quartets are just as demanding as systems that are used for heavy metal, but they will likely be adjusted differently.
Systems that have good bass................from 2 lanes over.........are used for Hip Hop. I hate them. BOOOOOOOmy.
Systems that are used for Classical Philharmonics can be more demanding than systems that are used for Rock. But bith require a great dynamic range.

I find the Bose in the CTS one of the best (see above) of the OEM premium systems.
I like the bass.
It's punchy.
I don't like systems that play Bass notes, I like systems that play bass Guitar notes.
In other words it must be musical, not just boomy.
And that is what the CTS is, it is muscal.

From a tech POV could it be better?
Certainly.
I would almost bet that the speakers are paper cones.
I would almost bet that the tweeters are inexpensive units that are not placed perfectly on a radiation plane suitable for the driver.
I would almost bet that there is no speaker that is dedicated to the bass.
(And if there is, I would say that it is a bit small for the environment)


But in the end, the system is well balanced, very musical, and as I said above, VERY competitive in the land of OEM premium automobile systems.


Can it be improved?

EVERY system can be improved.
But I won't waste my time or money to get a system that might end up being different......but not necessarily better.
I will say this.
People who spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on changing automotive systems ALWAYS say they are MUCH better.
Wonder why that is...........


But, the above is all just my opinion.

[Crackerzot]

Yeah, well, you'd lose the bet on the dedicated bass speaker. It's right in the center on the rear deck. The doors may have bass modules as well, but I haven't pulled the panels yet to investigate.

But I agree with everything else you said, Southern. I like clean, tight, musical bass also, not that boomy splashy, sloppy crap.

This system is very sensitive to the source material you feed into it. So far, I'm very pleased with it. BTW, I've spent 30 years in professional audio and own a recording studio, so I'm a little picky about audio quality as well.

[jjsC6]

By the way, I hope nobody is judging the sound systems based upon sitting in them without the car moving. You better be driving the car down the road when judging the system. Otherwise you might be in for a surprise when you buy the car.

[Southern]

"Yeah, well, you'd lose the bet on the dedicated bass speaker. It's right in the center on the rear deck. "

Well it works, and IMO, it works well, so take the following critique with a grain of salt.

I climbed into the trunk and looked at this "woofer".
Forgot to take a tape with me so I'm guessing the diameter at <> 9".
It is built backwards, which is not a big deal for this kind of woofer, which I will characterize as "free air".
Free air is not my favorite kind of woofer.
They just cannot get down to the lower frequencies without some loading on the speaker
And the major issue with free air woofers is they are really not........Free air.......
They still have back waves and front waves to be concerned with and if the trunk, which can be infinite (hence the Free Air designation) is not isolated from the front, the front and rear waves can partially cancel. This is critical to a free air woofer, and obviously cannot be done in a folding seat automobile.

However I will give Bose credit.
The speaker seems to be of very high compliance and very limited in it's travel, hence a limited amount of bass.
But what base it has, is tightly controlled.
This gives the bass it's Punchy sound. A sound that is very desirable to a lot of people.

The tendency in this kind of less-than-perfect-environment is to put a big loose woofer in there and move some air!
This gives boomy bass, but certainly a lot more bass.
So for the Hip Hoppers amongst us, that is an area you can look at. You could probably double the perceived bass back there with a loose, long travel woofer.