Audio system gone crazy

[jm1126]

Hello everyone,

The audio system on my dad's 2005 v8 seems to have a mind of its own.

First, the bluetooth never automatically pairs with the cell phone (a KRZR). This may have been addressed in another topic (sorry)

Next, when it is paired, and someone calls, the system has the chance of not muting the music to notify of a caller. This is rare, but has anyone ever had this happen?

Lastly, does anyone with a BOSE speaker system notice that there is a very poor bass response? On our Toyota, with the bass in the negative, there is more of a response than with the BOSE's pumped up pretty high. And, the rear seats tend to have a poorer sound quality than the front. But I guess the rear seat heaters definitely make up for this; the Toyota's seat heaters (only in the front) are in no way as warm as the STS'.

[jgrade]

Welcome to the forums.

As you suspect, these topics have been talked about to death. I will give you a quick synopsis, but use the search

Bluetooth is spotty at best. GM only ofically recognises 3 phones that have been retired MANY moons ago. Again search for help with pairing for your phone. It may not ever work correctly.

Muting is hit or miss. For a while, my radio would mute with every incoming call. Now it never mutes unless in the radio screen. When i am listening to a CD, I must stay in the CD screen so if a call comes in, i can pause the music. However, the caller gets an earful of loud music for a few seconds. It sucks but goes back to the overall Bluetooth suckiness of this head.

The sub in this car is a free air woofer. It will never give you that deep bass you are looking for. There were a few threads several months back talking about this. Do a search. A quick fix is to have the trunk full. The more stuff the better the bass will sound. Not practical but it works.

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but search these forums for your answers. There is some great information just a click away.

[jm1126]

Sorry, but thanks!

We typically use the XM Radio so pausing isn't really an option.

And I expected better out of Bose. Much better. The system in the Toyota isn't even the JBL and has better bass.

[jgrade]

It's a shame, but the Bose name used to stand for something. I think they have soiled their good name with equipment like this. It's been said before, but I really don't like this system. Like you said the bass is flat (my words) and for me, the head is SERIOUSLY lacking power. In my opinion, the Bose name used not mean quality and hi fidelity: not any more. However, the lack of power and mediocre bass is a far cry to the other horrific issues this head has. Bluetooh connectivity, muting, soft controls that stick, extremely unintuitive menus for navigation, and then the choice to go with XM (I am not a fan). Just to name a few. I wonder how the 08 CTS owners feel about their new 40G pop up unit?

[MARKVIII]

i agree 100% with the above post. i think since they started hawking there wares on QVC / HSN and every magazine in the country they became a mass market consumer company. no different then those great 1970's brands sound design and lloyds electrofonics. unfortunately it takes GM several years to figure out there stupidity and get it right (like the new CTS). why they cannot get it right from the start is anyones guess.

[jgrade]

Originally Posted by MARKVIII

i agree 100% with the above post. i think since they started hawking there wares on QVC / HSN and every magazine in the country they became a mass market consumer company. no different then those great 1970's brands sound design and lloyds electrofonics. unfortunately it takes GM several years to figure out there stupidity and get it right (like the new CTS). why they cannot get it right from the start is anyones guess.

Because the general public is dumb. Brand names go a long way with most of the world. I read a post on Engadget about the best of the worst product names at CES. The reporter was dumb enough to list McIntosh as one of the wost because an audio company was using the name of a computer made by Apple. HELLO. This guy got lambasted by the readers for being an idiot. Brand name sells. Put your name in enough high end or sexy ads/magazines and people think your hot s---t.

The new Austin Martin has a Meridian audio system. How many people do you think know the name Meridian for audio? The people that can afford this car probably have one in their home. But Bose, everyone know that name; which is the problem. They are no longer a top tier manufacture, but a mass producer slapping a name on anything they deem acceptable.

[tomm]

What most are forgetting is this... Out of all the people that own an STS... How many really care about the way the radio sounds... I would bet less than 10% are not satisfied if not even lower than that.

If asked if they would spend $1000 more for a better speakers and amplifier I would bet again that 90% would say no way.

If you not happy the good thing is you can remove it and install what ever you want and pay as much as you want.

[jgrade]

I could, but so much is tied the the head that it is impractical. Besides, my problem is mainly lack of amperage and that has been solved with some after market amps. No problem left for me except for the muting.

[MARKVIII]

tomm, i do not agree with your post. one would think for the price of these cars (which are overpriced to begin with) the buyer assumes that the car manufacturer is putting in equipment that equals the price. i was willing to get the up level package because i thought i was getting a premium audio system that was installed from the factory. in my younger days i would rip out and replace the audio equipment but i felt this car i would not need to do that. and i still don't. i just thought i would be getting something a lot better then what i have. on the other hand edmunds (of all people) rave about the sound system in the STS. they say it is a hair under the mark levinson audio in the Lexus. do they know something we don't?

[tomm]

Originally Posted by MARKVIII

tomm, i do not agree with your post. one would think for the price of these cars (which are overpriced to begin with) the buyer assumes that the car manufacturer is putting in equipment that equals the price. i was willing to get the up level package because i thought i was getting a premium audio system that was installed from the factory. in my younger days i would rip out and replace the audio equipment but i felt this car i would not need to do that. and i still don't. i just thought i would be getting something a lot better then what i have. on the other hand edmunds (of all people) rave about the sound system in the STS. they say it is a hair under the mark levinson audio in the Lexus. do they know something we don't?

The sound system is actually quite good if you use Audio CD'd that take advantage of the Dobly Digital or DTS signals and you have the 15 Speaker system. For normal radio use nothing comes out of the seat speakers etc. and will all of XM's bad compression and FM radio distortion the system sounds pretty junky.

I am sure the whole system costs (Speakers and Amplifiers) probably cost GM less than $900 - For over 90% of the people they will think it sounds great.. Remember this car was designed for an older age group.. Folks that do not crank it up. I agree that there should be a better option but I will still say that I doubt if they offered one that more than 10% would add it for lets say $1000 more.

[jgrade]

The STS was not designed for he "older" crowd. I would leave that to the DTS line.

"60% of the time it works all the time" Statistics are worthless unless they have basis not conjecture; even then they are usually skewed. On the whole, the sound package, which for me includes the nav and BT options is less than average. All the problems with lockouts (thank you GM lawyers), slow loading, etc, etc. make the package barely acceptable for a Cadillac. Maybe I'm a sonb, but I want my music to sound the way the artist intended with 2ch stereo, not processed to death with fake surround. I do not use any of the eq effects and leave it on "normal". I find the sound is decent at normal levels, but again it's the total package for me that is an issue.

I'm a big Floyd fan so I usually use them as my audio standard. Early transfers like Wish You Were Here are great for finding flaws in audio systems. This is when engineers actually sat at the board and remixed the album with the artist. Listen to Have a Cigar or Welcome to the Machine and tell me what you think.