JR_C6

IME, most people can easily tell the difference between average and anything better. The issue is generally one of two things. Either they don't really care about the quality of audio (which is fine) or they have never heard a really good system so they have a limited point of reference. I have never had someone experience really good audio and not be amazed at the difference between that and what they are used to hearing. The differences are not subtle.

jschindler

Moderators - can we just start a "sticky" thread called "BOSE Sucks". This truly is one of the more annoying threads that comes up every 60 days or so, and has (on the C5 forum) since the inception of the forum.

We know that some of you are audiophiles and you don't like the sound of it. But let's summarize some facts:

Saturns don't have 400 horsepower and world class handling.

Tahoes don't have 400 horsepower and world class handling.

BMW's CAN have 400 horsepower and world class handling (depending on which model you buy), AND have a nice stereo - but at about twice the price of a Corvette.

LTC Z06

Yes we have sticky in the, get this, audio section here it is:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...25&forum_id=20

And It is in the C6 FAQ section.

Hoonose

I agree that in the car, MP3s at that bitrate sound very similar to the originals. However, I don't find that to be true at home.
Anyway, how does Alpine process MP3s any differently than anyone else? I thought it was just a simple reader.

shopdog

So remove subjectivity from the equation, measure the response with instrumentation. A calibrated binaural microphone and audio spectrum analyzer can give you an objective measure of frequency response, phasing, stereo separation, etc. There is no real mystery to High Fidelity, though some try to cloak it in subjective mystery. High Fidelity simply requires a system to reproduce sound exactly as it was recorded. Nothing more, nothing less.

Now once you have high fidelity reproduction, if you still don't like the way a particular performance sounds, that is subjective, and you should take it up with the artist. A High Fidelity system simply reproduces what the artist did, adding nothing, subtracting nothing. That's completely objective, and subject to measurement.

aldendu

Nope. It's always subjective -- for people. People hear the same sounds differently.

Ask 100 people to evaluate the same system independently (even one judged "perfect" by the most objective measurements) and you will always get gradations in the result. People are by definition " subjective".

And at any rate has anyone evaluated the C6 system using a "calibrated binaural microphone and audio spectrum analyzer can give you an objective measure of frequency response, phasing, stereo separation, etc." That would be interesting.

jschindler

Yeah, but that's not a "Bose Sucks" thread. That one is actually designed to provide useful information.

shopdog

But if the system is high fidelity, they'd give the same response to a live performance, which is the goal of high fidelity audio.
I have. At work I have access to all the proper tools to do objective audio measurements. The Bose isn't even close to high fidelity.

aldendu

So have you posted your results? What is the objective standard for "high fidelity"?

And people absolutely would not "give the same response to a live performance" --- some people would in fact not give the same answer twice in a row for precisely the same audio source. People hear things differently at different times depending on nothing more than their mood. People are subjective.

jeffgdula

And then go to a Lexus dealership and listen to the Mark Levinson Sound System if you want to hear a great factory installed system.

jeffgdula

I wanted a similar setup to this but my stereo shop didnt seem to think JL 8"s would work in the door (they are a very reputable shop and have done several C6's already). They have nearly convinced me to do 2 10"s in the hatch (while preserving all the space needed for the targa top). How was the clearance with the JLs. Does it shake the door or have any other negatives putting the subs in the door? I think I am just going to do a line out and depending on how I do the subs either go with some Focal Utopias, Infinity Perfects or possibly the same MBs you used. Let me know as I am very interested in your results.

archtop

You will get better "Bass" results with seperate enclosures where you have more air volume for sure but the JL's in the doors are pretty impresive and look stock.Naturally you have to insulate everything (Dynomat)to prevent rattles . You won't shake the walls like a home theater setup but the sound is real good and I figured I could always upgrade to 10's and enclosures later if I wanted more.The 8" speakers just fit with not a hair of space in there.

archtop

The differance is in the pre-amp section of the head unit.The frequency response is much higher and cleaner.The pre-amp is one of the most important and overlooked parts of a sound system .When I played my MP3 with Sting's Sacred Love on it in the stock unit there were instruments(Percussion ,triangles etc.) I never heard till I got the Alpine System.

Hoonose

I'm not doubting that it sounds better, but I don't think that HU/preamp frequency respose is much of an issue, especially with MP3s. I'm thinking it's more speaker related.
Going from C5 to C6, I hear similar improvements like you describe, but mostly with CD's.

Mayonayze

bullets are my aftermarket stereo

really though, the rush, van halen, and sepultura at high volumes for long periods of time have already blown my speakers. gonna go see about a warranty replacement and if that doesnt work, then i'll look into the aftermarket. i'm no audiophile, so the stock system works for me. i'm also coming from a bose system in my G35 coupe that was hated by audiophiles also. i cant tell the difference.

Wicked_C6

All the complaints I've read on the forum (clutch sucks, stereo sucks, this sucks, etc) I have yet to see or experience. The sound on my stereo rocks, clutch works great, shifter works great.

I have no complaints.

jimman

You forget that room acoustics is one of the most contributing factors to sound quality. It was the objective of Chevrolet to have a system that will work in the confines of a sports car. One of the objectives way back to 1984 was to have a system where both driver and passenger hear the same sound. Only Bose stepped up to the challenge and did a computer simulation of wave fronts in the cabin. The later Bose systems are derivations of the original system. If you observe Near and Far field wave fronts you will see it is very complex. You can get around that by over powering the area and disregarding that analysis by the boom box approach but violate their main objective in a comfortable sound that both sides of the cabin hear the same.

archtop

I prefer to "Violate" their anaysis and have it sound good to my ears not just on paper and my passengers seem to like it!Your right about the "boom box" approach,sticking one in the back was my "Budget" option and it would have sounded way better than the stock Delco system.

SpinMonster

I recently noticed that my friend's nav/stereo sounds significantly worse than my standard 6-cd changer version in my C6. Others have reported the same finding (the techs at my vette dealer too). I thought the nav stereo would be a better head unit.

StanNH

Well, that sucks.