Bose Premium Audio System Satisfaction

[Iowa56]

Prospective buyer here. How would you rate the Bose Premium Audio System in the SL? Over on RAv4 forums the general consensus is that their JBL system is really bad.

Thanks

[pfroo40]

I only have experience with the 1g Bose system, which is OK but nothing spectacular.

[Rogue One]

We have an incredible SEARCH feature on this forum.

...Con for SL, the leather seats are too hard and BOSE sound crappy.

...Love the: Size (thought I'd hate it) roomy; Leather (cloth seats in Forester stained something terrible); SOUND!! OMG - Bose all around w/tweeters! Fun to drive...

There are two 5 1/4 inch subs located in the spare tire.

So, there are two speakers housed in one enclosure, not two separate subwoofers. Seems kinda gimmicky to me.

my rogue has the bose system in it now. i would pull it out for an aftermarket radio with pandora and back-up cam if possible

Hi, I am very interested in the Rogue... Also is the Bose sound system worth getting or is the stock one decent to? Thanks!

I had an ALtima before and it's sound system was pretty decent. Frankly I was hoping Bose 8 speaker will blow me out but it hasn't . It's very good but will not blow you away.

So unless you are going in for SL version for other options, upgrading for Bose alone doesn't makes much sense.

I took SL becuase I wanted full Moon Roof and lane departure and front collission warning system. So far it has been very helpful.

believe your the first, my SL has the bose system with 2 subs and i am pretty happy with it

It's normal. They use the woofers in the door to replicate midbass, with the mids and highs coming above from the tweeters.

I'm kinda glad I didn't get the BOSE...

I can't handle this crappy radio anymore. (2014)
Mediocre radio reception in 2nd gen Rogue
2015 Rogue SL Bose Stereo CD/USB/BT questions
DVD Audio in Rogue?

[WILLDOGS]

Bottom line, sound if very subjective to each individual for the most part. If you are an audio freak, you will hate the BOSE system. If you are an everyday joe that likes decent sound with ok bass, the system is good.

I have the BOSE in my SL and it's ok for what the Rogue is, a family car for my baby. I don't plan on cranking the volume to 10! As long as I can hear it while driving with the baby, i'm happy.

You will not get a single unanimous consensus on a sound system, ever. It is just way to open to individual preferences.

[outtolearn88]

Hi, I have a 2014 SL with the BOSE system. Let me tell you that it's a very personal thing when it comes to the quality of sound in the vehicle. Each person will have their preference of what they like as music. But let me say this is definitely not a great sounding system. It's just alright as was say before me for what it's called to do.

I would not base my car buying choice on it's sound system. This is NOT a high end vehicle where you can expect and should a quality sound system.

If this is important to you ? You should really go out and try them out as to see what your thoughts are.

Good luck.

[Rogue One]

While the Bose system in the 2nd gen is improved over the 1st gen, the general consensus is it's still lacking. BTW, the sound system is "designed" by Bose. It's comprised of components from other brands that the Bose engineers felt produced the best sound in the vehicle.

[outtolearn88]

Can I ask what you mean by "'It's comprised of components from other brands that the Bose engineers felt produced the best sound in the vehicle.". ?

Thank you for your input.

[Rogue One]

Can I ask what you mean by "'It's comprised of components from other brands that the Bose engineers felt produced the best sound in the vehicle.". ?

Thank you for your input.

Sorry, I thought that was self explanatory. Nissan approached the folks at Bose and asked them to design a sound system that would sound good in the Rogue, but they didn't want to pay the premium price for Bose components. The sound engineers picked components that would give a decent sound at the price point Nissan wanted. I don't recall the details from an older thread wherein someone had found out whom had actually made the head unit (Kenwood, I think) and speakers for the 1st gen, but they're not Bose. Make sense?

Bose isn't what they once were, but that was a good 3 decades ago. Nowadays you can't even get basic info from them.

From the Bose website:
Q. Can I get a list of technical specifications?
A. No, because our custom-engineered, complete system solutions largely supersede conventional audio measurements. Even some basic building blocks have been redefined—including amplifiers, speakers and equalizers. But most importantly, our integrated systems deliver results significantly different from those of conventional systems with individual, unmatched components. With a Bose automotive sound system, the location and design of the speakers can be much more important factors in determining output than a wattage power rating. The bottom line? The best way to test a Bose system's sound quality is to use your ears, not a list of specifications.

Hmm, Smoke and mirrors comes to mind.

[outtolearn88]

You your tell us that the Bose emblem don't mean that the speaker's are made by Bose ? Nor the other components of the sound system ?

Thanks for your sharing.

[texasrogue]

First of all, NEVER buy a vehicle simply based on the audio system. I've met a couple of people for whom that was a major determining factor. That's just crazy.

Let's put this whole "is Bose worth it" inquisition on the table and pull back the curtain once and for all.

That quote from the Bose website posted by Rogue One tells it all...Psychoacoustics is the driving force behind brands like Bose. Amar Bose, founder of Bose Corporation, came up with their corporate motto "Better Sound Through Research." The motto boils down to application of Psychoacoustics, which is a term for how we individually perceive audio. The secret lies in speaker placement and in the digital signal processing of the audio. Again, perception.

Many Audiophiles are purists and base their choices solely on product specifications for determining what goes into a great sound system. As the quote from Bose posted by Rogue One states "With a Bose automotive sound system, the location and design of the speakers can be much more important factors in determining output than a wattage power rating. The bottom line? The best way to test a Bose system's sound quality is to use your ears, not a list of specifications." Psychoacoustics ladies and gentlemen.

Audio purists want the best possible performance for their dollars and build their systems accordingly. Pre-packaged systems like Bose are more your mainstream, lifestyle brands that deliver an average performance that isn't offensive.....but it won't blow your socks off either. It's not a Craig, Kraco or Emerson, but it also isn't MTX or Mark Levinson. If you're expecting that kind of performance in your factory Nissan Rogue, you're in the wrong market segment.

Take the 2015 Mustang EcoBoost V6 for example....it pumps in an augmented engine sound into the cabin, called "active noise control" by Ford's engineers. It's all about perception....your V6 doesn't really sound like that outside the car, but to you the driver, you think it sounds awesome. Reminds me of the fable of the Emperor's New Clothes.

My 2013 Fiat 500 Sport had a Beats sound system in it. The Beats systems are also built on Psychoacoustics and they're pretty much are up front about it. The system, with the huge subwoofer in the already Lilliputian trunk had some good lows, but for a musically eclectic person like myself, certain genres of music weren't the best for it (e.g. Classical.) And I always knew that brands like Beats are heavily marketed to specific demographic groups to build brand allegiance. Sound output and product quality becomes muddled in the morass of celebrity endorsements and the whole "cool" vibe that is built around such products.

As stated earlier, it's all about individual perception. Bose and Beats use low-cost audio components and then apply digital signal processing to produce what is perceived as a full frequency response. For me, the Bose system on my 2014 Rogue SL meets my expectations for the music I listen to at the volume levels I prefer. I'm not 20 years old anymore and my musical tastes and volume levels are equally different now. My wife also has a Bose system in her 2014 Murano and she likes it, but what works for she and I may not work for someone else.

So many things in our consumer world these days are built solely upon perception. Not only how we perceive the product, but how others perceive us. It's everywhere...your new house may look nice, but the contractor-grade materials and fixtures that went into it will remind you of their low price point when they fail prematurely. People often buy the brand for the sake of the brand alone, too many times letting the brand define who they are, in the consumer's eyes and those who view the consumer.

The really good products in this world are often not mass-produced but rather expensive and of limited availability. They do last and retain their value in comparison with the cheaper, mass-produced options.

So purchase your Rogue based on whether you like the styling, economy and features that come with whatever package you're considering. But if you're looking for bespoke audio as part of an factory option package, you're looking in the wrong market segment.

[outtolearn88]

Hello Texas Rogue, I would like to Thank You for sharing all of that information with us here.

That's the kind of post that make reading this Forum Great !

Thanks again and hope you enjoy your 2014 ROGUE for a long time.

[Divotman]

I have a 2015 SL with the Bose system and feel it is solid. As far as branded systems go it hits the target for the demographic.
My wife has a 2011 Juke with the Rockford Fosgate Punch system. Hers has much more bass and overall oomph to it. Younger target demographic, more bass. The Rogue's system doesn't deliver near the bass punch but the overall sound is richer, more tuned.

I got into the Rogue from a 2008 CR-V so the difference was drastic and pleasing.

[Red Rogue]

I recently purchased a 2014 Nissan Rogue SL AWD 14K miles. I find the Bose system is awesome ( 7 speakers and sub woofer) but can only compare it to my 2008 Altima SE and wifes 2015 Subaru Impreza sport. The Rogue certainly kicks a** over the two i mentioned.

[[email protected]]

I love my 2016 Murano except for the bose stereo. My previous car was a 2004 Honda Accord (88,000 miles) which sounded better. And my husband has a 2010 Nissan Altima with a bose system which is superb! Why doesn't my bose system sound superb? I have the upgraded system and have adjusted the equalizer, but the voices of singing or talking is not crisp and clear.

[DTASFAB]

Are you all using compressed mp3 audio, bluetooth streaming, or unreliable compressed satellite radio as source material?

Try putting an uncompressed remastered CD in the slot and then tell me how it sounds.

[Steptide]

The jbl stereos in toyotas actually sound pretty decent. Like someone mentioned, it all comes down to what YOU think sounds good