Why does it say BOSE and they SUCK so much?

[bmninada]

My 2016 CX-5 GT came with BOSE audio system. I really wonder why does it SUCK so much? Is it that the BOSE is really this bad or Mazda decided to get BOSE build a really sub-par system. Hell, my OEM speakers in my 8 year old Rolla with a Pioneer head sounds WAY better with 6 speakers.

1. There's absolultely NO BASS even after I have turned Bass to FULL
2. Mid-range is drastically subdued.
3. Surround-sound from the so-called CenterPoint: Oh, give me a break

Am I the ONLY one realizing this or are there more of you? I remember driving 5 years back an Audi which also had Bose but was 10 times better sounding.

 

[JbCalg]

is there nothing you like about your new purchase ????
(lol2)(lol2)(lol2)

 

[player one]

No highs, no lows, must be Bose.

I would've skipped on the Bose system if I had a choice but I don't think it's that bad on my 2015 GT. Bass is definitely there.

 

[Natey]

Bose went the way of Sony and Kenwood. Used to be nice, high end stuff, now...not so much.
I'd lose it and put in Alpine/JL/Focal goodies. In fact, that's what I did in my P5. If you listen to the stereo in your car a lot, it'll be money well spent.

 

[mazdadude]

I always thought that BOSE was just for simple folks that liked simplicity and good sound, not for shaking a house down, or vibrating the license plate off of your car.

I usually don't turn mine up past 45. What are you using for a source? Audio CD and HD Radio are the 2 best sources for the CX-5 Bose system.

If you are an audiophile trying to stream Bluetooth, or mp3's off of an ipod, you will be disappointed.

 

[bmninada]

is there nothing you like about your new purchase ????
(lol2)(lol2)(lol2)

Hey - why do you say that? Let's see: I did find it odd about the rear view mirror, okay: granted. +1 to your comments.
But everything else - are clarifications, etc. I am actually enjoying the car with all its features. The audio however is truly bad.

 

[bmninada]

I have USB stick thru which I listen to music, HD Radio : yes, XM: yes, Audio CD: yes. In fact in CD, the CDs I have are SACD which also does have 44 kHz tracks. But bottom-line: there's hardly any high, mids are mediocre at best and non-existent lows. I am NOT talking of high volume output.

 

[Tccox]

Well, it's a hell of a lot better than the HK system that was in my BMW 228 and that was a $875 option

 

[riff42]

Gezz, my '16 Bose system is the best audio system i've EVER had in a car. I am pissed my wife has choosen the CX5 as HER car now...even though it's too big for her, she never wanted it, and it gets worse milage than the Fit, and she drives 4x more than I do....but I digress....

I am SAD I never get to listen to my EDM anymore, and I'm stuck with the laptop speakers in the Fit!!! Must be nice to have top-end all the time, to call the Bose in the CX5 sucky.

 

[wlong01]

It's not a bad system, especially listening to CD's. It's not a good as the audio system in the CR-V. The eight speaker system with the sub-woofer under the passenger seat.
It's no where near as bad as the Bose system I had in my Maxima. I'm surprised Bose would even put their name on that POS system.

 

[bmninada]

It's not a bad system, especially listening to CD's. It's not a good as the audio system in the CR-V. The eight speaker system with the sub-woofer under the passenger seat.
It's no where near as bad as the Bose system I had in my Maxima. I'm surprised Bose would even put their name on that POS system.

I think what's missing are the highs. What I mean is at around 25 volume and bass set to 75% (slider) I can feel it, okay. However I try it I miss the high and thus the mids sound muted. I embarked on finding out more. Contacted Bose almighty. After dunno 100 attempts at repeated pestering someone actually called back and asked me to refer to Mazda and specifically Mazda 6, as per Bose it seems that's the design they recommended. Loo and behold I find 2 extra tweeters in 6!

If there was a way to add those 2, I believe this system would be perfect.

 

[yrwei52]

I think what's missing are the highs. What I mean is at around 25 volume and bass set to 75% (slider) I can feel it, okay. However I try it I miss the high and thus the mids sound muted. I embarked on finding out more. Contacted Bose almighty. After dunno 100 attempts at repeated pestering someone actually called back and asked me to refer to Mazda and specifically Mazda 6, as per Bose it seems that's the design they recommended. Loo and behold I find 2 extra tweeters in 6!
If there was a way to add those 2, I believe this system would be perfect.

No, you're not the ONLY one criticizing Bose system on CX-5. Especially with 9 cheap paper-cone, front-center-heavy, almost all mid-range speakers designed into the CX-5, the Bose "premium" system is simply a mediocre system at best! As you have found out, no twitters, no sub-woofer! Even the cheaper CX-3 7-speaker Bose has both! Any cheap home stereo systems has tweeters too! That's why your complaints: no tweeters, no high notes; no sub-woofer, no bass!

Most people did speaker upgrades for front dash speakers with Polk Audio DB351 3" coaxial speakers adding a couple of coaxial tweeters. This at least helps high notes a bit to compensate missing 2 tweeters comparing to similar Bose system on Mazda6. You can follow this 2016 CX5 Audio upgrade thread.

2016 CX-5 Bose System is very similar to 3rd-gen Mazda6's Bose System less a pair of front tweeters. Here are some pictures from Mazda6:

Corner dash speaker location w/o 3" Twiddler:

1" tweeter, missing from CX-5, hidden beneath corner dash speaker grill:

9" Nd woofer in front door:

Front door speaker location w/o 9" Nd woofer:

5" full-range speaker in rear door:

 

[bmninada]

Hmmm. Interesting.

1. Is there a way to add the 2 missing tweeters? I mean maybe the head has empty slots
2. Are the front and rear door speakers same btw cx5 and Mazda 6

 

[bmninada]

Take back what I said ... nada: can't be done. Checked the thread and others. No other speaker outputs for (1). (2): Yes, same.

I will not change the front dash speakers since have a 2016 where they changed the underlying routing a bit for wires and tubes and don't want to have a mess in my hand. I'll rather wait for after-market to catch up to 2016 when proper harnesses and install kits are available. I am sure there are enough trolls and they'll surely see the need for speakers and come up with something soon based on all the -ve stuff floating around regarding audio of CX-5.

In the interim I'll use FADE, switch of Centerpoint (a piece of garbage) and play with the bass/treble a bit to come up with most optimal sound.

 

[garyd9]

I will not change the front dash speakers since have a 2016 where they changed the underlying routing a bit for wires and tubes and don't want to have a mess in my hand. I'll rather wait for after-market to catch up to 2016 when proper harnesses and install kits are available.

You might end up waiting longer than you expect... The "bose" dash speakers have been using the same connector since the 2013 models, and there still aren't any adapters or harnesses for them. It's not difficult if you don't mind a bit of soldering (to remove the plugs from the garbage bose twiddlers and attach them to polk db351's.) You can also do it by cutting off the old connectors from the car harness and just using mechanical connections (crimp, etc.)

Several people on this forum have already posted that they've done this with their 2016's w/ bose, so there are folks you can ask questions of. However, I don't think (at least in regards to the dash speakers) there is any difference between the 2013 thru 2016 models.

Ironically, I just did this speaker replacement a few hours ago, and it wasn't any problem. So far, I haven't noticed any dramatic difference, but I also haven't spent a significant amount of time listening since doing the work.

Take care
Gary

 

[yrwei52]

You might end up waiting longer than you expect... The "bose" dash speakers have been using the same connector since the 2013 models, and there still aren't any adapters or harnesses for them. It's not difficult if you don't mind a bit of soldering (to remove the plugs from the garbage bose twiddlers and attach them to polk db351's.) You can also do it by cutting off the old connectors from the car harness and just using mechanical connections (crimp, etc.)

Several people on this forum have already posted that they've done this with their 2016's w/ bose, so there are folks you can ask questions of. However, I don't think (at least in regards to the dash speakers) there is any difference between the 2013 thru 2016 models.

Ironically, I just did this speaker replacement a few hours ago, and it wasn't any problem. So far, I haven't noticed any dramatic difference, but I also haven't spent a significant amount of time listening since doing the work.

Take care
Gary

Yeah, I agree. With low sales volume of CX-5 (almost at the bottom of the compact CUV in US market), the incentive of making wiring adapters by a vender for Bose speakers is not high! In the mean time, like bmninada, I hate to cut wires or remove connectors from Bose speakers and really wish some venders would come up with Bose speaker wiring adapters.

Bose Centerpoint surround sound system on CX-5 is designed for movie watching hence all mid-range speakers serve the purpose, not for music listening which requires tweeters and woofers or sub-woofer to achieve the ideal 20Hz~20,000Hz frequency response range for music.

 

[bmninada]

Yeah, I agree. With low sales volume of CX-5 (almost at the bottom of the compact CUV in US market), the incentive of making wiring adapters by a vender for Bose speakers is not high! In the mean time, like bmninada, I hate to cut wires or remove connectors from Bose speakers and really wish some venders would come up with Bose speaker wiring adapters.

Bose Centerpoint surround sound system on CX-5 is designed for movie watching hence all mid-range speakers serve the purpose, not for music listening which requires tweeters and woofers or sub-woofer to achieve the ideal 20Hz~20,000Hz frequency response range for music.

Mazda audio engineers need to have their head checked. Period. My wife told me today after we came back from New Year party (long drive at night) ... what the heck is wrong with the music in this car? My 2007 Corolla sounds better with 6 JBL speakers....

 

[riff42]

Y'all are saying no bass. I guess I don't know what I'm missing. My music makes the rear view mirror vibrate. I feel it. NO, there is no sub...but...I need to play my music in more cars I guess.

 

[sillyxone]

I'm so confused after reading through many threads about the Bose vs non-Bose systems. I have the 2016 Touring with non-Bose (don't see a Bose name/logo anywhere), so I assume the center grill doesn't have a speaker underneath, and I don't have the two rear twitters to confirm non-bose. However, the front row gets decent bass, while the rear has very faint low. I adjust the equalizer to have the bass +1 and treble +3, and it sounds good enough for me with the bass thumping strongly (front row only).

One thing we should take into account is road noise, especially the CX-5 is not strong in term of sound insulation. With the car parked in my garage, listening to MP3 from my USB stick is pretty decent, but road noise while driving makes the bass less recognizable. Have you ever listened to your bass-heavy headphone while on an airplane, it would sound like having no bass at all. I guess I can't pay all of my attention to every details of the music while driving, so there's no point in trying to make the details overcoming the road noise. Besides, driving the CX-5 is a joy in itself, it makes me smile eveytime I drive, so the music sometimes is a distraction.

But then again, I'm no audiophile. My daily headphone is just a Grado SR-80e (not really bass-heavy, the low is just strong and clean), my source is mostly MP3 256/320kbps, or FLAC. When I listen to music, I prefer sitting in the silence of the night and immerse myself in the Grado.

 

[mazdamarty]

Y'all are saying no bass. I guess I don't know what I'm missing. My music makes the rear view mirror vibrate. I feel it. NO, there is no sub...but...I need to play my music in more cars I guess.

I get plenty of lower-mid bass, just can't get full range bass, so it's kind of flat. Example: The drums in the beginning of Tool's
Ticks & Leaches sound OK, but the bass guitar is almost not there (is normally prominent because it's just bass and drums in the beginning).

No serious sound system has only 2 band EQ (Treble & Bass) like this system, which makes it impossible to help compensate for the crappy bass quality.

I didn't expect much out of the Bose system, and it lived up to my expectations, but it's fine for driving around.