Improving Bang and Olufsen Stereo
04-18-2015, 08:43 AM
#31
AudiWorld Super User
Pete-
The stock AMI in my 2014 beats the stock AM radio in my old Ford hands down. Of course, the got quickly upgraded. And the upgraded (radio and speakers) in my last riceburner didn't cost me anywhere near $300 let alone thousands, but I'm afraid it did outperform the Q5.
The Q5's stick system, even with that alleged subwoofer cluttering up the placebo tire, just has no bass response. I know bass, and this ain't it. And that probably means the head unit, the AMI system itself, just can't supply bass OR for that matter, good treble.
Most "older" customers don't want the one and can't hear the other, so even on upgraded systems like the MMI, it often isn't there.
The Q5 stock system isn't bad, good car stereos are so cheap to manufacture that I don't think anyone still bothers with an outright bad one. I remember around 1980, when "aftermarket" was first happening big, I played a metal tape of the Telearc recording of the 1812 Overture in a car that had a "its just as good as the Delco from the factory" radio. Nope. When the canon went CRUMP the radio actually went silent. It couldn't handle the bass.
That same recording of the 1812, and a few others from similar sources, are still used by folks who really want to test out a stereo system. I suppose I could transfer it to CD and find out just how badly the Q5 will behave, heheh. I'd strongly encourage anyone who wants to interrogate their radio to look that up on the web, audiophiles argue that the LP version still has more dynamic range than the newer CDs!
But I bought the car because it has an engine and tires and stuff like that. The radio, like the stock paint colors, I was willing to compromise more on.
The stock AMI in my 2014 beats the stock AM radio in my old Ford hands down. Of course, the got quickly upgraded. And the upgraded (radio and speakers) in my last riceburner didn't cost me anywhere near $300 let alone thousands, but I'm afraid it did outperform the Q5.
The Q5's stick system, even with that alleged subwoofer cluttering up the placebo tire, just has no bass response. I know bass, and this ain't it. And that probably means the head unit, the AMI system itself, just can't supply bass OR for that matter, good treble.
Most "older" customers don't want the one and can't hear the other, so even on upgraded systems like the MMI, it often isn't there.
The Q5 stock system isn't bad, good car stereos are so cheap to manufacture that I don't think anyone still bothers with an outright bad one. I remember around 1980, when "aftermarket" was first happening big, I played a metal tape of the Telearc recording of the 1812 Overture in a car that had a "its just as good as the Delco from the factory" radio. Nope. When the canon went CRUMP the radio actually went silent. It couldn't handle the bass.
That same recording of the 1812, and a few others from similar sources, are still used by folks who really want to test out a stereo system. I suppose I could transfer it to CD and find out just how badly the Q5 will behave, heheh. I'd strongly encourage anyone who wants to interrogate their radio to look that up on the web, audiophiles argue that the LP version still has more dynamic range than the newer CDs!
But I bought the car because it has an engine and tires and stuff like that. The radio, like the stock paint colors, I was willing to compromise more on.
04-18-2015, 11:55 AM
#32
AudiWorld Expert
good car stereos are so cheap to manufacture that I don't think anyone still bothers with an outright bad one.
On top of it, large speakers weigh more, and nowadays manufacturers try to keep the weight down to achieve that extra 0.0001 mpg for CAFE requirements.
On a semi-related note, ever noticed that today's TV speakers sound like crap? It's because today's very thin flat panels just don't have room for proper speaker enclosures.
04-18-2015, 01:19 PM
#33
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Didn't own my SQ5 for a month before I put a sub in it. Temporarily have a low profile 10" Rockford Fosgate powered unit in the cargo area. When my factory tires wear out I can get run flats and put something beefier in the spare space.....but the little 10" does amazing things for the sound.
Or that you can't expect true bass response from a 6 inch driver installed in crappy enclosure.
The problem is finding space in the cabin for large enough speakers to produce full frequency response. Space is at a premium.
On top of it, large speakers weigh more, and nowadays manufacturers try to keep the weight down to achieve that extra 0.0001 mpg for CAFE requirements.
On a semi-related note, ever noticed that today's TV speakers sound like crap? It's because today's very thin flat panels just don't have room for proper speaker enclosures.
The problem is finding space in the cabin for large enough speakers to produce full frequency response. Space is at a premium.
On top of it, large speakers weigh more, and nowadays manufacturers try to keep the weight down to achieve that extra 0.0001 mpg for CAFE requirements.
On a semi-related note, ever noticed that today's TV speakers sound like crap? It's because today's very thin flat panels just don't have room for proper speaker enclosures.
04-18-2015, 02:30 PM
#34
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Didn't own my SQ5 for a month before I put a sub in it. Temporarily have a low profile 10" Rockford Fosgate powered unit in the cargo area. When my factory tires wear out I can get run flats and put something beefier in the spare space.....but the little 10" does amazing things for the sound.
Do you guys mean, it makes **all** of the sound sound better, or just improves the low-end bass?
Not that I'm against throwing in a low-pro sub in place of the stock one, mind you.
04-18-2015, 03:10 PM
#35
AudiWorld Super User
I don't disagree with you, Pete. But I would note that the largest speakers I ever had were 6x9" ovals, never needed a subwoofer, and the last car had only a pair of 5-6" round ones in the back and two smaller ones up front.
In the 70's you HAD to have at least 10" woofers in a home system...now Bose claims they can do the same thing with 4" speakers and "tuned ports". Musta been the laws of physics that changed somewhere along the way. I didn't get the memo...I never get the memo.(G)
In the 70's you HAD to have at least 10" woofers in a home system...now Bose claims they can do the same thing with 4" speakers and "tuned ports". Musta been the laws of physics that changed somewhere along the way. I didn't get the memo...I never get the memo.(G)
04-18-2015, 04:40 PM
#36
AudiWorld Expert
Yes, 6x9s can deliver pretty well-rounded bass, provided the interior volume isn't too large - see previous posts in this thread about this. Besides, I don't think there are any 6x9 speakers in the Q5.
04-18-2015, 10:49 PM
#37
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When the sub is dialed in correctly, it gives me the bottom end I want, without having to turn the bass up. I can let the other speakers handle their own range without muddying up the sound by cranking up the bass level. I usually have the bass set at flat and the treble at +1 and if I have a decent source, it sounds pretty damn good!
See, I've heard this a couple of times, now..."a better Subwoofer makes the *sound* better"...
Do you guys mean, it makes **all** of the sound sound better, or just improves the low-end bass?
Not that I'm against throwing in a low-pro sub in place of the stock one, mind you.
Do you guys mean, it makes **all** of the sound sound better, or just improves the low-end bass?
Not that I'm against throwing in a low-pro sub in place of the stock one, mind you.
04-19-2015, 04:38 AM
#38
AudiWorld Senior Member
I don't disagree with you, Pete. But I would note that the largest speakers I ever had were 6x9" ovals, never needed a subwoofer, and the last car had only a pair of 5-6" round ones in the back and two smaller ones up front.
In the 70's you HAD to have at least 10" woofers in a home system...now Bose claims they can do the same thing with 4" speakers and "tuned ports". Musta been the laws of physics that changed somewhere along the way. I didn't get the memo...I never get the memo.(G)
In the 70's you HAD to have at least 10" woofers in a home system...now Bose claims they can do the same thing with 4" speakers and "tuned ports". Musta been the laws of physics that changed somewhere along the way. I didn't get the memo...I never get the memo.(G)
No, laws of physics didn't change. There is no replacement for displacement.
Bose is just good at marketing to people who don't know better.
04-19-2015, 07:44 AM
#39
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Bose may be able to get 50Hz out of a 4" woofer with lots of travel, mounted in what amounts to some type of bandpass labyrinth enclosure....but the band would be pretty narrow, and without moving much air the sound waves might be heard, but only at certain volumes.The big thing is that you wouldnt feel them in your chest, as in a live performance. I'm not talking about stupid hip hop distorted loud, but just normal volumes. Go to a local bar where a good band is playing....it's the driving bass you feel that makes you want to dance....same thing with jazz....That upright bass fiddle makes a sound that can be felt as well as heard.
So Bose's technology may be good for a doctors office playing background music, but it just won't do for my music.
So Bose's technology may be good for a doctors office playing background music, but it just won't do for my music.
04-19-2015, 07:58 AM
#40
AudiWorld Expert
AFAIK, Bose applies heavy equalization to most of their audio systems (if you can even call it that). They bump up the midbass which to an untrained ear may sound impressive, but all it does is just creates huge unnatural spikes and valleys in the frequency spectrum.