Hi everyone:

I was looking on the Bose web site about a pro-sound item, when I saw the link to their automotive solutions area. In there, they have an interesting thing about Audio Pilot - not sure if it will change your mind about it, but considering mine has been turned off since two days after I bought the car last July, after looking at this, I'm going to go turn it back on and see if I can find newfound appreciation for it. It's much more than an automatic volume compensator device. It actually works to boost different frequencies in response to changes in background noise in the same frequency range so the music stays "above" the noise.

Anyway, enjoy. I found it interesting.

RX-8 AudioPilot explanation from BOSE

 

Interesting link...thanks Stew.

I wonder how it reacts to aftermarket additions like a sub or tweeters?

 

That's actually one of Bose's key technologies, negative noise. I was very curious to see how well it worked when I got my 8. I think that they could have done a much better job. Properly implemented, the Audiopilot should have been able to do things like eliminate road noise, wind noise etc. The way that they implemented it is really just an updated version of their active equalization with feedback.

Years ago when Infinity just came out with the Q45 the cars were amazingly, eerily quiet. What did Infinity do that the other luxury brands somehow couldn't do? They had the stereo system generating negative noise. You could turn it off. When it was off, the car sounded like any other low to medium quality luxury car.

I wish that Bose would have provided user controls on the audiopilot. It would be nice on a long drive to turn down the tire noise.

 

OK, I'm up for more testing now that I have read that - good find.

 

Bose is actually respected for their noise cancellation technologies. Not sure how good the RX8 system is, but it is my understanding they have military contracts in aircraft for this very thing.

 

actually I think they HAD a mililtary contract for noise cancelling headphones for pilots...but lost the contract when pilots complained that the system was not good enough. I could be wrong about this tho'

 

Bose noise cancellation in Iraq:

http://www.dean.usma.edu/bsl/news/ma...l+Headsets.pdf

 

looks interesting. the car i have now has speed compensated volume, so it gets louder the faster you go. cant wait to compare the 2

Edit:

Tehy even have a write-up about the RX-8 on that BOSE site:

The Bose® sound system for the Mazda RX-8

Presenting the world's only four-door, four-seat sports car. This one-of-a-kind automobile has a sound system that's just as unique. It was created using a different approach to engineering automotive sound. We measured even the smallest acoustical detail that can affect performance. As a result, the system is tuned differently for an RX-8 with leather upholstery than for an RX-8 with cloth upholstery. You hear music that is sharp in detail and rich in emotion. And patented AudioPilot® noise compensation technology automatically reduces the effects of changing road surfaces and other outside noise.

 

Yeah that write up sounds like the Bose system would actually be good, eh?

 

Well, I bought my 8 a week ago. Right away I was hating the Bose system. I played a little bit with it, and found out that the annoying mid frequencies eco was comming from the tweeters. So this past weekend I change the front tweeters, and what a f.... difference. Now it sound so much better.

I used Boss tweeter TW-15, is very inexpensive (~$15) and can be install to look as the oem Bose.

 

tell us more!

 

Feh. They may have good intentions, and the Blose system in the 8 ain't half as bad as others Blose I've heared, but it still sounds like it has a wet blanket over the speakers.

It lacks the crisp transients and overall clarity and transparency (particularly in the midrange!) of a fine, fine hi-fi. Bose still doesn't get it. Polite sound just doesn't cut it, music isn't polite! Bose sound is very polite, as to not to offend ears..

At least the 8's Blose is relatively flat from bottom to top, and sounds fairly OK with the EQ set flat and audiopilot set off. It's miles ahead of what my Miata had.

Oh how I wish Klipsch would engineer car audio, now that they have Aragon in their arsenal to provide amplification.

Klipsch + vacuum tubes + naturally-occuring mood enhancers == aural ecstasy :D

Hrm... the trunk in the 8 is big 'nuff to hold a Milbert Audio 6BQ5-based tube amp.. but there are no car horn-loaded speakers I know of, so.. back to Blose

Oh, and as far as aviation.. Uncle Sam said thanks but no thanks. Any aviator worth his/her salt will tell you, there's only one headset, and it's made by David-Clarke. :D

 

would it be possible that we're listening to the wrong sounds or do we just expect more from bose?

 

I have a pair of Bose Quiet Comfort II headphones and all I can say is that these things are all that and a buck of chicken. I fly for business at least 3 days every week and these things changed my life.

 

I got those...against my better judgement. I've always hated bose...but I was hanging out with a friend at a bose store who was looking at that bose ipod mount...and for some strange reason I made an impulse purchase and got those headphones. They sound decent (they better at $300!!), but the longer I have them the more pissed off I am about getting them. I just heard my other friends in ear headphones that he got for 150 (forgot the brand, I'll ask him next time I see him) and they sound BETTER then these monsters and even the noise cancelation worked better (although I didn't go on the train with it like I do with the bose everyday)...for half the price!

And whats up with these things not working without a battery? What a crappy design...they should still play music when the battery is dead, just stop noise cancelling.

On a bright side...the plastic on mine cracked last month and I took it back with no receipt or box or anything...they couldn't even find the receipt in their computer, but took it back anyway and gave me a whole new set, box and everything. Maybe it goes to show how cheap it costs for them to make these...ahh the benefits of 500% profit per set I guess.

/rant

 

The new Acura RL has the "Active Noise Cancellation" system you speak of.

http://www.acura.com/models/model_co....asp?module=rl

While that would 100% suit the average buyer of the RL, I would think it would not be appreciated nearly as much in a sports car.

As far as Bose sound quality goes, we used to always say: "No highs, no lows - must be Bose"

Dennis

 

BOSE IS THE DEVIL!

 

Nonetheless, the most favorite speakers I ever owned were my original Bose 901s. I'm still kicking myself that I sold the things. Those things completely rocked - active equalization, positively thunderous sound into every corner of the room and seemingly unlimited power handling.

 

Yeah, the 901s were great. For such a relatively small speaker, they really sounded BIG. Sure, there's better stuff if you want precise stereo imaging, but they kicked butt on power/weight ratio.

 

Ha..."kicked butt on power/weight ratio"...bose marketing at it's finest.

You'd make the author of the following link proud!:

http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html#alternatives

 

Not a Bose supporter, but this seems to be headed down the dreaded road of a "Bose Sucks" thread, of which there are too many to number.

 

Well, I try to see the bright side and overlook the lack of low-end torque. Wait, what were we talking about?

 

well it's a "bose" thread...there's only so much you can say about a bose audipilot system without talking about bose themselves...

We're talkinga bout why the audiopilot system is garbage...it's because bose is garbage, why is bose garbage...have they done anything well, how did such a pathetic system get into my amazing car...it's all just natural progression of the topic...

What would you like us to talk about in this bose thread then? Trunk space?

 

The Bose amp and rear drivers take up very little trunk space. Can't deny that.

 

LOL true...they provide very good power/size ratio (too bad SQ is not in the eqation).