dougpark714

Overall, I am a bit disappointed with the premium sound package. At higher volumes, the speakers seem extremly stressed and begin crackling. Is it possible that they are damaged?

The standard stereo in my wife's X5 is much better.

RP

Guest0001

I have not heard the HK but my bose becomes somewhat untolerable to listen to when I turn the volume way up. It was 10 times worse before I had comand. Does it crackle at medium or low volumes? If not then there is no problem. Its just the stereo quality of MBs are average at best. btw is your car an 05 or no?

dougpark714

Thanks. I find it more of an issue at higher volumes. I can't imagine what the standard stereo sounds like if this is how the HK system performs.

I wonder if it would help to replace the speakers..

RP

MB-BOB

My 21-year old daughter had a speaker blow on her Neon, and the dealer said she overpowered it (no surprise). I concurred and then showed her what a higher end audio system can do without distortion. I picked one of her fav (contemporary for a 21-year old) station, and turned my Bose up so loud that she covered her ears and cried uncle... "turn it down!" There was no distortion at all, but it was too loud, indeed.

It's not designed to rattle store front windows as you drive by, but imo, if you power your Bose so high that it starts crackling, you need to have your hearing examined, because it's way beyond loud.

And please don't throw the old-fogey "he likes to listen to Sinatra" routine at me. I play Van Halen, Def Leppard, Metallica, Scorpions, AC/DC, NIN, KORN, etc,. as loud as the next guy.

amdeutsch

You never fail to amaze me with your taste.

Lets add some Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, etc to that mix as well.

vdubpower

my cars H/K system seems just alright. how big is the center dash speaker??

theres 5 speakers upfront right, i still havent been able to add up the remaining seven in the rear? anyone else

Battery!

Add Rammstein to the list as well.

Guest0001

I find that hard to believe. I tried playing rock in my car and i couldnt stand it more than 10 min. It sounds so distorted. I guess you listen to it on medium volumes.

TNStangman

I have found that with the bose system, without comand and with comand that the front to rear balance is way off too much of the sound is devoted to the front tweeters making the sound very tinny. I have set from fade from front to back on my comand to be a +8 toward the rear once doing that the bass was much better and the overall tone alot deeper. I do get a slight crackel from the front drivers side speaker on certain songs. I think I need a speaker replaced.

amdeutsch

Except for the fact that you messed up your soundstage.

Where does the music come from when you go to a concert?

vdubpower

ok, so it looks like there is only one speaker on the rear deck?? on the drivers side. when i look in the trunk and up at the deck, thats all i see is one speaker. and the other side of the metal deck is covered so theere cant be a speaker in there?? what are those three plastic clips for on the right side?

wheres the amp?

thanks

MB-BOB

The 10-speaker Bose in my 01 has speakers in the following locations...

2 tweeters in the front door corners
1 speaker in the Dashtop grill
2 speakers (1 ea) in the front doors
4 speakers (2 ea-coaxial) in the rear doors
1 woofer in the driver's side rear pachage shelf. The right side is a dummy recess housing the first aid kit.

About the tinniness... Bose systems for home or car (I have one of each) are noted primarilly for the crispness of the higher ranges. Some interpret this as tinniness. Bose is not known for the bass in anything other than a supplementally powered sub-woofer. So, they bias toward the treble naturally. You either like this or you don't. In my car, I have my settings at full bass (+8 or +10) and -3 or -4 on the treble, with "ambient" setting.

And Amdeutsch, I neglected to mention my original vinyl collection of Black Sabbath and Led Zepp. Thanks for reminding me. But I didn't want to sound too old. Never developed a taste for Deep Purple or Pink Floyd, though.

amdeutsch

You're missing out. How about ELP, King Crimson, etc?

Now don't make me go through my vinyls.

fasteddie

Hey Benz Guys have got taste in music....or are we all just old farts?

Gotta add the Doors, John Fogarty and CCR as well. And if you want some good new stuff, add Stevie Ray Vaughan (well.............newer, sort of).

Ed.

mikefl52

Absolutely old farts!!

How about some Cream, CSN&Y, Floyd, Yes & Stones!!

amdeutsch

Taste in music and cars is what sets us apart.

MB-BOB

SRV has been gone quite a while now, so he certainly qualifies... I have his "Essential SRV" 2CD collection in my 6-CD Changer right now... Sometimes I think he does Hendrix better than Hendrix
Indeed... Yes, ELP, The Guess Who, RUSH (Oh yea, Rush!) REO Speedwagen, CCR, Kansas...
Too late (drat)... King Crimson brings a fond smile. Then there's CTA (before it was Chicago), James Gang, Steve Walsh, April Wine, Rare Earth, Gypsy, Eagles of course, Journey and Foreigner, Most of the 80's hair bands (including Winger and Poison), plus G&R (before Axl went postal in my home town).

We went through this discussion 3 years ago, but it's prob OK to offer my soul again so the post Nirvana nipple ring crowd can take a swing...

Erm, back on track... All these sound great in my C320 Bose...

amdeutsch

Nah, lets keep it up. Uriah Heep, Ozzy, Joe Satriani, and some other stuff; most notably the Woodstock set.

MB-BOB

I have Satriani's "Surfing with the Alien" CD Eddie Van Halen on steroids, if that is possible.

OK here are some more... Jeff Beck, Traffic, Steppenwolf (how have we forgotten Steppenwolf til now?), Billy Squier, etc. Among the Woodstock set (the real Woodstock) we had Janis Joplin (BB & the Holding Company) Hendrix of course, and some marginal and deservedly obscure ones like County Joe and the Fish...

r3v1ls

Well i have a 2002 c230SC with no bose or command. When my friends and I drive around we usually have the stereo blasting pretty loud, and it seems to be working just fine. The sound quality isn't amazing, but at the same time it's nothing to complain about. I don't get any crackling sounds or anything.

ctC230K

i have the standard audio too, makes me glad i didn't get the bose or HK with all these problems. the standard MB audio is 100x better then the standard BMW audio, BMW had no base and bad clarity, you turn it up it sounds like crap but the MB you turn it up and it's not bad at all.

MB-BOB

"These problems" is a matter of opinion, not reality. I've tried to say throughout that my Bose gives no problems at all. In fact, it is the best audio system I have ever bought OEM in any of the 12 cars I've purchased in more than 30 years.

fasteddie

How about Janis Joplin Need her in there as well........

Oh Lord Won't you Buy me an Acura TL, my frends all drive Accords, I must.......

Ed.

fasteddie

Sorry, Couldn't help myself.

Ed

tonewheel

Janis Joplin?? Like Neil Young, both sing like pigs stuck under fences!