Darkmann

'01E430: Is the MB "Bose" system really a Bose system or is it the speakers only that are Bose?? The system certainly doesn't sound like a Bose to me. Is there something I have to set/reset. Someone mentioned "Ambiance Settings." Will this make it a real Bose, and what the &^%$ is this ambiance thing, anyway? Any comments

JamE55

Should be a Bose??

sosh

In my 01 E320 with the Bose, I believe that only the speakers are Bose but I could be wrong. In my ML500 02 model with the MCS the MCS unit has several settings including ambience which is very good. If the E320 has this I certainly have not been able to find it

tj99e320

In my 99 E320, the head unit does not have "Bose" printed on it. It's the unit with the number pad to the right. Here's a picture:



I verified the Rear speakers are Bose and I do have 8 speakers.

I went through the Audio System Manual today and found no reference to any Sound Processing aside from the standard Bass, Treble, Balance, and Fade.

So is my system a Bose System?

Thanks,
TJ

cabby850

I also wonder if the bose system in my E420 is really a Bose system. Except for the Bose logo on the rear speakers, there is no other signs identifying it as a bose system.

They really doesn't sound like Bose speakers that I am used to at all! I had a 93 Infiniti Q45 with the Bose system and it sounds 10 times better than the bose in the E class. I am really disappointed by the sound quality of the bose speakers in the E class. I also have a Lexus LS400 w/o Nakamichi and it still sound better than the bose in the E420!

Does anyone know if I just change the head unit to an aftermarket one, will that make the bose speakers sound better?

Does anyone know whats the wattage of the factory head unit?

Ed

HGT

Darkmann,

I believe the headunit is either a Becker or Alphine unit. You can tell by looking at the first letter on the radio code - A for Alpine and B for Becker.

HGT

darkLCD

If you have Bose markings on your rear speaker grills, then most likely you have a Bose system (and if you have a sunroof, it reinforces the conclusion you have Bose because Mercedes offers the Bose on the E-class with the sunroof in a package **exception of course is the E55 which gets everything standard):

http://www.bose.com/products/auto/me...z/e-class.html

In addition, Bose has various grades of sound systems for different cars which explains the difference in sound quality among different manufacturers of cars. It also varies upon how much a manufacturer is willing to spend on a Bose sound system as well and also what type of sound the manufacturer is aiming for (more highs, more lows, etc). Bose at one time wanted to classfiy different grades of their car sound systems to indicate quality and sound characteristics, however, car manufacturers vehemently opposed this, they didn't want their consumers realizing they were getting a lower quality Bose system than other manufacturers.

I think the E-class Bose system is more geared toward highs. It really lacks in the mids and lows. This works great for classical music but not thumping hip hop. The Bose system on a Maxima has an incredible amount of bass coming out of the subwoofer mounted next to the center brake light. The highs aren't as clear, but the mids and lows are real good. Audi A4 Bose has a nice compromise, some decent hitting lows, very good mids, and decent highs.

6.3

On my e430 with sunroof and bose there is plenty of lows. Actually when I was listening to Korn from a CD recently and the bass was set in the middle the thumping was a little too much and overwhelming to the rest of the music. I had to lower the bass to even everything out.
Actually I am happy that there is no more bass than needed because I am not a fan of too much boom-boom.

New E

Check out Bose's website for automotive products. It eludes to the unit also being of Bose design, but it doesn't provide a lot of detail. The FAQ section hints to it as well.

MikeyE430

Simply put, Bose SUX! I have the premium Bose system in my 2000 E430 and am profoundly disappointed.

tj99e320

MikeyE430, it would sure help those of us who don't know better if you stated exactly what sucks about the MB Bose system. Is it not adequate for listening to Classicals? Does it not have enough bass for Hip Hop? Can it be fixed with just a few modifications or will we have to spend thousands to replace the whole audio system? I think the Temptations and The Stylistics sounded fine (on tape at that), but hey, I'm no expert.

Thanks,
TJ

MikeyE430

Hey TJ,

Well, first of all.......a good sound system should reproduce ALL types of music correctly. I would not want a system that sounded great with jazz and terrible with rock. The job of the system is to make the music sound like it is being played live in your car. I listen to all types of music EXCEPT rap and hip hop. Mainly jazz, heavy metal, "alternative," and classical. The Bose system in my E430 just doesn't do anything well. There is very little bottom end very little clarity. It appears to me that there is not enough power to drive the 8 speakers. To me, the Bose system sounds like all speakers are reproducing mid-range: very little bass, mediocre treble.

I have an Alpine head unit, SoundStream 35 x 4 amp, and 4 a/d/s component speakers in my old Porsche and it just blows away the Bose in every way.

In talking to a pro installer the other day, he says because of the fiber optic cables and the fact that everything is hooked into the computer system, it is recommended that the entire system be replaced. Right now I am looking into a Rainbow speaker system made in Germany which replaces all the factory speakers. Right now, I am not willing to drop $3-4K on a new sound system in this car.

rcf8000

I agree that the Bose system is mediocre, at best.

ppatrick

Sounds to me like audio system is not working right...I have Bose in my 97 e420. It us much better than the Lexus LS 400 Nak system. I have great low end, good mids and great highs. There is plenty of power for the speakers. Maybe the 97 Bose system is different, but it sounds as good as anything I have heard in a factory car system.

I used to be in the autosound business, and into high fidelity home audio. I am quite impressed with the Bose system in the Benz, and I am NOT a big fan of Bose equipment. Bose is more of a marketing company than a technology company and I personally think their home systems are horrible, but that is my .02 worth.

Philip
97 E420.

rcf8000

The Bose "wave radio" is a real ripoff. A triumph of marketing hype over technology.

ppatrick

Bose Wave is really awful stuff....but most of you probably know that

michakaveli

I had the same opinion about the Bose stereo system in my '97 E300. I ordered an adaptor plug (not to cut the orginal plug) and connected my Pioneer Premier head unit and what a profound difference. Only thing lacking now is that deep subbass. Everything else sounds like it should! I don't remember how the newer units are? Are they using fiber optic cabling for their signaling to the stock amplifier, I know the CD-Changer interface is fiber-optic on the late models...

Just my $.02