I keep reading how everyone complains about the Bose sound system in the 997. Well, I happen to like it quite a bit. It was bland at first, but after adjusting the surround sound settings, treble and bass, the sound coming out of my satellite radio is quite good and better than stock systems in our Audi and MB.

Perhaps playing around with some settings may make the system better for some people here.

 

You either love it or hate

Personally I find it awful

 

I must not be an audiophile. I find it to be just fine.

 

The "upgraded" bose audo system is horrible, the system in my old 335 blows it away. But then again I listen to Martin Logans powered by solid state monoblocks

 

My previous car was also a 335i and it was the best car stereo I've heard. I had the upgrade...forgot it's name...came with an EQ.

 

Of all my cars,

My Range rover sport has the best quality sound, then the 997.2 is close. In fact, when I upgraded to a 997.2 from a 997.1, it was almost as good.

My M5 would not stand up to the sound quality of the RR and 997. I have the premium sound for it. Its not worth the extra money. Thats IHMO.

 

The 335 with the upgraded audio pkg had a 13 speaker system: mid and tweet in the doors, center speaker, 2 8" subs, and some rears. It was a fantastic setup, but I bought the 911 because it's a superior driving machine

 

It was called logic7. Had to google it.

 

I originally found the Bose in my 911 to be fine and never really got why people hate it so much. Then, I had a 3 month break from the car (not by choice! lol) and in the meantime we bought a new Cayenne... when I got back in the 911 last week I was DISAPPOINTED! Sounded so flat...
Anyway, now that I've had some time in the car again I have once again become accustomed and am happy as can be while cruising around. The stereo is but one aspect of that amazing car.

Funny side note (since a couple of people mentioned the 335): We bought a new '10 335i and maybe that was a year they really downgraded the stereo... it was TERRIBLE. Worst stereo I've ever had and it was the "upgraded" version. (Our fault for not really testing out the stereo prior to buying it... we sort of got distracted by driving it fast on the test drive and assumed the stereo would be fine). Then, my parents got an '11 and it sounded so much better! Not sure what the difference was, but it made me laugh.

 

Shut the "surround" off. Then make sure "linear" is on. Sounds much better without the "fake" surround.

 

I think after 2010 or so BMW cheapened the audio system a bit on the 335 (10 or 11 speaker setup), I'm not sure on the 135 though.

 

Agreed! Sounds way better without the surround algorithm. I've also found that turing down the bass (-1 or -2) rather than raising the treble (leave treble flat) makes for a better sound.

 

Have you listened to some of the quality systems in other cars which are similarly priced to compare ?

 

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How people perceive their like and dislike of the stock stereo system has a lot to do with the type of music they listen to. If you like the hiphop/dance type music, a boomy base and crisp treble will be preferable to a fuller mid-range, which is where vocal type of music shines.

I am no audiophile but I've done some installs back in the years. No matter how good you think your system sounds, you will always find some patch of grass that's greener on the other side...