I love the iPod interface in navigation-equipped Infinitis and Nissans, and our long-term 2009 Infiniti FX50 is no exception. Aside from voice control, everything I want is right here. There's the artist, album and song title on the left, and there's my scrollable list of tracks on the right.
But there's one problem. My music doesn't sound that great. There's no real bass punch for Killswitch Engage, a metal band that ordinarily has plenty. I cranked up the bass level adjustment, but it doesn't help.
I found a Bose subwoofer enclosure in the spare tire well, similar to what Doug Newcomb found in our Nissan 370Z. But it seems that whatever bass it's generating is getting lost in the FX50's cargo bay.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 16,502 miles
cx7lover says:
07:54 PM, 07/23/09
That would be the downside to limited space in this thing.. obviously the system much like in the Z is geared towards being totally unobtrusive and that limits placement with the seats being completely power controlled, the sloping backend making maximizing cargo space a priority.. goes on.
bp240 says:
08:25 PM, 07/23/09
Killswitch Engage!? just when I thought Inside Line couldn't get any better, all of a sudden I find out one of the editors listens to my favorite band. oh and yeah, the bass with these songs aren't so great in my G35 either...
wizard8873 says:
08:46 PM, 07/23/09
M45 is the same too. barely any bass which is disappointing for a car in this class. my old Altima had more bass with the standard speakers and my friend's Altima with the Bose system sounded amazing compared to this.
cx7lover says:
08:56 PM, 07/23/09
There isn't deep bass in their music from what I was just listening to. their songs doesn't get very low so I don't blame it on the driver size. Most of their tracks have little clipping and they're just not bassy. It would probably sound better on a system with a huge midbass bloat.
cx7lover says:
08:57 PM, 07/23/09
edit plz.
bkochuk says:
06:19 AM, 07/24/09
as I've ranted before, Bose audio systems suck.
when I brought my G35S in for warranty work, the dealer loaned by a G37 base model without Bose, and I swear it had more bass than my system. still not great sound, but definitely more/tighter bass.
I sure wish some other audio manufacturers would get more involved in the car biz...
mrryte says:
06:51 AM, 07/24/09
Erin, can you check how big the subs are in the FX50? The setup looks the same as the 370Z:
http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2009/07/2009-nissan-370z-babys-got-bass-courtesy-of-bose.html
brn says:
07:49 AM, 07/24/09
Slapping a sub in the spare tire is just plain lazy. It shows that no real thought was put into acoustics. Not what you expect from a premium brand.
hondacura4 says:
08:12 AM, 07/24/09
I guess it all depends on execution and application as all the Bose systems I've sampled have been decent to mediocre at best. Unfortunately, my 2003 Acura CL-S 6MT coupe has a Bose system too although I've added a step down kit where I was able to add a JL Audio 10inch sub and an amp. The sub definitely gave the system the punch it needed and I was able to keep all the stock interior speakers and head unit.
The best all around system I've sampled seems to be the JBL Synthesis system in the current Toyota Avalon. Great bass response, outstanding clarity, great staging, excellent sound quality and lots of volume. Great all around system especially for a mainstream brand.
Going on details alone it looks as if the Jaguar Bowers & Wilkins system will be the new benchmark for auto sound systems. Jaguar claims the system can do what no other system can.
dubaizen says:
10:08 AM, 07/24/09
True the bass isnt outstanding in my FX50S either, but honestly its not bad either. I listen to a lot of old school rap (from the 90s) and I think the system does a pretty good job. Of course I could slap in an aftermarket sub and amp, but being 32 I think the Bose system is enough for me.
A friend of mine has the Mark Levinson system in his Lexus GS460 and I dont think it performs better than the bose in my 50s
"Erin, can you check how big the subs are in the FX50?"
2 x 5" if I am not mistaken.
cx7lover says:
11:18 AM, 07/24/09
The base G system is just 6 speakers.. it was all midbass.
The G37 Coupe actually uses Nd woofers in the doors like the CX-7.
http://myg37.com/forums/attachments/audio-video-and-electronics/79404d1222958538-diy-door-panel-removal-g37door4.jpg
elbee says:
11:05 AM, 07/25/09
Putting a subwoofer inside a spare tire under the load floor of a car is akin to putting a sub in the basement below your listening room. But thats how Blows operates...