I realize that some people put a low priority on car audio. For me, that priority depends largely on what kind of car it is and under what conditions it's being driven in. When I had a Shelby GT500 to drive around in, I rarely had the radio on. With our Traverse, though, I think it's more important since I'm more prone to rotting in traffic than making my run through Beggar's Canyon. The verdict? Pretty good, overall.
The iPod interface scored some points right off the bat. Plus it immediately recognized my iPhone once I plugged in -- no lame "This device doesn't work, yadda, yadda, yadda, dismiss button" step. The display itself is legible, with decent-sized on-screen buttons. The physical buttons flanking the screen are on the small side and not as well labeled.
Once I centered the bass and treble levels, I was pleasantly surprised by the sound quality. If anything, the bass started to fall apart when the music got boomy (the Dark Knight soundtrack is good at revealing bass flaws). Still, it was pretty good. Good enough to make the commute seem just a bit shorter, anyways.
The steering wheel controls aren't as intuitive as others, but that wouldn't be a problem for someone who'd be driving this on a regular basis. The volume buttons are tucked just behind the rest of the controls. I thought the placement of said buttons were quite good, with no need to even change my grip on the wheel. The only points deducted here are for the wobbly and thin plastic feel. Nothing to get in a tizzy over, naturally, just something for the designers to think about for the next generation.
Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor
yellowbal says:
11:26 AM, 01/26/11
Woah, shouldn't Doug Newcomb be doing the audio reviews?
1487 says:
12:44 PM, 01/26/11
is there anyone on IL staff that doesnt have an iphone? No one has a BB, Droid, EVO, etc.?
cx7lover says:
02:26 PM, 01/26/11
Apparently not. AT&T's service rocks too hard out in Los Angeles compared to the other crummy carriers and up until feb. they're the only iPhone carrier here so it works out perfectly!
I'm kidding. I don't know, AT&T is arguably the worst carrier in Los Angeles.. it's not the service.
What exactly is the audio setup like in this Traverse configuration?
ed124c says:
03:19 PM, 01/26/11
Is the Traverse's audio system the standard one or an optional one?
Isn't "Beggar's Canyon" a Star Wars reference, or is it a real place in SC?
mtakahashi says:
03:50 PM, 01/26/11
Yellowbal: Yup, Doug's our resident expert. This is just my take on the subject.
1487: Seems like most staffers have iPhones or iPods. A few have Droids and a maybe a leftover Blackberry. Ipods -- for better or worse -- are pretty much the industry standard now.
ed124c: Our LTZ comes with the 10-speaker Bose system, as far as I can tell. The supporting trim levels get a six-speaker system. Yes, Beggar's Canyon is on Tatooine, not in Malibu. I have my own special route that I know like the back of my hand and I usually refer to it as Beggar's Canyon. I usually start out by saying, "Red five, you may begin your run." Yeah, I know, I'm a dork.
bodyblue says:
08:37 AM, 01/27/11
"Yeah, I know, I'm a dork."
That begs the question....who are bigger dorks.....Star Wars dorks or Star Trek dorks? I am the latter so I think SW dorks are worse. :)
dougnewcomb says:
11:48 AM, 01/27/11
Guess I better get crackin' on that Traverse review ... right after the Shaker system in the 'Stang.