While I also don't consider myself an audiophile, I am an 'audio guy' and I own (and have owned/heard) MANY home audio components and systems in my time.
Though I can't comment on the Volt Bose system since I didn't opt for one and haven't personally heard one, I have had experience with Bose in a Murano I owned, as well as several experiences with their home speakers.
As most self-identified audiophiles - and plain old enthusiasts like me - will tell you, Bose has a pretty well-deserved reputation for abysmal sound quality, among all their products. But their advantage is that most people aren't 'critical listeners' who care much about sound quality. And since they're an established brand with high visibility, people automatically associate the name with quality - mistaken though that impression may be.
Bose's claim to fame in recent times has been their 'sound from everywhere' shtick, with small easily-hidden speakers arrayed in various ways and subwoofers providing the rest of the sound (or small bookshelf systems using similar principles). Maybe it makes sense then, that they branched out to car audio; but for those who take audio seriously, Bose has always been a non-starter when it comes to sound quality.
My Murano had probably the single worst car audio system I've heard in my life, even with the clever spare-wheel-mounted subwoofer. Boomy, and lacking any sort of tightness in the bass, and non-existant high frequencies (even with dedicated tweeters placed near the ideal head level) - and yes, they were working properly. But I wasn't surprised, since I expected as much from Bose.
It sounds like they've upped their game somewhat in recent years; I've even heard people rave about their Bose systems. But for most audio fans I've spoken with, the Bose name is more of a disincentive, than a selling point in a vehicle.
Though I can't comment on the Volt Bose system since I didn't opt for one and haven't personally heard one, I have had experience with Bose in a Murano I owned, as well as several experiences with their home speakers.
As most self-identified audiophiles - and plain old enthusiasts like me - will tell you, Bose has a pretty well-deserved reputation for abysmal sound quality, among all their products. But their advantage is that most people aren't 'critical listeners' who care much about sound quality. And since they're an established brand with high visibility, people automatically associate the name with quality - mistaken though that impression may be.
Bose's claim to fame in recent times has been their 'sound from everywhere' shtick, with small easily-hidden speakers arrayed in various ways and subwoofers providing the rest of the sound (or small bookshelf systems using similar principles). Maybe it makes sense then, that they branched out to car audio; but for those who take audio seriously, Bose has always been a non-starter when it comes to sound quality.
My Murano had probably the single worst car audio system I've heard in my life, even with the clever spare-wheel-mounted subwoofer. Boomy, and lacking any sort of tightness in the bass, and non-existant high frequencies (even with dedicated tweeters placed near the ideal head level) - and yes, they were working properly. But I wasn't surprised, since I expected as much from Bose.
It sounds like they've upped their game somewhat in recent years; I've even heard people rave about their Bose systems. But for most audio fans I've spoken with, the Bose name is more of a disincentive, than a selling point in a vehicle.
