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Here is the link to the TSB if you havn't found it yet
link title
Primarily the system has a huge peak in the upper midrange that makes the sound strident and piercing on lots of program material. The midrange control works at a much lower frequency than this peak so is of no use. The peak is much worse through the front speakers than the rear, so using the fader to fade the fronts down a bit helps, but then the next song sounds muddy and dull.
I think the speakers are the primary culprits here...this degree of departure from accuracy would not usually be in the electronics but in the speakers. Evidently the Bose name means nothing.
By the way, my EQ switch also only toggles between News/Talk & Manual...I guess this is standard.
Jay
Thanks,
Jay
Are you sure you have this option fitted?
The sound quality in my SS is just fine.
Jay
IMHO, Bose has never been big on sound quality. Instead, their expertise is in stereo separation and filling a space with sound. In that regard, this system delivers the Bose promise. It's the actual sound quality that isn't up to my expectations. For a $400 premium, I don't think it's unfair to demand an actual PREMIUM sound.
Jay
Jay
1) how is the sound quality with using the aux plug in the 2006 gm cars
2) can you change/skip songs through radio dials or do you still have to physically change through the Ipod itself?
thanks
Mike
I don't own an IPOD but I have used my mini-MP3 player in my car. In my case, the volume was lower than normal when using the MP3 player. It likely was never intended to be used with anything other than headphones and I was able to compensate by turning the car's volume up and get plenty of volume. The only real issue would be forgetting to turn it back down and getting blasted with loud volume from the other sources.
As for controls, you would have to use the Ipod controls unless you install additional equipment. I don't know much about the other devices but I would definitely do your research. My experience is that GM stereos are great as is but are very difficult to modify unless you are very tech-savvy. You can damage/disable many systems in your car by modifying the stereo. Be cautious!
Before I start burning CDs for test purposes, I thought I'd ask to see if the problem is common. Thanks!
However, this might please some of you, now when I hit the EQ button, I get presets for Pop, Rock, Ctry, Talk, Jass and Clas as well as Manaul. Each one displays the bass\mid\treb graph that it uses when pressed.
thanks
Mike
From what I've been seeing with this and other issues, it seems like there is a lack of information sharing between GM/Chevy/dealerships. Hopefully that will improve over time but currently, we all seem to get different answers.
First some background: I recently took in my '06 with the single CD/MP3 Bose system to have the TSB done for the hiss. I had the hiss when the turn signal was used, and very noticeable hiss at low volumes. I could deal with those.
Then, over the course of a week, three times I got a mechanical cyclical sound coming from the speakers, like I was picking up some interference from the engine or something. (Sounded like "g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g", nice "premium" sound, eh?) That was the final straw! It would go on like that for at least 10-15 minutes. Turning the radio off/on didn't clear it. Strangely enough, using the turn signal one time stopped it. Nice undocument "feature"! ;^) I tried it out of desperation since I read the TSB mentioned the turn signal "connection". Aha!
Here's the part you'll appreciate: The dealer ordered the replacement amp (don't expect it to be in-stock) and replaced it. They also reprogrammed the radio. Came back sounding like crud. All the nice crystal clear highs were gone (although the upper mid-range didn't sound so strident -- good news/bad news). Made it sound much more like a stock radio, and the upper ranges sounded clipped or compressed.
So I complained to the dealership about the loss of "premium" sound for a $400 system, who totally agreed and really tried to make it right. Got it back and while I can't say that it sounds 100% the same as before, it's fairly close. The difference could be the new amp or programming. The hiss is all but gone (tiny bit left at extreme low volume, will never notice it unless engine and fan are both off). Let's just say I don't want to risk them messing with it again, so it's close enough.
I called the service manager to thank him personally (as we both had feared the worst, and he really tried to make it right -- always remember your manners). I asked him how much versatility the programming allowed for sound/tonal curves. He said that there wasn't any, BUT you have to be careful when checking which software options to download into the radio.
Apparently there's one option they select for the high end speakers, another one for the radio, etc. (that's what he said). It sounded like they weren't paying close attention to the software modules and downloaded the wrong ones (or perhaps just as likely, didn't download ADDITIONAL ones needed).
I recall reading in the online TSB (don't have the link handy) that GM made special mention to carefully choose the radio programming options, or something like that. Now I know why!
So, for all of you who got different options (EQ) or sound after reprogramming, you may want to take it back to the dealer for reprogramming. It definitely sounds to me that they either didn't know or weren't being careful when selecting the reprogramming options. Good luck!
Just thought I'd share so that some of you could avoid the issues I experienced. That was not a fun week for me.
If you have dealers that don't pay attention to programing the radios and they seem to brush you off (once you drive off the lot), then it seems many of us are going to have a "bad week" trying to get these radios corrected.
Does anyone know of how you might re-program the radio yourself?
I wouldn't recommend trying to do it yourself. First, where are you going to get the updated software, and second, you need to know what you're doing. Not sure if the program is loaded via CD or some other interface.
Have the dealership do the work. The radio likely has flash memory in it, which means they can re-flash it (reload the program) again if they mess it up. That's the beauty of flash memory.
If it comes back incorrectly, be adamant that they fix it. If they're clueless and you don't get any satisfaction from the service manager or business manager, then call GM to lodge a complaint. You can always take it to another dealership too.
Just my $.02.
thanks
Mike
I spoke with Chevy dealer and the only way to see date is to hit menu and clock and it will show both time and date. Pontiac GP had better deal showing both in DIC. Oh well it is minor but why bother setting it if it doesn't display easier.
Mike
First and foremost, whats the best way to get the radio OUT? I'm guessing that the cover plate pulls off, and the radio box is attached to the dash frame with screws. What's the best way to get that plate off w/o damaging it?
The next concern is whether or not this will affect the car... In theory, the unit only adds connections in parallel with the speakers and shares the radio's power supply in a very minimal fashion. Anyone guess that it might affect other systems as well? If so, which ones?
This is a company car, and, inasmuch as they don't want me to talk on a phone while I drive, they still want me
"reachable." I'm sure they don't want me frying the car's electronics either though. Any help?
Has anybody noticed that the amp. cannot power the speakers all that well. There are good size stock speakers in the rear and front doors with the mini speakers in the front roof posts. It seems that when I have the window or sun roof open I always have the volume in the 85% - 95% range especially when playing CD’s but it is the same when playing the radio. The RDS works fine but it just seems that the radio is under powered?
I have a 2002 Impala LS with a stock radio with only 4 speakers and if I raised the volume to the 85% - 95% range you could not stay in the car without splitting your eardrums.
Anyone else notice?
Mike
Read your warr. you void it if you change/add Amp or speakers. I have an extended warr. that covers the radio, speakers and all electronics, so I am a bit leery about making changes.
Do you have a Bose system or stock?
Also, I would like to know if this is a problem or it is just a lousy radio amp? :mad:
It is just low output. With windows open or even just sun roof I can turn volume to max just to hear it. I don't think it is defective just not very effective.
Thanks for info I will have to check my warranty. I don't want to lose that over a radio.
Mike
As far as Warr. goes the Chevy Warr. is 3 months or 36,000 Bumper to Bumper. So after that time period you can do what you want. If you purchase an extended warr. and you make changes to the sound system, this is no longer covered under the extended warr. or anything else that may be affected if the radio/amp/speakers you install causes an electrical problem.
jt
My 2002 stock Impala radio with 4 speakers has more power than you can handle, there are no separate amps. The stock 2006 radio with 6 speakers is terrible, this is the question? Different stock radio in the 2006 than in the 2002 but why the depletion in amplifier power in the 2006?
The difference is so measurable that it seems to be a manufacturing error!
Use caution when modifying the factory stereo. In my '02 Monte Carlo, many different options were controlled through head unit. Those functions seem to have been moved to the DIC in '06 but the turn/hazard signals and door/warning chimes come through the head unit and there may be other hidden functions tied to the radio. Regardless, at a minimum, without an auxiliary device installed, you won't hear your signals and tones if you change out the stereo.
Most professionals carry the devices and some will even advise you on the issues of changing out the factory stereo. From there, you can make the decision of how to best resolve the issue.
In the case of vehicle with factory amplifier (Bose or non-Bose Amp), it is wise to disconnect it from the system if you install new aftermarket head unit. The reason is you do not want to drive the speakers with your new aftermarket radio and the existing amplifier. The aftermarket radio may get damaged.
In the case of the 06 Impala, if you were install an aftermarket radio, you will lose the following functions that are now integrated in the Impala radio:
1. Chime (door chime, seat bell chime,...). It is generated by radio
2. Click-clack (turn signal sound, again generated by radio)
3. Power moding: some newer GM radio has no IGNITION wire. When the ignition key is turned on, a vehicle message is sent to radio to tell it turn on. Generic aftermarket radio will have problem with that unless it is designed specifically for GM vehicle and it understands the vehicle messages. On top of that, not all GM vehicles use the same vehicle data bus.
So do some checking on vehicle compatibility to make sure the aftermarket radio can work on your new Impala.
jt
GM is buying the Impala 06 radio from a different manufacturer. Typically, the 06 radio is cheaper (for GM)and "should be" better (performance or features) than the 02.
A good sound system requires a lot of tuning ( vehicle acoustic, low noise (both mechanical and electrical), sound balance, vehicle equalization, sound processing of radio ...). And who knows may be the 06 radio head does not output enough Power?
Sometime, it is the cheap speakers that spoil the whole system. For stock radios, they normally buy the cheapest speakers they could find in China to save pennies. So replacing speakers may be a good first step to improve the radio sound. Cheap speakers normall have no BASS and TREB and distort earlier. To compensate for that, some car makers use vehicle EQ to boost the BASS and TREB from the radio head
jt
OK, I'll correct you.
The next level down is the single cd version. My sister owns this one and it also has an amp, although obviously not stamped with the Bose emblem. It also has MP3 and XM.
Next down from that is the non-MP3, non-XM version. My nephew owns that. It has the same amp (at least by appearance) as my sister's.
We looked all three over very closely when I was having trouble with the Bose hiss discussed earlier in this forum. Hope this helps clear things up.
The quality of the sound is good on the 06 with the 6 speakers, again it is the volume that lacks. It may just be that the radio is under powered (which stinks).
I like a good deal of BASS and the rear speakers give me that but when I set more rear speaker for the BASS or if I try to balance the sound with the front 4 speakers to distribute the sound of the music over all speakers, I have the volume almost at max.
It seems that the 2 - rear speakers just takes too much power to push them and when I blend in the front speakers so I can hear all speakers/stereo from the drivers seat, the volume/power is just not there.
If the stock radio had a separate amp I would have the dealer change it but I am very hesitant about having them change the radio because they have to pull the dash apart to do it. If there is no problem with the radio and it is just under powered then I am very disappointed that GM installed such a cheap, crappy unit.
I do agree with your conclusion that the newer radios have less power. My '02 Monte Carlo was far better than this "premium" Bose system.
It is a 5 minute job on this design. It is a big improvement over the old Impala. So any tech at Chevy dealer should be able to do it without leaving scratch mark on on plastic trim.
Audio amplifier is normally located in the trunk as someone mentioned earlier.
You could stop by a Chevy dealer and try out another similar vehicle to see if this problem is unique to yours or it is common design "characteristic". They can tell you if yours has an amplifier option also.
jt
The radio is set up to remember each equalizer setting you create for every radio station (AM, FM or XM) that you program into the radios pre-select buttons. On my radio I believe I have six different favorite areas, each with six different stations I can program into the radio. Each pre-selected station can have a different equalizer setting conducive to my tastes for listening on that station. The concept was to give you more versatility in selecting how the equalizer can be set for different persons and radio stations. The "talk" setting on the equalizer just makes it easier for you to program the equalizer for a station setting that is predominately talk radio. Apparently the same concept hold true for your CD player settings.
If I remember right, the non-premium radios only gave you the presets and one manual setting that never changed, even when changing radio stations. The dealer stated that they could try to program my radio to allow me the settings for rock, country, pop, classical, etc. However, if they do, then I would not have the versatility I now have in making different equalizer settings for each station I program into the radio. If anyone has heard anything different, I would be curious to hear about it.
So, you're saying that with the new amp in your '06, the '07 has less hiss...but it's still there? That's a bit odd. Maybe take a look at the amp used the next time you visit to see if it's different than the new amp we were provided. (It's located between the rear deck speakers, viewable in the trunk).
As for my car, I consider the issue resolved although I still take issue with the overall performance of the stereo as a whole. Had I not assumed a "BOSE" system would be premium and actually tested it, I would not have paid the extra money for it. It was a "live and learn" moment for me.
I have a 2002 Impala with a trunk mounted AMP and 4 speakers but my 2006 does not have a trunk mounted AMP but I have 6 speakers in this car. Needless to say, there is a huge difference between the volume of the two cars and I would like to pump up the volume of my 2006.
Question:
Can I readily mount a GM (manufacturers) provided AMP in my 2006, is the wiring present to just to plug and play?
So to speak!