2004 Nissan Altima Owners

[venom600]

Hi I got a 2004 Nissan Altima a few months ago

I want to get your opinion on the Stock Speakers
Note that these are the stock speakers, not the added on options

Correct me if i am wrong. The stock speakers for the Nissan Altima are Bose same goes for the Reciever.

In my opinion these speakers are pretty crappy. They work and all but I feel that they are worse than my Toyota Camry Speakers Stock

The deep deep base I get from my Toyota are 500 times better than these brand Bose speakers.
The Radio is even kinda crappy. No idea what is going on with the Audio system in the car but it overall sucks

Let me know what your opinion on the speakers are

Also let me know what you would do, would you get a new audio system or go to the dealer and complain. The complaining thing is probably out because it still works and all, i can't complain b/c i just don't like it =P

Anyway all questions, comments, or whatever is appreciated

Thanks


Edit

I got a 2004 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE

 

[BigSmooth]

I don't think the stock system is Bose. The optional Bose system was evaluated by Edmunds.com as one of the best in the segment, and they say that "There's no question that the Altima has the most powerful bass response in the family sedan segment" and "Bass lovers will not want to miss this one", which is the opposite of what you are describing.

I can't find any site where the stock system is listed as a Bose system. You might have to look at some aftermarket stuff if it's not performing the way you want it to.

 

[RagingBITCH]

If it's Bose you'd know - it says so right there on the radio. If it doesn't then it's probably some POS crap paper cone/surround speaker.

 

[Doggiedog]

Don't have an Altima but I do have a Bose in my Acura.

It is so bad that I ripped out the speakers and put in new ones. Unfortunately, I can't replace the stereo without disabling the steering wheel controls (which I find useful).

I want to replace the Bose sub too but it looks like too much work.

After throwing the Bose out, even my wife (who could give a rat's @ss about fidelity) noticed a huge difference.

 

[venom600]

Nope its 100 % Bose

Says so on the reciever and on the back Speakers

 

[venom600]

The ones on the web site are the ones I have, No idea why I am getting such a different response from the speakers. Maybe I should go back to the dealer and have them check it out.

Maybe they have some wires crossed or something becuase they are pretty lame compared to Toyota Stock

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
I don't think the stock system is Bose. The optional Bose system was evaluated by Edmunds.com as one of the best in the segment, and they say that "There's no question that the Altima has the most powerful bass response in the family sedan segment" and "Bass lovers will not want to miss this one", which is the opposite of what you are describing.

I can't find any site where the stock system is listed as a Bose system. You might have to look at some aftermarket stuff if it's not performing the way you want it to.

 

[spacejamz]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Don't have an Altima but I do have a Bose in my Acura.

It is so bad that I ripped out the speakers and put in new ones. Unfortunately, I can't replace the stereo without disabling the steering wheel controls (which I find useful).

I want to replace the Bose sub too but it looks like too much work.

After throwing the Bose out, even my wife (who could give a rat's @ss about fidelity) noticed a huge difference.

did the same thing my TL...that stock BOSE stereo was pretty much a joke...wasn't too surprised at the speakers with paper cones when I yanked them...

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

I didn't think BOSE would be standard speakers on an Altima.

What trim do you have? SL or S? I doubt S comes with BOSE.

We have the BOSE system in our 99 Maxima and it's pretty good for a OEM system. Has decent bass and very nice highs (its really nice for classical music). It sounds much better than the stock system in our 99 Camry LE.

I heard the 2000-2003 Maximas have a horrible BOSE system too..its too bassy

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
I didn't think BOSE would be standard speakers on an Altima.

What trim do you have? SL or S? I doubt S comes with BOSE.

We have the BOSE system in our 99 Maxima and it's pretty good for a OEM system. Has decent bass and very nice highs (its really nice for classical music). It sounds much better than the stock system in our 99 Camry LE.

I heard the 2000-2003 Maximas have a horrible BOSE system too..its too bassy

SL comes standard with the Bose system, it's optional on the S and SE.

I did some more poking around and Edmund's actually lists the Altima's Bose system as one of the ten best in the industry for 2004. If you have the Bose system and it's really that bad, maybe it is defective.

 

[CraigRT]

Bose is a crappy brand though, so that is probably why they suck.

 

[m2kewl]

i testdrove the altima se and it's oem speakers are crap! even my tsx speakers are bad...damn auto makers.

 

[GT578]

If you want good sound, get aftermarket. Stock systems are worthless if you want good sound.....unless you get a luxury car.....

Bose systems.....get ready to run new lines, amps, speakers, headunit...everything....if you want to replace it.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: spacejamz

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Don't have an Altima but I do have a Bose in my Acura.

It is so bad that I ripped out the speakers and put in new ones. Unfortunately, I can't replace the stereo without disabling the steering wheel controls (which I find useful).

I want to replace the Bose sub too but it looks like too much work.

After throwing the Bose out, even my wife (who could give a rat's @ss about fidelity) noticed a huge difference.

did the same thing my TL...that stock BOSE stereo was pretty much a joke...wasn't too surprised at the speakers with paper cones when I yanked them...

Exactly. I have an MDX and coming from a Lexus, I couldn't believe how bad the Bose sounded. Then when I saw the paper cones, I thought I was back in the seventies!

I put in Infinitys to replace them but couldn't replace the sub due to its placement and not being able to find a suitable replacement.

It sucked that I was forced to buy this crappy stereo when I got the touring package for my car.

 

[Slickone]

I've always hated Bose home audio, and have never been a fan of their car audio, but my ex GF's '00 Maxima AE's Bose system actually sounded good. Cranked well, and wasn't fatiguing. Of course you couldn't get as much bass out of the factory rear deck mounted sub as you could A/M, but it was OK.


Crutchfield has adapters to help you replace you stereo if you have Bose.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth

SL comes standard with the Bose system, it's optional on the S and SE.

I did some more poking around and Edmund's actually lists the Altima's Bose system as one of the ten best in the industry for 2004. If you have the Bose system and it's really that bad, maybe it is defective.

i don't trust car guys to review stereos.

 

[BigSmooth]

Hmmm, just found this thread where a guy who had an '02 Altima and liked the Bose stereo says it is much worse on his new '04 (symptoms sound very similar to venom600's). He thinks the OEM of the stereo changed from Clarion to Panasonic (or vice-versa).

 

[boomdart]

There are a couple of solutions, depending on how much you want to spend.

(edit \/ )
.5 - Buy a crossover for each speaker (or home make one) and keep the low frequencies out of the coaxials in front and back. Buy a cheap sub-woofer/amp for the trunk.
(end edit /\ )

1. Could buy a four-channel amplifier, giving you cleaner power to the speakers. You could buy a cheap 4 channel from a local audio dealer or hell, even wal-mart (but don't get boss/pyle/pyramid).

2. Buy a head unit. If you get a new head unit, it will provide much cleaner power to the speakers as would the amplifier, but to a lesser extent; however it would be the better choice for many reasons.

3. Replace the stock speakers. Pioneer makes good high-end speakers with plenty of power handling at a very reasonable price. In one of my cars I have a Pioneer 3500 with TS-A6870R's installed all around, and even at the highest levels it does not distort and is far too loud to talk over. Bass reponse is adequate and is what I expect from a 5x7/6x8 speaker. I would also look into Infinity, Alpine, and Memphis as speaker solutions at a higher cost; you get what you pay for in car audio.

4. Head unit, Speakers, Amplifier, Sub-woofer. If you're like me, you like to have the thump with your audio. However, I don't like it to be a distorted thump or an overly loud thump. You will need an amplifier for a sub-woofer(s) system and dependant on the type of woofer/amp you buy will greatly affect how it will sound. Some sub-woofers are more tuned for SPL while others are tuned for SQ.

My recommendations (if you're willing to spend the money)
- Hifonics ZX 8000 amplifer (4x50w + 1x200, or 4x100 + 1x300)
- Infinity Kappa components in front, kappa/reference coaxials in back
- Sub-woofer (Resonant engineering, Infinity, Alpine, Image Dynamics; depends)
- Pioneer 4600 head unit or better

If you're not willing to spend that, give me a price range and requirements and I'll fill you in with your limits

boomdart@hotmail.com, because I check my email far more frequently than the forums

 

[jspeicher]

The Bose systems put into nissans the last few years have been horrible. The BOSE in my 350z is also terrible.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: jspeicher
The Bose systems are horrible. The BOSE in my 350z is quite terrible.

Fixed it for ya!

 

[GT578]

If you decide to replace the bose system, you have to replace everything because the ohm differences. Bose systems run at really low ohms....so a replacement of the headunit or addition of an amp is not going to work because most amps except for mono amps are rated at 4 ohms.....

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: GT578
If you decide to replace the bose system, you have to replace everything because the ohm differences. Bose systems run at really low ohms....so a replacement of the headunit or addition of an amp is not going to work because most amps except for mono amps are rated at 4 ohms.....

My Bose crap is rated at 4 ohm. The new speakers are 6 ohm. Seems to work fine. Just need to turn up the volume a little. The sub OTOH is a pain. Its very shallow and is 4 ohm too which is hard to find.

 

[Slickone]

Don't know if this can be of help.

 

[GT578]

what speakers are 6 ohms?? I never seen a speaker rated at 6ohms....except for subs that are DVC and can be flexible in how you wire the sub.


FYI - Bose speakers are either 1 or 2 ohm.....

 

[Techie333]

Teh BOSE system in my mercedes is pretty nice actually. It's got 2 stock subs in back w/ amp and everything. It goes pretty dam loud w/o breakin up at all! And subs put out the bass.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: GT578
what speakers are 6 ohms?? I never seen a speaker rated at 6ohms....except for subs that are DVC and can be flexible in how you wire the sub.


FYI - Bose speakers are either 1 or 2 ohm.....

My bad. I meant my Bose is 2 ohm (gave them too much credit) and my new speakers are 4 ohm. My sub is 2 ohm too but I can't find any 2 ohm subs that will fit my the enclosure.