The other two speakers are located in the C pillars, they are facing towards the back seat to give that surround sound effect. #2021Cx5SignatureOwner. You also have to activate the Bose speaker surround effect by going to setting.
There are a few factors that are important to consider when comparing sound systems. One of those is the listener’s sound preference, and another is the type of music being played. I personally like to test sound systems with music that has a ton of acoustic instruments because this tells me how faithfully the sounds are reproduced. So contemporary popular music doesn’t do it for me. I like to use Afro-Cuban music because it has the acoustic instruments and also a broad range of frequencies, from the lows of the acoustic bass through the mids of the guitar and the piano to the highs of the trumpets etc. I currently own a CX5 with the Bose system, and before this I owned an Outback with the Harman Kardon system. For my taste and the type of music that I play, I think the Harmon Kardon is a better sounding system. It does a much better job reproducing the mid-range and the high sounds. The bass of the Harman Kardon is also warmer than the thumping bass of the Bose system. By the way, FM reception is also better in the Subaru.
I own a 2011 subaru legacy 3.6r limited with HK and a 2017 outback 2.5 limited with HK and honestly i think the outback sounds terrible compared to my legacy. It loses clarity at higher volumes compared to my legacy.
I'm looking at a CX-5 Signature in a few months. Thank you for the in depth review of the audio system. Most, if not all auto reviewers, tend to rightfully focus on the overall vehicle. But to me audio ranks up there with seat comfort and overall performance stats. As far as my feelings on this application of a Bose (not a fan of the company overall) system... It seems to be far better than my last Bose experience in my 2015 Buick Regal GS. That was hands down one of the worst sounding factory/Third party systems I'd ever heard.
Bass- +2 (can be +1 if there's too much) Treble- +3 (gets rid of harsh low mids and provides airy upper mids) Centerpoint- On (yes it is surround processing but provides better musicality, intimacy, more attack and mid bass) Turn on HD radio Turn all "Normalization" features off from Spotify etc. most do not work well. One of the settings i use....not perfect but with those settings the music bounces around the cabin, left to right transitions are clear, vocal are clear and bass just disappears and will vibrate the cabin at higher levels. Some systems need a little Eq to get them sounding good and this is one of them because at default the mids can get quite harsh, apparently the system was designed to give a concert hall like experience which can take away from the intimacy some people like with the sound, if you turn Centerpoint off you will notice a more full sound but the bass becomes bloated and on some tracks sloppy, if you turn the bass down which i would suggest then you will begin to miss some mid bass needed to provide musicality. I suggest to leave Centerpoint on it seems to have more mid bass versus sub bass or at least a balance plus more attack for certain genres, AudioPilot is a noise cancellation feature and is user preference.
I own a 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature (which I really like a lot), and it comes with the same Premium Bose stereo package as the 2020 CX-5. Sound is subjective, depending on the listener, so opinions will vary. However, in my personal opinion, this is a slightly above average sounding stereo system. It is nothing spectacular, but not bad sounding either. To be honest, I have installed many aftermarket stereo systems over the years that sound better than this Bose system. That being said, the "sound" of the Bose system varies a lot, depending on the input source. The best sound source, (by far) comes from the AUX input, using a hi-fidelity audio player (like Fiio), with a good DAC, that you can EQ before the built-in Bose settings. The built-in Sirius XM sounds really flat, as does FM radio and cell phones using Bluetooth, without upping the built-in treble and bass settings a lot. The "Centerpoint" feature makes the music sound "strange" to me, so I leave it turned off. I personally don't like the surround-sound effect for music, but others might enjoy it. The adjustable ALC (auto leveling control) works well and increases the volume level automatically as the vehicle speed increases. The Bose system does indeed have 10 "speakers," but this is subjective, as the "speakers" are actually individual components designed for a specific frequency range, aka woofer, tweeter, midrange, which is actually better for overall music clarity than multi-axial speakers. For those still looking for all 10 of the speakers; there are 2 tweeters in the 'A' pillars between the windshield and front doors , 1 full-range center speaker in the middle of dashboard, 4 mid-range speakers in the door panels, 2 tweeters in the 'C' pillars between the rear doors and cargo area, and 1 subwoofer under the cargo area floor in the center of the spare tire. Overall, the Premium Bose system is a good upgrade over the stock stereo system, but if the stereo is that important to people, then there are better options out there. Back when I was younger, the stereo system was more important to me than it is today (although I still listen to music a lot), and I also don't really care about the size or layout of the infotainment system. These days I just want a car that is comfortable, stylish, reliable, useful and fun to drive, and the Maxda CX-5 is definitely all of those. 👍👍
I'm definitely under no expectations that the Bose system can equal a kenwood excelon/JL audio aftermarket install. That being said, the system sounds head and shoulders better than my generic 6 speaker GM ac/delco system. My system has no dynamic range, no bass under 80hz, little treble above 7khz. It's uninvolving and blah. The Bose otoh is sufficient to make me want to listen and enjoy something more than a talk podcast.
Hey. Thanks for the review. I have a 2020 CX-5 and before it had a 2017 Mazda 6, both having premium Bose sound systems. I found that the CX-5 had a fuller, richer, more resonant sound than the 6. As for the midrange bias that you talk about, creating a "hollow" sound, what I did was crank both the bass and treble to their max settings. There is still plenty of midrange, but you get the full speaker performance for the high and low end. I see that you only turned yours each up a touch, which for me does not really do the job. I get the best spectrum of sound by turning both bass and treble up to their max, and the hollowness you describe in the midrange disappears.
Agree totally with this review. I have the same. Centerpoint off helps somewhat. As does turning down the treble. There's just something missing between bass and mid - tunes I've played for years missing entire sections. Am wondering if anyone can point at an upgrade to this system that makes a difference? Speakers? Amp?
i thought i was listening to a song edited into a video. but then i remembered that it is a video about the speaker system. when he stepped out of the car i was like "WOW"
I agree with the rating of 7/10 but this review should be taken with a grain of salt. The fact that the maker of the video took the time to create a review is commendable, however he is demonstrably not technically inclined when it comes down to audio. Yes he's able to detect that there is a problem with the audio and that's obviously a good thing (I concur there is to some degree a problem), but that doesn't mean that fundamentally there isn't a solution to make the system at least satisfying enough so that it doesn't detract you from actually listening and enjoying music. What he describes as hollow is simply the fact that the mid frequencies are recessed in comparison to bass and treble frequencies. Specifically with Bose there is a theme of high frequencies coloring that becomes quickly annoying once you're exposed to high quality reference audio equipment. This is typical behavior from a mass market "ear candy" brand, of which Bose is pretty much the iconic incarnation. Basic EQ systems are essentially meant to compensate for variability in the listening conditions. In the case of a car audio system, the listening environment is pretty much constant over time, aside from variability in road noise, so in theory there shouldn't be a need to want to adjust anything on a basic EQ in the first place if Bose's audio system was designed tastefully, which of course it isn't. Putting that unfortunate fact aside, what remains to be actually adjusted is the fact that you might or might not want to compensate for Bose's sound "coloring". In typical Bose fashion, key high frequencies are brought forward by default, and the very low end is unnecessarily boosted by default, which is an age old tactic designed to impress untrained ears in hopes of boosting sales based on first impressions. Because there is no mids control, the only way to proportionately increase the perceived volume of mids to vaguely restore a flat frequency response curve is to lower the treble and the bass. This is by no means a perfect solution, it's just the best solution that this system is capable of producing. Assuming that the music you'll be listening to is professionally mixed, my recommendations to make the system viable is: 1. Remove all technology interfering with the sound, such as the Bose option manipulating frequencies to account for the listener's position, and remove the option that manipulates the volume. 2. Lower treble to -1 or 0 (unchanged) . 3. Lower bass to -3 or -4 . (My precise recommendation is treble -1 and bass -4) 4. Be prepared for a lesser perceived volume as this is audio system is NOT generous with its power delivery to begin with. The true power output profile of this audio system only becomes apparent once you reveal the actual amplification power of the mids cones and tweeters compared to the woofers since we cut the bass significantly. Adjust the amplifier to a comfortable power level to compensate and most importantly, STOP fucking around with audio settings other than volume, as you now have the most viable settings your system is capable of producing, and the sooner you can accept it the better. You have to remember that a system that splits the frequency content of an audio signal across multiple cones and tweeters (ESPECIALLY if they're de-localized) is pretty much always going to produce a distorted or inaccurate rendition of the natural intended audio which was created on a reference sound system. There is no possible natural progression of mids all the way to high frequencies with a design like what's in the cx-5, independently from the fact that it's a Bose system or another brand. All that there is is hope of making smart compromises to generate a satisfactory result while respecting the budget the manufacturer could allocate to the audio system while still making the overall price of their vehicle competitive. I think that Mazda has more or less achieved that and they definitely have earned a comfortable passing grade, but YES it could probably be much better if the money had been spent more wisely by going with an audio brand that actually values quality and refinement over wow factor tactics. But then again, Mazda's sales do not reflect the actual quality and value of their product, so perhaps in a way they thought the name Bose would play favorably in people's minds and for all we know they might very well be right. I just know that Japanese people are highly aligned with giving value to detail, engineering refinement, pursuing perfection and I highly doubt that Mazda's engineers weren't aware of the non-premium nature of that Bose sound system. The cheaper your system is, the weaker and more imbalanced the effective power output of your tweeters are going to be in comparison to the low frequencies, which makes for an unnatural listening experience, which over time people will invariably learn to identify as undesirable. With that said, the system doesn't need to be perfect to be enjoyable. Yes in essence content matters more than form, but a balance of the two tends to generate the more enjoyable experience. I still think though that the audio quality of the Bose system on the cx-5 is more than good enough to bring enjoyment in the context of a car ride which is subject to a significant amount of ambient noise. This implies that the listening conditions inside a car will never be ideal to begin with, so remember to adjust your expectations accordingly. If you really want a better audio experience in a Japanese car with comparable performance, perhaps consider the Acura RDX 2019, but be prepared to pay a 5k-6k$ premium and probably have 4x the mileage comparatively on your used car... Yep, luxury doesn't come cheap, and as much as I like audio, I just don't care enough to pay this much more for it, I'd rather have a good audio setup at home but that's just me.
BOSE in car systems vary greatly. This system in particular does not have a bloated low end especially on default settings. You literally need to turn the bass all the way up to get much response because that's how Mazda spec'd it. Compared to the CX-9 which has two additional bass drivers and can be a very bass heavy system depending on the settings. All in car audio systems are colored, it's the nature of their environment.
I saw a 2020 cx9 with i think premium speakers. They were driving by my house blasting loud music and it sounded like a ghetto car because of how much bass it had
Mazda likes to front load sound, I've had Rear set to +2 on every Bose Mazda I've owned to give a fuller sound. The gen2 Mazda3 had THE best Bose system.
I’m soon collecting this car with this sound system. I’m a proper audiophile and wonder if you’d be kind enough to give me the full list of settings please for ‘as intended by the artist’ audio quality?
I tested the bose sound system in the cx 5 and I was disappointed the music sounded kinda flat for me I listen to a lot of rock and metal music, with occasional hip hop and techno and my sound system in my Jeep sounds better than the bose unfortunately
That’s really good to know! I’ve got a three way tie one which crossover I want (RAV4 TRD with JBL system, Subaru Forester turning and it’s premium sound, and CX-5 Bose). Think I might go with the RAV4.
CX-9 has two big woofers in the front doors that play low notes and another woofer in the spare tire. Makes a huge difference as the CX-5 is a bit weak in the bass department. Tbh the CX-5 is tonally a bit different too.2021 Mazda's have the new Mazda connect, which allows for adjustment of the Centerpoint and Audiopilot effect vs just off and on here.
Hey Charlie! Thanks for review! You mentioned that you also have tested 2019 RAV4's JBL system, but I can't find the review. I'm buying RAV4 and I can't decide if I should opt for JBL premium audio. Some people are saying that it is better than stock audio, but some are saying that it's huge letdown. If there isn't review yet, what would be your thoughts and rating on Toyota 2019 RAV4 JBL 11(9)-speaker system? Thanks!
My dude, test some stock speakers in some vids my dude. For the little guy. So we can see how big a difference a 6 speaker stock system makes vs these Bose
I just purchased my 2019 CX-5 Touring with the Bose system add on. And I am sorry, but this system sounds like garbage to me! The midrange is way too loud! I am so used to aftermarket setups and I am not able to achieve this with this system. No EQ settings, just bass and treble. With the bass and treble maxed out, it still sounds pretty flat to me. I think I will be DISCONNECTING the center speaker - that's a waste and makes it sound to 'surround' to me (which I despise) and you cannot turn it off. I will be replacing the pillar tweeters as they aren't bright enough. The bass is actually the only decent sounding speaker so far, but we'll see how long that lasts. So so disappointed. If anybody has done any modifications to this system, please let me know. Thanks for the video!
Why is no one realizing that through newer android phone EQ settings you have the ability to perfect the sound to almost precisely how you want it? Expecting to get ideal output out of ANY system using just "Bass, Mids, Trebles" is impractical and demonstrates a remarkable ignorance of audio systems.
I have Moto EQ on my Motorola G8 Power, and it does improve the sound. Unfortunately, it gets bypassed when Android Auto is on - what a disappointment.
I don’t like how this bose sound system sound as it sounds worst then my 2011 Dodge Durango alpine audio which sounded better then this as the bass was more deeper and the mids and highs where there and no highs lowing itself down but the only really issue is that I wish there a little bit more mids and highs which with a adjustment on the eq it sounds good
Bose sucks, Does anyone know if Bose provides the speakers only, or the other audio components as well? If the latter, I'm gonna have to replace my 8 month old CX5 with something else because of how horrible the Bose system sounds! It's really a shame- Mazda perfected everything in this vehicle and then decided to dump a bucket of crap in it and called it a premium upgrade!!!
the rest 2 speakers are right behind the left and right back seat, in which close the small windows
The other two speakers are located in the C pillars, they are facing towards the back seat to give that surround sound effect. #2021Cx5SignatureOwner. You also have to activate the Bose speaker surround effect by going to setting.
Ahh, thanks for pointing that out. I've had my new cx5 for only 5 days and it was beginning to bug me that I could only find 8 speakers. 👍
There are a few factors that are important to consider when comparing sound systems. One of those is the listener’s sound preference, and another is the type of music being played. I personally like to test sound systems with music that has a ton of acoustic instruments because this tells me how faithfully the sounds are reproduced. So contemporary popular music doesn’t do it for me. I like to use Afro-Cuban music because it has the acoustic instruments and also a broad range of frequencies, from the lows of the acoustic bass through the mids of the guitar and the piano to the highs of the trumpets etc.
I currently own a CX5 with the Bose system, and before this I owned an Outback with the Harman Kardon system. For my taste and the type of music that I play, I think the Harmon Kardon is a better sounding system. It does a much better job reproducing the mid-range and the high sounds. The bass of the Harman Kardon is also warmer than the thumping bass of the Bose system. By the way, FM reception is also better in the Subaru.
I own a 2011 subaru legacy 3.6r limited with HK and a 2017 outback 2.5 limited with HK and honestly i think the outback sounds terrible compared to my legacy. It loses clarity at higher volumes compared to my legacy.
I'm looking at a CX-5 Signature in a few months. Thank you for the in depth review of the audio system. Most, if not all auto reviewers, tend to rightfully focus on the overall vehicle. But to me audio ranks up there with seat comfort and overall performance stats. As far as my feelings on this application of a Bose (not a fan of the company overall) system... It seems to be far better than my last Bose experience in my 2015 Buick Regal GS. That was hands down one of the worst sounding factory/Third party systems I'd ever heard.
I remember GM products with early bose systems that were just thump and sizzle. The 2023+ Mazda and Corvette systems are light years better.
Bass- +2 (can be +1 if there's too much)
Treble- +3 (gets rid of harsh low mids and provides airy upper mids)
Centerpoint- On (yes it is surround processing but provides better musicality, intimacy, more attack and mid bass)
Turn on HD radio
Turn all "Normalization" features off from Spotify etc. most do not work well.
One of the settings i use....not perfect but with those settings the music bounces around the cabin, left to right transitions are clear, vocal are clear and bass just disappears and will vibrate the cabin at higher levels. Some systems need a little Eq to get them sounding good and this is one of them because at default the mids can get quite harsh, apparently the system was designed to give a concert hall like experience which can take away from the intimacy some people like with the sound, if you turn Centerpoint off you will notice a more full sound but the bass becomes bloated and on some tracks sloppy, if you turn the bass down which i would suggest then you will begin to miss some mid bass needed to provide musicality. I suggest to leave Centerpoint on it seems to have more mid bass versus sub bass or at least a balance plus more attack for certain genres, AudioPilot is a noise cancellation feature and is user preference.
I turn treble and bass all the way up on headunit on mazda 6 "bose" and have 2 12s on 2k watts it sounds good to me
I own a 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature (which I really like a lot), and it comes with the same Premium Bose stereo package as the 2020 CX-5. Sound is subjective, depending on the listener, so opinions will vary. However, in my personal opinion, this is a slightly above average sounding stereo system. It is nothing spectacular, but not bad sounding either. To be honest, I have installed many aftermarket stereo systems over the years that sound better than this Bose system. That being said, the "sound" of the Bose system varies a lot, depending on the input source. The best sound source, (by far) comes from the AUX input, using a hi-fidelity audio player (like Fiio), with a good DAC, that you can EQ before the built-in Bose settings. The built-in Sirius XM sounds really flat, as does FM radio and cell phones using Bluetooth, without upping the built-in treble and bass settings a lot. The "Centerpoint" feature makes the music sound "strange" to me, so I leave it turned off. I personally don't like the surround-sound effect for music, but others might enjoy it. The adjustable ALC (auto leveling control) works well and increases the volume level automatically as the vehicle speed increases. The Bose system does indeed have 10 "speakers," but this is subjective, as the "speakers" are actually individual components designed for a specific frequency range, aka woofer, tweeter, midrange, which is actually better for overall music clarity than multi-axial speakers. For those still looking for all 10 of the speakers; there are 2 tweeters in the 'A' pillars between the windshield and front doors , 1 full-range center speaker in the middle of dashboard, 4 mid-range speakers in the door panels, 2 tweeters in the 'C' pillars between the rear doors and cargo area, and 1 subwoofer under the cargo area floor in the center of the spare tire. Overall, the Premium Bose system is a good upgrade over the stock stereo system, but if the stereo is that important to people, then there are better options out there. Back when I was younger, the stereo system was more important to me than it is today (although I still listen to music a lot), and I also don't really care about the size or layout of the infotainment system. These days I just want a car that is comfortable, stylish, reliable, useful and fun to drive, and the Maxda CX-5 is definitely all of those. 👍👍
I'm definitely under no expectations that the Bose system can equal a kenwood excelon/JL audio aftermarket install. That being said, the system sounds head and shoulders better than my generic 6 speaker GM ac/delco system. My system has no dynamic range, no bass under 80hz, little treble above 7khz. It's uninvolving and blah. The Bose otoh is sufficient to make me want to listen and enjoy something more than a talk podcast.
the two you missed are on the pillar behind the rear passenger head rests
Hey. Thanks for the review. I have a 2020 CX-5 and before it had a 2017 Mazda 6, both having premium Bose sound systems. I found that the CX-5 had a fuller, richer,
more resonant sound than the 6. As for the midrange bias that you talk about, creating a "hollow" sound, what I did was crank both the bass and treble to their
max settings. There is still plenty of midrange, but you get the full speaker performance for the high and low end. I see that you only turned yours each up a touch, which
for me does not really do the job. I get the best spectrum of sound by turning both bass and treble up to their max, and the hollowness you describe in the midrange disappears.
I like this car but I was wondering about the audio thank you for showing us most reviewers do this
Listening to this demo with my Bose QC 35 II's.
Does the Bose system sound better than the Standard factory system ?
Agree totally with this review. I have the same. Centerpoint off helps somewhat. As does turning down the treble. There's just something missing between bass and mid - tunes I've played for years missing entire sections. Am wondering if anyone can point at an upgrade to this system that makes a difference? Speakers? Amp?
The treble is atrocious. Searing highs. I put them - 3-, bass +1-2.
i thought i was listening to a song edited into a video. but then i remembered that it is a video about the speaker system.
when he stepped out of the car i was like "WOW"
I agree with the rating of 7/10 but this review should be taken with a grain of salt. The fact that the maker of the video took the time to create a review is commendable, however he is demonstrably not technically inclined when it comes down to audio. Yes he's able to detect that there is a problem with the audio and that's obviously a good thing (I concur there is to some degree a problem), but that doesn't mean that fundamentally there isn't a solution to make the system at least satisfying enough so that it doesn't detract you from actually listening and enjoying music. What he describes as hollow is simply the fact that the mid frequencies are recessed in comparison to bass and treble frequencies. Specifically with Bose there is a theme of high frequencies coloring that becomes quickly annoying once you're exposed to high quality reference audio equipment.
This is typical behavior from a mass market "ear candy" brand, of which Bose is pretty much the iconic incarnation. Basic EQ systems are essentially meant to compensate for variability in the listening conditions. In the case of a car audio system, the listening environment is pretty much constant over time, aside from variability in road noise, so in theory there shouldn't be a need to want to adjust anything on a basic EQ in the first place if Bose's audio system was designed tastefully, which of course it isn't. Putting that unfortunate fact aside, what remains to be actually adjusted is the fact that you might or might not want to compensate for Bose's sound "coloring". In typical Bose fashion, key high frequencies are brought forward by default, and the very low end is unnecessarily boosted by default, which is an age old tactic designed to impress untrained ears in hopes of boosting sales based on first impressions. Because there is no mids control, the only way to proportionately increase the perceived volume of mids to vaguely restore a flat frequency response curve is to lower the treble and the bass. This is by no means a perfect solution, it's just the best solution that this system is capable of producing.
Assuming that the music you'll be listening to is professionally mixed, my recommendations to make the system viable is:
1. Remove all technology interfering with the sound, such as the Bose option manipulating frequencies to account for the listener's position, and remove the option that manipulates the volume.
2. Lower treble to -1 or 0 (unchanged) .
3. Lower bass to -3 or -4 .
(My precise recommendation is treble -1 and bass -4)
4. Be prepared for a lesser perceived volume as this is audio system is NOT generous with its power delivery to begin with. The true power output profile of this audio system only becomes apparent once you reveal the actual amplification power of the mids cones and tweeters compared to the woofers since we cut the bass significantly. Adjust the amplifier to a comfortable power level to compensate and most importantly, STOP fucking around with audio settings other than volume, as you now have the most viable settings your system is capable of producing, and the sooner you can accept it the better.
You have to remember that a system that splits the frequency content of an audio signal across multiple cones and tweeters (ESPECIALLY if they're de-localized) is pretty much always going to produce a distorted or inaccurate rendition of the natural intended audio which was created on a reference sound system. There is no possible natural progression of mids all the way to high frequencies with a design like what's in the cx-5, independently from the fact that it's a Bose system or another brand. All that there is is hope of making smart compromises to generate a satisfactory result while respecting the budget the manufacturer could allocate to the audio system while still making the overall price of their vehicle competitive. I think that Mazda has more or less achieved that and they definitely have earned a comfortable passing grade, but YES it could probably be much better if the money had been spent more wisely by going with an audio brand that actually values quality and refinement over wow factor tactics. But then again, Mazda's sales do not reflect the actual quality and value of their product, so perhaps in a way they thought the name Bose would play favorably in people's minds and for all we know they might very well be right. I just know that Japanese people are highly aligned with giving value to detail, engineering refinement, pursuing perfection and I highly doubt that Mazda's engineers weren't aware of the non-premium nature of that Bose sound system.
The cheaper your system is, the weaker and more imbalanced the effective power output of your tweeters are going to be in comparison to the low frequencies, which makes for an unnatural listening experience, which over time people will invariably learn to identify as undesirable. With that said, the system doesn't need to be perfect to be enjoyable. Yes in essence content matters more than form, but a balance of the two tends to generate the more enjoyable experience. I still think though that the audio quality of the Bose system on the cx-5 is more than good enough to bring enjoyment in the context of a car ride which is subject to a significant amount of ambient noise. This implies that the listening conditions inside a car will never be ideal to begin with, so remember to adjust your expectations accordingly. If you really want a better audio experience in a Japanese car with comparable performance, perhaps consider the Acura RDX 2019, but be prepared to pay a 5k-6k$ premium and probably have 4x the mileage comparatively on your used car... Yep, luxury doesn't come cheap, and as much as I like audio, I just don't care enough to pay this much more for it, I'd rather have a good audio setup at home but that's just me.
BOSE in car systems vary greatly. This system in particular does not have a bloated low end especially on default settings. You literally need to turn the bass all the way up to get much response because that's how Mazda spec'd it. Compared to the CX-9 which has two additional bass drivers and can be a very bass heavy system depending on the settings. All in car audio systems are colored, it's the nature of their environment.
I saw a 2020 cx9 with i think premium speakers. They were driving by my house blasting loud music and it sounded like a ghetto car because of how much bass it had
Mazda likes to front load sound, I've had Rear set to +2 on every Bose Mazda I've owned to give a fuller sound. The gen2 Mazda3 had THE best Bose system.
Is default CX-5 sound much worse than Bose?
We're not sure, we haven't had a chance to test one, but if we get the opportunity, we'll definitely take it! Maybe an owner can comment.
@@DailyMotor Thanks!
It sucks. I have a stock cx5 without the Bose. I hate it.
I’m soon collecting this car with this sound system. I’m a proper audiophile and wonder if you’d be kind enough to give me the full list of settings please for ‘as intended by the artist’ audio quality?
I tested the bose sound system in the cx 5 and I was disappointed the music sounded kinda flat for me I listen to a lot of rock and metal music, with occasional hip hop and techno and my sound system in my Jeep sounds better than the bose unfortunately
That’s really good to know! I’ve got a three way tie one which crossover I want (RAV4 TRD with JBL system, Subaru Forester turning and it’s premium sound, and CX-5 Bose). Think I might go with the RAV4.
@@jonathanr9619 what’d you end up going with?
Great video bro, very informative
Glad you think so!
What BIG USB drives are compatible? Which Audio Format? Can this use WAV? Or FLAC? Or only Lossy garbage? (MP3, AAC, WMA and OGG)?
Is a 7 a C? Why isn't as good as the Mazda 3? Seems odd
You know what they say, "No highs? No Lows? Must be Bose."
Wrong. Must be Beats. Bose has a highly fidelity.
I wonder how is the 12 Bose speaker system is on the CX-9? Deciding between a CX-9, XC90, and GX460 (wish the GX460 had CarPlay...)
It's strong, but not in the same class as those other two cars.
CX-9 has two big woofers in the front doors that play low notes and another woofer in the spare tire. Makes a huge difference as the CX-5 is a bit weak in the bass department. Tbh the CX-5 is tonally a bit different too.2021 Mazda's have the new Mazda connect, which allows for adjustment of the Centerpoint and Audiopilot effect vs just off and on here.
@@christopherrmcg Thanks for the input. Would you say it's marginally better or definitively better?
@@lukeydukeyz definitely. The harman/kardon in the XC90 is a great system as well, a couple of notches above the CX-9's BOSE system.
There is a sub in the spare tire wheel well
Hey Charlie!
Thanks for review! You mentioned that you also have tested 2019 RAV4's JBL system, but I can't find the review. I'm buying RAV4 and I can't decide if I should opt for JBL premium audio. Some people are saying that it is better than stock audio, but some are saying that it's huge letdown. If there isn't review yet, what would be your thoughts and rating on Toyota 2019 RAV4 JBL 11(9)-speaker system? Thanks!
My dude, test some stock speakers in some vids my dude. For the little guy. So we can see how big a difference a 6 speaker stock system makes vs these Bose
249 watts?
So Mazda CX-5 2022 Bose is really that much better?
how many watts is the bose sound system?
Unfortunately Bose doesn't publish wattage
Did you do a 2021?
that’s a sub in the back 😳
is the 2021's sound system different?
I just purchased my 2019 CX-5 Touring with the Bose system add on. And I am sorry, but this system sounds like garbage to me! The midrange is way too loud! I am so used to aftermarket setups and I am not able to achieve this with this system. No EQ settings, just bass and treble. With the bass and treble maxed out, it still sounds pretty flat to me. I think I will be DISCONNECTING the center speaker - that's a waste and makes it sound to 'surround' to me (which I despise) and you cannot turn it off. I will be replacing the pillar tweeters as they aren't bright enough. The bass is actually the only decent sounding speaker so far, but we'll see how long that lasts. So so disappointed. If anybody has done any modifications to this system, please let me know. Thanks for the video!
What are the song names you play? I would like to find it on Pandora.
Songs are listed in the description! Most of them might be SoundCloud only
Why is no one realizing that through newer android phone EQ settings you have the ability to perfect the sound to almost precisely how you want it? Expecting to get ideal output out of ANY system using just "Bass, Mids, Trebles" is impractical and demonstrates a remarkable ignorance of audio systems.
I have Moto EQ on my Motorola G8 Power, and it does improve the sound. Unfortunately, it gets bypassed when Android Auto is on - what a disappointment.
I don’t like how this bose sound system sound as it sounds worst then my 2011 Dodge Durango alpine audio which sounded better then this as the bass was more deeper and the mids and highs where there and no highs lowing itself down but the only really issue is that I wish there a little bit more mids and highs which with a adjustment on the eq it sounds good
you say theres not enough bass... then just up the bass
LoL. Two are on D-pillars. (Triangle rear windows)
I would expect the bass is good, but the sound lacks clarity and details overall, as usual with Bose.
I disabled the sound "surround" effect and road noise option. It sounds better but still dissapointing
The 2 others are behind the passangers places
what's your favorite sound system so far?
B&W V90 Volvo phenomenal ! The best by far
@@willseal582 same, i agree! :)
Too close to pick one between the GX 460 Mark Levinson, V90 Bowers & Wilkins, and GLS Burmester. I'd probably pick the Burmester by a hair. - Charlie
Im also disappointed by this system. Lacks the clarity and fullness of my previous Fender audio system
C pillar
Bose sucks, Does anyone know if Bose provides the speakers only, or the other audio components as well? If the latter, I'm gonna have to replace my 8 month old CX5 with something else because of how horrible the Bose system sounds! It's really a shame- Mazda perfected everything in this vehicle and then decided to dump a bucket of crap in it and called it a premium upgrade!!!
Never trust YANKEES reviews !!!!!
The Bose system absolutely sucks in the Mazdas.
Film the screen from 50ft away
Add a subwoofer lel