[Ferruccio]

Originally Posted by lapis_lazuli

Let us not forget the Hexa : after a bit of tweaking with the controls, it sounds amazing!

I consider myself an audiophile and my Masters thesis decades ago was in Noise Reduction systems. The Hexa XT / XTA has the best audio system in a car that fit my budget and I added another subwoofer under the co-driver's seat for good measure. The OE system is a Harman 9 + 1 subwoofer in the tailgate . The touchscreen is not the best I have seen, but boy they haven't skimped on the audio bits!

It is a sheer pleasure to drive the large comfy sofa of a car over long distances. It is a car that actually has me looking for excuses to drive. Even if I am parked in the middle of a bazaar while the Missus gets the bits and bobs that constitute the minutae of our lives, it is this large airconditioned glass bubble in which I sit ensconced, listening to Dave Brubeck, watching people.

If I could paint, I'd sit with an easel and paint the people buying veggies and haggling with the vendors, sitting inside my Hexa, listening to jazz in the middle of an Indian bazaar. Love my Hexa and its Harman system to bits!

[hondatoyotafan]

The best OEM sound systems I saw are:

In the US

1. The Harman Kardon premium audio in my 2013 335i was amazing, while my uncle X5 in India has a Harman Kardon, which I feel is not up to the mark

2. Mark and Levinson in my Lexus LFA is really out of the world

3. Bose in Infiniti is also great

In India

1. Volvo B&W is the best I saw in India in XC60 and XC90

2. Burmeister in MB is also good

My Skoda has a canton which I feel is only above average. My reference is the Marantz and Dali setup in my home. Tata also has one of the best audio systems for the <20 L bracket.

[DriverNo.420]

Originally Posted by hondatoyotafan

2. Mark and Levinson in my Lexus LFA is really out of the world

You really own a LFA?

[hondatoyotafan]

Originally Posted by DriverNo.420

You really own a LFA?

Damn it was a typo , i wish i could . It belonged to a boss of mine who was a EVP in an investment bank

[zulfi hansi]

Originally Posted by Sahil

I like to listen to music at average to low volume levels and prefer a good bass kick. However I am yet to come across a OEM sound system that delivers this even on high end cars. Especially if one prefers regular radio, such sound quality is unheard of quiet literally!

Have you heard the Harman unit in a 2007 W211 E280 elegance? I have one and I need to turn down the bass to 7, even then it gets too bassy in certain bass heavy tracks. Would like to know your opinion.

[Sahil]

Originally Posted by zulfi hansi

Have you heard the Harman unit in a 2007 W211 E280 elegance? I have one and I need to turn down the bass to 7, even then it gets too bassy in certain bass heavy tracks. Would like to know your opinion.

True. I have heard this unit. It’s similar to the one I had in my 2001 C180. The sound system was the best part about that car

2000s MB music systems had great low end bass for sure. Wish they brought back those, today’s MB sound systems are crap

[reppy]

Got my new 4th gen Hyundai Tucson before Diwali. The Bose system on it is seriously over-rated.

I'm still fiddling with Bass, Treble and Mids and finally settled on +7, +1 and 0 respectively. The rear speakers are absolutely horrendous for a 36 lakhs on road car. Still scouting for a good speaker and a good installer in Gurgaon to replace them with.

Overall - 7/10.

[rajeevsulu]

I find the music system in my xuv 700 to be very very average. It is not befitting the price level of the var but i knew what I was going to get. So no issues with that! Aftermarket upgrade will do the job. I should get it done soon when I drive to Bangalore next.

[HighRevving]

Listened to the Mark Levinson audio system in a Lexus 450h on the way to Kerala - deserves a special mention. I believe the audio setup in 2021 RX350 is also fantastic.

[reppy]

Upgraded the rear bose speakers in my new Tucson to Audison Voce 6.5". Added multilayer damping too. For the amp, used a compact Stetsom Ironline which could fit under the driver seat. The Hi-Lo convertor is a Rockford Fosgate. Unfortunately had to use scotch locks for the audio signals as the connectors for a Tucson are not available.

Still not happy - I'm contemplating a Nakamichi DSP now instead of a Hi-Lo but it seems like a wild goose chase now - the (primary) sound of a Bose system just cannot live up to a hi-fi audio setup.

End result: slight bump up in vocals quality thanks to stronger drivers in the rear seat - that's all.

Overall rating - 7.5/10


I hate to admit it - the cheaper MG Hector with the outstanding Infinity setup is still the benchmark.

[reppy]

Originally Posted by reppy

Upgraded the rear bose speakers in my new Tucson to Audison Voce 6.5". Added multilayer damping too. For the amp, used a compact Stetsom Ironline which could fit under the driver seat. The Hi-Lo convertor is a Rockford Fosgate. Unfortunately had to use scotch locks for the audio signals as the connectors for a Tucson are not available.

Still not happy - I'm contemplating a Nakamichi DSP now instead of a Hi-Lo but it seems like a wild goose chase now - the (primary) sound of a Bose system just cannot live up to a hi-fi audio setup.

Update: Got the Nakamichi DSP - this has made a huge difference! Also, imported these connectors from a friend in Australia to replace the scotch locks - https://aerpro.com/aps39

The overall sound is much, much better - more dynamic, uplifting and clear.