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Chevy Volt To Get 230 MPG City Fuel Economy Rating
Bose Energy Efficient Sound to Debut in Chevy Volt
Bailout Package Includes $7,500 Tax Break For Future Chevy Volt Owners
Chevy Volt Uses GPS to Maximize Electric Engine Use
McCain Proposes $300 Million Prize to Develop Next-Gen Battery for Cars, Cybernetic Cryo-Suits
First Shots Under The Hood of the Chevy Volt Hydrogen
LEAKED, Electric Meets Diesel in Opel E-Flex
Nine Volt Candle-Lamps Let Mechanical Engineers Get Romantic

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Kaiser-Machead
02/11/09

In reply to Bose Energy Efficient Sound to Debut in Chevy Volt
Energy efficient speakers. I guess it's a nice gimmick if you're going to blast these things every time you drive, and you drive often. But, I can't imagine current *normal* sound systems being terribly power hungry with regular use.
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TessCulver
02/11/09

In reply to Bose Energy Efficient Sound to Debut in Chevy Volt
BOSE don't sound "crap" or "horrible".

Compared to the crappy $400 surround systems people buy (which are a major improvement on their tv speakers) BOSE stuff sounds WAY better. But of course, they cost WAY more.

Do "proper" Hi-Fi separates sound better than BOSE for the same price? Yes. Definitely. Will you wife let you fill your small room with big (and in her opinion) ugly speakers? No. BOSE is likely the best sounding stuff you'll get away with at that size.

As for in-car stuff where the playing field is levelled somewhat, does factory BOSE stuff sound better than your average factory in-car system? Yes. Does it sound as good as a couple of thousand dollars worth of stuff you got the shop down the road to fit by stripping your new car down? No.

BOSE is nowhere near the best for the price, but it's often one of the best for the size.

All in-car systems are flawed anyway so if you're that much of an audiophile you wouldn't bother comparing.

In the case of a the Volt, I'm not convinced you'd be "Better Off with Something Else".

I normally fit aftermarket stuff in my cars but in the case of my STS, the stock (BOSE) system sounds so good it wasn't worth the effort and expense.

I'd have to listen to it first but for a mass market family saloon to come with BOSE rather than some cheap factory system, I'd probably be happy.

The energy efficiency claims sound like BS to me though...

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robinandtami
02/11/09

@TessCulver: Wrong... if you MUST have some tiny satellites.... try some KEF eggs.. or some Orbs.
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Neight
02/11/09

In reply to Bose Energy Efficient Sound to Debut in Chevy Volt
Without straight on attacking me, why is BOSE so shit upon? I have the Acoustimass 10 series and absolutely love them! Granted, I've never really been in the presence of a broadsword-swingin-unicorn-ridin system, but damn... So much hate on something that to most of us actually sounds really good.

Can someone enlighten me without being an ass?
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ZLevee
02/11/09

@Neight: and @g2drummman: yeah, actually if you catch a deal (like when my dad found an Acoustimass set at half price in a liquidation sale) then they're totally worth it. But only the speakers -- their receivers leave much to be desired in my opinion.

Also, they help with the Wife Acceptance Factor 'cause they're small. For some people that is a huge part of the appeal.
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robinandtami
02/11/09

@Neight:

One of the biggest problems with your particular system is the huge gaping wholes in it's frequency response. It is not physically possibly for those tiny satellites to produce many midrange frequencies. To make up for this, they give you a "bass module" instead of a sub woofer to fill in some of the mid range frequencies you are missing. This bass module can not produce many of the lower frquencies, leaving you with even more holes in you frequency response.
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ZLevee
02/11/09

In reply to Bose Energy Efficient Sound to Debut in Chevy Volt
I'd like to see soem figures on what the energy savings translates to in terms of mileage or percentage of consumption per hour. Because I bet it's insignificant. In fact, I bet if you compared regular speakers to no speakers at all, the difference in mileage would be insignificant.
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g2drummman
02/11/09

In reply to Bose Energy Efficient Sound to Debut in Chevy Volt
How can anyone hate on Bose? Despite their materials, they have wonderful sounding systems. And this goes from the iPod dock up to their professional audio equipment, like the personal PA system. Decent sounding? Are you effing kidding?
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robinandtami
02/11/09

href="#c10660638">Erwos:

I always thought it was BOSE... Bad, Overpriced Sound Equipment.
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Anonymoose
02/11/09

In reply to Bose Energy Efficient Sound to Debut in Chevy Volt
so are they just swapping out regular speakers for headphone speakers? there's no way to get these speakers to level 11, is there?
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Hello Mister Walrus
02/11/09

@Anonymoose: Given that the target buyer for a $40,000 electric car is probably around 50, and electric cars are super quiet, I don't think pumping bass is really a priority for them.
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