Good to know. Perhaps the Bose system may be different between the previous and current generation Mazda models as I find minimal difference when turning up the bass settings from 0 to maximum level. Yes vocals and instruments are crystal clear and clean, perhaps it's the Bose sound signature. The midrange lacks a little organic warmth and treble although clean and clear doesn't have the airiness.

Anyway most importantly it's the drive and performance that are more important, and glad that the Mazda 3 hatchback is living up to your expectations and drives better than the Honda Civic and no more problematic steering rack issues.

Bose on Mazda a tad better then no brand 6 speakers on the 2017 Elantra Sport.
This is just strictly objective sound quality, clarity, distortion, noise, base 2 distinctive beats isolation, not muffle together.
Not the subjective more/less base/treble, warn/cold, etc that related personal preference.

Harman Kardon on the Volvo is so much better than Bose, like 100x better, there is no second doubt.
Again this is on objective sound quality alone.
The instruments vs vocal separation, and separation among different instruments are next level. You'll notice a lot not dominant instruments playing, that wasn't aware before.
The whole soundstage also appear wider, sounds appears to come from further distance beyond the car 4 walls.

To an extend, it made me question how Mercedes justify the hefty price tag of Bang & Olufsen, the quality is not at the same level as HK in Volvo.
And I own B&O devices, I know how good is B&O quality. Sometime it is the chassis, interior, rather then speakers themselves.

Bowers & Wilkins on Volvo again next level from the HK. Base, mid about the same.
Treble is clearer, vocal from artist come out "CLEAN", and contains more "DETAILS".
Especially when the female vocalist do a very subtle transpose at the end of highest pitch, the HK can completely loss that details.
Actually same for most major brands soundbars, headphones that I experienced, they loss this kind of details. Don't talk about B&W 803 level of madness.

An audiophile, that super tall guy at mid-valley told me sound wave bounce off glass make huge difference. But I seriously can't recognize the impact objectively, scientifically.
Interested to test Mark Levinson in Lexus next...

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 30 2024, 08:35 AM

I’m so used to move the steering a little to hear the Tuk sound of the civic’s rack.

Yesterday I did that on the Mazda 😅

Just FYI. After 3 years (sedan version), the headliner develop some rattle near the rear glass. Push lightly with palm, it stops.

Hope yours will be fine, but it is relatively small issue and easy to fix (stuck some foam there) vs the steering

I don't have experience with high-end sound systems in expensive upmarket cars such as Volvo, Mercedes etc. but share the same experience that the Bose sound system in the Mazda is slightly or noticeably (not significantly) better than most bread and butter Japanese models or any other vehicle in the price range of RM100k+/- or higher. I have owned Bose lifestyle systems since my student days and B&W N805 more than 20 years ago. Bose is known as a lifestyle product rather than outright sound quality. People who predominantly look for sound quality don't really look at the Bose.

I usually don't listen to music in the car when the sound system is crap. The stereo will be switched off completely silent if I don't enjoy music due to the subpar quality of the sound system. I somehow miss the Sony sound system in the Ford Focus but anyway music in the car is not important to me as I can drive without any music on.

Don't quite understand. I presume you don't hear anymore "tuk" sound when you turn the steering wheel on your new Mazda 3?

New cars are nice to drive mainly due to a low level of noise, particularly the absence of rattling sound inside the cabin and good NVH apart from the handling. The NVH or noise levels in cars which are built to quality in the factory particularly CBU will mostly last much longer than CKD models before you start to hear increased noise levels and more rattling sound inside the cabin. I presume the Mazda CBU from Japan will have the advantage in this respect when compared to most CKD models such as Honda. Nissan CKD models are actually not bad based on my previous experience with the Nissan Sylphy, very quiet up to 5 years before I sold it. The current Almera I'm not sure as my dad is currently driving one, bought earlier this year. New, everything is good and quiet.

I'm actually agree with you. Just wanna share the gap from my persective.

Of of 100%, initially I vote the Mazda Bose 85-90 (really good score). White other Japanese/Korean no brand but 6-8 speakers on the high trim 75-80.
But of all odds, I experienced HK on Volvo that is off the chart like 200%. Then B&W again further off the chart like 800%. It is that significant, in terms of objective quality.

BTW, it is Volvo thing. If you try HK on BMW, it is not at same level, even though the DSP tick all the same capability as the Volvo.
It has to do with Volvo included audio experience right from SPA chassis R&D.

Other than that, it is personal preference.
Sony totally not my cup of tea, even though quality is top notch base on spectrum analyzer. Like audiophiles gang said, for Sony it is either hate it or love it.
For those that Love Sony, most tends think others not punchy enough.
Similarly those that Love Meridian, tends to think B&W is not lively enough.
Those that love B&W, most tend to think Sony is crap, noisy, lack of details.

BTW, the old B&W if you still have them. They are GOLD.
The speakers are top notch, but the capacitors are crap.
I saw mod guide, if you buy good quality capacitors for reputable source like RS Components, replace those on legacy B&W, you get quantum leap in sound quality!


Edit: I grew up from poor family. For most part of my life I though Altec Lansing is the best ever, lol...

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 30 2024, 06:46 PM

Seem u know details for car sound. What is your review for car speakers stock but shop suggest on adding DSP, and they tuned it. It sure sound better than before, but will it be good?

For the most part, it can be better than stock. But can't beat good design from factory R&D.

There is just one thing they can't do, also most important to get clean sound. (at least 99% of the shop, with rare exception the shop has sound engineer worked in the major OEM before).
Which is tune the delay/phase of each speaker, so that they superposition reaching the ear together.
Then way from drivers/passengers cancel each other, minimize sound wave bouncing of the cabin.

Have you seen any accessories shop but a stereo microphone with dummy human ears shape + spectrum analyzer to measure the waveform?
At least I never.

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 30 2024, 10:45 PM

Are you referring to time alignment?

You can summarize as that...

You seen shop with that capability?
My area can calibrate the volume balance among all speakers very geng already. Most ah beng accessories shop just install, as long as punchy more base many people happy already.

Some OEM lower end also didn't calibrate the timing per specific car

When push high volume, very very noisy, sound no longer clean. Also the option to center at driver, or single passenger, all got very little change, don'tfeels real. My car is very obvious sitting right at middle of band vs first row of the stsge vs sit far way from stage.

I only seen one home theater professionally done that. Got to know one install case, the owner get modern 5.x.x DSP, not sure what he uses for the ceiling/sky channel. Each of the 5 goes to one B&W 803. Not sure what he use for the subwoofer channel, maybe not need already with the 803. Now got higher end Nautilus, don't know the uncle upgrade or not...

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 31 2024, 09:02 AM

I found on FB after they done installing the DSP, they tuning it via laptops etc. Not audiophile so cant comment for details. But most owner are happy for after effects.

Unrelated, my dads old Merz 2004 last time come with Harmon Kardon speaker, and at roof also got this speaker things which make the sound crystal clear.

Those on the roof are microphones. They are for active noise cancellation (just like the ANC headphones/TWS earphone) + mic for call.

My car you can sit anywhere, including the rear seat and speak with natural talking volume + don't need lean forward.
The caller can't tell and assume I'm in a quiet room, with car cruising at highway speed.

Amazing 2004 Mercs have this. Older Mercs until W204 C Class are fantastic. After that zzzzz..... don't mention their EV.

This year there are some premium car come with Dolby Atmos, those gotta be the first of their kind with ceiling/sky channel support.
Speakers can on on root/head rest or even both. 2025 onwards, it will be the new norm.

My car, I tried with 5.1 Test File. All channel works precisely from the right direction, although the spec sheet never mention surround support.
Not sure the limit can't find 7.1 test file.

I think most Japanese/Korean car 100-150k price range when mention surround, it is the virtual surround "effect". Sound data still get flatten to 2-channel, not actual surround.
I never validate each with the 5.1 Test File, let me know if anyone know this car segment get "real" surround.

I guess Chinese cars most likely will support, their focus has always been infotainment, perceived luxury instead of drivability, mechanical engineering, high speed >200km/h stability.

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 31 2024, 11:12 AM

Bro, reputable accessories shop has been doing that at least 15 to even 20 years lol.

Yes they also have sonic or spectrometer tools while doing their tuning.

I was into ICE before into automotive (interest, maintenance, etc) in general (even before Motorsports)

Yea, not new thing. But I only seen home theater pro doing it. The accessories shop around me all ah beng shop 🥲

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Aug 31 2024, 01:48 PM

So TS, how's the car so far?

i'm tempted too to sell of my civic..

many owner done this after own it for a year, they dont feel safe with this annoying Steering rack. one of it is my buddy, last time he own CX5 2.5T, then this pop up engine oil come out at 4k or 5k km interval ( resemblance of his old Audi) then let go, buy Civic FE. Own 1 year letgo cz stering rack. now owning Tesla.

I've seen people saying online to skip one gen for the civic.

FD (Great)
FB (Not so great)
FC (Great)
FE (Worst in my opinion)

I dont remember seeing so much rack issue on FC, thats why bought the FE... mana tahu

was hoping HM can do something great for the rack issue, recall but with different, major improvement of rack parts etc, but they seem no bother. 2014-15 last time, had braking juddering issues for all HM model, again no improvement being made. This was norm for the stock brakepad that made in Thai one. Solution, change aftermarket brakepad.

hopefully there are indeed workshop/3rd party/ OEM that able to offer better, reliable steering rack than from HM. Pity those who letgo all take lost price cz they fed up with rack issue

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/FqsT4bC6xNt96Qj8/

Saw some regrease the rack part.. Not sure if that will permanently solve it.

But i believe once we temper with the rack, HM will void the rack warranty