Disabled Bose AudioPilot = WIN

[yettavr6]

I haven't really seen this mentioned anywhere except for the post with the TSB on disabling the Bose AudioPilot, so i thought i would share.

I'll start by saying that I was pretty disappointed with the Bose system. My Jetta had the Monsoon system, and it was the first car I had where i didn't feel like i needed to upgrade the sound system, with the exception of replacing the headunit. It had such a full, rich sound, and I could crank the volume as high as i wanted without distortion. Every day I listened to the Bose I just felt that it sounded so hollow and tinny, and was looking into all new speakers and a sub. I decided as a last ditch effort to try disabling the AudioPilot EQ garbage. I choose to do it the lazy way, and just disconnected the microphone, rather than following the TSB. The only downside i see to doing it this way is the amp will play 3 series of beeps when the car is started, to let you know that you've disabled their super awesome sound enhancements.

The result: It sounds much better now. I am actually pretty satisfied with it now. I drove a total of 5 hours today, and took that time to shuffle through all kinds of songs on my ipod. It has a much "fuller" sound now, rather than the hollow sound it had before. The sub seems louder, and seems to hit a much broader spectrum now. It's still weak, but better. Still not as good as the monsoon, but closer. It still distorts at higher volumes, probably because its driving 10 speakers with only 180 watts, whereas the Monsoon was 8 speakers with 200 watts. The monsoon speakers are also plastic cones and rubber surrounds, not the paper cone/foam surround garbage Bose uses.

So overall, i'm much happier with the system now, especially for such an easy mod. I will probably leave it alone for now, until the piss-poor paper speakers deteriorate and need to be replaced. If you think your Bose system sounds hollow, try disconnecting the mic.

[Audi Juice]

Picture of mic location?

[oatzel]

second

[yettavr6]

Its behind the vent-looking area right below the sunroof. pry off the panel around the sunroof knob, then remove the two torx screws near the map lights...then the whole housing can be removed from the headliner. The mic is behind that grille area, just disconnect the harness.

[skibumdc]

Umm, are you sure that wasn't the bluetooth Microphone?

[Keith@APR]

wow, I was surprised that Bose uses paper and foam. I don't knw much about ICE but I've always been told the first difference between good speakers and bad is the use of polypropolene and rubber.

[swoardrider]

Umm, are you sure that wasn't the bluetooth Microphone?

There are 2 mics in the overhead console. One is bluetooth, other is the GALA mic for the EQ. When I upgraded my system, I tried disconnecting the GALA mic to see if it made any difference, but in my system it didn't so I just left it connected.

[bcramer]

wow, I was surprised that Bose uses paper and foam. I don't knw much about ICE but I've always been told the first difference between good speakers and bad is the use of polypropolene and rubber.

Not always the case, but in general yes.

For example, the ScanSpeak Revelators have a paper cone and they are some of the best woofers out there.

There are 2 mics in the overhead console. One is bluetooth, other is the GALA mic for the EQ. When I upgraded my system, I tried disconnecting the GALA mic to see if it made any difference, but in my system it didn't so I just left it connected.

On my RNS-E GALA is turned off. I think it has to do with my software version. But when I go into the engineering mode, it has it as off and it never shows up under the "sound" menu.

[mdfast1]

How do you get into the engineering mode on the RSN-E? I tried what it says in the sticky, but I still can't seem to get it working.

[AudiWxGuy]

That's what GALA is. I'm going to turn it off today.

[bcramer]

How do you get into the engineering mode on the RSN-E? I tried what it says in the sticky, but I still can't seem to get it working.

There are no instructions for doing so in the sticky that I'm aware of, so here you go:

1) Turn on RNS-E.

2) Press the NAV button and release.

3) Press the top-left cursor button for 5 seconds and release.

4) Press the top-right cursor button for 5 seconds. Hold until the screen changes.

[yettavr6]

what does GALA stand for? My car doesnt have bluetooth, so i know i got the right one :) I just went for a short trip and today i'm not as impressed as i was yesterday. Weird that yesterday i spent 5 hours listening to it and was so happy, and now i'm wondering how much of that I imagined. I still think there's an improvement, but I'm thinking I may still rip out the whole system. I'm really liking the new Pioneer basalt fiber speakers.

Keith: I know...isn't it sad that monsoon in the VOLKSWAGEN gets plastic/rubber speakers (and 200 watts) and the AUDI gets paper/foam, with 180 watts. Oh well, i guess with the introduction of the B&O I can't really complain anymore. I haven't heard one in person yet, but from what i've read they are pretty awesome.

[davis449]

Keith: I know...isn't it sad that monsoon in the VOLKSWAGEN gets plastic/rubber speakers (and 200 watts) and the AUDI gets paper/foam, with 180 watts. Oh well, i guess with the introduction of the B&O I can't really complain anymore. I haven't heard one in person yet, but from what i've read they are pretty awesome.

Not that I'm a huge fan of Bose or anything, but EVERY Monsoon I've heard from Camaro's to Pontiac's to VW's sucks balls. They distort just like factory systems and overall sound bass-less. At least there are some Bose systems (Nissan comes to mind here) that sound decent. At the very least, every Bose system I've heard has VERY little distortion at high volume. Monsoon Audio options are a way bigger rip-off option than Bose.

[yettavr6]

I respectfully disagree, at least in regards to VW. I've never heard a monsoon system in a GM, however I wouldn't doubt that it sucks just because its a GM :D Anyway, in my VW I could crank the Monsoon as high as i wanted with vitually no distortion. I certainly can't say the same about the Bose in my A4. Even moderate volume levels on songs with alot of bass will cause the front door speakers to distort. The monsoon was hardly bass-less either. In fact, everyone that heard thought i had a sub. I love bass too, and never felt like i needed a sub with the monsoon. On the other hand, i feel the sub in the A4 is weak, and not at all sufficient. Perhaps you heard a 02-03 VW with the monsoon? They had a problem with the polarity being reversed on the front right speaker which caused a loss of bass. I dunno, i just know mine sounded great. And a rip off? The monsoon system on my jetta was a $325 option. The Bose system on the A4 is, what, $1000?!?! Thank god i didn't buy my car new.

[Keith@APR]

Not that I'm a huge fan of Bose or anything, but EVERY Monsoon I've heard from Camaro's to Pontiac's to VW's sucks balls. They distort just like factory systems and overall sound bass-less. At least there are some Bose systems (Nissan comes to mind here) that sound decent. At the very least, every Bose system I've heard has VERY little distortion at high volume. Monsoon Audio options are a way bigger rip-off option than Bose.

I don't have the newer bose that you guys do but I have the bose in my 04 S4 and the Monsoon in my R32. Monsoon wins hands down. Much deeper and fuller sound in my opinion. Even the highs are better. To the point where I even say to myself that I can't believe this is supposed to be in an Audi!

[davis449]

I respectfully disagree, at least in regards to VW. I've never heard a monsoon system in a GM, however I wouldn't doubt that it sucks just because its a GM :D Anyway, in my VW I could crank the Monsoon as high as i wanted with vitually no distortion. I certainly can't say the same about the Bose in my A4. Even moderate volume levels on songs with alot of bass will cause the front door speakers to distort. The monsoon was hardly bass-less either. In fact, everyone that heard thought i had a sub. I love bass too, and never felt like i needed a sub with the monsoon. On the other hand, i feel the sub in the A4 is weak, and not at all sufficient. Perhaps you heard a 02-03 VW with the monsoon? They had a problem with the polarity being reversed on the front right speaker which caused a loss of bass. I dunno, i just know mine sounded great. And a rip off? The monsoon system on my jetta was a $325 option. The Bose system on the A4 is, what, $1000?!?! Thank god i didn't buy my car new.

That's funny cause the Bose in the B6 and B7 A4's sounds great, especially compared to the Monsoon in my friend's MK4 R32 (2004 model). I couldn't believe that was a "Premium" audio system. To be honest, it sounded exactly like the GM Monsoon's I'd heard in a 1998 Camaro convertible and a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. Still a rip off for a $325 option. The stock sound system in my B7 non-Bose with an Avic D3 hooked up in place of the stock HU with no sub has better sound than the Monsoon IMO.

[Audi Juice]

Well, back to the original topic...I disconnected the mic and I heard no difference at all!!!! Bummer, I thought this would solve my sound system woes

[davis449]

Well, back to the original topic...I disconnected the mic and I heard no difference at all!!!! Bummer, I thought this would solve my sound system woes

If you wanna get rid of GALA (which is really only speed controlled volume adjustment) the best thing is to just clip the GALA wire on the harness to the HU. Do a search for the wiring diagram and clip that wire. That will get rid of it.

[yettavr6]

We're talking about AudioPilot, not speed volume. The Bose system uses a microphone to compare the sound in the car to the music signal, and adjusts the EQ accordingly. It's all built into the amp, there's no way to disable it in the headunit. Here's Bose's technical explanation:
http://www.bose.com/controller?event...audiopilot.jsp

[yettavr6]

That's funny cause the Bose in the B6 and B7 A4's sounds great, especially compared to the Monsoon in my friend's MK4 R32 (2004 model). I couldn't believe that was a "Premium" audio system. To be honest, it sounded exactly like the GM Monsoon's I'd heard in a 1998 Camaro convertible and a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. Still a rip off for a $325 option. The stock sound system in my B7 non-Bose with an Avic D3 hooked up in place of the stock HU with no sub has better sound than the Monsoon IMO.

Just curious, why did you disconnect the factory sub? I test drove a B7 without Bose and I will say that it had more bass than the Monsoon, but overall it just sounded muddy whereas the Monsoon sounded very clear and crisp.

[yettavr6]

Well, back to the original topic...I disconnected the mic and I heard no difference at all!!!! Bummer, I thought this would solve my sound system woes

Yea I'm wondering now if i was just imagining things. I also had a full trunk during my drive yesterday...maybe that made the sub sound better? Maybe i should just fill my trunk with pillows

[davis449]

Just curious, why did you disconnect the factory sub? I test drove a B7 without Bose and I will say that it had more bass than the Monsoon, but overall it just sounded muddy whereas the Monsoon sounded very clear and crisp.

I was talking about with no aftermarket sub. The stock system with only a change in HU. You'd be surprised what a change in HU does for the B7 non-Bose.

We're talking about AudioPilot, not speed volume. The Bose system uses a microphone to compare the sound in the car to the music signal, and adjusts the EQ accordingly. It's all built into the amp, there's no way to disable it in the headunit. Here's Bose's technical explanation:
http://www.bose.com/controller?event...audiopilot.jsp

Yes, but you mentioned GALA above and that it made no difference, I was explaining what GALA was and how you get rid of it.