A4 Stereo Decision (low Audi content)

[Fringe Ryder <fringe@ai.net>]

The Bose system is a great lease option - you get a powerful, fairly good
sounding system that won't need any modifications.

This is the first car audio system I've left stock.  It isn't of the $4000
after-market quality, but it's definitely above the $800 (installed)
after-market quality.  To that end, unless you're fanatical about your
car-audio, which I'll define below, it's sufficient.

How to know if you're too fanatical for the Audi Bose package:

 Your first car was a VW Beetle, but you installed 12 separate speakers in it.

 Your home audio system has any equipment with glass tops looking into the
electronics

 Somebody is yelling at you from one metre behind you in your living room
while you listen to Jethro Tull, and you think it's just part of the spatial
realism of your system.  (My house-tenant suffered this one while I was
trying to tell him something last week!)

 Your home system cost more than your car.

 Your car audio system cost more than the car.

 You consider remote control-equipped components too cheap.

 You've ever not noticed that the car isn't even on, because the stereo
sounded so good.

 The local car-audio experts ask YOU for advice.

 You have ANY equipment that uses tubes.

 You still use vinyl, and are proud of it.

 You had two or more non-integrated amps in your last car stereo system.

This is pretty much for real.  These aren't jokes.  If you are fanatical
about audio, no car stereo will be sufficient.  If you want a nice,
well-integrated, good sounding system, but don't see the point in spending
more than $2000 on a system including installation, the Bose is a great way
to go, plus the cost is amortized over the life of the loan/lease.

Regards
        Fringe
        '97 2.8L A4Q blk/blk leather/Bose/std stick/etc/ad naseum

>From: twain mein <twain@rocketmail.com>
>
>If you are considering buying an A4 and you are torn
>between the "Bose" system and the stock one, here are
>some tips.
        [snip]