What Mazda Bose Centerpoint Does to The Music?

It has been a month since I bought and use this brand-new Mazda CX-5 as my daily cars. No doubt for the car performance, this is one of the most reliable, yet very comfortable car to drive. This Mazda CX-5 is the Elite version with 2.5-liter engine and package with Bose audio system as a "bonus" features.

This is car is very interesting, I will try to explain it from my own perspectives as a casual user, especially for the Bose audio system.

Early disclaimer, I listening to this Bose audio system and in my opinion, the overall sound quality is not very special. Surprise, surprise!

The sound quality is average but for sure better than most cars with non-audio brand collaboration.

Let's deep down to it.

I Was Going Too Far with This PCM1704 DAC

I only keep few DAC's for my personal collection. They are all the best DAC I've ever built, but only one DAC that I have spending so much money on it is this PCM1704 DAC using vacuum tubes.

The building process was publish in series post here and the first upgrade was publish in here. The improvement from that upgrade was way better than the first built with many components are replaced with the boutique parts. The cost from this upgrade is expensive.

But how if I going further with changing the remaining standard industrial components with the highest-grade components as well? Will it improve the sound so much?

Let see.

The Nakamichi Dragon DAC Clone 2024 Updates

One of my reasons posting the same DAC again is because I not making new DAC anymore. I listen to the music from my digital source, with the SPDIF output, then it convert the PCM data to the analog sound by using this Nakamichi Dragon DAC clone. I like the sound so much and this might be the most expensive DAC I've ever built. It sounds so good, probably not the best, but I feel proud to having this DAC.

I guess more than three months has pass and I think I should revisit this DAC again.

Actually, I have some issue with the sound, not really major for me, but I think it is lack of the detail music presentation. Probably because of the LPF cut-off should be setting up again. I also want to have cleaner digital supply to each PCM1704 DAC IC by adding the inductors, as per original Nakamichi Dragon DAC schematic.

So here is the refinement of my Nakamichi Dragon DAC clone.

My Listening Room & Audio Setup

I haven't published any post in this new year yet because I think there are nothing worth enough to share. My last post about building a DAC that based on the Nakamichi Dragon DAC schematic is now become my currently best DAC. It is sound so good, yet the most expensive DAC I've ever built. I think this is my full stop to make any DAC again.

So in this post is just about myself, lying on my sofa while listening the music with my DIY stereo system in one fine evening, probably few days before the new year. With the borrowed camera on my hands, I try to take few pictures about all of my audio system.

I think the picture are worth to share.