[RahulNagaraj]

Thanks to BHPian Ibanez_70 for sending this in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this Team-BHP page!

Hello Team-BHP,

Just a few minutes ago, I came across a YouTube video where the owner of the car claims that the latest-generation Hyundai i20's rear speakers are not from Bose. The owner had modified the interiors during which he got access to all the speakers. Though the front door speakers are sourced from Bose, the rear ones are not. The owner further says that the sound quality of the rear speakers is not as good as the front speakers. Personally, I don't think this is fair, more so after Hyundai has already overpriced the i20 and hence I am sharing this video.

The owner has recorded the video of the cheap-looking rear speakers (start at 6:00), which is not branded as Bose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1If-yvxu6MM

[Mr.Boss]

I don't think if the rear speakers are from a different source. AFAIK BOSE takes any OE business as a complete package to maintain their sound sginature. Front and rear speakers are different for sure, but I hope they are from BOSE.

I'll wait for better clarity though.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

IMHO - Rear stage is mostly ignored in audio setups, and the soundstage is aimed to be on the dashboard. Some of the best setups I have heard were time aligned so perfectly as if the instruments are literally on the dashboard at various places, with the singer sitting right ahead of you outside the windshield.

Could 'theoretically' very well be the reason for the normal unbranded fillers at the rear.

But in our market - back seat has equal importance and some customers consider this tuning as if the rear speakers are weak and not heard as loud as front ones. Either ways, this Bose setup is one of the most hyped in the market.

Originally Posted by Mr.Boss

AFAIK BOSE takes any OE business as a complete package to maintain their sound sginature.

I remember Bose was caught with their pants down a decade ago, selling rebranded cheap speakers in entry level Audis. Won't be surprised if that's the case here as well.

[CEF_Beasts]

After watching this video I had a look at a few videos with stock Creta Bose speakers and what I found was that for the Creta in the front row; the front right speaker didn’t have the Bose-Kia-Hyundai sticker but the left front speaker had it.

In the back row; the right rear speaker did have the Bose-Kia-Hyundai sticker. Left rear speaker wasn’t shown on the video so cannot confirm whether the sticker was present.

Now coming to the i20 shown in the video above as seen in the front row the front right speaker had the Bose-Kia-Hyundai sticker but for the rear right it wasn’t.

Now comparing the i20 rear and Creta rear speakers with BOSE badging on the speaker grill, to me the rear speakers look identical.

i20 Front speaker:





i20 Rear speaker:






Creta Front speaker:







Creta Rear speaker:



I expect i20’s rear speakers to also be from BOSE considering Creta’s are almost identical only difference being the holders for the screws.

I contacted the i20 owner as well with the same pictures I have shared here, but he hasn’t reverted back yet.

[chiranjitp]

Originally Posted by RahulNagaraj

Thanks to BHPian Ibanez_70 for sending this in.

Not exactly an answer to this particular query, though giving my view. I have always taken the views/options of most Youtubers with a pinch of salt. Also this particular Youtuber promotes (or used to promote) a car accessory store which conned a good friend of mine. The link to that thread (the first video link I shared there is by this same guy): https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modif...ing-scams.html (Experience with online aftermarket part buying scams)

[Rajiv Krishnan]

The rear speakers are probably Bose, but at least in my Seltos, the rear speakers don't sound anywhere as loud or as nice as the front speakers. It may be due to the concentration of speakers. There are 5 speakers in the front of the seltos (2 components, one on each door and one dash speaker) and just 2 in the rear.

My Tiago, in comaprison, also has 8 speakers but its 4 in the front and 4 in the rear. As you sit on the driver's seat and slide it backwards, you can notice the sound gradually crossing over to the rear speakers, when you cross the B pillar of the car. That is what I feel a balanced system should sound like.

In the Seltos, even when you cross the B pillar, sound is still mostly heard from the front. Sitting at the rear, the music sounds less clear and the volume is way less. This is not that important if you are always going to be in the front, but when sitting at the back, the sound system leaves a lot to be desired.

I think its down to the fact that the rear speaker is a cheaper full range driver. Upgrading it to components, or at least to coaxials should solve this issue.

I will be looking into this upgrade myself. I really wish I could have components in the rear as well, as my Tiago sounds really good with them. But in the Seltos, that will involve driling holes for the tweeters on the rear door cards and you will lose the OEM look. I think coaxials are the way to go.

[goandude]

I am debating weather to damp my i20 doors or not. The sound quality is quite good at speeds below 50 /60 kmph. Above this speed the road and aerodynamic noise filters into the cabin reducing the signal to noise ratio.
Any i20 owners who have damped their doors/floor? Feedback please.