Platinum vs premium sound

[rksalvador]

Current R7 has platinum sound - love it. Ordering a new R8 and wondering what everyone thinks about the premium sound package on an R8 surf.

[Big Block Power]

Do it

[MnLakeBum]

Cobalt doesn’t spell out the difference between Premium and Platinum sound so you will have to visit a dealer to find out. Premium sound is $3,250 vs $6,300 for Platinum or over $10k with tower speakers. I’m happy but not impressed with the platinum sound on my Cobalt but if I were to do it over again, I’d stick with the base system and havre an aftermarket stereo put it as I’m sure I could build a better sounding system for $6k. At the time we were buying our Cobalt in 2018 we were going through a cross country move and building a house and didn’t want the hassle of hauling my boat to stereo shop for a week.

[VTENGR]

Cobalt doesn’t spell out the difference between Premium and Platinum sound so you will have to visit a dealer to find out. Premium sound is $3,250 vs $6,300 for Platinum or over $10k with tower speakers. I’m happy but not impressed with the platinum sound on my Cobalt but if I were to do it over again, I’d stick with the base system and havre an aftermarket stereo put it as I’m sure I could build a better sounding system for $6k. At the time we were buying our Cobalt in 2018 we were going through a cross country move and building a house and didn’t want the hassle of hauling my boat to stereo shop for a week.

I agree with this. There was a post on this site where the owner of an R8 got the platinum sound and it came with the Apollo 670 unit. Not even the top tier unit of that line up. That would really rub me the wrong way if I ordered the "TOP" package but I wasn't getting the top equipment. It would make more sense to go with the base system and build out your own stereo to your specs with the equipment of your choosing. You could get a pretty kick ass system for $10k. Now - if you don't want to deal with the hassle of all that - you have to go platinum. You can never go backwards when upgrading - always go forward baby!!

[Sierra588]

Takes a little digging, but there is a PDF that details sound systems in R8.
https://cobaltboats.com/art/brochures/2 ... R8Surf.pdf

We bought the Platinum system in our 2021 R8 Surf and I couldn't be happier with that option! The clarity and depth of sound is spectacular at all volume levels and it will blow your mind if you like it loud. The Apollo 670 vs 770 isn't that much different outside of the display being larger (I was bothered by this before I actually used the boat). What I came to realize is that I have one of the Garmin's displaying music and I control everything there. Much better UI than any head unit will be able to provide.

I have built/purchased a couple stereos on previous boats with top end JL Audio and they don't compare to the quality of the Roswell IMO

The Cobalt rep told me they are moving away from Roswell to what BMW uses for their top end sound system (Harmon Kardon possibly, but not positive).

Hope this is helpful

[VTENGR]

Takes a little digging, but there is a PDF that details sound systems in R8.
https://cobaltboats.com/art/brochures/2 ... R8Surf.pdf

We bought the Platinum system in our 2021 R8 Surf and I couldn't be happier with that option! The clarity and depth of sound is spectacular at all volume levels and it will blow your mind if you like it loud. The Apollo 670 vs 770 isn't that much different outside of the display being larger (I was bothered by this before I actually used the boat). What I came to realize is that I have one of the Garmin's displaying music and I control everything there. Much better UI than any head unit will be able to provide.

I have built/purchased a couple stereos on previous boats with top end JL Audio and they don't compare to the quality of the Roswell IMO

The Cobalt rep told me they are moving away from Roswell to what BMW uses for their top end sound system (Harmon Kardon possibly, but not positive).

Hope this is helpful

The difference between the 670 and 770 is more than screen size. 4 zone control vs 3. Built in wifi vs non. Some more technical specs that I can't remember.

BMW currently uses Bowers and Wilkins for their top of the line stereo package.

[CobaltDeadHead]

Takes a little digging, but there is a PDF that details sound systems in R8.
https://cobaltboats.com/art/brochures/2 ... R8Surf.pdf

We bought the Platinum system in our 2021 R8 Surf and I couldn't be happier with that option! The clarity and depth of sound is spectacular at all volume levels and it will blow your mind if you like it loud. The Apollo 670 vs 770 isn't that much different outside of the display being larger (I was bothered by this before I actually used the boat). What I came to realize is that I have one of the Garmin's displaying music and I control everything there. Much better UI than any head unit will be able to provide.

I have built/purchased a couple stereos on previous boats with top end JL Audio and they don't compare to the quality of the Roswell IMO

The Cobalt rep told me they are moving away from Roswell to what BMW uses for their top end sound system (Harmon Kardon possibly, but not positive).

Hope this is helpful

Did you get one pair of tower speakers or two?

[dsthomas]

We also got the Platinum sound with the tower speakers and I’ll confirm It’s pretty great. I’m not super into audio stuff. As for those saying you can build a system cheaper your self I’d agree, but I’d also say that’s true for pretty much everything concerning a boat. If I was really into audio stuff I’d probably order the base system and put something together that I really wanted for cheaper than what the dealer/malibu would charge. But if you just enjoy music and don’t have the time or know how and you can afford it then the platinum system will not disappoint!!!!

[Krob1114]

There was a show on TV, I think it was called Brain Games(?), I think on maybe A&E(?), anyway it was about all kind of things concerning brain and perceptions. They once had a piece on about audio. They had an audio tone played to an audience. I was watching with my wife and daughter. I was born in 1952, wife in 1970, and daughter in 1998.

They played a tone, maybe 1400 hertz, and asked everyone who could hear it to raise their hands. All did, as did my family.

They then raised the tone a few thousand hertz and asked everyone who could hear it to raise their hand. Several didn't and neither did I. My wife and daughter couldn't believe I couldn't hear it. They explained that if you were over a certain age bracket, as I was, you probably didn't hear it.

They raised the tone again. My wife couldn't hear it. Similar situation with the audience. They explained the age bracket again, which included my wife.

Anyway the point of all this, Premium Sound is great for us old folks.

[Tuscany]

Our boat has the premium sound. Plat wasn’t available in 17’.
Love it for the value. Plenty of power and great sound. Actually, it’s excellent!
When boating on a lake, too much engine/wind/whatever noise anyway.

[Big Block Power]

There was a show on TV, I think it was called Brain Games(?), I think on maybe A&E(?), anyway it was about all kind of things concerning brain and perceptions. They once had a piece on about audio. They had an audio tone played to an audience. I was watching with my wife and daughter. I was born in 1952, wife in 1970, and daughter in 1998.

They played a tone, maybe 1400 hertz, and asked everyone who could hear it to raise their hands. All did, as did my family.

They then raised the tone a few thousand hertz and asked everyone who could hear it to raise their hand. Several didn't and neither did I. My wife and daughter couldn't believe I couldn't hear it. They explained that if you were over a certain age bracket, as I was, you probably didn't hear it.

They raised the tone again. My wife couldn't hear it. Similar situation with the audience. They explained the age bracket again, which included my wife.

Anyway the point of all this, Premium Sound is great for us old folks.

What I didn't hear you. Can you say that again? Platinum sounds is better?

[VTENGR]

There was a show on TV, I think it was called Brain Games(?), I think on maybe A&E(?), anyway it was about all kind of things concerning brain and perceptions. They once had a piece on about audio. They had an audio tone played to an audience. I was watching with my wife and daughter. I was born in 1952, wife in 1970, and daughter in 1998.

They played a tone, maybe 1400 hertz, and asked everyone who could hear it to raise their hands. All did, as did my family.

They then raised the tone a few thousand hertz and asked everyone who could hear it to raise their hand. Several didn't and neither did I. My wife and daughter couldn't believe I couldn't hear it. They explained that if you were over a certain age bracket, as I was, you probably didn't hear it.

They raised the tone again. My wife couldn't hear it. Similar situation with the audience. They explained the age bracket again, which included my wife.

Anyway the point of all this, Premium Sound is great for us old folks.

There's a website that will play these frequencies. It can guess your age based on when you stopped hearing the tone. Pretty cool website. Basically, the bones and cartilage in your ear gets less flexible as you get older, thereby making you less likely to hear tones in the higher frequency bands.

[Snowman8]

My wife says I can’t hear the frequency of her voice.

[Big Block Power]

My wife says I can’t hear the frequency of her voice.

My wife and I both had hearing tests last year and mine was better than hers. She was pissed!

Needless to say I lost all value of those tests

[Krob1114]

There was a show on TV, I think it was called Brain Games(?), I think on maybe A&E(?), anyway it was about all kind of things concerning brain and perceptions. They once had a piece on about audio. They had an audio tone played to an audience. I was watching with my wife and daughter. I was born in 1952, wife in 1970, and daughter in 1998.

They played a tone, maybe 1400 hertz, and asked everyone who could hear it to raise their hands. All did, as did my family.

They then raised the tone a few thousand hertz and asked everyone who could hear it to raise their hand. Several didn't and neither did I. My wife and daughter couldn't believe I couldn't hear it. They explained that if you were over a certain age bracket, as I was, you probably didn't hear it.

They raised the tone again. My wife couldn't hear it. Similar situation with the audience. They explained the age bracket again, which included my wife.

Anyway the point of all this, Premium Sound is great for us old folks.

There's a website that will play these frequencies. It can guess your age based on when you stopped hearing the tone. Pretty cool website. Basically, the bones and cartilage in your ear gets less flexible as you get older, thereby making you less likely to hear tones in the higher frequency bands.

That is interesting.
When we first got our premium sound Cobalt, I was on lake with my daughter and friends, mostly around 19 years old.
They were in front of the boat playing songs on play lists they had made on the way to the lake. Very eclectic. I was in the swim platform listening.
One Dimension, typical for young girls....followed by late 60's Rolling Stones. I could clearly hear Ron Wood in one speaker, and Keith Richards in the other speaker. WOW! So clear. I wound up getting Apple Music on my phone.
Another example of the quality...my wife played a song from some females singer from the 70's who I never really listened to that much. It actually sounded better as I could hear instruments that I had never heard before in the song. Could be the Premium sound, or maybe the re-mix?