[swt_carlos]

New CX-50 owner here.
When initially test driving, we were in a 2.5 Premium Plus. When we made the decision to buy, I opted for the base Turbo. I didn't realize that the Bose was not going to be in the Turbo at first. The dealer did mention that to me, but when we were test driving that model I was paying most of my attention to the engine and never turned on the radio. I should have.
I am not interested in having the loudest stereo but I do want clear and full-range sound. The stock stereo is feeble at best. The separate tweeters in the front are effective, but there is absolutely no bass from the system. The built-in EQ settings are useless. To make is listenable, I have to put the sound adjustment in basic mode and turn the bass setting up to 8 or 9 (which is max) and the treble to 1 or 2. The bass setting is really just the midrange. I knew that the sound would be a step down without the Bose option, but this is pretty pathetic.
Otherwise... I love the car so far.
So, here I am ... a 45 year old man about to spend money on a subwoofer like I did when I was 21. Obviously, I'm not looking to fill up the cargo area with twin 12", just looking to fill the hole in the bass. I know there are spare wheel hub-mount options as well as tiny-box powered subs. Has anyone had luck with any particular options or comparisons between the options?

 

[spoulos]

I thought everything above the Preferred Plus trim level had Bose. Not happy about the non-Bose speakers either. I just posted something about this here. Have you tried listening with the fader set to the rear speakers only?

 

[swt_carlos]

Our sticker has a $600 credit for Bose delete. I was told it was a supply chain issue. They didn't have enough Bose components for all the models, so the Premiums get it.
The sound when faded to the rear is atrocious.

 

[wrxified]

OP, have you decided on a route to take yours? I’d be interested in what you end up doing. We’ve got the Turbo Meridian with the base audio system and I’d agree with your. It’s pretty awful. Probably one of the worst base audio systems I’ve heard.

Crutchfield doesn’t have any data listed for this model yet. Entering all the data kicks off a list of speakers and every option says it’s not confirmed. I believe most Mazda vehicles come with 5x6’s in the doors but I read on a couple other posts that the rear doors are tiny.

 

[swt_carlos]

The last time I upgraded my car audio, I was in my 2001 Nissan Sentra. I added an Alpine high-powered head unit, amp and sub. The head unit alone transformed the sound of the stock speakers and of course, the sub rounded out the sound.
I'm afraid there are no cheap options for the CX-50. I think I'm eventually going to add a JBL BassHub Pro and a small amplifier for the stock speakers to gain some control over the crossover between those speakers and the sub, as well as add some punch. It's looking like that will be around $1500 installed. I'm hoping I don't need a signal processor on top of that.