When we swapped out the CDs for DVDs the Bose 5.1 really perked up. That was when the system seemed to change personalities on us. We went from just listening to discs to experiencing the feeling of being there. We played the Eagles' Farewell Tour I and were very pleased with the balance of frequencies and the authenticity of the surround sound. Drum rolls move around you in a way that would thrill newbies to surround music recordings. On "Life in the Fast Lane" the mix of instruments made for truly exciting, dynamic sound. The horns and guitars were excellent, and the song was only undermined slightly by the drums, which lacked the right impact. This may have been more due to the mix rather than the Bose speaker system, however. All in all, the 5.1 was very enjoyable and truly made the system. In fact, we would recommend that potential Escalade owners go out and pick up a few more surround sound discs to maximize the potential of the Bose 5.1. Add to that the DVD entertainment system and you have a little home theater on wheels with an audio setup that more than carries its part of the multimedia load. Factor in the other amenities and the Escalade, which does leave some room for improvement, lives up to its reputation as a real luxury SUV, big in terms of size, style and substance, and easily justifying its relatively modest price tag.
| Audio Score | 7.5 |
| Navigation | 8.5 |
| Ergonomics | 9 |
Key FeaturesBose discrete 5.1 surround soundDVD-based navigation with voice recognition6-disc in-dash disc changerRear seat DVD entertainment system (optional)XM satellite radioRearview camera (optional)