It definitely isn't musical, that is for sure. I thought it just couldn't reach low, but it can when forced. Like you, I wish it were a bit more articulate in the lower realms. A lot of my music I listen to in the house sounds completely different when I listen to it in the car, and it goes beyond the quality of the speakers. It seems to me more how the speakers are set up in relation to each other. I think the sub needs to be active a bit sooner to round out the music fully. Of course, if the sub isn't up to the task, having it kick in a bit sooner will only make things worse, lol. I would like to give it a try though, just to see what it is capable of in the hopes that I might be pleasantly surprised.
My father-in-law's Avalanche with the Bose system just kinda hums all the time muddying the sound trying to fill bass in everywhere, but without any sort of purpose. He hates it, lol.