Does the factory Bose head unit work with aftermarket components? I currently have a sony h/u with cassette and controls for a 10 disc Sony CD changer, 250 watt amp powering 1 10" Bazooka Tube, Alpine 6 1/2 2-ways in the door, and Polk 6 1/2 3-ways in the rear deck. I would like to be able to use a factory head unit and get the same quality sound. I would also like to have the in-dash cd capability as well as be able to use the changer and to not have to give up the cassettes. I've heard that the 95+ h/u's fit, but not sure. How difficult is installation?, how much will one cost?, and will it even be worth the swap?

 

I'm not sure I quite understood your other questions, but I know because of the way that bose amplified their speakers, if you wnat to add new speakers you will also have to add a new head unit. Hoep I helped you out.

PJ

 

what car do you have?

if you have a 3rd gen, I have heard that tbe 95+ will fit, but I would suggest just keeping your current setup.

for the money it would take you yo buy the 95+ bose AND all the adaptors needed to install correctly, you're out more money than you would be to just buy a new in-dash Cd player.
to hook up the speakers and amp, you'll need at least one, if not two adaptors. one will let you hook up aftermarket speakers to the bose system, then the other will give you line-level outputs in order to hook up your amp. you may be able to find one adaptor that will do both, but I dunno for sure there. the bose head--> aftermarket speaker adaptor will run you about $60. a line level adaptor (if needed) will run you another $20-40 for a good one.
the CD changer adaptor will run you another $60-80 in order to hook up your sony changer to the bose head. they may or may not even be available though. the ones I've seen are for other brands on other cars, but they still run $60-100.

The sound quality generally isn't that great with systems that run off several adaptors like that either.

so you're basically out the cost of the bose head plus $150-250 for adaptors.
For that much money, you could just buy a new in-dash CD player, maybe even one with tape on it too. I would suggest dropping the casettes in general and going all-CD. yeah, you'll lose some of your music, but tapes just aren't worth it anymore, IMO. in a couple years, you won't even be able to buy them anymore- just like 8-tracks!