Hey guys, I've been searching through threads and can't really find a definitive answer for my issue. I just bought a 2002 SE without the Bose system, and it was shot. I changed the HU to a JVC, and the 4 speakers to aftermarket components (didn't touch pillar tweeters). I am getting no bass whatsoever. The sound is clear, but so weak and high pitched. What do I have to do to get some bass? I owned a 98 SE with Bose before and the sound was fantastic. Is this because the Bose are pre-amped? I want it to sound like that. Should I buy 2002 Bose speakers or do I need an amp?
Sorry for being unclear or in the wrong thread. Help is appreciated, thanks guys!

 

The 'stock' speakers require less to drive them so they have better bass than aftermarket speakers (that are running off of HU power usually). Assuming your headunit is like most, you're sending 14-20w to the speakers when they can handle much more. To get more bass and better sound you would probably need to amplify them or get speakers that require less wattage (they'll distort at higher levels though).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the 'stock' speakers also paper cones? I think they handle 15-20w? I'm just guessing though.

 

Yes the stock ones were paper cones, but they were mostly shot when I bought the car. Distorting or not working at all. So I changed up for Pioneer aftermarkets and there's no bass at all. Is it a good idea to put in Maxima Bose speakers for the same year in my car? Will they work?

 

Nope, different size speakers and they need to be amplified and are 2ohms i think? I would deal with it until you can buy an amp/sub.

 

Sigh.

Too much speculation and misinformation in this thread.

OP, HOW (be specific) did you wire up your head unit and how did you wire your speakers?

 

What did I misinform him/her about? When I was looking into replacing my speakers (my front left one was blown when I bought the car) I read on tons of places that aftermarket speakers usually won't have as much bass as the stock ones unless they have a high sensitivity. Sending 14-20w to speakers that can handle 3-4x that won't use them to their full potential. And from the 'Bose radio/speaker replacement thread' it says that the speakers run on 1ohm while most headunits are 4ohms? I know I said 2ohms, and I admit that I made a mistake (1ohm or 2ohms the speakers still can't be used without messing around), but that was kind of a harsh thing to say when someone is offering help to someone, don't you think?

 

headunit was done at a shop its a JVC kdr 530. I opened it up last night to install an axxess interface (which didnt work) and it seems pretty standard. One harness going into the unit with wires crimped to vehicle's wires. I bought 6.5 pioneers for the front with universal brackets, and had to cut the original maxima connector and crimp the vehicle wires to the speaker wires which then slid onto the easy slides (big and small). What should i do next? I am going to replace HU anyway so the axxess aswc can be compatible with it, but I really need my bass =(. Should I do the bose? Do i need an amp?

 

The shop didn't use a 70-7550 harness? They just tapped directly onto factory wires?

Are you sure it's not a crossover setting in your head unit? Are you sure you got the positive/negatives right?

The Axxess should work with that unit. What is the reason that you believe it doesn't? Did you call Metra tech support to make sure the Axxess is hooked up and programmed correctly?

 

Aftermarket head units put out 50w max. Granted the stock speakers have a lower wattage threshhold, there still shouldn't be a reason that the OP is getting NO bass whatsoever.

The only place impedance is measured is between the amp and speaker, and BOTH components must be designed or wired to run at the same impedance. In the case of Bose, impedance exists between the amp in the trunk, and each of the 4 speakers. The measurement of the impedance between the amp and each speaker will be 2ohm, and appropriately so, due to the way they are wired and built. In the case of aftermarket, the head unit IS the amp, and runs at 4ohm to the speaker, which is the impedance at which both the internal HU amp and the speakers are designed to run.

As an aside, my issue is not with you, it is with speculation in general. If someone is unsure of the answer, then many would prefer for the post not to happen. Posting an answer or help which is unconfirmed only propagates misinformation and leads to the need for additional knowledge cleanup later.

 

I played with every setting I could in the headunit (low pass filters, all the EQs) and maxed out the bass. I'm obviously getting some bass, it's just not big room voluminous bass like got before from my 98 Bose system. Which positive/negatives are you talking about?

The Axxess doesnt work with the unit because the 3.5mm jack in the back of the unit isn't for interfaces, it's just another AUX input. This confused me at first, but the axxess wouldn't sense that it was connected to any stereo in general, and that's how i figured out that this HU isn't built for the ASWC. That's why some stereos on Crutchfield specifically say that "you can keep your steering wheel controls" and some don't.

As for wattage, ohms, amps etc. I'm kind of a noob and don't really understand all that stuff, so no misinformation took place. I just want to know what I should do to get that Bose feel I had in the old car. What should I buy?

 

He said that he is getting some bass, just not as much as he would like. I also didn't give him incorrect information, it just wasn't as descriptive as yours. But, this thread was not made for us to argue back and forth in, it was made to help the OP.

OP, I suggest you buy an amp/sub to get the bass that you want. Or you could amplify your speakers (the ones that you bought, not bose ones)..I'm not sure how much bass you would get, so I still stand with my amp/sub.

 

Is installing an amp and sub fairly easy, or is it a lot of wiring to do? So I should leave the speakers I bought as they are? I'm would really rather just buy a good set of speakers instead of doing all that extra work. Is there no way I can make 2002 bose speakers work? Sorry if I'm being repetitive.

 

I didn't find it too hard, I did it with my friend though. It took like 4-5 hours but that included building the sub box. I don't know about your speakers though, that's a question for djfrestyle lol

 

What it sounds like is that you should first get an amp for your aftermarket interior speakers to get the most out of them.

THEN see how that sounds. If it's still not enough bass then get a sub and amp for the sub.

But still, something sounds like it's not wired right. You say you left in your stock tweeters. Did you disconnect them at least? If you still have those hooked up it would perfect sense why you feel that your highs are outweighing your lows.

Installing an amp and sub is not THAT hard, but it does take a certain level of knowledge about cars in general, your car, and car electronics. If you're local to NJ/NY/PA then I can help you out.

No, you absolutely cannot use Bose speakers in your car.

 

I am planning on changing the headunit so I can hook up my Axxess ASWC to it. Also I'm hoping a different headunit will provide more power. Would you recommend any certain specs to look for in a new HU for more bass power?

The tweeters in the pillars I did not change because they didn't really have anything to do with the speakers in the doors. I simply left the pillars as is. The highs aren't overpowering the lows, there's just no punch coming from the 6.5s.

I imagine it's not that hard to wire an amp through firewall and stuff. I'm just cautious about extra electrical stuff. I had a previous car that was wired all wrong by an amateur and it gave me problems. I have a decent knowledge of cars, just not electrics at all. And yes, I'm in Brooklyn NY.

 

THIS^ I have a 4channel AMP in my MDX with aftermarket speakers and another AMP just for the 12" sub box. I took the 12" sub box out about a month ago because I needed the space to put things in the back of the truck. I haven't put that thing back in yet because Im so surprised at the bass that the 4 speakers in the car get JUST from the 4 channel AMP. You'd be surprised. You are not going to set off any car alarms driving down the street, but its FULL and crisp. Consider it.

If there is one thing I cant stand is when dudes just put a big azz 1000W amp and 2 15" subs in the trunk and all you hear is BOOM BOOM BOOM and cant hear ANYTHING that the people in the song are saying, no symbols, NOTHING because they are going off an aftermarket headunit and STOCK speakers in the car have no power and get drowned out from the bass of the subs....total douchebag setup!!!

 

I'm not looking for that insane annoying trunk rattling bass that people get. I listen to electronic music, and I'm just looking for punchiness, nothing crazy. Basically what a stock Bose system used to provide for me. Can this be done with an amp and just those aftermarket 6.5 speakers I bought? Or will I still need a sub?

Also, do the specs on the headunit matter? I'm looking to switch to a Clarion CZ202.

 

YES, get any decent 6.5" speaker and a good 4 channel AMP and sounds like you will be totally satisfied with that setup. That is the route I would go if I were you and you could save lots of trunk space as well. BTW....a good 4 channel amp and some good 6.5" speakers will sound WAY better than the BOSE system will EVEN with the BOSE sub.

This is the 4-channel AMP that I have in my MDX......

Infinity 4 channel 7541a......AWESOME!!!



This is what it looks like in the MDX...



All the crap that went into my MDX about 5 years ago....



The infinity AMP is OLD and is rated at 111Watts RMS per CHANNEL. And I have pioneer 6.5" speakers.....GOOD speakers...not the cheap paper kind either. Sounds awesome.

BUT

This is what I have waiting to go in my current Maxima.....

Alpine PDX-4.150 4channel Amp....SMALLER and 150Watts RMS PER CHANNEL!!! EVEN more powerful...I had this in my last 4th gen Maxima...I donated it and took it out.....this little thing ROCKS!!!!!!



Either way you decide to go.....just about any good 4 channel amp will sound better than the STOCK BOSE system.

OH yeh...get compnent speakers for up front too...it will sound SOOO much better.

Hope that helps.....

 

Thanks a lot, that really helped. So I should keep everything the same (Pioneers upfront, Kickers in the back) and get a 4 channel amp? Is there maybe a basic guide to installing an amp? Where the wiring goes (firewall and etc.)? Can you link me please?

And this Amp alone will give me more bass? No sub required right? What specs should I look for when shopping for an amp?

 

I have no experience with kicker speakers. I just know the top of the line pioneer speakers have never failed me and I have had them in my previously owned 86 and 88 Honda Accord, 97 Maxima and current 03 MDX. I have a set of pioneers waiting for my current Maxima in the basement. So thats all I know they are awesome.

Im not an expert on installing....I had a professional shop install my stuff.

The amp alone will definitely give you alot more bass (assuming its all wired up and installed correct). You will not need a sub unless you want to have that SUPER DEEP theater like bass.

Also you will need to match the 6.5" speakers with the amp you install....cant have a super powerful 4 channle amp and then your 6.5" speakers are cheap....it will sound like GARBAGE and will eventually ruin the speakers. I learned my lesson REAL QUICK buying those cheap Walmart speakers...lol.

Ask the technical questions to "djfrestyl" he really knows his stuff and he is the one going to be installing my system in my current Maxima once I can save up the money.....

 

Alright cool, thanks a lot for all your help. I just ordered a new HU and will look at amps once I install it. Any advice for brands? How much wattage am I looking at per channel? and def 4 channels?

 

I like the pioneer units. I heard the Kenwood units were nice. I think just aobut all of the head units have about 50W per channel. I haven't really seen too much more than that....I think I seen some Kenwoods with 60W per channel, but they are more pricey. I would not waste my money on a HU with more Wattage because you just going to put an aftermarket AMP on anyway so it really wont matter. You just want to make sure they have those RCA connections for the amp hook up....

 

no no i meant brands and watts for the amps. the HU doesnt matter much, i know that. What ranges for amps would you recommend? Not planning to go max power, just want a nice boost.

 

liltizzel, sent you a PM. Let's chat about all of this over the phone. Much easier than the novel I'm about to write lol.

ranmas - still waiting to do that install