I looked for threads on upgrading the stock bose system in my 2003 but everything is about 4th gens. I just want to swap out the headunit to something with modern features like bluetooth. Searching through crutchfield so I want to know what will work I think its something about preout volts or something? I know nothing about sound systems I dont want to change anything other than the actual headunit what volts or stuff do I look for to know the radio will fit and work?

 

All that Bose information you found for the 4th gen is the same for the 5th gen.

The Bose radio outputs do not conform to industry standards, they are much lower. Since the Bose speakers are designed for the lower output of the Bose headunit, they don't conform to industry standards, either. The voice coil of a Bose speaker is 1 ohm while industry standard speakers are 4 ohms, so any replacement headunit will overpower them and cause distortion.

You need to get an adapter the sits between the replacement headunit and the speakers. A popular adapter is the PAC Roem NIS-2.

http://www.pac-audio.com/productDeta...?ProductId=811

This unit is plug and play, you don't need to worry about pre amp voltages and what not. If you shop around, you can get it for $35 or less. There are other brands as well. The PAC Roem unit comes with all the wire harness adapters you will need, except for the antenna. I don't know if the other brands include the harness adapters.

 

You are going to have f8king sh8t radio reception likely.

 

Why would that be? Please be clear.

You just seem to throw out negative comments no matter what the subject is. I've replaced the stereos in all my Maximas without issues with the radio reception.

 

Maybe my installer is crap then but I doubt it

 

Maybe....as I've stated, no issues with the reception in my Maximas. Installed several different stereos in each as well.

So that's your clear answer?

 

Compared to my gen 4, the gen 5.5 with aftermarket head unit has worse reception for FM and AM.

 

5.5 reception is always crap. I blame everything on Blose. Of course, it's just a 5 dollar clarion head unit with a ****ty blose amp and 2 dollar sub.

 

In my experience...this was not the case. I've owned both 4th & 5.5 generations, & actually used some of the same stereos in both.

 

Just do yourself a massive solid and bypass the bose speakers. i upgraded my HU and got 4 pioneer speakers and wired them to my HU directly bypassing the bose amp. the sound is significantly better for about $200 and i can play music from USB, iPhone, iPod, etc.

 

If Crutchfield tells you it will fit, it will fit. Don't worry about it. The voltage of Preamps has nothing to do with whether a headunit will work in your car or not. 4V is better if you ever have plans to add an external amp, plus if you get a Kenwood you can get 4V preouts for very cheap. But if not, a HU with 2V preouts shouldn't deter you from buying it. You have two options...

1.) The PAC adapter linked by DennisMik will work if you want to use line level output (speaker connection) to drive the Bose amp. This is probably the most "correct" way of replacing the Bose HU.

2.) If you you don't want to pay for an adapter or worry about connecting all the speaker wires then get a HU with front/rear preamp outputs. When you tell Crutchfield your car has a Bose system they'll give you a harness that uses the Preamp outputs of your new stereo to drive the Bose amp.

5.5 gen Maximas use a powered radio antenna so its true that if you don't power it from your new HU your reception will be crap since your once powered antenna no longer has any power. If you power it, it will be fine. Not a difficult thing to do.

You'll also want to ground the trip computer to wherever you ground your new HU otherwise your trip computer will not work (i.e. you won't be able to cycle through DTE, outside temp, etc...).

 

So either 2v or 4v preouts will work got it. I am not trying to upgrade anything else I am happy with the sound quality from bose I just dont want to make it worse, I saw a nice sony radio with 2v preout

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158N500...one%7cExternal

It has 2v preout, will this decrease my volume? It comes with the following

Free American International ND-K778 Dash Kit
Free Metra 70-7551 Receiver Wiring Harness
Free Metra 40-NI10 Antenna Adapter

 

NO IT IS NOT! there some notable difference. like the forth gens have little amps soldered to each speaker, this not true for 5th gens. (at least if thats true, there is a lot of conflicting info) and its' debatable weather it's 1ohm or 2ohm. i've asked around and form what i can gather the 5th gen is 2 ohm.

the only thing i don't like about my bose is not mp3/smart phone support. i might convert my to tape deck to aux in at tome point. i'd like a nicer smart radio or car-puter that i can dump my 200gb music collection on.


5.5gen means 3.5L engine no? so the 2001 with the 3.0L should be un powered antenna? does the 5.5 have better reception? not that matters too much CDs sound way cleaner than radio, at least for me. i barley touch the radio.

 

That would work. For the same price you can get 4V preouts on this Kenwood...

Kenwood Excelon KDC-X399

They're very similar so your decision may come down to personal preference.

 

Ok so is the 4v preout better? Cuz u said both worked or do I need that adapter for 2v preout and dont need an adapter for 4v preout?

Ok I like the kenwood better. I found a better reviewed model

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KDCX...tage%7c4+volts

It has 4v preout do I still need the pac adapter?

 

Compared to my gen 4, the gen 5.5 with aftermarket head unit has worse reception for FM and AM.

Lots of threads about this on maxima.org

 

Yes, overall 4V preouts are better than 2V. If you use the installation harness provided by Crutchfield you don't need the PAC adapter. Just make sure when you purchase the stereo that you've entered in your Maxima with the Bose system. They give you a different harness if you select non-Bose.

 

is 4v the best audio quality or is the PAC? what's a PAC? i remeber reading aobut bose adapter you oculd buy back in the day.

 

The PAC is a line level convertor that changes the output level of an aftermarket HU to match the expected input level of an amp. I can't speak to which one is better (PAC vs Preouts) to drive the Bose amp since I've only used the Preouts with the Crutchfield harness. The sound quality with the preouts wasn't bad at all.

 

As stated....not my experience....

 

about equal to or maybe a little bit better than stock or too long ago to remember?

 

I'd say better than stock for sure.

 

oh crap, how do you retain the steering wheel controls? one of the units i was looking at mentioned being able to retain those controls.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158XAV6....html?tp=20217

EDIT: apparently they also sell 5v and 6v pre outs.

 

You need to purchase an adapter that works with your HU to retain the steering wheel controls. The ones I've looked at run about $80.