Just a quick question about how high I could turn the volume on my 2k2's Bose System. I've never actually gone above 24/25 or so, do you think its safe to go louder without risking blowing out some speakers?

 

31 is max. Yeah you could go louder if you can tolerate the BOSE subwoofer rattle....

 

I haven't noticed any subwoofer rattle *knock on wood*, but maybe its cause I haven't turned it up loud enough. But I suppose 25 is loud enough to "serenade the streets of NJ"

 

Sometimes the sub doesent rattle in mine either... I guess it all depends on the music type. Sometimes I think to myself, wow this stereo sounds really good,clear.. Other times I say what a piece of @#$% this is for the $1000 extra.. I mean come on its BOSE, I think they could have done a little better...

 

I have had mine to 31 fairly frequently. No rattle (just lucky, I guess). I do hate that subwoofer, though. I wish there was a setting to turn it down or off. I don't want to yank the wires.

As far as sound quality, I have noticed the biggest difference is determined by the source. Some radio stations sound great and others (without me changing anything but the station) are very dull and bassy. All of my CDs (mostly rock) sound great, but I don't listen to thumpers. Classical is fine, too.

The general rule used to be not to turn anything up past about 3/4, but I think Bose has this one balanced enough to handle full volume (although I am not an authority). I have also noticed a big top volume difference between having the speed sensitive setting on medium and high. I like the medium setting because it doesn't sound notchy when changing like the high setting does, but you do get more volume from the high setting. I don't know about keeping it at 31 with the speed sensitive setting on high - that may be more than the speakers can bear.

Bottom line is that 31 hasn't been a problem for me.

 

You can turn down the Bass using the "Audio" button... that should keep the rattle down to a minimum.

 

I just get done "modding" my crappy 2k2 Bose system the other day. Here's what I did if anyone is interested. It made a world of difference.

1. Replaced the softcone stock tweeters in the pillars with Panasonic hardcone tweeters.

2. Replaced the subwoofer with an 8" Crossfire Sub and added an amp to power it.

This setup really brings out the lows and highs that the stock Bose lacks.

The local stereo shop really did a good job on the install. This was the first 5th gen Maxima they had messed with (I guess most normal people just keep the Bose). I was very impressed with their work and they were able to do it all and keep the stock look inside the car.

Here's some pics we took of the subwoofer setup:

http://home.earthlink.net/~dereksingletary/sub1.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~dereksingletary/sub2.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~dereksingletary/amp1.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~dereksingletary/box.jpg

All for less than $500. Let me know what you think.

 

Nice job...I asked experts from Tweeter, a audio specialist in nj, and they said that it would be a custom job to a hole to fit the sub and hook up an amp and on and on and sounding REALLY expensive. But for 500, thats not bad at all. I like the look of the sub too, you put the original cover back on? Anyway good job.

Chung-Hsien

 

That is sweet as hell!! I have been looking for something to do that won't take up my entire trunk. How much did that cost you total? Did you use stock wiring that comes from the bose head unit? or did they replace anything.

 

It was $448 total for everything.

They used the stock wiring but they had to use some kind of converter thingamajig between the stock wiring and the new sub. That was about $50 by itself.

I put the stock cover back on because I wanted to keep the stock look. I also didn't want to give anyone a reason to break into my car! Thats also why I put the amp in the trunk instead of under the passenger seat like they originally wanted to do.

 

Where abouts do you live? Not around Maryland by chance?

 

there is a stock amp that comes with the Bose....couldn't you use that one?

 

Does it thump???

 

When you talk about "24/25" do you mean 24 volume **** "clicks"?

 

To clarify, I meant the volume level reads at 24 or sometimes 25... I've never gone higher than that. At that level, I never get any rattle. I mean, any higher than that, and I'm looking for a noise violation to my ears that is. I wanna be able to hear after I get out of my car.

 

I wonder what those numbers are based on?? Decibles??

 

What year do you have because on my 2k GLE the volume numbers don't display...

 

Yeah, our 2k's don't display a volume number. I turned my BOSE up all the way and was surprised that it wouldn't go any higher. I heard that the BOSE in the RSX-S also has this problem. I'll have to wait on audio upgrades. I'm $1500 in debt right now thanks to summer school, GReddy, and Polarg bulbs.
The mod bug has got me good.

 

South Georgia. Right on the Georgia/Florida line.

 

The sub has a built-in amp that is in the speaker enclosure itself. The black amp that you see mounted on the underside of the rear deck powers the door speakers and tweeters...at least thats the best we could figure when we were setting all of it up.

 

That's absolutely true. On the 2k2's the amp under the rear deck is for the doors and tweeters. The Bose sub amp is in the black casing attached on the underside of the sub. Pretty good indication is the wiring harness going to the sub/amp housing with the big red wire pushing 12.4 volts.

The Bose sub is a 1 ohm driver so the sub amp will not push an aftermarket sub with the same efficiency as the Bose driver (unless you get a dual voice coil sub with 2 ohm coils).

 

So is it possible then to reuse the power wire from that Bose Amp? Or is it too small to pull current for a small single channel aftermarket amp. I guess I could just go an look, but I'm lazy!!