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Bose Stereo: the myth and THE TRUTH!

Old Jun 28, 2003 | 11:57 AM
  #1  
c0mpletec0ntrol's Avatar
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Bose Stereo: the myth and THE TRUTH!

I'm kind of new to the whole car stereo subject, so hopefully a few of you can help me out. Is it true that you cannot add different parts (aftermarket speakers and amplifiers of different brands) to the bose stereo system? I need new speakers and a new stereo so am I going to have any trouble putting it in? thanks
Old Jun 28, 2003 | 12:44 PM
  #2  
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can't change speakers or amps, or head unit...u can only add a sub. if u want something different u have to change everything. go to FAQ it's all there
Old Jun 28, 2003 | 12:45 PM
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Re: Bose Stereo: the myth and THE TRUTH!

Originally posted by c0mpletec0ntrol
I'm kind of new to the whole car stereo subject, so hopefully a few of you can help me out. Is it true that you cannot add different parts (aftermarket speakers and amplifiers of different brands) to the bose stereo system? I need new speakers and a new stereo so am I going to have any trouble putting it in? thanks
This should be posted in the audio forum.

It is true. The Bose system head unit runs a very low impedance balanced signal to an amp on each speaker. You cannot use "regular" 4 or 8 ohm automotive equipment with this system.

But you said you need new speakers and a new stereo (head unit, I presume), so why do you care? If you're yanking the whole thing out, it shouldn't matter.
Old Jun 28, 2003 | 01:06 PM
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any aftermarket receiver needs an adapter to make it compatible to the bose speakers.(highs - mids)

any subs will work fine with any amp you get, nothing to it !
Old Jun 28, 2003 | 02:15 PM
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thanks guys
Old Jun 28, 2003 | 02:58 PM
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WRONG. Look at the PD-2 and PD-4

DW
Old Jun 28, 2003 | 11:31 PM
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dont forget that if you change the bose system, those speakers arent gonna work. you gotta rewire all the speaker wire. its not that hard it just takes patience. if you need any advice pm me and ill let you know
Old Jun 29, 2003 | 06:02 AM
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Originally posted by jetblack5spd
dont forget that if you change the bose system, those speakers arent gonna work. you gotta rewire all the speaker wire. its not that hard it just takes patience. if you need any advice pm me and ill let you know
You do NOT need to rewire the speaker wire. You can use the factory wires. You would just need to cut the wires off of the factory harness. Each speaker has a set of wires that run from the HU harness to the speaker amp harness. this site will tell you what colors those wires are.

http://www.ee.utulsa.edu/~mblehm/faq...fo/radio_info/
Old Jun 29, 2003 | 08:29 AM
  #9  
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I pulled my Boss unit, and put in a Kenwood.
I used the same wiring, etc... no mods at the speakers AT ALL.
It sounded great.
Later I put in better speakers all-round.

The speakers are amped, but they were OK with higher level inputs also.

Good luck,
dave h.
Old Jun 29, 2003 | 10:43 AM
  #10  
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yea you CAN use the factory wires but there gonna sound like ****. dont do it the wires from factory are rated to work with a 1 to 2 ohm load. so if you get a good set of speakers there not gonna sound there best, trust me i tried using the factory wiring, i thought it was good until i rewired the car. good luck and as for the guy who used the factory amps and speakers, i dont know how you did that, maybe you had the non-bose factory radio.
Old Jun 29, 2003 | 04:05 PM
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Originally posted by jetblack5spd
dont do it the wires from factory are rated to work with a 1 to 2 ohm load.
WTF are you talking about? The wire itself is the same regardless. Stranded copper will work just fine regardless of the impedance on the other end.
Old Jun 29, 2003 | 07:52 PM
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yea the wires are copper, but do you think that the same amount of signal can travel more freely in a 24 gauge wire as oppose to a 18 or 16 gauge?? think about it
Old Jun 29, 2003 | 09:52 PM
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Originally posted by jetblack5spd
yea the wires are copper, but do you think that the same amount of signal can travel more freely in a 24 gauge wire as oppose to a 18 or 16 gauge?? think about it
That is true, larger wire is generally better. But you implied that the factory wiring worked well with low impedance but would work poorly with higher impedance. That is not true.
Old Jun 30, 2003 | 05:31 AM
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You're right about the 1-2 ohm load, but you have to realize that resistance load is between the amp and the speakers. On a Bose car system, the amp is right next to the speakers, so the wires you're concerned about are from the HU to the amp.

DW

? ??riginally posted by jetblack5spd [/i]
yea you CAN use the factory wires but there gonna sound like ****. dont do it the wires from factory are rated to work with a 1 to 2 ohm load. so if you get a good set of speakers there not gonna sound there best, trust me i tried using the factory wiring, i thought it was good until i rewired the car. good luck and as for the guy who used the factory amps and speakers, i dont know how you did that, maybe you had the non-bose factory radio. [/QUOTE]
Old Jun 30, 2003 | 02:25 PM
  #15  
silver99
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Originally posted by erty67


You do NOT need to rewire the speaker wire. You can use the factory wires. You would just need to cut the wires off of the factory harness. Each speaker has a set of wires that run from the HU harness to the speaker amp harness. this site will tell you what colors those wires are.

http://www.ee.utulsa.edu/~mblehm/faq...fo/radio_info/
thats exatly what i did.it worked great. I dont understand how anyone says its hard or needs to be fully replaced. you can add a new headunit to the existing bose system easily.
Old Jun 30, 2003 | 09:11 PM
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you can use some after market head units with the bose speakers. I have a clarion with the bose speakers that came in my car. I had to go get a interface converter with makes it where the bose speakers work. I am gettin rid of them, they suck in the first place.
Old Jun 30, 2003 | 10:54 PM
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thank you manual max. i thought i was the only one who thought that bose sucks. try getting a replacment bose speaker from the dealer when your cheesy paper made speakers blow.
Old Jul 8, 2003 | 10:39 PM
  #18  
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i have my stock bose speakers and an aftermarket HU and i crank the $hit out of my stereo and it sounds fine. bose speakers arent that crappy
Old Jul 8, 2003 | 11:31 PM
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yes they are good speakers, but any aftermarket speaker set up with an amp will sound better and last a whole lot longer than the bose speakers. i have a set of rear bose speakers for sale if anyone wants them.
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