Quick Bose question
07-17-2003, 04:14 AM
#1
Newbie - Just Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1
Quick Bose question
I bought my first maxima not too long ago (97 SE) and it came with the stock radio. i've been thinking about upgrading to Bose (lots of used heads on eBay) but wasn't sure if it was worth it. any suggestions?
thanks.
thanks.
07-17-2003, 05:08 AM
#2
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 19
If you buy into Bose, you are buying into a maintenance nightmare. To start with, the speakers are one ohm very difficult to match to other equipment. Same with the amplifiers. You can hook up a 4 ohm speaker, but the fidelity suffers from the impedance mismatch. Everyone I know who has the Maxima Bose has had at least one speaker fail in about five years. The other weak point is that when my front amplifiers failed, they would squeal even when they got no signal, so I couldn't even listen to the rear speakers. Even rebuilt Bose amplifier/speaker combos for expensive -- runnning $100 - $200 PER ITEM (total of 8 items).
If you only want CD and FM/AM you can get good aftermarket units for less than $200. (OKAY, you can get 20 watt/channel RMS units that a lot of people say are good in that price range). I have never heard what the impedance of the standard Nissan speakers are, but I suspect they are 2 or 4 ohms and compatible. YOu need to check this. Or just spend $50 to $100 per pair for reasonably good speakers. (Okay, a lot of people say they are good).
The Good News: Scosche makes a stereo connector for almost every Nissan ever made that plugs into the factory wiring harness and has wires the same colors as the wires on after market head units. I found the adapter at the Largest Retail Chain for $7.00 and used yellow wire nuts (taped to prevent unscrewing) to connect the wires. Since you are starting with a non Bose system, this should complete the wiring of your new head unit after you check the impedance of the Nissan speakers. (To convert from a Bose system to a head unit without auxiliary amplifiers, this adapter allows you to simply cut the speaker wires into and out of the amplifiers, and splice them together then replace all Bose speakers with 4 ohm and you have a non Bose system)
2. The Unknown News: If you have the Nissan two prong antenna connector, you can buy an adapter for less than ten dollars to convert it to the standard antenna plug.
3. The bad news. I could not get the old head unit out of the DIN bracket and had to drill the heads off the four mounting screws. This is no problem unless you want to remount the old radio sometime. Also, it's a pain to replace speakers, standing on your head in the trunk or taking off the front door panels and working on you knees.
If you only want CD and FM/AM you can get good aftermarket units for less than $200. (OKAY, you can get 20 watt/channel RMS units that a lot of people say are good in that price range). I have never heard what the impedance of the standard Nissan speakers are, but I suspect they are 2 or 4 ohms and compatible. YOu need to check this. Or just spend $50 to $100 per pair for reasonably good speakers. (Okay, a lot of people say they are good).
The Good News: Scosche makes a stereo connector for almost every Nissan ever made that plugs into the factory wiring harness and has wires the same colors as the wires on after market head units. I found the adapter at the Largest Retail Chain for $7.00 and used yellow wire nuts (taped to prevent unscrewing) to connect the wires. Since you are starting with a non Bose system, this should complete the wiring of your new head unit after you check the impedance of the Nissan speakers. (To convert from a Bose system to a head unit without auxiliary amplifiers, this adapter allows you to simply cut the speaker wires into and out of the amplifiers, and splice them together then replace all Bose speakers with 4 ohm and you have a non Bose system)
2. The Unknown News: If you have the Nissan two prong antenna connector, you can buy an adapter for less than ten dollars to convert it to the standard antenna plug.
3. The bad news. I could not get the old head unit out of the DIN bracket and had to drill the heads off the four mounting screws. This is no problem unless you want to remount the old radio sometime. Also, it's a pain to replace speakers, standing on your head in the trunk or taking off the front door panels and working on you knees.
07-20-2003, 10:14 PM
#4
Newbie - Just Registered
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 2
I just finish installing my Bose sound system from a 99 I30 to a 96 Maxima it was pretty painless... well kids off. My 96 didn’t have the right wiring harness so I had to adapted the one from the I30 and find a source of power for the amps, it sounds pretty good now total was $75 each speaker and head unit $200
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