Yesterday I went to install a set of infinity 6.5"s and tweets up front in my 96 w/ Bose. I had already wired up the amp (RF 4-channel) and have been successfully running a 12" sub off of the rear channels of the amp. The SQ is actually not bad, and I feel like I am getting a fairly good signal out of the Bose. Well, i thought that i was getting a good signal.

I hooked the Infinity speakers up to the amp and fired it up to see how one side sounded before going through the whole install, and it sounded like crap. The sound level was really low, there was terrible tweeter hiss, adn the Bose outperformed it, even after I tweaked and tuned the gains and X-over levels.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I want to be able to run these speakers, bit I am not ready to swap out the head unit just yet. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I have done installs for years and have never experienced anything like this. I know that it is a Bose-related problem, but I do not know what my potential remedies are. Am I just stuck to swap out the HU?

Thanks!

 

Your problem is very likely to be where you tapped in for signal. Did you do a line converter behind the radio, or did you tap it off of the subwoofer wires? are you still running bose rears? best is to change all speakers, and keep factory radio, or swap radio and change speakers. Bad idea to mix and match. The Bose system is designed to work together with matching components. All aftermarket is designed for ease of use, and to sound alot better than stock. When you integrate into the Bose system you have to take special precautions or you can have an "apparent downgrade" even with the nicest stuff.

 

I tapped my signal off of the Bose rear speakers. My 96 does not have the Bose sub, so I have a "full range" signal piggy-backed off of the Bose rear speakers. I say full range in "", but I know that the active EQ on the Bose limits highs and lows.

My plan is to swap out the HU and rears soon, but that has not happened yet. I just hate to lose the "integrated" look of the Bose...I actually HAVE the HU and the rears i my spare room, just no mounting kit. Plus i hear the horror stories about the antenna adapter and radio reception...

 

try the PAC oem interface they make several for adding a HU, or changing to an aftermarket amplifier.Also, they're specifically for BOSE.

 

I recently installed an level adapter behind my Bose HU and when I play cd's it sounds great! but y radio reception has gotten noticebly worse when I crank up the volume. Is this an antenna problem or a loose wire? I haven't pulled the Bose HU out of the car to check it yet cause it's a PITA. Also, how do aftermarket HU's sound when integrated with the Bose system?

 

I have an aftermarket HU (alpine) with an adapter from Magnolia Hi-Fi. It sounded considerably better than the bose and seemed to have more volume, possibly due to the 4V preout from my HU. However, three years later, all four of my bose speakers/amps are shot. I am in the process of taking out every single thing that says bose.

 

You're already half way there! Don't stop now! After researching the heck out of Bose v. aftermarket integration, I decided the best thing to do was replace EVERYTHING. And I ended up doing just that.

You'll have better looking integration by buying a GXE vent piece that has a single-DIN opening and a small pocket. It should blend in perfectly with the rest of the dash. The type of HU you install determines the rest of the look.

The radio problem is easy to solve as well. Just make sure you hook up the blue radio wire from the stock Bose wiring harness to the blue power antenna wire on the aftermarket HU (yes, regardless of whether or not you have a power antenna). This has been a heavily discussed topic of discussion lately in other threads.

And I'm not sure if you have steering wheel mounted stero controls. But if you do they even make an adapter for that as well. It works on "most" aftermarket HUs.

Tony

 

Thanks. Very informative post. My steering wheel lacks remote stereo control, so that is not an issue. I am looking to find myself a GXE pocket but have had some trouble.

 

Tony,

Is, everyone is using the GXE dash piece instead of the Metra kit for a single DIN install on 5th gens? Is anything else required for MOUNTING (not wiring) a single DIN HU?

 

No, a lot of people don't know about the GXE dash piece. In fact, when I went to the dealership to buy one, they said it didn't even exist. It's actually part of the vent piece (a/c ducts) above the stereo mount location. phenryiv1, if you're having problems finding one, just tell them to look under "vents".

I'm not sure what else is required. My stroy goes like this: I went to the dealship, they couldn't find the piece. I purchased an aftermarket one (it looks fine, not as good as the GXE piece would have) and a week later the dealship called to tell me they found the part. I told them to shove it unless they wanted to credit me for the amount I had already spent on the aftermarket one. Funny...they didn't like that idea!

There are several people that have the GXE part and they love it (hence where I heard of it myself). I'm not sure if anything extra is needed. I doubt it.

Tony

 

Great!
Are all GXE "dash pieces" the same, or do I need to specify:
1. Year model (mine is is '03)
2. Radio/CD options
3. interior color

I just want to make sure I get the right piece.

 

JMF- they are different for different generations, as far as I know. We were talking about a 4th gen unit.