Hey guys,
I've had my car for a few years now, and have decided to change up the audio stuff a little. I have a '98 with the bose deal. I want a new headunit that can play mp3 cds, but I understand that the bose speakers wont work right. I also wanna add a sub , but for that to work do i need an amp?

im a newbie at this stuff.

thanks in advance.

 

One word: Search! On that note, you'll need an OEM interface adaptor (check out Crutchfield) that will allow your aftermarket HU to work with your Bose speakers. To add a sub with an aftermarket HU, just use the RCA preouts.

 

try to get the pac interface from what i have heard those are the best. The thing is it still is not a 100 percent, better off just replacing all the speakers as """amazing as they might sound""" anyways.

 

Thanks for theq uick responses.

So as long as I get the PAC adaptor, I can install an aftermarket headunit. Also, for a sub to work on the factory bose stereo, I do not need an amp? woudl the adaptor act as an amp?

Based on your experiences, do the bose speakers inside the car sound good w/ a new headunit and sub?

Thanks.

 

Read the stickies. Specifically my post in the Car Audio FAQ, on page 2.

Adding a sub will have no relation to integrating Bose assuming your new radio has 3 preouts.

 

i really think we need to make a sticky with all the boss to aftermarket info in it...

 

I'm looking to do that too.

 

Yea this questions is asked like twice a week it seems.

 

Completely incorrect. No adaptor is needed at all. EIther use a Metra 70-7551 or 7550 and if your handy splcie in male RCAs and plug into HU of choice.

Perhaps you should have searched first?

 

Oh, I've searched. And I've installed an Alpine HU in my 2000... I had to use this adaptor to make everything work right. If my statement was completely incorrect, then why did I need the adaptor?

 

'Completely incorrect' was referring more to post 2 saying an adapter was necessary. It isn't. They work, but they are an expensive and unnecessary one.
REREAD POST 5 PLEASE. EVERYONE IN THIS THREAD.

 

Better yet, ill copy and paste it, because people can't read these days.

Putting an aftermarket radio on stock bose speakers: This applies to any generation maxima, and #4 applies to 4th gen and up.

Your factory Bose head unit sends an unamplified audio signal to the Bose amps. So you want to replicate this as close as possible for the best sq, in theory. There are a few options:
1) You can wire it up as a normal head unit without any Bose adapters, and have a small risk of burning up the Bose amp(s).
2) You can buy the $50 PAC or Scosche adapter, such as the one here
4th gen and up: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-7pnyu0E...51&I=142C4NN03
3rd gen: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-7pnyu0E...51&I=142C4NN02
3) You can wire the deck's preouts to the wiring harness in the dash, which will send an unamplified signal to the Bose amps. You have front and rear preouts. Each of those has a left (white) and right (red). So youd plug in RCA ends to the front and rear preouts, leaving a few inches of wire for you to play with. For the front left RCA, there will be 2 single wires inside it. Wire those to white and white/black. The front right, wire those to gray and gray/black. Do the same for the rears, Rear left will be the green and green/black, and Rear right will be purple and purple/black.
4) You can buy the Metra 70-7551 for 4th gen and up, or 70-1764 for 3rd gen (which is usually hard to find locally) which will already have all of Step #3 above done for you, so you can just plug stuff in.
http://www.metraonline.com/i/METRAHANDOUT_2005.pdf
Page 25 of 36 is a pic of both the Metra 70-7551 and 70-1764.

If you need your radio installed asap, the most cost effective way is Step #3. But if you can find the 70-7551 harness, or have time to order it online, it will probably save you some headache. Those are the easiest, most cost effective methods of this installation.

Caution: If the voltage of your preouts isnt a decent amount, you might want to avoid steps 3 or 4 and go with step 2. Low voltage preouts combined with step 3 or 4 will equate to your Bose speakers not getting loud once installed.

 

I wouldn't call $40 to be guaranteed not to fry my Bose amps "expensive"... Better safe than sorry, I say. And I'm sure I could've gotten it cheaper, but thought I'd simply buy it all from Crutchfield. And yes, everyone should definitely read the stickies... That's why I don't post much; I read EVERYTHING...

 

You won't fry the crappy bose with a metra 70-7551 either. $10 spent > $40 spent.

 

I'm replacing my radio so if you want to buy my PAC adapter shoot me a PM. I had it hooked up for subs and it worked great.