Replacing Bose?

[Skant]

My vette has the stock bose sound system in it. It's pretty good for a stock stereo, but not as nice as I'd like on the sound quality. I also want to play mp3 CDRs and the stock stereo obviously won't do that.

The head unit appears to be a standard double size bay. So I imagine I can have a stereo and amp installed there. I know there's also the receiver spot in the right rear bay that could house something, too. So it seems that mounting stereos, EQ's, amps, etc is wide open (as long as they're standard stereo size).

The speakers are questionable though. I'm going to guess that the mounting points could take standard sized speakers of some sort. Possibly requiring some modification? What size speakers can it take?

I'm most curious about where to put a subwoofer. Is it possible to do so without reducing cargo space? What have others done?

Or maybe the stock bose speakers are actually good as they are, and just replacing the stereo would do the trick. The rear bose speakers practically seem to be subwoofers themselves. I notice that if I use the fader to select only the rears, there's hardly any treble at all (perhaps their tweeters are blown).

I seem to remember hearing that the rear bose speakers take non-standard input voltage. Requiring some special pre-amp or something?

Thanks in advance for any help.

- Skant

[Skant]

No answers? Am I asking on the wrong forum or something?

- Skant

[Skant]

Oh, I see why. I finally found the forum search function. Looked for it before, but didn't spot it. Guess I've asked the same old question...

- Skant

[Vettelt193]

the same old complicated question

I was a car audio Specialist for many years here!!
Altho I haven't done a bose system in a minute.... this is what I do remember!
I recall specifically doing a 300 ZX 1990 2+2 with a Bose system for a good friend in 92 or 93!!
Bose used an Amplifier specifically for the Bose speakers which uses a odd impediance outputs...
If my mind serves me correctly the ohms on the bose speakers are 3 ohms or 2 ohms ... something to that effect lower than the normal 4 or 8!
But the bose amp used of course is designed to run these speakers at this impediance level... like a married couple!

Now a few years ago very few aftermarket car amplifiers were able to run these ohm levels... and the ones that did usually were really expensive competion amps.
The same applies today... as far as the cost of a competion amps that can be used... but there is more of a variety.
So I literally was forced back then to change the whole system and rewire it all ....
head unit .. amp... and speakers !!
If you are replacing the speakers because they are toast and the head unit because you want to play MP3's ... chance is you will not be able to run the stock amp.
Speakers even today run in 4 ohms and 8 ohms and using the bose amp will damage them.
Unless you use direct replacements bose speakers and upgrade to a "stock" better radio the stock amp is useless to you.
Bose makes a pretty good system for cars but the pitfall about them is..................... ... . bose w bose ... or nothing at all.
can't mix and match them like other cars. DELCO for example.
Come to think You might somehow be able to run the mp3 player to the stock amp and simply replace the bose speakers w bose speakers... I've never experimented with that so I really can't confirm it.... but then you also mentioned a Sub ...

I used a clarion cd player to power normal clarion speakers frnt and back... and a medium sized amp to power a Bazooka tube in the 300 Zx.

You can also do a 4 or channel amp that can run the whole system with a built in crossover that can run a sub as well... if cost is an issue.

If cost is not an issue ... Hell go with 2 amps and an active 3 way crossover with a sub output.

one 4 channel amp to run your mids and highs.

one 2 channel amp to run your sub-s ..
through the crossover!!

That will give you maximum flexibility and control of frequencys,
making tuning and adjusting your system a real breeze to accomodate your style of music!


Again I personally had to rewire the whole thing from scratch in my friends 300 ZX .. you'll have peice of mind knowing you don't have mismatched questionable units in there.
If bose still today has the same design in the way they make their units and components.... best to save yourself the grief and do what I did.
I have a 93 Vette and altho I haven't done the stereo swap "YET"
Because my stock Cd player don't play cd's no more .. I trust my friends 90 300 ZX is not that much different than my 93 Vette.
Get an Ohm reader and test the speakers... to verify this.

As far as location for a sub ... Bazooka tubes don't take much space and nowadays the design in these are far better than say 10 years ago when I did that 300zx ... they put out pretty good bass and still they are compact enough for areas of limited space like our vettes a cursed with.

Good luck hope this helps !!!

Mark A .

Almost forgot ...
The bose Saga continues .... . . .
In the C4 vettes looks like there are "NO DIRECT SPEAKER" replacements ... brackets and adapters will be needed to replace the factory bose speakers....
After the modifications of adapters and brackets.. what can be used according to crutchfield are 5 1/4 speakers up front in our floor panels ... and 6 1/2 in the rear....

Was hoping to hear at least 6 inch or better up front and at least a 6X9 in the rear ...
But its not to say it can't be modified further than the brackets... to accomadate what I was hoping for ..... UHMM I guess I should of asked for a dremel for christmas huh ??
There's always Fathers Day ...

I'll cross that bridge when I get there unless someone else has done it ??
Would be nice to know... Anyone ??
I'll post it all up once I get there... if noone has....

Laterz!!

Mark A ..

Ps.

The same applies to both the coupes as well as the roadster convertibles .. I did ask!

[Skant]

The stereo shop I talked to said they could put 5 1/4" in the front and 6x9" in the rear with no alterations.

They said they could build a subwoofer into the rear wall in such a way that it's like an extended rear wall. They could use a slim one 4-5 inches so as not to lose too much cargo space.

They also said that I could put a small subwoofer in the right rear cubby. But it would replace the tire changing gear and wouldn't be very powerful. Not too much space there.

So I think my options are to build it into the rear wall and lose a bit of cargo space (the Corvette's cargo space is kinda hopeless anyway), or build a weak one into the cubby, or use a bazooka that takes a lot more space but could be removable.

I think I'm pretty much settled on a permanent thin implacement in the back wall. With the gas tank behind it, it should produce a good sound, I think.

- Skant

[Vettelt193]

I always suggest a couple of things.... first off, an on/off switch for the sub... this just allows you to listen to the radio without it, and it will be a life saver if you ever want to listen to talk radio, or a sports game...

another is to make the sub removable... there is no way the shop you are going to can make it look built in without it actually being attached to the car? This could be a real life saver if you need the extra space, or want to get rid of the extra weight, or leave your car in a bad area and don't want it broken into to steal speakers....

so, just a couple of things to think about before you fork out the $$$

BTW, what size subs are you going for, and how much power will you push them with?

EXCELLENT ... PLEASE SEND PICS WHEN DONE I'M INTERESTED !!




I'm new to Vettes so All the input on them is good for me..
I also own a roadster ... wonder if the rear enclosure would make a diiference ??

Anyways goodluck ..


Mark A ..

[Skant]

I'd figure on having a 12" subwoofer. I don't want more than one. I'm not trying to make a boom boom car. I just want the music for me, not the people around me.

And yes, it would be a permanent implacement if it were built into the rear wall.

I figure it's not a problem for theft since I always have the black screen pulled over the back.

- Skant

[jorge33265]

I had a C4 and I made a Custum plate in the rear. You can put 6x9s I was running bostons.... It fits behind the stock grill so It will look stock. I do agree 6x9s will sound much better.

[Deusxmachine]

I was able to get 6 1/2" speakers and 1" tweeters in all four corners. The rear ones are easy there is plenty of room for 6x9s or even a 8" woofer. The front was a lot harder to do and I think I would use 5 1/4" up front if I had it to do agian. I mounted the amps behind the seats. I havnt put any subs in yet but i think im going with 2 or 3 10" ones. Ill lose a lot space but i never use it anyway.