A/V people talk to me! -- Bose isn't loud enough for me!

[Freyspath]

I am running a stock BOSE system in my pathy.. I dont mind it, and not really interested in changing it for an aftermarket system, so what are my options for this sucker... The problem I have with it is I seem to always be turning it up all the way (vol. 31) and it doesn't even sound loud.. Usually when im cruising ill be in the 25-28 volume range, but today I was trying to listen to this eric clapton song and it was all the way up and it wasn't loud at all lol..

Can you simply upgrade the stock amp for a bigger/better one?

Thanks!

[Pwnin O'Brien]

The Bose system is designed to work within the tolerances of each component. Each amplifier for each speaker likely powers it to its max power, so upgrading to a more powerful amp will likely cause distortion and make the system sound worse. The only way to get better sound is to replace the entire system. Even just replacing the head unit will probably not result in more or better sound from the speakers (and may even also overpower the speakers, depending on the head units internal amplifier). If you were to just replace the speakers and keep the amplifiers and head unit you would then be underpowering your new speakers and still not achieving the best possible sound. You could get away with just replacing the amplifiers and speakers, but it's not advisable since the Bose head unit doesn't really allow you to customize the sound for the new system.

[KyooX4]

Yeah, your best bet is really just to replace everything. I did and I never looked back.

[fueler]

ya unfortunately, a stereo system is only as loud as its "weakest link" which, in the case of a ten year old bose system, means every single component of it (headunit, amp, speakers) literally the only stock stuff i kept in mine, is the wires that run to the door speakers..

like Pwnin said, "The only way to get better sound is to replace the entire system."