Aftermarket speakers with Bose

[elwesso]

Im going to get some replies here for a day or so and then move this to the audio forum.....

Anywho, i want to do something audio related this summer but dont want to go all out.. I think the bose is a decent setup for my listening needs (especially with my subwoofer ill put in later, had it in the other Q and loved it)... However its not perfect and Id like to make it a little better.....

Really what im looking for is better highs and mids (especially mids), since lows are covered with the sub..

I know PMQ has said that he had good results using aftermarket speakers with bose.. Regardless of if you think he's an idiot, I respect his opinion in audio equipment...

So Im wondering if anyone else did this.. my bose amps are in great shape, and my plan is to get or rig an AUX-IN adapter for my XM radio... plus if my bose amps take a crap on me im ready to go, just need an amp...

So has anyone done this???

[Jeff Williams]

I put some 3-way SONY Xplode's in Layla. The highs will split your eardrums. The Bose amps are designed for a full range speaker. When yhou put a 2-way or 3-way speaker in it's place, the EQ is all off, and you are taking a risk on what it will sound like.

I am happy with the sound I have.

[DominickJ30]

Bose amps dont put out many watts and they do so at 1 ohm. So most aftermarket speakers will not be a good match with those amps. If I were you I would just buy a nice 2 channel amp and nice 2 way components for the front doors(leave the rear the way it is for now). There will be a world of difference. Good luck and have fun.

[3Q Jay]

so, being relatively new to Bose/Q45 configuration, I'll state from the top that idk if the bose speakers are powered in the Q or not. if not, then i think its a slam dunk.i changed the front door components in the G with polk using both a 6.5 mid and 1.0 tweeters in the sail panels. i used a passive crossover externally. all this with the stock g35 bose hu. highs are phenomenal, mid range strong, but not night vs. day.if you do have powered spekers, then you may want to do an inline amp to your new passive speakers, you might also then need a leveler like a VEN-4 so that the line voltages match what everything wants.

[DominickJ30]

so, being relatively new to Bose/Q45 configuration, I'll state from the top that idk if the bose speakers are powered in the Q or not. if not, then i think its a slam dunk.i changed the front door components in the G with polk using both a 6.5 mid and 1.0 tweeters in the sail panels. i used a passive crossover externally. all this with the stock g35 bose hu. highs are phenomenal, mid range strong, but not night vs. day.if you do have powered spekers, then you may want to do an inline amp to your new passive speakers, you might also then need a leveler like a VEN-4 so that the line voltages match what everything wants.

When I had a G35 to drive the stock system was phenominal . I can only imagine what the M45 system sounds like. My front 4 1/2"s cannot even hang with the new stock speakers.

[Q3]

I have 3 10s and an aftermarket pioneer deck in my Q. Before i had the stock deck and the subs and it sounded like crap. The deck got so much more out of the stock speakers. The highs were so much better with the deck. so if you get a deck with a good eq it makes a huge difference.

[Jesda]

Is the pioneer system wired into the bose amps or directly wired to the bose speakers?

[kimrober]

I kept the Bose head unit and just replaced all four speakers in my Q.Because the Bose head unit came with Q never had its own amp, so I had to install separate amp in my trunk (alpine) and hooked up new speakers from there.I wanted to have all four Infinity Kappas, but the front stock speakers were a little small for Kappas, so I had to go with slightly smaller MB Quarts speakers in front, and Kappas in rear.Sounds great but I want after market head unit because I want more delicate sound control with digital DSP settings, EQ, etc.One reason why I kept the stock head unit was due to frequent auto theft. I didn't see any reason for anyone to steal a "tape" deck!

[nuQ]

what size did you want to use in the front and what size did you go with??????

[Mark86T]

When I first bought my Q I replaced the Bose head unit with a Sony Xplod MP3 player but kept the Bose speakers. Used a Scoshe (sp?) adapter for it all to work. Then added a sub & amp in the trunk. Still not happy. So I ditched all my Bose speakers last month & went with 2 - 6" rounds in the doors & 2 6x9s in the rear deck with one 4 channel amp powering those 4 speakers. So a 400watt sub with a 400watt bridged amp to power it & 4 speakers powered by one amp later, my system has everything I could ever want. With the roof & windows all open on the freeway I can still hear & FEEL the music as if I'm in a concert! Just what I wanted. No way Bose was gonna do this for me! Got highs-mids-tons of bass! This is what the car SHOULD have come with. lol My advice is to ditch the Bose completely or use all the Bose together. Mixing doesn't seem to be the answer. Just my two cents.

[pito11213]

I agree with ditching the BOSE. Bottom line if you like the sound the way it is then stick with it, but when you try to improve upon it, the project usually goes sour. My Q came with a Sony HU and Polk speakers all around and I love the way it sounds. The next upgrade will be a 4 channel amp for the door speakers, and a 800W 2 channel rockford amp with two 10" kicker solo baric subs in a custom box. Oh I also installed a set of tweeters in the front doors. Makes a lot of difference in terms of sound projection.

[gloucester Q]

i'll chip in too. i've been in the midst of a stereo upgrade for a year:

nakamichi components in the front. iffy mids. great natural highs.

infinitiy kappa's in back. strong mids/bass (well, as much as you could expect out of 6 x 9), highs too harsh for my taste.

all speakers getting about 50w from a phoenix gold amp, signal from a nak cd-400 head.

i experimented with a sub in the back for a while and it really did complete the system--sounded great all around--but right now i don't have that set-up going--too much $$$ going into other fundamental q things. but the upshot is i agree with some of the sentiments above in the sense that 1/2-way there is just not going to cut it in terms of appreciation and what you really want. i would either stick with stock, or go more all out than you're currently planning. anything else will be a lot of work for middle-of-the-road results and will most likely leave you more frustrated than happy.

[pito11213]

Well it also depends on the amount of money you are willing to put into the system. I would prefer an alpine HU or even kenwood. The polk speakers are nice but again I would go kenwood. Two nice kenwood/alpine amps and the same with subs. The reason why I list the above is that most audio places have those brands. And you can usually find good sales on the above mentioned. You could even go with one 10" sub in the trunk and figure a way to port it to the back decklid. That would give you good lows. Some nice 3 ways on the back deck. Nice component speakers in the front doors. You would be set.Go to http://www.crutchfield.com just to get an idea at a setup. The prices are kind of high though.

[PoorManQ45]

I know PMQ has said that he had good results using aftermarket speakers with bose.. Regardless of if you think he's an idiot, I respect his opinion in audio equipment...

Thanks, Insult + Respect = OK

ANyway, I suggest that you just replace the REAR speakers with a descent set of 6x9s. I'm talking about you getting a pair that you'll keep using even AFTER you upgrade the rest of the system.

I was talking to Keith(Rex) about the power of the Bose amps, and we came to the conclusion that it's around 50w per amp at 1ohm. So, with most aftermarket speakers you'd get a 4Ohm load which would give you ~12.5w~20w. Even though that is kind of low, most 6x9 triaxial/coaxials are pertty efficient and will play plenty loud.

About the Eq being disabled when using stock speakers... That's not true. Using the Equalizer alters the signal being sent the amplifiers. The speakers don't have anything to do with it. So turning up the bass/treble will increase the bass/treble

ANyway, I say install a good pair of 6x9s. If you're not satisfied, just return them

[Ccdiesel]

pmq, if just replacing rear bose with aftermarket 2 way 6x9's how do you wire them?

I need specifics, kinda confused with these amp wires in the connector.

[elwesso]

pmq, if just replacing rear bose with aftermarket 2 way 6x9's how do you wire them?

I need specifics, kinda confused with these amp wires in the connector.

I've done this, and you don't want to do it. Even using 2 ohm speakers it won't sound right. You either want to fix the bose, or ditch it all together.

[OwnerCS]

pmq, if just replacing rear bose with aftermarket 2 way 6x9's how do you wire them?

I need specifics, kinda confused with these amp wires in the connector.

I've done this, and you don't want to do it. Even using 2 ohm speakers it won't sound right. You either want to fix the bose, or ditch it all together.

+1 to Wes' post.

If your Bose speakers are broken, you might be able to find some replacements at salvage yard or someone may have some listed for sale main forum area.

When I first got my Q I had bad front amplifiers and an issue with the head unit. I shopped all to the place in Florida for an overhaul. That turned out to be money well spent as I would have taken 2x to 3x the money I spent to do a full system replacement. Now it doesn't sound like my kid's 400w Kenwood/Polk/Fosgate system that we run in his 99 Maxima -5-speed, but it' is not bad either.

Here's a link to the place in FL that repaired my amps. There may be some members here with some spare amps for sale also.

http://www.carstereoremoval.com/htm/ste ... finiti.htm