Can someone with OEM Bose speakers give your input

[MW3kgt]

2001 QX4. With the OEM deck and an aftermarket deck my rear speakers had very low output and distorted at higher volume, the fronts sound great. Is this normal or is the amp going bad?

I had a factory radio when I got my QX4 a month or 2 ago, the front speakers sounded great while the rears were pretty lacking. I recently installed an android deck, and installed it like stock so the deck turns on the factory amps and powers the 2 ohm bose speakers. Front speakers sounded even better, actually its pretty amazing the bass and output I get from them. The rear speakers did not improve at all. I then bought some 2 ohm tang band raw drivers from parts express, 25 watt rms speakers, huge drivers they are over 4" deep. Volume from the rear speakers was even lower and they sounded a bit distorted even at the lowest of volumes. There doesn't seem to be much info on these bose systems, I've read they put out 22 watts rms and there is a separate amp for each speaker. Does anyone know if the rear amp(s) are smaller than the front or if the speakers are different? Any input would be helpful.

[macgiver]

mac, I believe INFINITI has the amps in close proximity to the respective speaker , with rear deck 6x9's sometimes screwed to the magnet in a "cup" - hanging off bottom. The distorted noise your hearing is what you may find elsewhere on this site being a failure of "electrolytic capacitors" in the amp's board , a common & natural occurrence in aging / seldom-used electronics in general. Supposedly on the web are "places" that claim to repair/rebuild , better luck -AMPS seen on the 'bay' from time to time , much cheaper than the rebuild cost! Get behind that "baffle" in trunk, un-clip the perimeter fasteners and see what you got? Need to jot down EXACT very long Amp part #

[nickelghandi]

Mac, I think you are correct.

OP you can also run new cable from your head unit to an aftermarket amp and then to your speakers. Not sure what your budget is, but that would be your best bang for your buck.

Personally, I love the Bose speakers. I think they do a great job. I want to add a small sub at some point to take the bass load off the rest of the system, but other than that the sound quality is great. I run a Clarion aftermarket head unit with the PAC Audio adapter and it sounds really good.

If you don't blast the music as loud as possible, then I'd stick with the Bose system and either follow Mac's or my advice. If you like it loud, then run new cable to an aftermarket amp and new cable to your speakers.

[MW3kgt]

Thanks for the input. The Speakers are actually 6.5" in each of the 4 doors, I guess I didn't make it clear enough that not only are they distorted but the output is about half as much as the fronts. Hopefully someone can chime in with a QX4 saying "mine doesn't do this" That would give me the motivation to see about repairing the stock amp(s) as I don't mind replacing caps as long as the board traces are good. Or if this is normal I could see throwing a few bucks at an aftermarket setup.

[MW3kgt]

Update for anyone who cares.

Pulled the rear amp and another set of speakers from a qx4 in the junkyard. Both amps look pristine inside and swapping things around made no difference. Would have saved me a lot of time if someone could have said its normal for the rears to sound like crap compared to the fronts.

[brickbox]

The rear speakers (the ones in each door) are average. They aren't stellar I'll give you that, but they aren't crappy either.
It's typical for most OEMs to make the front speakers/tweeters to sound much better as that's where the driver and passengers spend most time. Rear speakers typically get the bean counter treatment

[MW3kgt]

I'm thinking of going back to the junkyard and pulling the 2 front amps and installing them in the rear. For a factory radio the rears are not bad but in comparison to the front they are just awful.

[macgiver]

mac , too bad they don't make Mindblowers , amplified speakers , THEY would've sounded better than ANYTHING in the deck!

[AnaMayShun]

What adapter should I buy for bose speakers if I want to switch to an aftermarket stereo?

[MW3kgt]

I don't know of any adapters that will properly do that. Its just a few wires to splice, extra grounds and an extra wire to either the amp or ant wire of the aftermarket stereo

[AnaMayShun]

I don't know of any adapters that will properly do that. Its just a few wires to splice, extra grounds and an extra wire to either the amp or ant wire of the aftermarket stereo

Thanks. That's more advanced than I was hoping for.