I have confirmed that the BOSE speakers are 2ohm so doesn't adding a 4ohm aftermarket speaker effectively halve the amount of power the BOSE amp will produce. Would it really be worth it to put in a better speaker (Polk MOMO separates) if they are only getting half the power? Would it be feasible to solder a 4 ohm resistor across the + and - speaker terminals? This could effectively tie a second 4 ohm load in parallel and lower the overall resistance to 2 ohm per channel. I believe this would be the best way to keep a stereo signal since the speakers would stay isolated vice wiring them together. Does this sound about right? I think I remember that parallel circuits are "voltage dividers" so would I then only get half the voltage to the speaker?I'm a bit rusty since my High School VOTEC engineering class was 8 years ago. If anyone can confirm this idea or has a better one I'd love to hear it. If this is OK, what should I be looking for in a resistor, I don't want to be replacing them often.

 

Well--from my experience in trying to modify Bose systems--everything has to be rewired; I see others are adding stuff and changing speakers--perhaps they can chime in on this with more technical info and or success/failures.

 

Some of the Bose speakers are 2 ohm but the main 9 inch woofer is 0.5 ohm. Yes, half an ohm.

Replacing that speaker with a 4 ohm version will be about 12 dB less sensitive - i.e. completely wrong.

If you want to replace the speakers in the Bose, be prepared to have new amps as well.

BTW, the rear deck speakers are 2 ohms. You are correct that a 4 ohm speaker with a 4 ohm resistor in parrallel will lower the load to 2 ohms so the amp will be doing about twice the power. However, all of the additional power will be simply dumped into the resistor - the four ohm speaker won't be any louder.

Now there are 2 ohm speakers you could use for the rear deck. Image Dynamics make some.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

this is a question directed at everyone who paid for the Bose stereo package and wants to upgrade their stereo already... why did you buy the bose system if all you planned to do in the future was upgrade the equipment? this is specifially why we didn't get the Bose system in our 8.

i'm just trying to understand the logic of paying for the more expensive option when the standard stereo would suffice for someone interested in upgrading their stereo system beyond anything that any OEM could provide in the first place.

Ray

 

Uh, BOSE stereo package? I didn't see a BOSE stereo package. The BOSE is part of the Grand Touring package. There was no "delete BOSE stereo from GT package and save a few bucks since you'll be replacing it anyway" option. The way I see it, I paid for HID lights, DSC, TCS, self dimming mirror with homelink, moonroof, leather, heated seats, heated mirrors, foglamps and got STUCK with the BOSE as a result. I would never give up the rest of that stuff just to avoid the BOSE equipment. I have planned to replace every stereo in every car I've owned. My ears have been spoiled by good equipment over the years and factory systems just don't cut it, BOSE or no BOSE. It's WAAAAAAY cheaper to add a good aftermarket system to a GT package than it is to take a base model and add aftermarket HID, leather, moonroof, heated seats AND upgrade the base stereo. I figure I'm still coming out ahead even if I trash the BLOSE. Then again, I've never been accused of thinking "conventionally".

 

I agree with GTRay , i purchased the bose and i am very happy with what i have , if i had wanted to upgrade i would have purchased the base . I really think my bose sound is great. i am very happy with it. Happy, Happy ,Happy, did i say Happy?

 

This was an issue from day one, when people were ordering their cars online in January of 2003. They already knew back then that they didn't want the Bose, but they got stuck with it if they wanted ANY of the other options in the other packages. There are lot of people who got "stuck" with a sunroof because of the packages too.

---jps

 

Newt,

The sport package has HID, DSC and TSC. If I were to do it over again I would have gotten the sport package and added aftermarket leather.

In the process, I wouldn't have the Bose, the moonroof, heat mirrors or seat or homelink but none of those is that big of a loss IMO.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

Yea, what he said...
Does anyone know how the Bose setup would affect speaker level inputs on an aftermarket amp? I have a nice Fosgate I'm thinking about adding to the system and replacing the rears and adding a sub.

 

Good point, I just love heated leather seats and a sunroof is a must for me. The Homelink, however, I could live without.