Can I replace my stock amp with an aftermarket amp like Kicker 11DX400.4? Would it be plug and play? I already upgraded my tweeters and rears with alpines

 

No. The Bose speakers are 0.5 ohm. Aftermarket amps expect 2 or 4 ohms. You'll fry the amp.

 

Yeah, that amp expects 2 ohms in 4-channel configuration. 4 ohms bridged.

 

Ok, what would you recommend if I want a compact amplified subwoofer? Or anything that would improve my sound more. I put 2 Alpine SPE-6090 6x9s in the rear deck and 2 Alpine SPS-110TW Type-S 1” silk dome tweeters in the front.

 

Honestly, you need to start with an aftermarket head unit and add on as you can. There is no way you're going to tune a sub with oem controls. Just the head-unit alone will improve the sound quite a bit. Personally, I think Kenwood makes the best sounding head units; just make sure to get one with 4v preamp outputs. and I'm sorry to say it, but stay away from Alpine. Everything I've ever heard from Alpine sounded like trash.

As far as subs go, low frequencies don't require anything fancy. Just get one that will handle the frequencies you want to hit. And stay away from those stupid square ones. I like Jensen amps.

I have a "measly" 300 watt Jensen amp powering an old-school 12" Rockford Fostgate Punch Z and you can't see in the rearview when it's pumping because of the vibrations. I have another 500 watt Jensen amp but I just don't need that power.

 

Compact amplified subwoofer...something like the following (but buy it on Amazon). This has the amplifier built in, and a properly sized enclosure all in a compact unit. Oh, and they have low level inputs (ie speaker level straight from your factory head unit) and enough controls on the subwoofer to tune it well enough for your average listener.


https://www.crutchfield.com/p_109BAS....html?tp=64082




Years ago, factory head units were garbage, nowadays I would not replace them if possible...best bet is to run a sound processor specifically for factory radios like the JL ones, or what I used to run was an Audiocontrol ...that can fine tune far better than any aftermarket radio...especially if you run components that come with the proper crossovers.


I used to run Alpine, Eclipse, or Pioneer for my competition cars...and for that 4V preouts are not necessary.....8Volts are very nice when you have several amplifiers and in an SQ comp where gain is evil.



I currently run in my DD, (4) Polk 6.5 Components, Pioneer Head Unit, and a Kicker 4 Channel amp, people think it sounds awesome.....it just makes me miss my old systems.

 

Thanks guys, but can I just connect it straight to the Bose amp? And if I do connect it to the back of the HU do I run the cable through the dash and door sills?

 

Well, depends on the BOSE system. Chances are its a single amplifier, so you need to connect it to the preamp wires that come from the head unit. Think of them as the signal wires...the ones coming out of the BOSE are amplified wires, you don't want those.


If you connect it to your headunit you need to find out what wires are your speaker level outputs from there.




FIRST go to your amplifier and look for these colors. I would connect it to the Purple Wire and the Pink Wire. I forget which is + and which is -, but don't worry you wont damage anything if it is wired backwards...it would just be out of phase.


LF Speaker red, white
RF Speaker white/red, yellow/red
LR Speaker purple, pink
RR Speaker white/blue, black/blue

 

Oh OK I thought I'd have to connect directly to the back of the HU but the way you're saying sounds not too hard at all, I've taken the HU out before to install the GTA carkit.

 

Nope, the wires run from the headunit to the amp. Its just a matter of which is easier.

 

I'll put in a new HU and the compact sub. What do you think of this one?

Kenwood KSC-SW11

 

You planning on putting it under your seat? Anywhere else, 75watts is not going to add much to your system.

 

Either under seat or right behind the back seats in the trunk, what wattage would you suggest?

 

What kind of music do you listen to? What volume do you listen at typically? It is a matter of preference, but its easier to tune it down than to get more out of it.

 

Well I'm looking for a full sound, very detailed and clear. I listen to rock mostly and rock ballads. Bands like alter bridge, incubus, sound garden, Alice in chains etc. I love my bass in that kind of music. I like music like daft punk as well but not as much

 

I don't think the underseat unit will provide enough to fill in properly for anything in the grunge genre. The underseat ones tend to provide a false sense of bass in my opinion as you basically just feel it through the seat, not emanating through the interior...although women seem to like them hahaha

 

I wonder why lol you gotta point, idk I don't wanna spend a fortune, you think a good HU would do by itself after my speaker upgrades?

 

Rolling my eyes...

 

I apologise archwisp.. I totally forget what I read quickly. You said yes I should have remembered lol

 

For the money, yes an aftermarket head unit CAN improve the quality of sound by providing a higher rms power to your aftermarket speakers, a lower Total Harmonic Distortion, and better tune-ability over your stock unit (Crossovers, EQ, Etc)

Wait....did you JUST put tweeters up front? You still have the factory speakers in the doors?

Also with 6x9s, most halfway descent ones want 100watts rms...your average HU is what 13? It will improve, but in my book I wouldn't even bother.

 

Yes I've replaced front two tweeters with alpines and 6x9s with alpines, I've read that the door speakers cannot be replaced, right?

 

Anything can be replaced...worse case scenario is you have to run new speaker wires from your aftermarket head unit to the new speakers. I never really looked at mine, I just took out what was there in threw it in a box.

Also for tweeters to work properly they need a crossover.

 

Yes they came with the crossovers, good thing I knew at least that lol what did you replace your door "subs" with?

 

Haha ok good, I took them out for weight...my motor will be the music haha