It never ceases to amaze me how bad Bose stuff really is. The stock system in my 97 Dodge Ram was better than the Bose system in my Z. So, I finally made it to my installer today to get my new amp and speakers installed. Here are the parts I went with:

Phoenix Gold XS4300 4x35 watt amp
JL Audio VR650-CS front component speakers
JL Audio 10W6 10" subwoofer

I wanted to keep a total stock look so I kept the stock head unit (plus I like the 6 disk in-dash changer), so everything is stealth. I was going to have the sub installed in the stock locale, but I heard many bad reports of this so I went with a custom box in the spare tire well. The total cost for everything was $1100.

The Bose HU has good stock line level outputs so the connection to the new amp was simple, no converters were necessary. Overall the install couldn't have been much simpler. I scrapped the rear speakers because there is no need for them. The fader now fades between the front speakers and the sub which is very handy.

The difference is night and day. My music now has highs and tight bass. Well worth every penny IMHO.

-Plucky

 

Three questions:

1. Where did you wind up placing the amp?

2. Was the purpose of the Phoenix amp to overide the HU's amp? (please forgive my ignorance if the answer is obvious)

3. You mention that you now have high' and low's. Is it safe to say then that you are able to use the bass and treble controls from the HU to achieve this? (again please forgive my ignorance)

Let me know. Thanks!

 

1. I wanted to be able to easily adjust the amps gain and bass settings so I went ahead and put it right in the glove box behind the passenger seat. Yes, I am giving up some storage, but I wanted it to be hidden but still accessible.

2. Yes, both Bose amps must be thrown away. They are just rediculous and they are the heart of the Bose problem.

3. Yes, that's what I mean. The bass and treble controls now actually do something.

-Plucky

 

ummm...the bass and treble always *did* somthing.

its just that their attenuatiuon/gain was imperceptible when the *overall* volume was so loud that the increase in the power requiremnts from the additional bass would cause amplifier clipping.

Ever notice how the bose never clipped (even at "31")?

Either, way, sounds like you got a nice system that you enjoy.

did you bridge the 4 chan amp to 2 chan?

IF I ever do anything with my bose (prolly not) I to would retain the stock HU. The aftermarket ones really destroy the sweet looking dash setup IMO.

COngrats and good luck!

 

The rear channel is bridged going to my single JL sub.

-Plucky

 

80w to a 10" sub??

thats it?!!

I had a 150w X 2 kenowwd bridged to 300W+ driving an orion (then later a kicker 10") in a sealed box.

is your box ported?

if not you may want(need) to invest in another 2ch amp for the sub - it'll really crunch then!

 

Actually, this particular amp makes 150 watts when bridged which is penty for me. Any more power to that little 10" sub and it would shoot through the hatch window. I'm not big into boom, just nice and accurate bass.

-Plucky

 

ahhhh


yeah $150 is plenty for nice tite bass

coo