I know whatcha mean by the stock Bose system blowing. Im definitely getting rid of all the speakers and HU and replacing them with Alpine components.

 

Well I'm beginning to wonder if my bose sub is blown because I really don't hear a difference with or without it... I don't really need anything extreme - just a decent bass. Could I just buy an economy amp + bass and install it fine with the rest of the OEM bose setup?

 

Try an Infinity basslink.

 

i have a sub in the stock location, but i got it fiberglassed in with a different unit and love it....but then again i dont listen to predominately bass blasting music

 

For a really easy budget add-on package that won't overwhelm the factory Bose mids/highs, but will add some nice depth to the bottom end:

Kenwood amp with 2 10" subs package: $170 (amp has speaker level inputs)
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-JD2eg8N...250&I=113PW510

Zenclosures dual 10" under strut enclosure: $140
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nissan-350z-Cust...QQcmdZViewItem

Polyfil: $13
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-JD2eg8N...lyfil&i=027808

8awg amp wiring kit: $40 (you won't need the rca patch cable, but will need speaker wire)
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-x3h2Vnf...search=amp+kit

Grand total $363

 

I listen to a lot of piano with heavy bass and it just gets murdered with the bose bass... I don't need anything super loud, I just want to hear my bass undertones. What I'd really like to do is get a ZEnclosure box, mid-range amp + bass and put them in it.


edit:

streetOC192 read my mind - thanks for the links.

 

obviously someone who has never heard a proper sound setup has no idea what it should sound like..

when i had my diamond audio comps and ID Max sub in my car.. i would get compliments at the drive through because you could actually hear my mids, highs and lows .. not just a vibrating trunk.

A good system setup.. you can play it at low volume and still get all 3 to sound perfectly well.. a measure of a good system is to have the volume really low and still hear detailed accurate bass

 

its not blown.. its just crap.. the 6x9's in my Jeep hits harder than my Bose Sub did.

 

Bose is complete cr@p. I've since replaced every factory component down to the cr@p wiring with Infinity, Alpine, Monster, Tsunami... Much happier now. I'm only up to about $2300 so far... Not too bad.

 

LOL, don't knock it, properly installed 6x9's can thow out some bump!!!! They may not be sonically correct, but they can bump.

 

oh trust me.. i am a firm believer of sound is round.. but the system in my Jeep sounds pretty good.. and its holding me down till i get my car back

 

Speaking of 6x9s, back in the day I had some JBL pro audio 3-ways. 5 lbs of magnets in an aluminum frame. These things hit harder than a pissed-off stepmom :0 To date some of the best speakers I've heard.

 

All I needed to do with the Bose system to get more bass was to replace the stock Bose head unit with something Pioneer. I have the Pioneer D3 head unit with navi and I'll be damned if I can't hear the Bose Sub now. Pioneer head units have a history of working well with bose factory systems. I did the same thing in an old Maxima of mine and experienced the same thing. The sound quality has gone from mediocre to just simply very good. The loudness I don't really care about but I've got chest pumping bass now and it's way louder than the stock unit. I could use more highs though, so I may add some tweeters later and maybe a nice amp, but the bass is there. Definitely there. You don't need to spend thousands to make this a good sounding system. That's just BS.

I'm surprised none of you "experts" has mentioned how weak the stock Bose head unit is, and that is is the main problem with the Z's Bose system.

 

So does the resonance from my stock tires at 20 miles per hour because it's so ungodly loud. Your mirror moving is not an accurate gauge of sound quality.

 

Hmmm... You only replaced the H/U, and nothing else? And... now you have good sound?

That is an unusual report.

--Spike

 

No highs? No lows? Must be BOSE!

Check this out when you have some time!! "Better Profits Through Marketing" LOL

http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html

 

Wish the bose system was an option for all trim levels? Im def going to replace all the speakers and sub cuz they dont sound good at all. especially the sub, it has basically no bass

 

In all seriousness I feel a little sorry for you. I added my Alpine headunit to the Bose system the week before I completed my entire sound system (PPI comps, 10" sub, 1200watt amp, Zenclosure...) so I know what you mean by it sounding better. You're right it sounds better. Does it sound good? No way, not even close. Maybe you've never been around an aftermarket sound system done right, but it's night and day over that. If the sound system is important to you at all, ask around here and put one together on your own budget. It's well worth it.

 

^^ Same here. I did about exactly what you describe, and can report I had the same results. (Good post... you understand.)

Before installing all the components of my CES build-up, I put in a high-end Clarion H/U... and ran the stock system with the Clarion H/U as the only new component (as a test). Everything was better (sound, terrestrial radio reception, CD player performance, etc.). But (and, as you point out), "better" is not necessarily "very good sound." An idiot in a room full of idiots is still an idiot.

Then I tried adding an amp (while keeping the Nissan EOM speakers). This did provide a slight (but hardly noticeable) improvement.

Finally...Adding good front speakers (I installed Focal 165V Slim component speakers) is what provided "very good sound."

Simply swapping the H/U will provide a minor improvement that may be satisfactory for some users, but this will not give you "very good sound." To get "very good sound," you need to replace the CES (H/U, amp, and front speakers).

--Spike