Hi guys,

I just bought a 05 roadster with the Bose sound system. In my previous car, I had a complete Alpine Type R system and I loved it. I had 10" woofer, components 6.5", 6x9 and one amp for the woofer. No amp on the speakers.

What is included in the Bose sound system? There is the Bose Head Unit, 6.5" components in the front and 6.5" behind the seats right? Are those speakers are Bose speakers? Is there an amp on those speakers? And there is also a 10" woofer behind the driver's seat. That's it?

I haven't really compared my old Alpine vs my new Bose, but after a couple of minutes of music listening in my Z, I think the sound was better with my old alpine. I think I will go to an audio shop pretty soon and changes some things. Don't know if I can keep my old front speakers and woofer and but them in my Z, of if it will be cheaper to buy new stuff. Can I put my old Type R woofer where my Bose woofer is?

What is the problem with the Bose sound system? Bad speakers? Bad head unit? Bad woofer? I think it was a pretty expensive option when the car was bought, it's weird it's not better.

Thanks!

 

"What is the problem with the Bose sound system? Bad speakers? Bad head unit? Bad woofer? I think it was a pretty expensive option when the car was bought, it's weird it's not better."
the problem is all of it !
its made up of the HU , tiny amp in trunk to run the comps and an even smalled amp behind the driver for the so called sub.

id keep your alpine HU , AMP , and probably the front comps. the sub could be kept and its a decnt one (type R did you say ?) id keep that too ! youl just ahve to put it in the trunk somewhere or get creative with box making to got behind you but it can be done .

 

Thanks!
I will not keep the HU. It is pretty good CDA 9835, but it's a single din and will not look good in the Z. I am looking for a full touch screen HU, don't want weird looking big buttons in my new car :-)

The amp was only used for the sub, a 10" Type R in a Alpine Box, but I don't want a box in my trunk, I would like to keep the current placement for the sub. The amp is not really good, it's a 800W 2 channels american legacy.. Not really a quality amp, but for driving only the subwoofer it did a good job I think.

My components are Alpine Type R also, SRS17. I didn't know the speakers were amplified with an external amp in the Z.. The sound is less good than it was in my old car and the speakers were plugged in the HU, no external amp.

 

yeah tbh the bose is pain in the back side for aftermarket upgrades , as you said any Hu gives abetter sound that the amp it has. becuas eit has the amp swapping out the Hu doesnt give that new boost you normally by using a decent one.
you can get a sub behind the drive but its quite a funny shape and involves alot of taking the trim apart etc to get an enclosure in so most dont(leat i havent seenmnay )
i went the 8" in a custom box route with an alpine 400watt amp under the glove box to power it thes rest is stock sep my HU.
bascilly as usual it comes down to effort and $$ im pretty good at installaing and making cusomt boes but hate taking the car apart so now just have abig hole wher emy bose sub was

 

yea BOSE is crap!! My swap the headunit with aftermarket headunit, the Bose speakers was blown after 2 months!! Afterward, I removed all Bose speakers, sub, amp in my grand touring and put in aftermarket stuff!

Sound way better.

 

Thanks guys,
I really don't want a box in my trunk, so I guess I will have to live with the Bose system or create a custom box.
Can I change everything, but keep the Bose subwoofer?

 

not sure , nones ever gone to the effort to swap the main amp and speakers then left the easyest and worst bit in !
this might nudge you in thr right direction..

my 8" hertz install
seriously though pop the cover off the sub and unbolt it , youl soon see why people bin it . infact even if you decide not to add a new sub id bin the bose and let the main comps do the work !

 

Lol ok thanks!
Didn't know the subwoofer was so bad.
Clean install, but I have a roadster and the trunk is pretty small.
The stock sub enclosure is great, I need to fit a subwoofer in there. Should I keep my 10" or I need to go with a 8" if I want the subwoofer to get in?

 

nice little box, i like that a lot. did you build it?

 

thanks , yes i did make it myself.
as i said you can reuse the stock location (search on here and there are a few threads on it). problem with stock enclosure is its not an enclosure more just a metal plate with a 10" hole in it ! all the back is open to the glove box area !
it can be sealed or a box made to fit in , so i guess it depends on your skills at box making. take the cover off , unbolt the sub and have looky see what your upagainst its a 2 minute job.
just pry the ocver of with and old credit card then unscrew the sub and youl see the space , micro amp and the sub .
8 vs 10 well its just what you think you cna get out of the area in volume obviously the 8 will give you more leway to make the box.

 

Bose does not publish specifications for its OEM systems, so it’s pretty much “black box.” You don’t know exactly what you have, and you have no idea how to upgrade the mysterious and proprietary Bose stuff.

With this in mind, you can understand why people upgrading Bose systems usually do a full-replacement.

--Spike

 

If you search there is someone who makes a sealed box that fits in the compartment for a subwoofer that your Bose sub fits in. I installed an infinity basslink in the location a few months ago but now I am going to get rid of all the bose stuff and get a new headunit, front speakers and an amp to power the speakers. I really hate the bose stereo in the Z. The bose in my truck and my wifes Murano actually sounds good.

The basslink adds a lot of bass but the bose stuff still sounds bad.