Replacing the Bose speakers

[S.hafsmo]

I've just installed a Sony XAV-AX3005DB (no mods required) and for a moment I could enjoy music once more. But only for a moment, until one of the Bose amps crapped out. From what I've read the market is pretty much exhausted for these, and even the latest Maxima amps are getting quite old.

I am now considering to either install a crossover in each front speaker and use the amp in the headunit (will the 2-ohm speakers kill it?) or replacing the speakers all together.

Are there any good speakers that'll fit in the original enclosures without modifications? Are there aftermarket speaker adapters available?

[S.hafsmo]

Y'all on stock speakers?

[lfalzarano]

Left front Bose speaker was broke when I bought the car 20 years ago. Got it fixed and it lasted 10-12 years before it went up in smoke on a drive home.

The car quickly filled with smoke and I thought the engine was on fire. I could barely see out the windshield through the smoke to pull over, It wasn’t the engine after popping the hood, but it was the speaker that shorted out. I ripped the cover off to ascertain if it was still on fire under the covering, but luckily just melted away. Replaced it but from Ecklers this time and all 4 are still humming along to my songs.


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[Ccmano]

CorvetteRadios.com sells amps. Not cheap but where else can you go..
https://www.corvetteradios.com/corvetteradios_012.htm

Ecklers also sells amps. But they only carry the early version 84-89. They can be used but have to be rewired.

If your handy with a soldering iron (I’m not) there are online instructions to repair them yourself. Part 1, 2 and 3.
https://youtu.be/NYgdH_ycmQQ
https://youtu.be/z5CiPEDuxJU
https://youtu.be/cH6SA0KnlzQ

H
:cheers:

[32valvesftw]

The amp may not like the 2 ohm speakers, most of time it will not work out. I have some vintage home speakers that i rebulit that are 4 ohms, and I killed an Amp until I found an Onkyo receiver with a big amp in it. So far so good. But car audio receivers are generally not so robust. That said if you keep it at low volumes it will most likely be OK...for awhile. Short version you need new speakers.

[PhillipsLT5]

http://www.doctordons.com/corvetteradios.htm

[S.hafsmo]

CorvetteRadios.com sells amps. Not cheap but where else can you go..

Ecklers also sells amps. But they only carry the early version 84-89. They can be used but have to be rewired.

If your handy with a soldering iron (I’m not) there are online instructions to repair them yourself. Part 1, 2 and 3.
H
:cheers:

Thanks Hans,
Buying new ones would probably be the easyest, but not living in the US might prove a problem if it was to turn out one or more of the restored amps didn't work properly. This solution, with 4 new amps, is also more expencive than just replacing the whole system, and probably by far inferior.

I'd attempt a repair was it not for the circuit board being melted during the previous fatal failure.

32valvesftw,
This seems to be according to what I've read the last couple days. In short, Do not use 2 Ohm speakers on an amp not rated for 2 Ohms.

Fortunatly I found a set of these, unused, in the basement.
https://images.crutchfieldonline.com/ImageHandler/trim/620/378/products/2012/15/091/g091130A1S-F.jpeg
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-rZEuMNA6avT/p_091130A1S/Focal-Access-130A1-SG.html
As well as a couple 4-channel amps, so I think I'll make an attempt on a complete speaker replacement.

Where do people hide the amp?

[32valvesftw]

I have the original restored components in my car, but if I was going to do it, I would either put the amp behind the passenger seat or in one of the compartments in the back if there is room. Personally I like the amp to be somewhere that I can get to it without having to remove seats or hang upside-down in the trunk if need be, not an issue with the Vette I know.

[secondchance]

I tried aftermarket 4 ohm system - Alpine 767, Alpiine DSP unit and a CD changer mated to 6 channel Sony amp. I can’t remember speaker brand but remember 4” fitted to front housing and 6.5”s in the rear. Also ran 2 x 10” JL subs. Later, I added a center channel using Eclipse rear view mirror mount unit. This was back in 1992.
Problem I ran into was the fronts. Bose front speakers are 3 or 3.5”. However, Bose custom designed the tuned port speaker housing specific to their speaker resulting in quite impressive sound level and low frequency response despite the speaker size. Only way I could make 4” 4 ohm sound decent was by blocking off the port on the housing. Result was lack of low frequency (rather reduced relative to OEM setup) up front. Also, weight gain was substantial due to impressive looking but a whopper size Sony amp.
This is why, second time around with my 94, I am using Pioneer Avic nav head unit, kept Bose enclosures and speakers, changed out front Bose amps with 97 Bose 100 watt amps, one 10” Pioneer low profile sub powered with 90s vintage Alpine V12 amp in sealed sub box.
Current system sounds far better than my first attempt converting the whole thing to 4 ohm system.

[secondchance]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bose-97-04-Chevy-Corvette-C5-OEM-front-radio-amp-amplifier-Stock-factory-100W/114033001598?hash=item1a8ce5847e:g:i0cAAOSwKpNeUvZ N

Above is a C5 Corvette 100w Bose amp I am using. However, minor mod has to be done to the front speaker housing to make it fit.

Earlier post on housing conversion.
https://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26010

[S.hafsmo]

Thanks. I'll look into that C5 amp.

[S.hafsmo]

I'd just like to mention, that a 5 1/4" does not "fit" at all in the stock enclosures. At least not without wreaking havoc on the enclosures. Replacing just the front plate would leave you with very little volume inside the enclosure.

[secondchance]

I'd just like to mention, that a 5 1/4" does not "fit" at all in the stock enclosures. At least not without wreaking havoc on the enclosures. Replacing just the front plate would leave you with very little volume inside the enclosure.

Fronts are more like 3.5” and rears are 6.5”.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bose-97-04-Chevy-Corvette-C5-OEM-front-radio-amp-amplifier-Stock-factory-100W/114033001598?hash=item1a8ce5847e:g:i0cAAOSwKpNeUvZ N



Above is a C5 Corvette 100w Bose amp I am using. However, minor mod has to be done to the front speaker housing to make it fit.



Earlier post on housing conversion.

https://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26010


Hey Yun,
Thanks for always sharing your knowledge and experience. Other than the mod to make them fit, are they plug and play as far as the wiring?

Thanks,

Craig



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[secondchance]

Hey Yun,
Thanks for always sharing your knowledge and experience. Other than the mod to make them fit, are they plug and play as far as the wiring?

Thanks,

Craig



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Hey, Craig!

C5 Corvette and Cadillac Eldo versions of Bose amps are 100W and plug and play.

There have been posts indicating Infiniti version of Bose are also plug and play. However, when I look at Infiniti version of Bose amp, I see more pins on the board than the plug. These pins may be extra needed for Infiniti cars only and may work fine with our cars but cannot confirm.

I also suspect 200W version used in early 90s Allante would work in our cars as well but have not tried.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Allante-Cadillac-Bose-200W-Amp-V-Front-1990-1991-Speaker-Amp-1802311151324700/333472492315?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.S EED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D30283 6c8fd3e4de99a57915b32dd424f%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D 5%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D312873727826%26 itm%3D333472492315%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380 057%26brand%3DBose&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A699f4f8a-937b-11ea-9246-6a63e962dd69%7Cparentrq%3A03840c161720a4e865a9bbdc ffe12814%7Ciid%3A1

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Hey, Craig!



C5 Corvette and Cadillac Eldo versions of Bose amps are 100W and plug and play.



There have been posts indicating Infiniti version of Bose are also plug and play. However, when I look at Infiniti version of Bose amp, I see more pins on the board than the plug. These pins may be extra needed for Infiniti cars only and may work fine with our cars but cannot confirm.



I also suspect 200W version used in early 90s Allante would work in our cars as well but have not tried.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Allante-Cadillac-Bose-200W-Amp-V-Front-1990-1991-Speaker-Amp-1802311151324700/333472492315?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.S EED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D30283 6c8fd3e4de99a57915b32dd424f%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D 5%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D312873727826%26 itm%3D333472492315%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380 057%26brand%3DBose&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A699f4f8a-937b-11ea-9246-6a63e962dd69%7Cparentrq%3A03840c161720a4e865a9bbdc ffe12814%7Ciid%3A1


Thanks for the info and feedback confirming the plug and play aspect. I appreciate it. [emoji1303]🤙🏼



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[S.hafsmo]

Anyone with pics of a custom front speaker install?

[G8nightman]

Here is what I did on the rear.

1214612147


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[secondchance]

Anyone with pics of a custom front speaker install?

I have been asking the same question since 1991. On my 91, I used OEM speaker housing, sealed the ports and installed 4? 4 ohm speakers. Then, I bought a pair of OEM speaker housings from 84-89 which mounts inside the doors. Again, replaced Bose speakers with high quality 4? 4 ohm speakers. I dropped in a pair of 6.5? speakers in OEM locations, again, plugging the ports. Also added a pair of 10? subs all fed with Sony 6 channel amp. This amp was controlled with Alpine 767 head unit and Alpine DSP. Also had a 6 disc changer. Let?s not forget behind rear view mirror. An Eclipse front firing center channel. Sounded pretty good but a lot of wiring and weight.
Challenge was front passenger side due to door panel curving into the dash. Ended up drilling 1/2? diameter holes in circular pattern to allow 4? speaker behind the door panel.
My current system with Pioneer Avic BT140 connected factory speaker/amp with 100 amp Bose amps from similar era Cadillacs augmented with 500 w90s vintage Alpine amp for one 10? low profile sub sounds far better and quite a bit lighter.
I think about adding a pair of 5.25? speakers in early C4 housing in the doors. If I do this, I?ll be trying to create a custom metal grille to replicate the curve on the passenger side door. I think it can be done but a lot of meticulous fabrication.
Ideal would be a pair of 8s in the door but there is no place in front of the car to do this.

[S.hafsmo]

G8nightman,
Those look rather nice. Do they fit on the stock boxes?

Secondchanse,
No easy way to do this in other words? I've now enquired a company that scans/prints 3D stuff. Throught they might be able to provide the most possible volume for a sealed enclosure for a 5.25" component speaker install.

I've also figured why some say all kinds of speakers fit "just fine" in the stock enclosured. They are ofcourse referring to the non-bose boxes, which are just a flat surface.

https://www.zr1.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=12148&stc=1&d=1591267173

[G8nightman]

No i put that in place of the box and use the space below as the encloser.