Radio/Speaker Experts

[Pete]

Anybody know if i can use the stock Bose speakers with regular radio.

If i take the amps out form the speakers and wire them direct with a regular CD indash radio.

I was told speakers will over heat/burn out the amp in the radio,something about ohms or some electrical compatibility i don't know much about radio stuff. True/False??

I installed a cheap Sony CD radio 45watts X 4, took the amps out from speakers ran new wire from speakers to radio,works fine but need to know long term pros and cons.

Pete

[xlr8nflorida]

You can use the bose speakers if you get bose adapters but I would keep it all bose or switch it out all together.

GM has a service bulletin on it and you also have to put resistors on it or you will get a SYS light.
Now for the SYS light. It is directly linked to the ambient light sensor which is located near the gauges switches. It is a little clear plastic circle. The reason you would get one is because the original stereo backlights would dim automatically (as well as the rest of the backlights) when driving and the light sensor saw a change in light conditions. IE: going under a bridge during the day. But now that the wire is no longer there you have to supply a voltage through resistors to the CCM to fake it out and make it think it still has a dimming circuit there. If not the SYS light will display as an LCD readout directly to the left of the speedo numbers. It will go on and off intermittently.

The correct solution is to get equalizations preamplifiers to match the head unit output to the speaker/amp inputs.

You must remove the Amps on the speakers in your scenario. Also, your head unit must be one of the ones designated to work with the bose speakers.

I suggest using Crutchfield, who has a wealth of expertise and the right equipment and adapters.

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by xlr8nflorida

You can use the bose speakers if you get bose adapters but I would keep it all bose or switch it out all together.

Agree

Originally Posted by xlr8nflorida

The correct solution is to get equalizations preamplifiers to match the head unit output to the speaker/amp inputs.

You must remove the Amps on the speakers in your scenario.

This is what was done to my car. Let go of the 20 year old sound system Pete and upgrade unless you planning on a NCRS turnaround on the car at some point.

Originally Posted by xlr8nflorida

Also, your head unit must be one of the ones designated to work with the bose speakers.

Also true, and they all dont which is way many of us have turned to seperate amplifiers.

Originally Posted by xlr8nflorida

I suggest using Crutchfield, who has a wealth of expertise and the right equipment and adapters.

Good resource for the right adapters, Metra is the best install kit at the moment as well

[Pete]

So in simple terms/what i'm understanding is "don't do it"

But it sounds good with the Bose speakers,but if it hurts the radio then i will install new 6x9 and 6" for the fronts.

I really don't care for perfect loud sound i just need it to play good enough.
Not much of a sound system guy.

Pete

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by Pete

So in simple terms/what i'm understanding is "don't do it"

But it sounds good with the Bose speakers,but if it hurts the radio then i will install new 6x9 and 6" for the fronts.

I really don't care for perfect loud sound i just need it to play good enough.
Not much of a sound system guy.

Pete

Get the adapters from Crutchfield and retain the old system

[Pete]

Went to Crutchfields web site found the adapter.

That was the info/input i needed.

Thanks Guys
Pete

[ZZZZZR1]

Originally Posted by GOLDCYLON

Get the adapters from Crutchfield and retain the old system

I did that too and works well.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by GOLDCYLON

Get the adapters from Crutchfield and retain the old system

When you say "retain the old system" do you mean keeping just the OE speakers without the amps in them? by just buying the adapter.

Cause it sounds good with the Sony CD/radio and the OE speakers without the amps in them.

What it does is if i raise the volume too high or gets hot it starts to cut out,my question is will the adapter fix that problem?

Before i order it need to know if this will fix it,if it does that will be the perfect system for me.

Pete

P.S.

Is this the adapter you are talking about http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1207018...n-Adapter.html
If so i ran new wires to every speaker will this still work or do i have to connect the OE wires to the speakers with this adapter.
One last thing i got ingition on power from the OE radio plug will it eliminate the problem if i find another ingition on power source.

[-=Jeff=-]

not know which adapter it is, I think if you buy the adapter you will need to retain the Bose amps and use the adapter between the radio and amps. That is how i have seen it done in the past at least.

[tomtom72]

Pete, I'll say this much. The issue that you are seeing is normal, turn up the volume and the Bose speaker coils over heat & cut out. Bose speaker coils are very low impedance ( speaker-speak for what Ohm rating the speaker is ).

Unless that adapter has circuitry to reduce the total wiring ohms ( new radio amp included in this calculation) to what the Bose speaker can accept then the Bose speakers will eventually over heat & stop.

That's why the stock system's CDM box or head unit do not have amplifiers built into them. It think the CDM box has a pre-amplifier built in to it, but the gauge of the wiring harness compensates for that and then at the individual speaker, the individual speaker amp does the rest so the speaker coils don't overheat.

I wish I could tell you for certain about the adapter....it seems that it does do what you need to have done.


Tom