2000+ w/bose Commonly Asked Audio Questions

[swampthing]

Let's make it clear, the rear 6x9s are NOT 2ohm. I have seen the amps internals there is only one output channel for the subwoofer. They are two 1ohm speakers wired in series to create a single 2ohm load.

If you would have stopped to read first you would know that.

EDIT: Tyler you have an 02, that meas you have the monsoon correct? This info thread is for the BOSE! system, you have went and posted misleading and incorrect information in two threads because you don't really know what you are talking about. The bose and monsoon are two completely different systems with different amps and speakers

[redzmonte]

couldnt you replace the 6x9's with (2) 4 ohm speakers and wire them in parrallel you would end up with the same 2 ohms correct? that would make replacing the 6x9's easier with off the shelf speakers and still maintain the 2ohm load to keep the higher power output of the amp? I have not looked at the OEM wiring, im assuming they chain together rather then at the amp.

S

[swampthing]

Yeah, you could do that. It would be a little involved as far as the wiring went, but it would be doable.

[jedwards83]

copied and rotated the wire colors to make them easier to read, any other questions feel free to ask and I will try to find the information

Woo hoo! Thanks for the pics of the amp connector, now I can figure out which one of my rear 6x9's are wired out of phase.

FWIW, I used the speaker wires that originally went to the rear 6x9's, and used them for the line converter that runs my sub amp, a Hifonics BXI1608D. I then spliced into wires that go to the Bose amp INPUT, and ran them to a separate two channel amp which drives aftermarket 3-way 6x9's. Somehow, in doing so I reversed polarity on one 6x9 (or input to the amp) so it's playing out of phase. I wish there was an easy way to tell which one without digging through amp wiring again.

Having the extra power and clarity with the 3-ways on the rear deck was a huge improvement-- The stock rear door speakers just didn't do it for me. So essentially the system is stock aside from powered 6x9's and two 12" subs in the back.

[KERNSX117]

Would this information still apply to an '97 model? I am currently having the no sound issue with my aftermarket radio and when I read this post and what others have told me, it doesn't seem to match up with mine. Any suggestions?

[swampthing]

No this information applies to 2000+ models only, start a new thread with your questions and someone with experience on the 96-99 models will help you

[redzmonte]

Adapters: The factory door chimes work through the stereo, if you don't care about them you can buy a cheap wiring adapter. However if you want the chimes I only know of two adapters for our cars to date and only have personal experience with one. they are the PAC C2r-GM32r and the Metra GMOS-9

I used the pac. overall it did the job however the buzzer used to replace the chimes was loud and annoying and I eventually taped over it anyways.
This brings up another very common problem, You installed the radio but have no sound, this is because the BOSE amp is not getting a turn on signal from the radio you simply have to run a wire from the blue/white wire on the cd player harness to this pink wire on the BOSE amp
and you are done

with the Metra you may not have to do this, perhaps someone with experience could chime in?

I did install a Kenwood DDX512 HU and i used the metra dashkit (decent), Metra GMOS-9, Metra ASWIC (steering wheel controls) and the VW10 antenna adaptor. I clipped 1 wire in the GMOS9 as indicated on the wire and the instructions which was for the 00-01 bose system. the ASWIC worked pretty good. couple buttons are not doing the correct functions but can be manually reprogramed per the instructions (had some trouble doing so, so i gave up) I didnt do the onstar instructions so my onstar is inop (no sound atleast, and i don't plan on using it). everything seems to be pretty straight forward but was a PITA comparied to most installs do to the cutting of the rear dash behind the deck. all said i got all the metra parts for $150 shipped on amazon. The Amp turned on and powered up the speakers perfectly on the 1st try, so no funny amp wiring to the bose amp with the metra harness.

[swampthing]

thanks for the info! I will add it to the main information page for better visibility

[WoodyBalto]

Let's make it clear, the rear 6x9s are NOT 2ohm. I have seen the amps internals there is only one output channel for the subwoofer. They are two 1ohm speakers wired in series to create a single 2ohm load.

Glad i read this thread before making my purchase.

I have an 02 SSEi w/ 8 speaker bose i just replaced head unit with pioneer simply cuz the CD did not work on the Bose nor does the 12 disk changer in the trunk.

Here is my reason for posting...
I seem to have a blown (factory) 6x9 it makes loud popping sound at very high volume with heavy base. I check the speakers with an ohm meter and it reads 2.0 so i found nice infinity kappas 2 ohm that i was about to purchase but i thought i would check here before doing so. Now that i have read that the originals are actually 1 ohm does anyone have a cheap solution? Maybe someone upgraded there system and has there old originals collecting dust? I cant see spending $100.00 for 1 stock speaker http://mnrelectronics.com/delbos6x9spe.html

Another thought i had was... does anyone make a low watt (35) Subwoofer in an enclosure that i could just plug into instead of the factory speakers?

i'm open to suggestions

[swampthing]

Are you sure you have Bose? 02 has the monsoon if I am not mistaken

[WoodyBalto]

Bose 100% sure on that

[00Beast]

I'm 90% sure you should have Monsoon. Crawl in the trunk, remove the plastic cover from the backseat (Just held on with magnets) and the amp will say "MONSOON" if that's what you have. Not sure whether the Bose amp is marked or not.

[jedwards83]

Bose amp isn't marked. It's behind that plastic cowl in the trunk nearest the rear seats, it's black, about 6 x 8", and the outside is also the heatsink (has fins) like most amps.

[WoodyBalto]

Does it matter weather its monsoon or bose? the ohm meter reads 2 ohm. The factory head unit clearly says Bose and the car is not here at the moment.

[swampthing]

Yeah it does, did you disconnect the wires from the speaker when you tested the impedance?

[jedwards83]

There really isn't an aftermarket 2 ohm speaker available that I know of. Some will advertise 2 ohms, but that's at a given frequency. Most often they're actually quite higher than that, such that they can still be compatible with 4 ohm amps (nearly all car amps are 4 ohm rated / channel). No manufacturer would make a speaker whose load is actually 2 ohms, because it would not work or be marketable toward 99% of stock car stereos.

On my 2000 Bose system: The bose amp for the rear speakers is single channel. From what I measured, the two 2 ohm speakers in the back are wired in series for a 4 ohm load at the amp.

[WoodyBalto]

the wires were connected to the speakers and stereo was on when i tested

[jedwards83]

the wires were connected to the speakers and stereo was on when i tested

Test only with the speakers disconnected!

[WoodyBalto]

testing again is not that simple. ohm meter was borrowed. Did they use monsoon amps with bose head units in 2002?

[swampthing]

Jedwards, that cannot be the case with the bose, when I replaced my stock rear 6x9s I used infinity speakers thinking that I would keep the correct impedance, but it didn't. My sound was cut in half, and when I disconnected one speaker, effectively making the load 2ohm . The single speaker that was connected got louder