C5 stereo upgrade advice needed please
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,795
Likes: 2
From: Noblesville Indiana
CI 7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
C5 stereo upgrade advice needed please
Just curious what the experts would recommend to upgrade the crappy Bose system in the C5. I don't need/want anything spectacular - no boxes, amps, nav.,etc. I would just like to upgrade the stereo and speakers in the original locations. Also, I would like to stay at or under $1,000. TIA.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
problem with upgrading the speakers is that you will be taking out an 8" speaker and replacing it with a smaller 6.5". You will lose some bass. also w/o an amp you will be starving the component speakers (if you chose to go this route).
Probably the best thing for you to do is integrate a h/u into the bose set up and then upgrade the bose 'twiddlers' with a nice set of 3.5" coaxials. This will let you keep the bass from the bose while improving the mids and highs while not adding any additional amps to the system.
Probably the best thing for you to do is integrate a h/u into the bose set up and then upgrade the bose 'twiddlers' with a nice set of 3.5" coaxials. This will let you keep the bass from the bose while improving the mids and highs while not adding any additional amps to the system.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,136
Likes: 2,983
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
alright...I DISAGREE with Scott 
IMO, buying the adaptors to run the 8" Blose woofers is a waste of money.
Put these in the doors
http://cgi.ebay.com/JL-Audio-XR653-C...QQcmdZViewItem
I know you don't want added "amps" but it will be soooooo much better.
Use this to power the above 3-way speakers.
http://cgi.ebay.com/JL-AUDIO-300-2-S...QQcmdZViewItem The amp can be totally hidden in the rear center compartment, running at 4 ohms you should not have a problem.
They don't have to be those exact items, those are just ideas. Both can be had for less than $650
That leaves you $350 for a headunit and cables. You can get a nice HU for $250, cables will be less than $100. If you want to have rear speakers (not needed in my book....and Scott's 
) just use the headunit's power to run the factory rears. 
IMO, buying the adaptors to run the 8" Blose woofers is a waste of money.
Put these in the doors
http://cgi.ebay.com/JL-Audio-XR653-C...QQcmdZViewItem
I know you don't want added "amps" but it will be soooooo much better.
Use this to power the above 3-way speakers.
http://cgi.ebay.com/JL-AUDIO-300-2-S...QQcmdZViewItem The amp can be totally hidden in the rear center compartment, running at 4 ohms you should not have a problem.
They don't have to be those exact items, those are just ideas. Both can be had for less than $650
That leaves you $350 for a headunit and cables. You can get a nice HU for $250, cables will be less than $100. If you want to have rear speakers (not needed in my book....and Scott's ) just use the headunit's power to run the factory rears.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
Originally Posted by knewblewkorvette
alright...I DISAGREE with Scott
IMO, buying the adaptors to run the 8" Blose woofers is a waste of money.
Put these in the doors
http://cgi.ebay.com/JL-Audio-XR653-C...QQcmdZViewItem
I know you don't want added "amps" but it will be soooooo much better.
Use this to power the above 3-way speakers.
http://cgi.ebay.com/JL-AUDIO-300-2-S...QQcmdZViewItem The amp can be totally hidden in the rear center compartment, running at 4 ohms you should not have a problem.
They don't have to be those exact items, those are just ideas. Both can be had for less than $650 That leaves you $350 for a headunit and cables. You can get a nice HU for $250, cables will be less than $100. If you want to have rear speakers (not needed in my book....and Scott's ) just use the headunit's power to run the factory rears.
IMO, buying the adaptors to run the 8" Blose woofers is a waste of money.
Put these in the doors
http://cgi.ebay.com/JL-Audio-XR653-C...QQcmdZViewItem
I know you don't want added "amps" but it will be soooooo much better.
Use this to power the above 3-way speakers.
http://cgi.ebay.com/JL-AUDIO-300-2-S...QQcmdZViewItem The amp can be totally hidden in the rear center compartment, running at 4 ohms you should not have a problem.
They don't have to be those exact items, those are just ideas. Both can be had for less than $650
That leaves you $350 for a headunit and cables. You can get a nice HU for $250, cables will be less than $100. If you want to have rear speakers (not needed in my book....and Scott's ) just use the headunit's power to run the factory rears. i agree with knewblewkorvette but vettecop1125 didn't want to add amps! so based on what he asked for i think that was the best solution...jerk
tell ya what... i'll buy the amp for you if you want to go that route... i think i still have knewblewkorvette's credit card # around here somewhere
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,795
Likes: 2
From: Noblesville Indiana
CI 7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
So I can't just go with something like an Alpine h/u and 4 decent speakers and have a much better sounding stereo? I really don't want a lot of bass and something that can be heard a mile away. I would just like a good clean sound. My dad's old Caddy (98 I think) and current Lexus (01) have a much cleaner sound than the vette. That's what I'm trying to achieve.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,136
Likes: 2,983
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
yes
Get a "high-powered" HU (most headunits are now). Alpine makes a fine unit. Still, get the above speakers (91 db) and keep the Blose rears. You will be way under $1K total. If needed, you can always upgrade the rear speakers for under $150. You will have much more clear highs and the bass will be equal to or better than the Bose door speakers.
Hi Scott
Get a "high-powered" HU (most headunits are now). Alpine makes a fine unit. Still, get the above speakers (91 db) and keep the Blose rears. You will be way under $1K total. If needed, you can always upgrade the rear speakers for under $150. You will have much more clear highs and the bass will be equal to or better than the Bose door speakers.
Hi Scott
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 796
Likes: 0
From: Crapachusetts MA
I just replaced all 4 twiddlers with Infinity reference series, and replaced my HU with a Pioneer avic 7500dvd, kept the bose amps and woofers thru a soundgate adapter. As it is now it sounds very good, although it is a bit missing in the high end, but the bass is actually very good and tight.
I plan on putting in an infinity basslink in the rear hatch to even out the bass a bit, and possibly inline small tweeters to the front pillars.
I plan on putting in an infinity basslink in the rear hatch to even out the bass a bit, and possibly inline small tweeters to the front pillars.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 802
Likes: 0
From: Bueche Louisiana
the best thing you can do for the stereo would be to sound deaden the interior this will yield the best results for whatever you do and it can be done for less than 100 bucks
you have to remove your seats and carpet but belive me its worth it
killing the road noise actually made the stock bose system sound decent afterwards
you have to remove your seats and carpet but belive me its worth it
killing the road noise actually made the stock bose system sound decent afterwards
