I have an 89 Coup with the BOSE system. Never was thrilled with the sound and speaker pacements. When the top is off block the back ones pretty good and door speakers are useless. Thinking of just a good stereo that fits nicely in dash and speakers in the dash and rear. Any suggestions to models and installation tips?

 

well... there is this area called Audio/Electronics... within this area is a thing called the "C4 Audio FAQ." Intrestingly enough, that FAQ is linked from the C4 Tech FAQ.

To save some searching - Audio/Electronics Forum

Read the C4 Audio FAQ and then re-ask this question there...

 

Corvette Central has 2 radio's that will fit the opening,with harness that connects to yours. You don't want to cut your's whatever you do! They have a Pioneer and an Audiovax{made by major brand,can't remember who] that fit real nice,even connect to your power ant. Summit has them a little cheaper,but the harness is more difficult.

 

That is Audiovox. And it's junk.

Here lies the problem: you replace the head unit with a "bose compatible" unit, you STILL have a system where the bose is the limiting factor.

Gut the entire mess and lay out new wire. You can get a harness to gain power, ground and memory.

 

Im with Bogus!!Bose is like wall mart.They have found a way to make junk sound good,but when it fails flick it.

 

I pulled out my Bose system in my 92 and replaced it with a Alpine head unit and B&W speakers all the way around. I had it installed at a custom audio shop and they made a insert that took the Alpine unit and made a storage area under the unit to put sunglasses, CD's, etc. What a difference in sound over the stock! I did keep the Bose system for resale at a later date or if I sell the car and the new owner wants it back to OEM.

 

Thanks for the info so far. Want to pull out the Bose head unit and speakers. Run new wires for the four (maybe six) speakers. Retain the Bose parts when I sell the car OR go back to full stock.

 

You replace the entire system,and can't use the BLOWS speakers. They are junk anyway.The NEW PIONEER AND AUDIOVOX comes with a harness that makes the connection from the new radio to your new speakers. Connecting the Audiovax to good 3 ways in frt [not in the doors either,in the dash where they belong] and 4 ways in back,with the fresh new wires,with factory connections,[not twisted together like many people do,]and it sounds as good or better than any on the Market. The real expensive units are made at the same country,same parts,same technology as the cheaper ones. SO THERE,put that in your pipe and smoke it

 

I respectfully decline to accept your statement that the Audiovox is equal to Alpine or Eclipse. I have been around car audio for over 20 years... I know junk when I see it.

Toss in the price that MAD and Ecklers sells these boat anchors for, and they are not worth it. It's old tech.

4 ways in the back? Why? that makes no sense. Soundstage comes from the front speakers. You would be stomping all over it. The better bet is, as you said, 3 ways up front (6" in the door, with the rest in the dash, wired 180* out of phase so when they bounce off the glass, the sound hits your ears right) and a pair of 8" subs in the rear enclosures.

oh, you will need a 2 channel amp to drive the separates up front, and something nice, like a 250x1 amp to run the subs.

The end result is a properly imaged system.

BTW, I think if you read the Ecklers ad, the Pioneer is supposedly modified to accept the bose speakers and amps... or has some adaptor come with it.

 

Modifiy a new radio and connect to old speakers, that are probably blown anyway? Speakers in the doors? My calfs don't have ears! And amp's are nothing but trouble because you are boosting a signal that could be distorted. Now you say filter? Keep adding all these potential problems and costs on and your into a $1500 system for RAPPERS!......4 ways work great in the same holes in the back,using the BLOWS covers,looks factory.Set the fader to power the rear higher and balance the sound perfect! [Small head radios,look like a Radio Shack job,no matter how you install them.,and I have one professionally installed] I still say the Audiovox or better yet the Pioneer w/good speakers{3&4} way,sounds great for under$500.Light color even match dashboard. I have a Alpine small head,mp3,cd,rsvp,asap,and other stuff in it I don't use.It sounds great but still looks like it does not belong there,so I always revert to the good HOT ROD ADVICE.......K I S S

 

whew... you really don't have a true grasp of audio, do you?

If so, you would understand that putting the speakers in the doors isn't about direct sound, but indirect sound. And that the speakers in the dash, properly crossed over will create the proper soundstage.

Or that having a set of 8" subs does not automatically mean "rapper."

Sound covers an entire spectrum. From the subtle highs of a guitar string, to the power of the kick drum.

Your system is more based on what 'looks right' versus what sounds right. If you want it to look right, keep it stock. Otherwise, make it sound right. As it stands, your system is going to be very high and mid heavy, the vocals would be strong to the point of harsh. The drum would be interesting, you might just hear the stick hit the face, but never hear the natural decay of the hit.

Do yourself a favour and listen to a quality car audio system before trashing the entire hobby.

 

Wow misconceptions running rampant in this thread, I will just add this and let bogus handle it: A 4 way speaker is a MYTH. Sure it can ATTEMPT to play the entire spectrum, but it has no chance of playing say 40hz AND 3k hz from the same cone at the same time with ANY sort of accuracy or authority in either.

3 ways would make more sense and save you some money. 4 ways are produced for people that have no clue so the sales department can make some money at the shops.

G'luck
Fej

PS Audiovox to Alpine is like comparing ebay headers to LG pros.

 

fej... thanks. I love you too, brah....

 

Thanks for the info. The Pioneer head you mention is in the Mid America cat. at $500 with or without bose. I assume the w/o is the same sold elsewhere at $200.

Not sure if I want subs and an amp, thinking good speaker placement and 45 watts per channel will be a good upgrade over current system.

 

First off, the 45 watts they claim in a head unit, even good ones, is a joke... they don't come near what they say. That 45 watts is not per channel, either, it's 45 watts TOTAL, as in devided by 4.

You can go small... the rear bulk head will support a couple of smaller amps just fine.

Also, a nice 4 channel amp, something like a JL Audio 450x4 would serve very well. And would fit on the bulk head perfectly.

ArcAudio makes some very nice amps that will fit and perform perfectly.

As fej said in another thread, you can buy a $200 amp, that puts out 400 watts, and get a clean 100 watts from it, or, buy a $1000 amp that puts out 400 watts and get a clean 600 watts from it... take your pick.

The Bose system actually put out 50 watts per corner, 200 total. The speakers are 1 ohm, which means they can use a real little amp that is 1 ohm stable. Because under normal 4 ohm conditions, the little amp will only put out 12.5 watts, it's kinda lame and weak, but make it a 1 ohm amp, and guess what! You get 50 watts!

neat trick...

What bose does it take junk drivers, junk amps and put them into an expensive cabinet... which makes it sound ok.

 

Thanks for clearing that up, saved me from having to re-install the unit with upgrade later.

 

Take your time, buy some components that will work, and then upgrade as you can.

For example, get a good head unit, the best you can afford with all the features you want, then add a nice pair of front stage drivers... run the speakers off the head for a while, then add an amp... then the subs and an amp for them.

 

Like your train of thought, Do you recommend or like boston acoustics or jl audio for speakers. Im looking into the 6.5 component for the front and maybe 5.25 for the rear with a sub. Dont know which way to go just yet. I have a 2005 c6 with nav and would like to keep that if possible. I do like the nav system but hate the bose sound. Any help would be cool. Thanks

 

Rajus I reccomend you start a new thead since its a C6, and not a C4. But those are both great speakers set ups

 

Sorry about that and thank you for the info.