Need a bose compatable radio with a cd and casette...where should I go????


Give me a break....

Doe's anyone know where to go????


thanks...\\


tony


:confused: :confused: :D :D :confused: :confused:

 

Actually, it isn't the aftermarket radio that is "compatible" with the Blose amps/speakers, they aren't, (and yes you will need aftermarket for what you are asking) however you can put any aftermarket HU you want in the car with the Blose speakers, you will just need an OEM converter to make the HU "compatible" with the Blose. Each converter runs about $80 to $90 and you will need two of them for stereo separation in your version of the Blose system. However, they are not very reliable and have been known to kill the Blose amps, possibly your HU, and the sound quality is terrible. You should be able to put all new aftermarket speakers in the car for around the same price or less than you would spend on converters and have much better sound quality, even if you just run the speakers off the aftermarket HU.

As for a suggestion on a HU, my recommendation would be Alpine. You can never go wrong with a good Alpine HU, even their lower-end models. However, since you want both CD and Cassette the first thing that comes to mind for a Din size unit is the TDM-7582, it is Cassette with CD controller so it will require you buy a CD changer along with the HU to get the CD option. It depends on how much you are willing to spend.

Give us a price range and we'll give you some options. :seeya

 

For the price of the converter you're halfway to replacing the speakers. The bose stuff is totally incompatable and was junk the day they made it. It has paper cones and foam surrounds. It should have synthetic cones and rubber surrounds. $5 drivers and $10 amps. They try to make it sound good by making enclosures that in tandem with the speakers have the same effect as using a loudness button on a standard stereo. Get something else. Maybe 4 polk audio speakers or infinity reference to be on the low end side or some boston acoustics coax to be in the mid end range.
As for decks, you can't go wrong with alpine. Most makers discontinued tape decks 5 years ago. Very little to choose from. Some keep a token single deck in production but at this point its like looking for an 8 track in the early '80s or trying to find a record player at best buy. Since I don't know of any combos still produced, you probably want to do something like the combo Nomad suggested. I had something similar in 1990 and it worked well. Don't think I ever used the tape though.
The other option you have is to buy a cd burner and convert all your tapes to MP3. Cost about the same as a tape deck and you won't have to lug around hundreds of tapes. You can fit many albums on one CD. A car MP3 will play both CD and MP3 and costs around $200.


[Modified by 92TripleBlack, 8:54 AM 11/19/2002]

 

I've talked to a couple of shops and they both said the OEM interface wasn't necessary and that it did have some problems. They said they make their own cables to interface with the Bose amps and they work just fine. Of course what's fine to them is probably not fine for all. I was just curious if you have heard of using this technique and if there are any pitfalls except for the obvious continued use of the Bose speakers.

I getting ready to pull the trigger on an Alpine 7894 with an XM tuner and was hoping to use the Bose amps and speakers until I could afford to put some good speakers in. Am I nuts?

 

Alpine HU and Infinity reference is a great example of what your looking for. The powerful HU's of today have no problem powering aftermarket speakers.

Remember, if your replacing the speakers and HU you will not need that expensive converter, only a simple $10 wire harness. I would recommend a black one to match the console.
Checkout this site for some great deals-
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/


[Modified by DSTJ99, 1:39 PM 11/19/2002]

 

There is no advantage for using the bose amps. The one in the radio is better than the bose. As for speakers, you really need the interface to convert the power to a new low level that the amps will accept. It can be done by juryrigging your own but this leaves even more to go wrong. I'm sure what they do is not free. "Good" speakers are probably $120 a pair and better than bose are $50 a pair. You could do one set of speakers now and a second set later. This would save you money vs the complete install and you wouldn't be paying extra in the long run.

 

I think you guys have convinced me to go ahead and replace the speakers too. I'll take a look at the Infinity for starters. Any other speaker suggestions for around a $100/pair?

 

Boston Acoustics RX series. http://www.bostonacoustics.com has the specs and pictures http://www.tms-electronics.com for purchases.

 

I've been talking to a shop to get this stuff installed and they gave me a quote today that includes $400+ for an advertised free installation. They are trying to smoke me for removing the existing Bose speakers and amp. To make a long story short I am considering doing the install myself. This will leave additional funds for better speakers. I am looking at JL Audio components for the front and JL for the rear. Are these fairly decent speakers?

While I've installed dozens of stereos over the years I've never tackled a C5 and I'm wondering if there are some tips to removing the panels, console etc. and anything I should watch out for. In addition, most of these shops are specifing a harness that connects to the existing wiring to provide power and whatever else is there. Are these common? Do I need one and are they readily available? I suspect I'll need to run power to the battery - where is the best place to get it through the firewall? Where are the Bose amps and should they be removed?

Sorry for the 20 questions but this is a major shift in paradigm for me. I haven't done this in twenty years or so and while I am technically competent enough to do it I have little patience for parts that stick or don't come off as expected.

 

As for Blose compatible, read my previous post about there not being such a thing but as to the CD/Cassette HU you asked about, Sanyo makes a DIN size HU with AM/FM CD and Cassette all-in-one. It's model # FXCD-1100 and is $299 at the website below. As for the quality of this HU I can't say, it's a Sanyo. You can check out the specs of the HU here:
http://63.74.14.181/Merchant2/mercha..._Code=FXCD1100

I can make no representation as to the quality of this HU for I know little of Sanyo products as far as real world testing but it does match what you described. I also know nothing about the integrity or legitimacy of the website selling it but I'm sure you can find it at a local car audio shop if you are interested in it. I have seen them at a few shops.

 

This last weekend, I had an Alpine 7897 installed in my 93. I stayed with the Bose speakers. Don't do it! $880 out the door and there is absolutely no bottom end! Would a subwoofer help? If so, can somebody recommend a small one that won't interfere with me putting the top down? By the way, I'm a new guy, first time Vette owner.

 

Mid America and Corvette Central to mention a few....offer radios/cd/cassette systems that according to the catalog's will work...prices kind of high...


Would this be a good choice????

thanks

tony


:confused:

 

Hi new guy. You have a few choices. First, I woud drop the rest of the bose. Its really a bad system and way overpriced for what you get. You can beat it sound wise for under $400 for the entire system. You already have a deck. Next step is to get speakers, then an amp and then finally a sub. What dictates what you should get is your budget, if you are capable and want to do the install yourself or if you want someone to do it for you, what kind of low range you need, music type, etc.
First things first:
Speakers. If you only want to get clean sound and have some bass, get some coax 5 1/4" speakers up front and 6x9 in the rear. This is a relatively easy install. If you installed the deck yourself you'd be up for it. You need to run wires from the deck to the 4 locations and then plug in the speakers. The front will require a little trimming of plastic and probably a 1/4" to 1/2" spacer ring to be attached to the bose box. Then the box needs to be sealed. The rear speaker is a plug in. You may want to replace the entire ABS plastic speaker plate with 1/2" MDF and seal it. Your bass will sound much stronger. I'd use Boston Acoustics RX 57 for the front and RX 97 for the rear. This would run you around $300 total. To increase sound output and bass, especially with a vert, I'd add a 50wx4 amp. The alpine amp is rated around that rating but since decks are rated at max instead of continuous, its really more like 12wx4, though this is substantially more than the bose its replacing. http://www.tms-electronics.com has these speakers listed. Bang for the buck they kick tail.

The next step up would be to a pair of seperates up front and a sub in the rear. Minimum for this install is a pair of seperates, generally $300-600, a 3 channel amp or 5 channel amp, figure $400, and a sub for around $200. You can turn the rear storage compartment behind the passenger seat into a sealed 1.0 cubic foot box that will fit a single 10" nicely. Figure this upgrade will be in the $1200 range when you're all done with wires, etc.

The last step is to do what I've done, which is the step above plus build a custom box for the rear. I have a High end $500 12" sub mounted in the cargo area, and a second set of seperates in the rear. Add alot more time and another $800 to get to this point.

After that you can get real crazy. Again, it depends what you want. I know about the bose with a vert. I had it for a year. You really only hear the music when you are stopped at a light. Now its clear as day with no other sounds reaching me at 75+. Hope this gives you some ideas.
:thumbs:

 

Thanks for the info, Tripleblack. Sounds like your stereo system is worth more than my house. Turn it up and I can probably hear it from here.

 

I took the advice offered here and replaced all the speakers. I put JL components in front and some cheap Bostons in the rear. Sounds way better than stock but I really do need a sub now. Maybe next Christmas.

 

Not really. I searched for bargains. I got the deck for $400, the front speakers for $250, the sub for $300, and inherited the rest from a friend who passed away. This includes the rear speakers and three amps or roughly about $800 in equipment. I did the install myself. Look at shops for leftovers, discontinued models, demos, etc. to get some good bargains.