Can I simply install an amp in my C5 Coupe? I have the stock CD player with 12 disk changer.I have never installed an amp before but have done simple radio installs many years ago. Where do I install the amp? What do I need as far as power and channels? Are there aftermarket wiring harnesses needed? Or do I just connect to a power source and tap in the amp to all four speakers? It seems the more I read here the more confused I become :(. I would perfer doing this install myself. I have researched this topic here and have even read the tech tip article yet I still havent found a single source telling me what to do. Thank you all in advance for your responses.

 

you're not gonna just add an amp.

Thats a given.

the Blose speakers won't deal well with 4 ohm signals, and your amp won't like 1 ohm speakers.

so... you need to ditch the speakers.

this is getting expensive, eh?

gets better.

you will need line level adaptors to change the signal from the head unit to a signal that the amp can understand. The problem? these adaptors can cause more noise than they are worth.

you may wanna consider a new head.... which means the 12 disc changer is now a boat anchor.

as for power... you will want to run a big wire, through the firewall to the battery. and I don't know about a good ground in the back of the C5s, so do what I did on my C4... run an equally big wire for ground, to the battery, or, at the very least, a good ground.

you will then need signal cable. don't scrimp... the cheaper the cable, the more noise they will pick up. get something good. stinger, monster... something like that.

I hope this helps some... I can chime in more when you digest this!

 

Can I add the amp and change out the speakers? I have already switched the rear ones for Infinity's

 

I added an amp to my system with no prior car stereo knowledge :)

99HT is the man when it comes to the Bose system. His posts and tech article were invaluable.


[Modified by Blue 02 C5, 2:53 PM 4/15/2003]

 

Did you add it to your C5? What was the outcome? Easy install?

 

Luckily for C5 owners, the C5 has a completely different Blose design than the C4 did and you can mix aftermarket components with it without experiencing the problems that plagued the C4 Blose systems. Simply running a decent quality line out converter from the back of the HU will allow you to add an amp and sub(s) to your stock system. I would suggest replacing the stock speakers however; you will receive better SQ from them. You already have some Infiniti's in the back but you might want to go with a good separate system up front. So basically, all you will be keeping is the stock HU and disc changer. Later on if you decide to change the HU, that can be done with ease.

As for wiring, any decent amp kit no smaller than 4-gauge will work, depending on the power you plan on running you may need larger. Nowadays most wiring kits come with good quality wire for a reasonable price. No need in wasting your money on brand name wire especially RCA's. RCA's are RCA's and as long as they are shielded that is all you need. Some brand name companies *cough Monster cough* will charge an arm and a leg for them when they really aren’t any better. Run new speaker wire to your speakers as well.

Many people on this forum have added aftermarket components to their stock C5 Delco/Blose HU so you should receive plenty of responses.

 

Definitly look at the post in the TECH section about the C5 bose wiring. I finished my install a couple of weeks ago and am very happy with my system. I kept my stock headunit and 12 disc changer. I replaced the front door speakers with a set of CDT components, replaced the rears with 6.5 coax CDT's and added a 10 inch CDT sub. The Fronts and the sub are all running off of a 4 x 50 wrms sony amp that I had from another car. There is no need for a lineout converter with the Blose headunit. It already has a 4 channel preamp out, it just does not have easy RCA connections. The right up in the TECH section will give you all the details. Essentially there are 4 wires coming out of the harness RR, RF, LR, LF all Positive, there is also a wire covered by a clear shielding that is the negative for all channels. Cut the RCA connector off of one end of the rca cable and connect to these wires. Run the RCA cable to your amp(s) and you have signal for your amp. Just beware that upgrading your system is a disease. I convinced myself that I was just going to do a modest upgrade and not spend to much. Well my system has been complete for about 3 weeks and I just ordered new amps for it today because I was not happy with the way the current amp install turned out (behind passenger seat). I am not alone in my sckness, many others on the forum are in much worse condition than I. Good luck.

Here is the link to the Bose wiring tips. https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=120&TopicID=1


[Modified by Kev99, 5:04 PM 4/15/2003]

 

I think I understand what you are saying. I can find four wires coming out the back of the stock Blose head unit and use these for my amp connections provided I have replaced the stock speakers? I know I have to buy an amp with high level inputs. What should I look for power wise in a 4 channel amp?
And I make all negative speaker connections to one wire covered by a clear shielding that is the negative for all channel sections? One wire handles the negative for all four speakers?
What size speaker can I fit in the front door after making a template? Any suggestions on where to install the amp?

 

You do not need high level inputs, only low level (RCA). You will need to cut the end off of the rca cable and connect the + wire from each RCA wire to one of the four wires from the headunit. Connect all the negative wires from the RCA's to the one negative wire. The other side of the rca wire will then plug into the low level inputs on your amp. I have a set of 6.5 inch components in my doors which is the norm for most C5 upgrades. The speakers you choose will have alot to do with how much power you need in an amp. But if you go with components I would suggest at least 50 wrms per channel, more would not hurt. I am replacing my 4 x 40 wrms with 2 2x75 wrms amps. I installed my current amp behind my passenger seat. I am not happy with it because it limits seat travel and I see the wires. I just ordered 2 Blaupunkt amps that should be small enough to fit under my seats, if not I will put them in the back side storage compartments. I have not heard much about them on this forum but they have received decent review on other sites. Another place is on the back wall of the trunck area. I installed my changer there because the center storage compartment has my sub.

 

Ok, I may be dumb but I am trainable! To summarize, I install the pos output wires for each speaker using the wiring from the head unit to the corresponding terminal on the amp (LR + to LR+ etc.) All the speaker negative wires from the amp can be spliced together and tied into the one negative output speaker wire at the head unit. I will connect power wire to the battery and probably the main ground as well. Some of the amps I looked at had a lot more terminals than this. Do I just ignore the other terminals? Does anyone ever install the amps inside there storage compartments or would they become to hot?

 

You will need to use 2 RCA cables to connect the headunit to the amp not speaker wire. The rca cables will usually have 2 rca type connectors on either end. This means you will have 2 cables (front channnel and rear channel) and each cable has two channelsor wires (1 for right and one for left)

1. Cut the both rca connectors off of one end of the RCA Cable and strip some of the insulation off.
2. for each channel you will see a thin wire with shielding around it and then there will be a lot of individual strands of wire around that. Unwrap the individual wires from the shielded wire and twist them. This becomes the negative wire for that channel. You will do this for both channels.
3. Follow step 2 for the second RCA cable.
4. Take one RCA, connect one of the shielded inner wire to the LF out C4(9) TAN/BLK wire coming out of the stereo harnes. Take the other shielded inner wire from the same RCA cable and connect it to the RF out C4(10) LT GRN/BLK wire coming out of the stereo harness. Take both negative wires you created from step 2 and connect them to the clear shielded wire coming out of the stereo harness. You have now completed the wiring for you front left and right channels.
5. Do the exact same thing with the second RCA cable to connect the rear right and left channels using LR out C4(11) BRN and RR out C4(12) DK BLU coming from the stereo harness.
6. Connect the other ends of the RCA cable, RCA ends to your amp.
7. Connect an 18 gauge wire to the SW +12 out C1(8) DK GRN, Radio "ON" signal coming out of the stereo harness and run this to the 12V remote turn on on the amp. This turns the amp on and off with the headunit. Run a power wire from the battery to the amp and run a ground wire from the amp to the seatbelt bolt. You then run seaker wires from the amp to the speakers and you have your amp hooked up. Most of us that add an amp also add a sub so there is not room in the center storage compartment for the amp. I am buying some amp that Blaupunkt claims can be installed in small places without overheating, I am going to install them into the side storage compartments.

Good luck
Kevin

 

Thank you Kevin. And everyone else who helped me. I plan to buy the components next month and will add a 4 channel amp along with some new rear and front speakers. I am not a purist so to speak and do enjoy hearing the sound surround me and will keep the rears. I am still open to suggestions for an amp and speakers though. I know squat about what to buy. I do know I am not a lover of deep booming bass and I enjoy clean highs. Should I stay with a basic speaker like the Infinitys 63.5i's all around? Would I realize any advantage of trying to play with and tweak a component speaker up front with the stock head? Budget is approximately $750 for amp and 4 speakers>
Once again, has anyone installed an amp in one of the storage compartments and kept the cover in place? Any problems?


[Modified by snowwolfe, 10:44 PM 4/16/2003]

 

Just thought this needed to come back up to the top. Very informative.