I have a 95 with the bose gold sound system. Is there any adapter you can buy to have the stero removed and put something newer in with out having to also pull the speakers? Any info would be appriecated

thanks

 

you should ask the guys over in the audio section they know all about the system.

 

The short answer is no. Why? Because the Bose gold speaker system is a system in which each speaker is independently amplified. Just like all Bose systems. Can it be done? Yes But it would involve cutting and splicing of wires to tie into an aftermarket amplifier if you plan on retaining the original speaker system. Ive seen multiple configurations of mini amplfier mounted behind the dash, behind the seat and even in the storage cubbies in the rear deck. And of course in a carpeted rear deck box. So ask yourself a couple of questions.

Am I looking to keep my car orginial? If so send your Head unit to Dr Dons to repair. He can upgrade the CD ROM drive to play burned CDs and MP3. If your looking to intergrate your IPOD just buy a transpod FM modulator unit. Mine works well for $30 I picked up on Ebay.

Am I looking to update and dont care too much about orginality? Pioneer make a nice double DIN model with intergrated GPS that fits that hole nicely but you will need to replace the speakers. I have an aftermarket system in my car but have retained the orginal head unit and speakers for the new buyer (lol). Or you can sell them to defray the cost of your "new Stereo sytem" here on the forum and they will fetch a good price.

Your call you have plenty of options. Goldcylon

 

Get an aftermarket head unit. The Bose system is descent I suppose if you never had a good aftermarket setup...but it's severely overrated in this forum. These cars aren't classics last time I checked...I don't think replacing the head unit should be a big fuss. I wouldn't Call Dr. Rip off just yet. Paying a couple of hundred to fix a 10 year old head unit....just doesn't seem right. But then again I understand if your a member of the NCRS or whatever.

 

thanks for the info guys. I am not really worried about keeping the same stereo unit in there. I just wasn't really looking forward to replacing the speakers.

 

The door speakers are the bigger pain of the two to replace. The rears are not too bad at all to remove and after pulling the bose boxes you are left with a nice 6x9 opening that will fit any aftermarket speaker. The fronts are a bit of a PIA as you have to disassemble a good part of the door to get them out. However after removal a simple plywood/mdf "plate" to cover the square hole and you can then easily mount 5.25" speakers and could likely squeeze in 6.5" speakers if desired. Use a quality head unit and perhaps an amp too, and you will then understand just how "bad" the bose system sounds in comparison.

And of course if you are really against removing the bose boxes, you could always do what was in my car when I purchased it. Someone had removed the bose speakers from the boxes, bypassed the internal amps, ran new wires and installed 4" alpine speakers back into the boxes. They also added a new head unit and the system performed OK. It was kinda tinny w/no bass response, but that's no surprise w/only 4" speakers. Personally I wouldn't recommend this, but it is an option. FWIW.

Good Luck!

 

I installed a new head unit and was able to keep the stock Bose speakers/amps. I used a Bose bypass kit from Installer.com
http://www.installer.com/item/displa...php?it=70-1857

 

Hi, I have the same kit and have it installed in the car. Do you connect all the factory connectors from the amp to the bypass kit? I'm asking because I'm not getting much sound.

Thanks!
Roland

 

I used the Bose adaptor from Ecklers. It was about $35 or so and works great.

 

Crutchfield has an adapter. I don't know much about it. It's called GM Factory System Integration Adapter for $40. I understand by much of what I've read that adapters in general don't work well. Check out C4 Audio FAQ in the General Corvette Forum for more info. I decided to rip all of the Bose stuff out and replaced it with a new aftermarket head unit then ran new wires to new speakers. Not that hard to do. No more head unit problems , no more speaker amp problems,and it sounds so much better. Hell, even my antenna goes all the way down every time now, go figure. No regrets here.

 

I had an Alpine head unit installed and a nice B&W component system installed in the rears. The ampo and enclosure are still there and these speakers fit into the opening. Sounds really good!
Good luck!

 

I would lke to know how anyone can really hear the quality of their stero system whith the top off or down. I have a Bose in my 84 and with the top off the sound is terrible.

Hugh

 

I never thought my radio sounded bad or weak. With my targa top off it actually sounded better, due to the exaust note not hanging around inside of the car. At higher speeds the wind does tend to take over on the sound though, but it'll do that in any car.

 

I unplugged the connectors at the receiver(or what ever that thing is called thats in the storage bin behind the passenger seat) and plugged them into the bypass kit. I think there were 3 that I needed to plug in.

 

Question.

I was told that if you bypass the amps on the existing speakers and use an aftermarket head unit, that the new head unit will burn out because it's working too hard to drive the speakers... Does that sound right?

 

Thats because the Bose speakers are 1 ohm, while most car stereos and 4 ohm.

 

i work in an audio store in south texas and i have a c4. if you want to keep the stock speakers then get the amplifier bypass harness. you can get it from METRA electronics and it is a 70-1857 harness. right now i have the radio out and i am doing custom fiberglass kick panels and installing 8 inch highs in the front kicks and eliminating the rear highs. since i am putting new speakers i have to run new wires and everything. since i did the aftermarket radio i had to pull the wires from the 70-1858 aftermarket harness to the tuner in the back of the vehicle in the little boex. now since i am changing everything i used that 1858 harness other than the 1857 harness. the 1857 harness is if you are using the stock speakers. but i am doing it all right and it takes time becasue of fiberglass and the car is very hard to move around in. but just to answer the question. yes you can do it and it isnt that hard. just have patience. i have been on mine for about a week without sound becasue i have little time to work on it. i am also doing an aftermarket amplifier and i am doing all MEMPHIS car audio with an eclipse cd player. any more questions just ask. i know what i am talking about. later