C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

Speakers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 26, 2011 | 03:47 PM
  #1  
Mikepro76's Avatar
Mikepro76
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Default Speakers

I have a '90 Convertible. I want to replace the speakers in the car. The stereo has already been updated. Is there anyway to replace the speakers and do away with the amps?
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2011 | 04:29 PM
  #2  
Larry/car's Avatar
Larry/car
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 629
From: Manheim Pennsylvania
Default

No, the speaker needs an amp to drive it. Does your updated stereo have a built in amp? If it does than you will be able to go directly to the speaker. If not, the preamp wires have to go to an amplifier, then from the amp to the speaker. Check with your local radio retailer for more info.
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2011 | 05:39 PM
  #3  
RetiredSFC 97's Avatar
RetiredSFC 97
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
Default

Yes. You can lose the speakers but you will either need to run new wires or bypass the preamp under the dash. (forgot what it's actually called) It's best to run new wires though.

This is assuming you have an aftermarket stereo installed.
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2011 | 10:34 PM
  #4  
bout-time's Avatar
bout-time
Instructor
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: St Petersburg, FL
Default

The "preamp" is called the CDM Unit. I installed an aftermarket Alpine stereo, bypassed (removed) the CDM, removed the Bose speakers and amps, and installed Boston Acoustics speakers in all four corners.
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2011 | 06:49 AM
  #5  
Mikepro76's Avatar
Mikepro76
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Default

When I bought the car it had an Pioneer stereo. But the 22 year old speakers sound like crap. I don't need anything special just something that sounds clear.
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2011 | 11:07 AM
  #6  
Flame Red's Avatar
Flame Red
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,519
Likes: 1,305
From: Windermere FL
Default

Originally Posted by Mikepro76
When I bought the car it had an Pioneer stereo. But the 22 year old speakers sound like crap. I don't need anything special just something that sounds clear.
Mike,

It is probably that they already ran new wires from the aftermarket head unit to the speakers, so you should be able to replace the speakers with whatever fits.

In my 90 I believe I put in 6.5" in the rear which fit without any modifications. In the front, I believe that I tried 5 1/4" which fit but required me to dremmel out some of front speaker housing. I was not satisfied with duals 5 1/4 I installed at first so I later replaced them with larger triples. It barely fit with tremendous modifications.

The verts are funny in that it still sounds odd as the rears are always "muffled" no matter how I try to adjust them. I think it is just the nature of the verts.
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2011 | 11:18 AM
  #7  
1963SS's Avatar
1963SS
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 4
From: Argillite KY
Default

The 6.5" speakers are 1 ohm and will probably destroy any built-in amp in the head unit. The larger front speakers are 1 ohm also. For some reason they used a more standard 4 ohm tweeter so if you can just find some mid bass/woofers and a capacitor that should allow the head unit to run your speakers. Just find some 6.5's and some smaller "woofers" for the front and they will adapt fine. Be sure to use some silicone or something to seal any air gaps in the front speakers.
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2011 | 12:16 PM
  #8  
c4cruiser's Avatar
c4cruiser
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

Try the Audio/Electronics section of the Forum to get some good information for speakers and install tips.

As mentioned, if the OEM Bose head unit has been removed, then you will need to run new speaker wire and install a good quality set of speakers that will fit in the stock locations. This would be a good time to add a small amp if you desire.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Nov 29, 2011 | 12:23 PM
  #9  
Repzard's Avatar
Repzard
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,696
Likes: 1
From: MA
Default

You can put some after markets in the place of the old Bose.
As for using the Bose on after market radios dont work.
Its the way they wired them and amps built into speaker

Most new radios made today have more RMS watts than the factory amp in the Bose speaker (Kaboom goes the speaker)
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Speakers





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:18 AM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE