C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

Bose Speaker boxes

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 6, 2015 | 11:05 PM
  #1  
87FIREREDRAGTOP's Avatar
87FIREREDRAGTOP
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Carson City Nevada
Default Bose Speaker boxes

Hi guys, I know this topic has probably been beaten to death over the years, but I couldn't find anything on it. My 86 had a Bose system in it at some point. The rear speakers were replaced with 6x9's. The sound quality is good but there is a very limited bass range. Seems like all the low end is missing. The speakers are very nice Alpine's and should respond down in the 80hz range. Now the question is, is it the original Bose boxes they are mounted in? I know the box itself is very small and designed for a small speaker. Has anyone done any mods to them to improve the low end? Like punch out the back or pop a 1 1/2 tube in the front?
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2015 | 10:00 AM
  #2  
jispr's Avatar
jispr
Instructor
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 208
Likes: 1
From: Lawrenceville GA
Default

Still got the Bose head or aftermarket? The Bose head needs amplifiers
at the speakers. If aftermarket..try reversing the wires at the speaker or maybe it's just the head unit has no base.
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2015 | 12:19 PM
  #3  
87FIREREDRAGTOP's Avatar
87FIREREDRAGTOP
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Carson City Nevada
Default

Originally Posted by jispr
Still got the Bose head or aftermarket? The Bose head needs amplifiers
at the speakers. If aftermarket..try reversing the wires at the speaker or maybe it's just the head unit has no base.
It's an aftermarket head unit. Good thought. I will check polarity on the speakers. I know it is good at the head unit because I just replaced it.
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2015 | 01:50 PM
  #4  
whalepirot's Avatar
whalepirot
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 120
From: AZ
Default

never seen any head unit that could adequately drive deep bass; just not enough power.

I run 8" in, essentially stock site with plenty of bass, but they're driven by a conservatively rated 100wpc separate amp.

speaker wires must be in polarity; in phase: + to +; - to -.
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2015 | 03:06 PM
  #5  
2HIP4U's Avatar
2HIP4U
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 844
Likes: 8
From: Butler PA
Default

A powered sub woofer may be in order...

Reply
Old Jan 8, 2015 | 09:10 AM
  #6  
87FIREREDRAGTOP's Avatar
87FIREREDRAGTOP
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Carson City Nevada
Default

I am not looking for a boom box in my car....Just a decent sound system. For me a good set of 6x9's work under normal circumstances. These just sound like the lower spectrum is missing. I will check the polarity this weekend. If that don't do it, I will try opening up the boxes a bit and see what happens. I will post results.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2015 | 12:02 PM
  #7  
whalepirot's Avatar
whalepirot
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 120
From: AZ
Default

Not sure who mentioned boom box. An properly designed speaker includes an enclosure that accommodates a particular transducer. It may be sealed or ported in addition to optimum enclosure volume. Very few aftermarket mobile speakers address this and I applaud your asking others what worked.

Having learned decades ago that 'high' in high fidelity does not refer to volume, or BOOM, I also appreciate tight, filling bass response. The small car interior is detrimental to low bass, as there is insufficient room for the long wavelengths.

Just as strong muscles can control a heavy hammer, a high power amplifier controls the diaphragm's movement, decreasing distortion and boomy bass, while supplementing the low end and protecting itself from excessive back current. The enclosure also allows a proper amount of speaker stiffness, but is a very complicated issue.

I suspect you will find you find a need for more clean power for those 6x9s for these reasons as the simplest solution to quality, not boomy bass.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2015 | 08:42 PM
  #8  
87FIREREDRAGTOP's Avatar
87FIREREDRAGTOP
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Carson City Nevada
Default

Originally Posted by whalepirot
Not sure who mentioned boom box. An properly designed speaker includes an enclosure that accommodates a particular transducer. It may be sealed or ported in addition to optimum enclosure volume. Very few aftermarket mobile speakers address this and I applaud your asking others what worked.

Having learned decades ago that 'high' in high fidelity does not refer to volume, or BOOM, I also appreciate tight, filling bass response. The small car interior is detrimental to low bass, as there is insufficient room for the long wavelengths.

Just as strong muscles can control a heavy hammer, a high power amplifier controls the diaphragm's movement, decreasing distortion and boomy bass, while supplementing the low end and protecting itself from excessive back current. The enclosure also allows a proper amount of speaker stiffness, but is a very complicated issue.

I suspect you will find you find a need for more clean power for those 6x9s for these reasons as the simplest solution to quality, not boomy bass.

Well now that you put it that way, maybe I will give it a little extra boost and see what happens.


Thanks for the input.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

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

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

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

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 8, 2015 | 08:44 PM
  #9  
87FIREREDRAGTOP's Avatar
87FIREREDRAGTOP
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Carson City Nevada
Default

Originally Posted by 2HIP4U
A powered sub woofer may be in order...


Good idea, but they normally take up to much space. I need my cargo area from time to time. This car is gonna be my daily driver for a while until I finish my GTA project.
Reply
Old Jan 9, 2015 | 07:07 PM
  #10  
87FIREREDRAGTOP's Avatar
87FIREREDRAGTOP
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Carson City Nevada
Default

Ok, here is what I found so far. The passenger side had the polarity reversed. Correcting this problem fixed the low end spectrum considerably. I still think there might be something wrong with the wiring though. When I use the balance to mover from side to side, both sides drop in volume but both are still playing. Looks like they used the factory wiring for the speakers. Does the factory Bose wiring share a ground?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Bose Speaker boxes





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:41 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE