Bose Stereo.JUNK
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 311
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
Bose Stereo.JUNK
I just had all of the speakers in my 02 replaced. I was very disappointed with the components that came out. Is it really that big of a deal for manufacturers to put quality speakers into a car as expensive as the Corvette? I don't think too many people would have changed thier minds about buying a Vette if the price had been $500 more because it had a quality sound system in it. The rear speakers were $15 pieces. The front door speakers are an anomally...never seen anything like em, but I know that front 3" speaker was worth maybe $12. Paper cones. Light magnets. The subwoofer (if you can call it that) was rather amazing considering it's size.
I now have a stealthbox with a 10" DVC, an Alpine 5 ch Amp, and component speakers in the front with 3-way speakers in the rear. The imaging in the car is great now. All of this and I still have the regular head unit in it with an iPod hooked into the disc changer cable, and the car still looks completely stock, but sounds like a show car.
I now have a stealthbox with a 10" DVC, an Alpine 5 ch Amp, and component speakers in the front with 3-way speakers in the rear. The imaging in the car is great now. All of this and I still have the regular head unit in it with an iPod hooked into the disc changer cable, and the car still looks completely stock, but sounds like a show car.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 0
From: Spring Hill, Florida Life is all about new beginnings;...TRY ONE!
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Originally Posted by jhiiidoc
I just had all of the speakers in my 02 replaced. I was very disappointed with the components that came out. Is it really that big of a deal for manufacturers to put quality speakers into a car as expensive as the Corvette? I don't think too many people would have changed thier minds about buying a Vette if the price had been $500 more because it had a quality sound system in it. The rear speakers were $15 pieces. The front door speakers are an anomally...never seen anything like em, but I know that front 3" speaker was worth maybe $12. Paper cones. Light magnets. The subwoofer (if you can call it that) was rather amazing considering it's size.
I now have a stealthbox with a 10" DVC, an Alpine 5 ch Amp, and component speakers in the front with 3-way speakers in the rear. The imaging in the car is great now. All of this and I still have the regular head unit in it with an iPod hooked into the disc changer cable, and the car still looks completely stock, but sounds like a show car.
I now have a stealthbox with a 10" DVC, an Alpine 5 ch Amp, and component speakers in the front with 3-way speakers in the rear. The imaging in the car is great now. All of this and I still have the regular head unit in it with an iPod hooked into the disc changer cable, and the car still looks completely stock, but sounds like a show car.
How much would that swap for better speakers cost?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 0
From: Greensboro, NC "REALITY IS MERELY AN ILLUSION, ALBEIT A VERY PERSISTENT ONE"...ALBERT EINSTEIN"
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07
BOSE = BLOSE
Here is what I did to get started.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...0&page=1&pp=20
Wound up adding a self powered sub. Now all that is left is to replace the rears.
.
Here is what I did to get started.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...0&page=1&pp=20
Wound up adding a self powered sub. Now all that is left is to replace the rears.
.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 232
From: Youngstown Ohio
Hey how ya doin. Just read your post about your bose radio. I agree that the factory speakers are poor, very poor. 
I have been considering a stereo upgrade but don't want the non factory look of an aftermarket head unit, just like you. How did you convert the stock outputs to be compatible with your Alpine amp? Also, do you still have front/rear and left/right control of your speaker locations from the factory head unit?
Thanks for the info,
Pat
I have been considering a stereo upgrade but don't want the non factory look of an aftermarket head unit, just like you. How did you convert the stock outputs to be compatible with your Alpine amp? Also, do you still have front/rear and left/right control of your speaker locations from the factory head unit?Thanks for the info,
Pat
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 592
From: Olathe KS
I have no doubt that you can upgrade, but isnt that true with any stock system? 
I don't know guys. I think that one of the things that they actuall got right was the stereo ! My 2003 stock is great and I have both an MP3 player and Sirius Satellite coming through it.
I'm actually suprised you can hear the stereo with all the rattles, clanks, and wind noise that the car produces
I don't know guys. I think that one of the things that they actuall got right was the stereo ! My 2003 stock is great and I have both an MP3 player and Sirius Satellite coming through it.
I'm actually suprised you can hear the stereo with all the rattles, clanks, and wind noise that the car produces
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,890
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by Mr Snappy!
with all the rattles, clanks, and wind noise that the car produces
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
Likes: 4
From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Well between the real crappy systemin my Trailblazer, the Corvette's Bose system sounds 10 times better. I am just not into spending thousands and ripping apart the car anymore for tunes. IMHO
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: Tiverton RI
Depends on what your into I guess. I only did a basic upgrade and it put me in the hole for over 1200$ Prolly could have spent the money on other upgrades but the SQ is 100 times better after the upgrade.
Just my .02
B
Just my .02
B
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
I just had all of the speakers in my 02 replaced. I was very disappointed with the components that came out. Is it really that big of a deal for manufacturers to put quality speakers into a car as expensive as the Corvette?
You are making a common mistake by judging the sound quality by the physical apperance of the bare speaker driver.
Bose uses active equalization at each speaker location. When doing it this way, the quality of the bare speaker isn't as important.
I do understand that many don't like the "brute force method" that BOSE uses. But the quality of sound that they get out of run-of-the-mill speaker drivers is amazing.
And this "active equalization" method is not Bose exclusive anymore. Just one example is in Home Theater subwoofers. Those small coned subs that surprisingly put out very low freqs - while still maintaining flat response from 18hz through 120hz - use that exact same method.... even though the drivers themselves are not all that large.
So, don't get all that dissapointed with the physical apperance of a bare speaker itself Look further into what is controlling it - only that way will you get the complete story of the entire system.
.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,966
Likes: 5
From: Wichita Falls Tx
I may be off base here, but I suspect age has a lot to do with liking/not liking the Bose system. At age 54, I find it to sound very good compared to some factory systems I've heard.
That comes from a man that spent 28 years in radio and continues to make his living playing music.
Now, with that said, I would never use Bose to earn my living with.
That comes from a man that spent 28 years in radio and continues to make his living playing music.
Now, with that said, I would never use Bose to earn my living with.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I am very happy with the sound Quality, except for the minor lack of bass, and the Cheap head unit. If you want state of the art with practicality here it is( it requires a nice amount to get installed right, but what on these cars isn't expensive) It is a touch-screen DVD player with navigation capebility and is truly awesome in my opinion( I bought mine and LOVE it) Kenwood Excelon DDX-7015. Out with the old and in with the new 
This is not my install because I don't have pics, but , it's done just like it
This is not my install because I don't have pics, but , it's done just like it
Last edited by pewterwest99; Apr 30, 2005 at 11:31 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
From: Lake County California
I replaced the entire Bose system in my '04 coupe. Alpine head unit w/built-in XM, JL Audio coax speakers all around, JL amp, JL subwoofer that fits in the rear compartment, and separate JL amp for the subwoofer. Dynamatted the entire interior floor and behind speakers. The difference between stock and something like this is immense.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,324
Likes: 811
From: Naples Florida
The stock stereo system in my friends 03 Grand Am blows away my stock Bose system sound quality wise. Heck even the system in my work truck which is a 05 Ranger sounds better than my Bose. GM could have done way better in the stereo department for our C5's. 
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Ann Arbor MI
if you think the b(l)ose in the vette sucks, anybody see the setup on a mazda rx7? it was called something like "accustamax" or some stuff. it sounded "ok", but it looked like more like rainbird (underground corragated drain tubes) than car audio.