Adding tweeters to existing Bose
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,380
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
I replaced the Bose tweeters with a pair of Pioneer co-axial "tweeters", in my C-5, a LONG time ago. I won't supply the part number, because it was so long ago, the part number probably has been long since superseded. Nonetheless, while it didn't turn the Bose into a "top notch" system, it did brighten the sound up a little. My car is a coupe, and I just remembered that I also installed a pair of Kenwood 3-ways in the rear speaker position, too. Same result, a bit brighter, as the Kenwoods had a real tweeter, and the OEs don't.
Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 11,776
Likes: 1,376
From: US
I wouldn't add anything to the stock setup -- just replace the speakers in the entirety. The stock speakers are hideous, they were bad even by 1998 standards.
You can replace the "subwoffers" (they're really not subs) in the doors with a meta adapter, and add in 6" rounds + tweeters of your choice. Super easy to do.. do a search though, I did my setup all at once (replaced everything including head unit), I don't recall if you need a PAC interface to run aftermarket speakers on your stock headunit.
If you're set on adding speakers, keep in mind that the "amps" in the door are proprietary, and are also cheap and horrible (they're about the size of a smartphone, a little thicker, and rms at 17 watts).
adding anything to that system will certainly stress it.
You can replace the "subwoffers" (they're really not subs) in the doors with a meta adapter, and add in 6" rounds + tweeters of your choice. Super easy to do.. do a search though, I did my setup all at once (replaced everything including head unit), I don't recall if you need a PAC interface to run aftermarket speakers on your stock headunit.
If you're set on adding speakers, keep in mind that the "amps" in the door are proprietary, and are also cheap and horrible (they're about the size of a smartphone, a little thicker, and rms at 17 watts).
adding anything to that system will certainly stress it.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 11,776
Likes: 1,376
From: US
The mid in the rear and the mid in the door are both garbage paper, the "amps" are about the size (and almost the same thickness) as a paper plate, and the "amps" are tiny pieces of garbage about the size of card decks.
If you're going through the work of replacing the head unit and some of the speakers, the extra amount of work to replace all the speakers is minimal, and the cost isn't that great either... You can get a metra mount that drops in perfectly into the door, and mount 6.5" + 3.5" speakers in each door.
On the head unit, I highly recommend the ilx650 -- it's a great (mechless) unit, andoird auto and apple car play, and has as an extra option an ingenious 450 watt amp that snaps onto the back of the head unit -- so you get your head unit, a decent amp all tucked away in the center console. I did a short write up on it here
consider this DD headunit if you're doing an upgrade... - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
