Speaker Upgrade
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 4
From: Everett WA
Speaker Upgrade
Ok, I know this has been discussed before...
But, I was just reading through the stickies and found that the Infinities were suffering form a lack of power from the stock Bose amp. This seems to be causing speaker failure. Any updates out there? Is there a better speaker available for the stock system? And has anyone done a DIY on speaker swap-outs with pictures; all of the links in the stickies don't seem to have pictures any more.
But, I was just reading through the stickies and found that the Infinities were suffering form a lack of power from the stock Bose amp. This seems to be causing speaker failure. Any updates out there? Is there a better speaker available for the stock system? And has anyone done a DIY on speaker swap-outs with pictures; all of the links in the stickies don't seem to have pictures any more.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 0
From: Boca Raton Inlet, Atlantic Ocean (Floridas east coast)
After MUCH coverage the Boston Acustic S55s and S35s are the best and most common upgrade. They are even better with an 07 as the amp was slightly, well.....amped. The BAs are very efficient and they are also highly reccommended by Crutchfield.com. I recently replaced the center channel and rears with BAs and the difference is very noticeable (although the center sounded the same) The rear 5 1/2s have nice highs and tight clean mids. (the Bostons have built in crossovers) My next job is replaceing the door 3 1/2 inchers, that will bring it all together and compliment the center.
The Infinities are great speakers but require more power then the Bose amp puts out so unless your going to upgrade it, stick with the Bostons.
O yea, one more thing, Crutchfield sells a harness that snaps right on the existing Bose harness. If your doing the job yourself I highly recommend these. Crutchfield states they do not fit the Bose connection but they do. I forget the part number but ask around, someone will tell you. I do remember they have female connections.
The Infinities are great speakers but require more power then the Bose amp puts out so unless your going to upgrade it, stick with the Bostons.
O yea, one more thing, Crutchfield sells a harness that snaps right on the existing Bose harness. If your doing the job yourself I highly recommend these. Crutchfield states they do not fit the Bose connection but they do. I forget the part number but ask around, someone will tell you. I do remember they have female connections.
Last edited by LMB 4 ME; May 18, 2007 at 10:14 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,099
Likes: 64
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '09
I replaced the three front 3.5" with Boston Acoutics S35's 6 months ago. They sound much better than stock and no troubles so far, but I have yet to crank it much past 1/2 volume. Need to do the rear 5.5" with BA S55's now, and then replace the amp. 
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Is it possible to replace the Bose amp and just tie in the new amp into the HU? What type of connectors does the stock amp connect to the HU with? Just wondering how involved this mod would be, maybe not too bad at all...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,099
Likes: 64
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '09
Yes, it is possible. I believe CF member Shopdog has done it. Apparently the bigest problem is finding an amp physically small enough to fit in the space where the Bose amp is located. If you search the audio FAQ's, someone has posted which pins on the connector from the HU that give the clean four-channel signals.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
I'm, in the process of upgrading. Going with Boston SPZ 60 Front (In Bose 8"), Boston SPZ 50 Rear, and Boston IS Type-M Imaging (In Bose 3.5” door mounts) Speakers. For amps doing 2 Alpine PDX-4.150s. One runnning Bi-Amp for Front Main and Tweeter + Imaging. The second Bi-Wire Rear and Bridged Sub Woofer. Both mounted in the Right Rear Compartment. I have all the crossovers and HU add-on mounted behind the seats.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 4
From: Everett WA
O yea, one more thing, Crutchfield sells a harness that snaps right on the existing Bose harness. If your doing the job yourself I highly recommend these. Crutchfield states they do not fit the Bose connection but they do. I forget the part number but ask around, someone will tell you. I do remember they have female connections.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,099
Likes: 64
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '09
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,846
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From: Boca Raton Inlet, Atlantic Ocean (Floridas east coast)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 350
From: Auburn Mass
Replaced the speakers ( with the exception of the subs ) with the Infinitys in my 07. Big improvement and still working fine. I like to listen loud and there is no problem with these speakers.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Ok, I know this has been discussed before...
But, I was just reading through the stickies and found that the Infinities were suffering form a lack of power from the stock Bose amp. This seems to be causing speaker failure. Any updates out there? Is there a better speaker available for the stock system? And has anyone done a DIY on speaker swap-outs with pictures; all of the links in the stickies don't seem to have pictures any more.
But, I was just reading through the stickies and found that the Infinities were suffering form a lack of power from the stock Bose amp. This seems to be causing speaker failure. Any updates out there? Is there a better speaker available for the stock system? And has anyone done a DIY on speaker swap-outs with pictures; all of the links in the stickies don't seem to have pictures any more.
Now a grossly overdriven amplifier, producing extremely distorted audio, can damage a speaker's suspension, even if the average power of the amplifier is relatively low. But anyone who could tolerate listening to such a distorted signal long enough to damage the speakers already has severely damaged hearing, wouldn't know good audio if they heard it, and thus would be unlikely to be someone who would have upgraded their stereo with higher quality speakers.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 3
From: Honolulu HI
no troubles with my infinity's 
top off @ 65mph no problems hearing the music... (no real loud - load enough to drown out most of the road noise)
using stock amp (4 ohm infinity speakers)
speaker install info
top off @ 65mph no problems hearing the music... (no real loud - load enough to drown out most of the road noise)
using stock amp (4 ohm infinity speakers)
speaker install info
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,039
Likes: 0
From: Stuttgart
Speakers aren't damaged by too little power. It takes power to generate heat, and it is heat that burns out voice coils. That's why speakers have ratings listing the maximum power they can handle, not the minimum power they can handle.
Now a grossly overdriven amplifier, producing extremely distorted audio, can damage a speaker's suspension, even if the average power of the amplifier is relatively low. But anyone who could tolerate listening to such a distorted signal long enough to damage the speakers already has severely damaged hearing, wouldn't know good audio if they heard it, and thus would be unlikely to be someone who would have upgraded their stereo with higher quality speakers.
Now a grossly overdriven amplifier, producing extremely distorted audio, can damage a speaker's suspension, even if the average power of the amplifier is relatively low. But anyone who could tolerate listening to such a distorted signal long enough to damage the speakers already has severely damaged hearing, wouldn't know good audio if they heard it, and thus would be unlikely to be someone who would have upgraded their stereo with higher quality speakers.
