Anyone amplified the stock bose?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 9,366
Likes: 969
From: Out back
Anyone amplified the stock bose?
I'm kind of stuck in a dilemma (albeit a temporary one). All the parts for my install are rapidly flying in. I should have 100% of my gear by Wed next week or so. The dilemma is about speakers. I can't make up my mind about which speakers I want since I haven't heard (in person) some of the ones I'm considering. But I don't want my indecision to slow down my install because the Bose system is utter garbage. So I'm considering going through with my install, but amplifying the stock speakers until I figure out which real speakers to buy and install. My question for the community is, have you ever heard an amplified stock Bose system? What were your impressions? Was it miserable? Great? Keep in mind this will be in a C6 ZO6 with a FULL install meaning sound deadening, powerful sub in custom enclosure, HU, and amps. Thanks for input. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,021
Likes: 46
From: enterprise al
St. Jude Donor '08
Hey it’s worth a try lol.. idk if you’re going for decent budget quality or high end speakers, but I threw a set of these Alpine SPR in mine recently, powered by a 5 channel Alpine amp and am quite impressed
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 9,366
Likes: 969
From: Out back
I'm very familiar with those as I have run several sets of those in the past. Very good speaker that can handle a lot of power. I was considering them for the rear speakers in 5.25" coaxials. Good value for the performance.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 745
Likes: 136
From: Detroit MI
You previously stated that "more speakers equals more quality. Period." So running the stock 7 speaker Bose system MUST sound better than my three channel install. 
Kidding aside, if you look at the paper cone Bose speakers with their tiny magnets and shallow excursion, you'll quickly see why it's best to just dump them in favor of almost any other component level hardware for an audiophile. The impedances are also goofy for Bose, but many good quality aftermarket amps probably will be able to handle it with proper gain adjustment. Personally, I wouldn't waste my time making all those speaker level connections if you're just going to pull it all out again really soon.
Kidding aside, if you look at the paper cone Bose speakers with their tiny magnets and shallow excursion, you'll quickly see why it's best to just dump them in favor of almost any other component level hardware for an audiophile. The impedances are also goofy for Bose, but many good quality aftermarket amps probably will be able to handle it with proper gain adjustment. Personally, I wouldn't waste my time making all those speaker level connections if you're just going to pull it all out again really soon.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
You previously stated that "more speakers equals more quality. Period." So running the stock 7 speaker Bose system MUST sound better than my three channel install.
Kidding aside, if you look at the paper cone Bose speakers with their tiny magnets and shallow excursion, you'll quickly see why it's best to just dump them in favor of almost any other component level hardware for an audiophile. The impedances are also goofy for Bose, but many good quality aftermarket amps probably will be able to handle it with proper gain adjustment. Personally, I wouldn't waste my time making all those speaker level connections if you're just going to pull it all out again really soon.
Kidding aside, if you look at the paper cone Bose speakers with their tiny magnets and shallow excursion, you'll quickly see why it's best to just dump them in favor of almost any other component level hardware for an audiophile. The impedances are also goofy for Bose, but many good quality aftermarket amps probably will be able to handle it with proper gain adjustment. Personally, I wouldn't waste my time making all those speaker level connections if you're just going to pull it all out again really soon.
They are junk. They look like $5.00 Radio Shack speakers.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 9,366
Likes: 969
From: Out back
Out of curiosity...where were all of those located in your car? Obviously the 2 door 10s, 3.5's, and the rear 5.25's are the ones I'm familiar with. But that's only 6 speakers. You have 10 in this pic...where are the other 4 located and what do they do?
Last edited by Pb82 Ronin; Apr 7, 2018 at 02:08 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
That isn't my picture. I don't think all of those were in one car, not a C6 anyway. I think they are just an example of both versions of woofers- powered and non-powered. The center woofer is powered, the other two are not. The 2 medium sized one's are rear speakers and the smaller one's are door/dash speakers. I didn't take pictures of mine when I replaced them but that's what they looked like.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 517
Likes: 163
From: Oxford Maryland
I'm kind of stuck in a dilemma (albeit a temporary one). All the parts for my install are rapidly flying in. I should have 100% of my gear by Wed next week or so. The dilemma is about speakers. I can't make up my mind about which speakers I want since I haven't heard (in person) some of the ones I'm considering. But I don't want my indecision to slow down my install because the Bose system is utter garbage. So I'm considering going through with my install, but amplifying the stock speakers until I figure out which real speakers to buy and install. My question for the community is, have you ever heard an amplified stock Bose system? What were your impressions? Was it miserable? Great? Keep in mind this will be in a C6 ZO6 with a FULL install meaning sound deadening, powerful sub in custom enclosure, HU, and amps. Thanks for input.
Did you go through with your plan. How did you get access to the factory wires for the doors to run them to the new amp?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 9,366
Likes: 969
From: Out back
I didn't. I decided to remove all Bose anything and replaced them with good stuff and my own wiring. Especially after I saw the wiring for the stock stuff. It's like 24 gauge wire. I've seen thicker gauge hair! LOL! The ONLY remaining piece of Bose is the factory amp running the door chime and the speaker it comes out of. FWIW, I got it fired up last night and heard it for the first time...with the gains (on the amps) set to almost 0, it sounded crystal clear and razor sharp. I think I made the right decision to go all aftermarket. There's just no excuse for how terrible the Bose stuff is.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
I didn't. I decided to remove all Bose anything and replaced them with good stuff and my own wiring. Especially after I saw the wiring for the stock stuff. It's like 24 gauge wire. I've seen thicker gauge hair! LOL! The ONLY remaining piece of Bose is the factory amp running the door chime and the speaker it comes out of. FWIW, I got it fired up last night and heard it for the first time...with the gains (on the amps) set to almost 0, it sounded crystal clear and razor sharp. I think I made the right decision to go all aftermarket. There's just no excuse for how terrible the Bose stuff is.
and it's been that way for YEARS!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 9,366
Likes: 969
From: Out back