Speaker Swap

[JeremyW426]

Hey all, I have a 2015 Silverado WT DC Blackout Edition with the IO4 stereo system and I'm wondering if it's possible to do a straight speaker swap for the Bose speakers. I'm not looking to add the subwoofer or anything, just the speakers since they mount the same and everything, just don't know if this would also require amp swap as well.

Also, if anyone has experienced both systems, is it worth the swap?

 

Thanks in advance guys.

 

Jeremy

[Silverado-Hareek]

Hey all, I have a 2015 Silverado WT DC Blackout Edition with the IO4 stereo system and I'm wondering if it's possible to do a straight speaker swap for the Bose speakers. I'm not looking to add the subwoofer or anything, just the speakers since they mount the same and everything, just don't know if this would also require amp swap as well.

Also, if anyone has experienced both systems, is it worth the swap?

 

Thanks in advance guys.

 

Jeremy

 

In my experience, the Bose speakers sound great if you want to get them in the truck from the factory and have an upgraded set of speakers over the standard stock speakers from day 1 and not have to tear into your truck. But since you're talking about paying to change the speakers in your truck that you already own which requires removing panels and pieces to get access to the existing speakers, I would go to an aftermarket audio company that specializes in this work and buy some speakers from them. You'll likely get something that sounds better than the Bose speakers for less money. And the work will be by guys that specialize in car audio systems every day of the week, not the mechanics at the dealer that primarily do regular mechanic type work. That's the route I would go if I were to change my speakers. I had Focal speakers in my last Silverado and even with the stock head unit, I thought everything sounded better than my dad's '04 Suburban with the Bose speaker system. The guys also added some small pieces of dynamat to the doors behind the speakers to help with the sound and they didn't charge me for it.

[fondupot]

The Bose speakers are designed to be powered off the Bose Amp. They likely will not sound very good without that. Throwing them in without any sort of amplifier wont net any difference.

 

If you really want to upgrade, you are going to need an aftermarket amp and better speakers.

[JeremyW426]

 

In my experience, the Bose speakers sound great if you want to get them in the truck from the factory and have an upgraded set of speakers over the standard stock speakers from day 1 and not have to tear into your truck. But since you're talking about paying to change the speakers in your truck that you already own which requires removing panels and pieces to get access to the existing speakers, I would go to an aftermarket audio company that specializes in this work and buy some speakers from them. You'll likely get something that sounds better than the Bose speakers for less money. And the work will be by guys that specialize in car audio systems every day of the week, not the mechanics at the dealer that primarily do regular mechanic type work. That's the route I would go if I were to change my speakers. I had Focal speakers in my last Silverado and even with the stock head unit, I thought everything sounded better than my dad's '04 Suburban with the Bose speaker system. The guys also added some small pieces of dynamat to the doors behind the speakers to help with the sound and they didn't charge me for it.

 

 

The Bose speakers are designed to be powered off the Bose Amp. They likely will not sound very good without that. Throwing them in without any sort of amplifier wont net any difference.

 

If you really want to upgrade, you are going to need an aftermarket amp and better speakers.

Thanks guys. That's pretty much what I was figuring as well but wasn't too sure. I know in past cars I've owned, just changing speakers (changing to aftermarket ones) without adding an amp or anything made a big difference but didn't know if this would be the same deal. Its not that the sound is bad either. For what the speakers are, the sound quality is better than some systems I've heard. I'll probably look into upgrading with an aftermarket system.

Thanks again.

[Silverado-Hareek]

 

 

Thanks guys. That's pretty much what I was figuring as well but wasn't too sure. I know in past cars I've owned, just changing speakers (changing to aftermarket ones) without adding an amp or anything made a big difference but didn't know if this would be the same deal. Its not that the sound is bad either. For what the speakers are, the sound quality is better than some systems I've heard. I'll probably look into upgrading with an aftermarket system.

Thanks again.

 

On my 2007 Silverado, I didn't add an amp. I just swapped the stock speakers with Focals and the difference in quality was night and day.

[heavyclay]

Bose . . . .rhymes with blows

 

Better Off with Something Else

 

Better Order Strong Eggnog (you're gonna need it to survive the sonic onslaught )

Bring Our Sledgehammer Expediently

Bought On Salesdoofus Encouragement

Bonehead Overlooked Stereophile Expostulation

Beastly Overpriced s***ty Eletronics

Bastards Offering Sorry Engineering

Business Objective: Screw Enduser

Bass Output Seriously Exiguous

Black Ominous Satellites Encroaching

Beats Only Saddest Electronics

[heavyclay]

Seriously though. . .

 

Much better options to than bose speakers and many of those options won't require external amps. Not sure how well bose speakers will do with out their proprietary amp.

 

 

 

Talk about bose to any stereophile and prepare to be flamed

[hemipowered22z]

Any one have any idea what the power output is of the factory radios?

[heavyclay]

Any one have any idea what the power output is of the factory radios?

Which one? might be able to dig up some info.

 

There's I believe 4 options?

[hemipowered22z]

Which one? might be able to dig up some info.

 

There's I believe 4 options?

 

I have the 8 inch non Bose is all that I know. Its really weak IMO.

[chancyrudd]

If you go aftermarket you will typically get less bass but more treble. Factory non ampkified speakers are extremely efficient and don't require a lot of power. The paper cones also reproduce bass well for their size.

 

Aftermarket speakers(especially higher end ones) are less efficient and are not designed for bass. In the aftermarket world your bass customer is going to have subs installed.

 

I usually recommend changing the head unit first but with the features that you are getting now a days with the more integrated touchscreens I recommend starting with an aftermarket subwoofer.

 

Once you do that you can decrease the bass level on the radio and reduce distortion in the factory location speakers. If you still aren't satisfied then change the speakers to aftermarket and the loss of bass will not be noticed since the bottom end is covered by the aftermarket sub(s).