Upgrading factory bose speakers. What have you done?

[2018GMC]

48 minutes ago, Scott Killman said:

Like SWOYER said, $250-500 doesn't get you much.  I bought JL Audio C2-650 Components and C2-650x coax for a little over $500.  I've also purchased an Alpine i209 headunit, JL Audio Steathbox (crew cab so under rear seat) and waiting on my amps (AudioControl LC-4.800 & LC-1.800).  Minus the wiring kit and a few odds and ins, I'm at just under $5k.  

 

I originally intended to just replace the stock speakers......  Go big or go home!

Damn that’s a good chunk of change. Should sound amazing. Let us know how the install and how it sounds afterwards 

[Scott Killman]

1 hour ago, 2018GMC said:

I’m happy with the sound but disappointed with to paying near retail for a product with issues and sub par support. 
 

It makes the stock Bose so much better with bass you can feel. 

 

The stock Bose leaves a lot to be desired. 
 

What amp did you go with and did you find a deal on the dual sub enclosure? I got my singe for 15% off on one of Rakuten codes. An authorized seller was remarkably selling JL on their site. 
 

I don’t need more bass but I’d really like to hear a dual stealthbox setup. I bet your rear will sound great! I’d recommend feeing for air leaks but maybe I just got one that was built on a Friday or Monday lol
 

Thanks for your service 

Yeah I would be pretty disappointed as well.  I've watched a video how their stealthboxes are made and I have to say it's pretty remarkable.  I'm looking forward to getting it all hooked up and being able to feel that bass.  My 2005 had a sub under the center console and it hit hard.  

 

I went with AudioControl LC-1.800 for the subs.  It's rated at 800 watts @ 2ohms which the subs are wired for.  For all of the other speakers I'm using an AudioControl LC-4.800 which is more than enough power.  

 

Bought the stealthbox from Crutchfield but you can get it onlinecarstereo.com for the same price, no tax and free shipping (I didn't realize they didn't charge tax after buying my Alpine i209).

 

https://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/p_50011_JL_Audio_SB-GM-SLVCC310TW3BK2.aspx

[Scott Killman]

1 hour ago, Jkeeter725 said:

I'm not looking anything crazy. Now im thinking about just replacing factor speakers and doing a small amp and building a box with a 8 inch sub to fit inside center console.i think I can purchase all speakers and sub for under $500. Not sure of what amp and possibly processor I would need at the moment. But I do know I want to be able to use the factory speaker wiring and hook into behind the rear seat.

You can get nice speakers for relatively cheap.  Kicker has a bunch of models for a good price.   

[Scott Killman]

1 hour ago, 2018GMC said:

Damn that’s a good chunk of change. Should sound amazing. Let us know how the install and how it sounds afterwards 

Yeah it sure is.  My truck has the jump seat so the center console sub wasn't an option but I just purchased a center console out of an LTZ truck to do a swap so I suppose I could've went with a center console sub and saved myself $700.  Oh well!  I don't really store anything under the back seat so space wasn't an issue.  

[Jkeeter725]

On 5/2/2020 at 4:24 PM, 2018GMC said:

I’d recommend running your stealthbox before putting center console back. It sounded just like a rattle and after going crazy trying to find it, I finally ran the stealthbox with center console removed. Could feel air being pushed out of enclosure.

I used the recommended JL 300x1v2 and a lc2i with signal off the Bose subwoofer connection.

I had disconnected my active noise cancellation since I have 6.2. But I recently hooked it back up and can’t tell a difference. Supposedly some people noticed overuse of aftermarket sub when ANC kicks in.

Do you know how many channels I would need for a amp/processor to add a sub and power the 4 door speakers and the tweets in the dash?

 

Not sure if the tweets are on the same channel as the front doors or if theny need their own?

[Scott Killman]

3 minutes ago, Jkeeter725 said:

Do you know how many channels I would need for a amp/processor to add a sub and power the 4 door speakers and the tweets in the dash?

 

Not sure if the tweets are on the same channel as the front doors or if theny need their own?

Your front dash speakers and front door speakers are on the same channel and rear doors are on a separate channel. So you’d need at least a 5 channel amp if you went with just one.   You would need to make sure the speakers and amps are on the same ohms unless you can find an amp that does 2 and 4 ohms like the Focal FPX5.1200.  

 

My JL audio speakers are 4 ohm and my stealthbox is wired for 2 ohms, hence why I went with 2 different amps (4 and 2 channel).  

[jake241983]

I went with all Memphis Audio in my 2019 1500 LD double cab. 700 watt 5 channel Memphis amp powering everything, two Memphis 10's under the rear seat, all factory speakers replaced with Memphis Power Reference series speakers. Still running the factory head unit. Cost me $2000 with install. Nothing crazy, but sounds great. 

[2018GMC]

I’ve seen some pics of the stock Bose door speakers and they look very cheap. Like the bottom of the barrel autozone offering is better.

 

Has anyone faded to the rear? I did this (testing for any blown speakers) and the rear speakers have much lower volume and nonexistent bass compared to the front.

 

I understand oem stereo ain’t going to blow you away but it seems like all we get with the $500 Bose system is 2 emblems on the front doors and under sized / powered speakers [emoji344] sub and amp.

 

Adding an aftermarket sub helped a lot but it seems like all Bose does is limit and cut frequencies so you don’t distort or blow the cheap stock speakers.

 

Rant over (for now)

[Jkeeter725]

On 5/3/2020 at 6:10 PM, Scott Killman said:

Your front dash speakers and front door speakers are on the same channel and rear doors are on a separate channel. So you’d need at least a 5 channel amp if you went with just one.   You would need to make sure the speakers and amps are on the same ohms unless you can find an amp that does 2 and 4 ohms like the Focal FPX5.1200.  

 

My JL audio speakers are 4 ohm and my stealthbox is wired for 2 ohms, hence why I went with 2 different amps (4 and 2 channel).  

I have all my gear picked out now I have to figure out how to add the amp without cutting any wires. Is there any plug an play harness that allows you to bypass only what is needed from the factory bose amp. I'm having a hard time finding this.

 

I dont mind using a pigtail of sorts I just do not want to cut any factory harness. 

[Scott Killman]

55 minutes ago, Jkeeter725 said:

I have all my gear picked out now I have to figure out how to add the amp without cutting any wires. Is there any plug an play harness that allows you to bypass only what is needed from the factory bose amp. I'm having a hard time finding this.

 

I dont mind using a pigtail of sorts I just do not want to cut any factory harness. 

I believe this is the one you are looking for but I would reach out to them and ask.  You will have to send a text because they have limited staff right now due to the covid-19 restrictions.  I will say that the harnesses that these guys make are pure plug and play but they are rather pricey with all of the add-on's you can get.  Reach out to them and tell them exactly what you are doing and they can build it for you.  They are made to order.

 

https://lljcustoms.com/store/ols/products/2014-2019-gm-bose-amp-t-harness

 

Also here is a link to another forum on this site talking about bypassing the Bose amp but he spend over $800 for that harness.  Check with LLJCustoms for a much cheaper, but still correct harness.

 

 

Hope these help. 

Edited May 4, 2020 by Scott Killman

[Agunn7]

What do you add to release the good sound of the Bose speakers? Do I need to replace the 8” screen? Or can I just add an amp?