Adding Amp to Bose System

Flash24 · February 19, 2004

I am trying to add an amp to the factory Bose system on a 2000 Tahoe to drive a new subwoofer speaker I used to replace the old subwoofer (which never put out much bass). I extended the speaker wires under the back seat and put the amp there, then ran speaker wires back to the new subwoofer (located in the same place as the old subwoofer). It worked OK for about 2 weeks, but never had really good sound. Now it just produces a muffled static sound (and that includes the two tweeters in the very back as well). What did I do wrong? I know this is a Bose system with an amplifier, so how can I correct the problem? BTW, the rest of the speakers still work fine and the Amp has been tested on another system and works great.

ToeJam · February 19, 2004

We were just talking the pros/cons of doing this here:

Adding Bass to Bose

I've been told by more than one stereo shop that tapping into a Bose system to add speakers can be problematic. But a few others that posted think there could be a way to do it...

So not the answer you're looking for, but maybe some ideas.

apache sierra · February 19, 2004

hey; Like whats up with the bose system anyway? I buy this fancy unit expecting some decent sounding music and pfft. i get squat Heck my 11 year old pos car with the basic radio sounds as good as this the only difference is the xm radio which is cool I thought bose was such a good system what gives?

Flash24 · February 20, 2004

Hey ToeJam, Thanks for the link. Have I blown the factory amp on the Bose system? Why do my rear tweeters sound like they are in a can?

Apache - They must make these Bose systems for clarity, not power, because the subwoofer in my Tahoe never had ANY thump to it. It's definately not what we've come to expect from Bose.

ToeJam · February 20, 2004

Hey ToeJam, Thanks for the link. Have I blown the factory amp on the Bose system? Why do my rear tweeters sound like they are in a can?

Apache - They must make these Bose systems for clarity, not power, because the subwoofer in my Tahoe never had ANY thump to it. It's definately not what we've come to expect from Bose.

I'm not a speaker person so I have no idea if you've destroyed anything. I just know that if have a Bose system and want to upgrade that you pretty much need to replace the receiver and all the speakers.

Wingnut · February 20, 2004

Apache - They must make these Bose systems for clarity, not power, because the subwoofer in my Tahoe never had ANY thump to it. It's definately not what we've come to expect from Bose.

I have never expected much, if anything out of Bose, that I couldn't get for half the price, and twice the quality somewhere else. My system is clearer using the factory head unit (everything else is aftermarket) than anything I have ever heard from Bose.

But maybe that's just me.

.02

x6369x · February 20, 2004

Have I blown the factory amp on the Bose system? Why do my rear tweeters sound like they are in a can?

How do you have the signal ran from the factory deck to the aftermarket amp? Did you use a LOC (Line Output Converter)? Have you tried to disconnect the signal wires going to the aftermarket amp to see if it makes a difference to the rear tweeters?

apache sierra · February 20, 2004

Apache - They must make these Bose systems for clarity, not power, because the subwoofer in my Tahoe never had ANY thump to it. It's definately not what we've come to expect from Bose.

I have never expected much, if anything out of Bose, that I couldn't get for half the price, and twice the quality somewhere else. My system is clearer using the factory head unit (everything else is aftermarket) than anything I have ever heard from Bose.

But maybe that's just me.

.02

yea'; thats what i was getting at for years bose was THE name in receivers and amps and was known for big boom sound. I mean i didn't expect the bass to blow out the windows or anything but the salesman was like "IT'S A BOSE MAN " like it was important. Now you guys are talking like it takes a whole new system to get any real thump out of it if thats the case one would be smart to just get the crappo standard system and rip it out and start from scratch.

ToeJam · February 21, 2004

You're basically right. I love the Bose system in my truck, plenty loud, very crisp and great bass...but I've never built a real aftermarket system, so I could just be comparing it to my previous cars.

I've always wanted to build a great sounding stereo and if I were to do so, I would definitely require a whole new system. If you're looking for a new rig, I'd definitely not pay for the stereo upgrade.

bigdogs · February 21, 2004

Mine came with the Bose too and it sounds fine to me. I would not have specifically added it as an option but it was already there. I do wish it had the XM option and would like to add that to it sometime..

apache sierra · February 21, 2004

yea right on bigdogs;

Mine came with the bose system too. The sound is crisp and clear and i'm not disatisfied with it at all its just that i drove it home from work the other day and right away jumped into my 93 grandprix with 200,000 miles of radio blasting miles and it sounded as good as the bose and i thought whats up with that! its just the standard radio and i guess i just took it for granted all those years But the xm radio is definitely the way to go. No more tuning stations every 50miles or so. But the draw back is surfing channels while driving, don't do it behind a highway patrol i did and practically ditched the truck Ya should have seen the expression on his face as i passed him

Chris97K1500 · February 25, 2004

Scorche, or something like that makes a LOC specifically for the Bose factory system when adding an aftermarket amp. It mentioned something like the Bose system is a ground loop system, whatever that means. You can switch the setting on the LOC to that setting. It tells in detail how to hook it up, but I didn't pay attention to that. I'll try to find out more if you need more info. I got the LOC at Wal-Mart. It was around $20. Chris