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Adding a subwoofer to stock bose premium system...help!

20K views 124 replies 27 participants last post by  Lroi 
#1 ·
Ive got a 94' LS coupe with the Bose premium 2 ohm system. My audio system is completely stock. Im about to replace all four speakers with bose premium replacements.

I would also like to add an amplifier and a subwoofer addition to the stock system. My question is what is the best way to do this? system is all STOCK, head unit and all.

Also, where do you guys usually run the power wire through the fire wall? Do you use an existing grommet, or do you guys drill a new hole through the wall and run it that way? Does the stock premium head unit support RCA outputs to go to the amp that i want to put in for the sub? Does the stock unit have a place to run the wire that turns on the amp when the stereo turns on?

I greatly appreciate any help you guys can give me on this topic as well as the questions i have, and any other things i might be missing. I have put audio systems in cars before, but they were all full aftermarket systems and all 4 ohm, unlike this stock 2 ohm system. Thanks
 
#2 ·
alright buddy. here goes. the stock unit has nothing but the connectoin for the speakers, power and the two antennas. you will have to get a new headunit if you are to hook up a sub. sorry to break it to you like that, but the stock system has no rca outs.
 
#3 ·
alright, so the stock headunit has no rca outs, thanks for that info. So, does anyone know how to hook up subs to stock premium system?

I know its been done plenty of times im sure, i know theres ways of doing it, audio gurus please chime in. I want to keep the bose system intact.
 
#6 ·
Thanks for your response. So let me see if i understand this.

So your saying that i can get this hi level to rca converter, and the RCA's plug into my amp, and then i splice the converter side into both rear 6x9's speaker wires? then i connect the remote wire to the amp, then one side spliced into the power wire for the antenna?

So your saying i dont even have to take out the stock premium deck? When i splice the converter into the rear speaker wires, does that take away power and sound to the rear speakers, and/or add more strain for the bose amplifier?

So if ive got that straight, then besides the above, all i have to do is run my power wire to the trunk for the amp, and then connect the sub to the amp, and thats it? Will the subwoofer sound right, and will the rest of the system sound as normal?

Ive got a remote subwoofer base adjuster with the amp i have, that adjusts the bass to the woofer independent from the rest of the system, will this still work with this setup? or will the bose deck bass knob control the woofer bass as well?

Sorry for the amount of questions, but i want to make sure i understand this, and that the system will operate as described above. Also, have you done this before personally, and if so, what is your experience with it, does it sound good? Thanks for all of your help.
 
#14 ·
With that installed, can your sub bass be controlled independently from your bose stereo bass? How much worse is the sound quality from the hi to low converter? So the converter splices into both positives on your rear speakers?? Does it take away from the sound of the bose speakers?
 
#9 ·
Trust me, if you mess with the stock amp you will not like the sound even if you add an amp with a sub built in... The premium amp does not power that well, even with it saying that it is a 200 watt amp, it only gives you 50 watts per ch. the sound will be uneven, I have done this and hated the sound 100%. Unless you really don't care about sound, then go for it... But if you love good sound as i do, you will not want to go this route unless you have a lot of money to put into the stereo... Your best bet is to buy new speakers from bose "if they still make them" and upgrade to the tweeters yo maybe some Kappas... Trust me, you will get the very same bass from the stock system with or without a sub... It's not worth it... However, to each is own...
 
#11 ·
Add a second HU in your car. Just hide it somewhere and use the second aftermarket HU for the subs lol.
 
#12 · (Edited)
cheese man are you on crack haha I installed a base tube to my stock system.

Get a amp install kit of the right wattage and run the power to the amp. you will have to drill a hole in the firewall. Then in the trunk you can get the signal from the rear speakers if you uses taps and speaker wire. run that into your amp and then to your sub.... good luck this took me about an afternoon to run the wires and put the rear seats back in.

Divinchi, My tube is NIGHT AND DAY difference from when its on to when its off, its totally worth it to add a sub. I will post pictures of my set up
 
#13 ·
cheese man are you on crack haha I installed a base tube to my stock system.

Get a amp install kit of the right wattage and run the power to the amp. you will have to drill a hole in the firewall. Then in the trunk you can get the signal from the rear speakers if you uses taps and speaker wire. run that into your amp and then to your sub.... good luck this took me about an afternoon to run the wires and put the rear seats back in.

Divinchi, My tube is NIGHT AND DAY difference from when its on to when its off, its totally worth it to add a sub. I will post pictures of my set up
yea that would be great if you could post picures of your set up and how its hooked up. These other guys are basicaly saying an amplified sub with the stock system is not a good idea i guess. I want the sub to sound good, i mean im not going to do it if it soujnds like crap.

Also, does your sub bass work off of the bose headunit bass control? If the amp has a bass boost knob that you can adjust with up front, can you use that to adjust the bass instead of the bass from the boss deck knob?
 
#20 ·
the engine bay,


through the firewall

inside (the red wire, the install kit came with a gromet for the wire)


Overall setup in the trunk


blue wire taps into the stock speaker wires


red power from engine bay and black ground
 
#23 ·
In the last shot there is a cluster of wires, my tube came with a harness that has RCA in blue , power, other imput (that i used), and an orange REMOTE wire. I did not use a remote bass turn on. where the harness plus into the tube is a on/off switch as well as a bass volume nob, switch is left on and nob is 1/4 turn down from max. Its SIMPLE, it WORKS, it saves room, and its sounds Great
 
#25 ·
alright guys, i think im just going to get some 6.5" kappas for the front and stock bose premium for the back, as im still unsure on how to make the sub work and if it will even sound good.
 
#26 ·
It can be done...

Although as the others have said the sound will not be as clean. I have a set up to what you're trying to do. I have the stock Premium Bose system and I run an Alpine Amp and 10" JL sub with box. I use a bass boost knob to turn up/down the bass which is located in the glove compartment. Sorry, I will not be able to tell you the specifics of how it was installed because I had Tweeter/Hifi Buys hook it up for me.

I've had this set up for two/three years and I don't mind the sound. I went the route of installing a head unit with two 12" kickers back in the day in another car, but I'm a little older now and enjoy the minimum bass which still kicks butt.
 
#28 ·
Although as the others have said the sound will not be as clean. I have a set up to what you're trying to do. I have the stock Premium Bose system and I run an Alpine Amp and 10" JL sub with box. I use a bass boost knob to turn up/down the bass which is located in the glove compartment. Sorry, I will not be able to tell you the specifics of how it was installed because I had Tweeter/Hifi Buys hook it up for me.

I've had this set up for two/three years and I don't mind the sound. I went the route of installing a head unit with two 12" kickers back in the day in another car, but I'm a little older now and enjoy the minimum bass which still kicks butt.
damn, i wish you had done it yourself, so that you could explain it to me!
 
#27 ·
:werd: the minimal bass is the way to go, it sounds clean and wont drive you up a wall or get you dirty looks from the car next to you.
 
#29 ·
Yea, well i want the sub's bass pretty bad, but my questions arent getting answered fully. I just bought a pair of 6.5" infinity kappa's for $150 for the front.

Im about to purchase a set of factory rear 6x9's from bose. I hope im happy with how it sounds....and hopefully someone will describe in detail how to install a sub with the stock system in the meantime, becuase i may later install a sub.
 
#30 ·
Its very possible because I'm running it...

I added 2 10" rockfords and its being powered by its own amp. The sound is fecking incredible for the price I paid! Its possible, works and sounds great. My factory amp did crap out on me but thats just due to age. Replacing it soon...:thumbsup:
 
#31 ·
I added 2 10" rockfords and its being powered by its own amp. The sound is fecking incredible for the price I paid! Its possible, works and sounds great. My factory amp did crap out on me but thats just due to age. Replacing it soon...:thumbsup:
thats great...now can you tell me how you did it please.
 
#32 ·
alright guys, i got a set of infinity kappa 60.9cs. both speakers come with a black box that thye are supposed to plug into. I think its the crossover or soemthing. ANyone have experience with installing this?
 
#33 ·
come on guys, all these views, and nobody can tell me about this? i know plenty of you have installed kappas with the external cross overs. Where did you locate them? which colors of speaker wiring indicate positive, negative?? help a brotha out!
 
#41 ·
Haha i was actually searching the forum for someone who knew a better spot to run your power wire through the firewall but no one has answered that part of your question. I ran mine from the battery(obviously) on the right side all the way across my engine and there is a hole right on top of the wheel well. You have to run it through that hole and pop out the plactic on the inside of your wheel well, then from there you can pop it right through the bottom of the passenger side foot area and pop out all the plastic along the doors and snake it through there and it will end up in the corner of your trunk. The RCA's went straight from the back of my deck out the side of the drivers side and through the wirign box and snaked those underneath the plastic along the doors also. I know the power wire going across the engine and up the wheel well is not the most desired spot to do it but the acura's engine room underneath the hood is basically non existant, so thats my way through the fire wall, if anyone has something easier I am all ears. FYI i would get longer power wire than what comes in kits because you lose alot of wire going across the engine.
 
#42 ·
Appreciate the input as well as the suggestions. Right now im just ridin around rockin all new speakers. Before i would add a sub i would replace my HU and Bose amp becasue its going out. But right now im broke as shit:woot: but yea this will be useful for me at some point im sure as well as other people so thanks man.
 
#44 ·
NO no no
go to radio shack or home depot or any place that has electrical stuff walk in and ask for wire taps... you only need 4 for the speakers and then 4 wire connectors for the sub. get some wire cutters/crimpers as well. you want this to be done as profestionally as possible or you will SHOOT yourself later. If you look closely at my pictures you will see 4 BLUE wire taps on the rear deck.
 
#45 ·
+1
 
#46 ·
I know this thread is pretty much at a means to an end, but I couldn't stand running without mp3 cds, an aux in port, or even being able to load the cds in the front dash.

There is a magical little adapter, called the SVEN 4, that allows you to use the original BOSE speakers, and amp, through an aftermarket deck. Though there is a little volume loss, and I don't have the steering wheel controls hooked up, it sounds great.

Most of us don't realize how great our original BOSE system is in comparison to many factory radios. I actually prefer the BOSE sound to most any speakers. Now imagine that bose system with a powerful sub setup.
 
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