Help! 08 TB Bose amp & speakers

[gippy1968]

Hi all,

Let me start by saying I know nada about this stuff. I need help/advice on my sound system. I recently had a new HU installed (Kenwood DNX6180 HD) which I love! After driving for a few weeks, I figured I might as well upgrade the speakers. Nothing is blown or sounds bad - I just thought since I now have this fancy HU I'd get more ooomph from my speakers if they were upgraded from stock.

Today I was near my local Best Buy and rolled around back to talk the radio install guy and ask which speakers he might install if the truck were his. He asked if I had the Bose system (I think I do as I remember the stock HU would say 'Bose' somewhere when I fired the truck up). I also have tweeters in the dash, if that matters.
He said that since I have the Bose system (with a Bose amp (do I have a Bose amp?)) that I wouldn't get any better sound/power than what I currently have. In fact, in would decrease on quality due to Ohms or something.

On one hand, I walked away thinking it was nice of him not to sell me something I don't need, while on the other I'm left wondering if this is the real case.

My system sounds fine as is, I thought with new/upgraded speakers and possibly an amp that I'd get a better sound.

Would an Infinity BassLink help or is that what a Bose amp already does?

Any/all advice greatly appreciated and thank you very very much in advance.

G

 

[STLtrailbSS]

If your looking for bass then yeah You will get better Bass your kenwood has RCAs on the rear of the unit you would need to run a sub output and a 12v Power source for the bass link you can pull it from the rear fuse block 250 is nothing on that stud. SIMPLE INSTALL don't be scared 4 wires literally. If your looking for door speakers A lot of ppl have direct replaced bose before Haven't heard anything about a terrible sound quality drop. HONEST opinion I have test drove some TBs with bose its mediocre but nothing compared to even a 700rms system.

 

[gippy1968]

If your looking for bass then yeah You will get better Bass your kenwood has RCAs on the rear of the unit you would need to run a sub output and a 12v Power source for the bass link you can pull it from the rear fuse block 250 is nothing on that stud. SIMPLE INSTALL don't be scared 4 wires literally. If your looking for door speakers A lot of ppl have direct replaced bose before Haven't heard anything about a terrible sound quality drop. HONEST opinion I have test drove some TBs with bose its mediocre but nothing compared to even a 700rms system.

Thanks St Louie!

Pardon my ignorance but what is a 700rms system? In your opinion, if I had nice new speakers installed would it sound 'better'?

 

[STLtrailbSS]

Simplified 700rms is a measurement of TRUE system power.

I cant guarantee a difference in loudness and quality the Bose amps make me think some drunk guy designed the system. Although I have never heard of the SQ(sound quality) decrease that you have heard of. A speaker will probably have a better range than a Bose but is the amp going to push it optimally?(This is where the OHMS and technical statistics start factoring big time) I would have to find some pretty specific specs on the amp. I will search and see if anything like that exists. Just not sure. If you add amps and start from the drawing board then yes I will guarantee a sizable SQ improvement and overall loudness.

 

[Boricua SS]

you shouldve known if you had BOSE when installing the aftermarket HU... you wouldve needed a special wire harness to hook it up... (or if a shop installed it for you, then they shouldve told you)

my brother's '07 TB LT has BOSE... and let me tell you, that sucker SCREAMS and THUMPS for a factory stereo.. there are plenty of horror stories on BOSE... but my brother must of lucked out cuz that ish is LOUD for stock... then he has BOSE in his Mazda.... even LOUDER... im thuroughly impressed with BOSE in both of his vehicles...

however, im with STL, i have never heard of sound quality dropping by switching stock speakers with aftermarket... if it were me, i would definetly go aftermarket on the stock speakers...

 

[MMIN]

Basically Bose usually uses 2 ohm speakers. Quick example say an amp makes 50 watts at 2 ohms. That same amp will produce 25 watts at 4 ohms, or 12.5 watts at 8 ohms. If you replace your 2 ohm bose speakers with the common aftermarket 4 ohm, they are instantly getting half the power of your other speakers so they "seem" to sound worse. You need to turn the radio volume up higher than before which increases distortion and leaves you feeling like you wasted your money. On the large scale the new speakers usually are better speakers, but the bose amp holds them back. The best way to get good sound from a bose system is to get rid of the bose system.

If you want to try to replace them, definately find a 2 ohm component set for best results. Keep in mind the bose speakers are better than non-bose speakers, so in replacing them you can't pop an entry level set in there. You technically would be downgrading. If you want to try it I would recommend a mid to high level JBL set, but there are others out there. Personally I would hold off until you can get a seperate amp and then also replace the speakers with something nice.

 

[MrDJ]

I have the stock Bose system and I love it! Personally, I think it sounds great. I added 2 10" competition subs in the back along with 2 6"x9" speakers facing backwards. At this point in time, I definitely wouldn't trade it for anything else.

 

[gippy1968]

Thanks everyone - I'm learning from you guys! Where would the Bose amp be located?

 

[MrDJ]

In the back cargo area, passenger side, behind the paneling.

 

[gippy1968]

In the back cargo area, passenger side, behind the paneling.

Thank you

In the back cargo area, passenger side, behind the paneling.

I just checked both cubby compartments on the sides in back and they are empty. Does this mean I don't have a Bose amp?

 

[TollKeeper]

Did you take the panal off completly? so all you saw was metal? All the plastic in there, on the passenger side rear cargo area, has to come off basicly to get to the bose amp..

That being said... I agree. I love my Bose system, would not trade it off for anything, and, its a factory radio, not many people will try to steal them anymore. I do wish I had more bass, but I can rectify that with a slim form sub.. Just gotta get off my lazy ass and install it.

 

[gippy1968]

Did you take the panal off completly? so all you saw was metal? All the plastic in there, on the passenger side rear cargo area, has to come off basicly to get to the bose amp..

That being said... I agree. I love my Bose system, would not trade it off for anything, and, its a factory radio, not many people will try to steal them anymore. I do wish I had more bass, but I can rectify that with a slim form sub.. Just gotta get off my lazy ass and install it.

Oh boy - I knew this would be hard for me. No, I did not take the panels off. I only checked the 2 side cubby/storage hatches in the cargo area. I am so not qualified to tear apart the panels. I am comfortable driving and putting gas in my car - thats about it .

I am going with the assumption that I have a Bose amp and adding a nice set of new speakers/tweeters won't really add much, if any, better quality to my sound.

Thank you all who have responded to my pleas for help! I am definitely out of my league here.

I so much appreciate all you guys!

G