ATTN: AUDIO EXPERTS!!

[jinxed45]

Audio Experts,

You probably don't have to be an audio expert to answer my questions, but why not ask for an expert? Anyways, I purchased a 1997 Cadillac Eldorado ETC with 100k miles on it not too long ago. Since then, I have purchased a Pioneer DEH-550MP head unit, with appropriate harness, as well as Kicker speakers. It turns out that the speakers in the back fit fine, but the speakers in the front do not. I was told by a friend that I would have to REWIRE the whole system because it's a BOSE sound system.

TO GET TO THE POINT:

What kind of speakers do I need for the front, or what do I do with that amplifier that's there?

How do I rewire the whole system without doing something stupid and breaking something?

And is there anything else I need to know?

Thank you all for taking your time to help me out.

[rmac-etc]

Was there something inadequate with what bose engineering did with the original?

My 95 etc has the bose system and whether it was Rachmoninov, Elgar, pipe organs, Big Bands, or xyz pop/rock whatever, and I mean even max volume it would not distort and produced good sound. I would have liked a bit of equalization control, but even without it and speaking as a classically trained musician, it was impressively good.

If you want to make it one of those thumping, pounding, rap, hip hop, 4 wheeled boom boxes ... well maybe we need a new sub-forum.

[95SLS]

THtas a big job, I'm not aware of a unit that will fill the dash of a 96 up without major custom things done. I have seen them, but they are not cheap. THe rreason why so much wires have to be run is because in this system only the head unit is in the dash, everything else is in the trunk, So you have to run all those wires from there to the new location AKA dash. It is tricky and not a DIY job if you ask me, GM has a lot of traps for you to work through, But if you must torture yourself , try 12V.com. They can help you with all you want to do. But I do agree, that the Factory Bose system you have working properly should sound fantastic! MC

[Playtime98]

I have an pioneer in-dash flip out dvd player in my 98 STS. I have the bose system. The bose speakers all run on different ohms, not the typical setup as regular speakers. The fronts might be 2 ohms the rear sub might be 1/2 ohm, etc. etc. The bose amp is configured and designed for those speakers, as is the bose head unit. Yes you can run that deck. There are two ways to go about this.

You can by pass the amp, and re-wire all the speakers to run off the deck power (assuming your deck isn't a passive deck). It will work, but the sound quality won't be pretty. Or you can rip out all the bose stuff and use regular speakers of your choice and run those off the deck, which would probably sound better.

Your second option is to buy the bose adapter. The adapter keeps your system wired the same and all you have to do is install the adapter and your deck. Ask around the local car audio shop to see if the have or can get it.

I currently have mine set up the first way, with all my speakers running off the deck power. When i had my car done, the adapter was not yet on the market. The sound quality is liveable, and dissapointing. You have to tune the system very well to make it sound decent. Stock sounds much much better. My car is going back into the shop within the month to re-run the wires back to stock utilizing the amp, and have the adapter installed. I am also install the on-star adapter, wich enables you to have onstar through the speakers again, and for the warning chimes to work. When installing an aftermarket deck you lose the onstar through the speakers and the warning chimes (the ding ding ding if you leave your lights on).

Hope this helps.

[JasonA]

Geez, I wonder what you guys are gaining, spending all this money just go get back to stock?! Did your cars not have CD players or something? Are you doing all this simply to be able to play MP3s or something...??

Sounds like a lot of work to make an aftermarket head unit sound as good as the stock system!

[KenD]

You will have to rewire the whole system. Not the be all end all, but you have a BOSE system and I know from experience that they sound GREAT, so I'm not quite sure why you would want to change it over.

I changed my whole system over on my STS but only because it had the cheapy Delco AM/FM/tape system.

I don't know what your speaker sizes are for the fronts and you may have to custom fit them, so if you do, go and get 6 1/2" speakers for the fronts and cut a larger whole in the door for them to fit. You will also have to make a bracket to fit the speakers to. Get an amp to power the speakers. You want to run at least 90 RMS to get a good punch out of them.

[JasonA]

I changed my whole system over on my STS but only because it had the cheapy Delco AM/FM/tape system.

Even the "cheapy" Delco system is enough for this kid's tastes. In fact, the 10-12 year olds that my wife and I babysat for last year thought I had a subwoofer in the trunk. I really like Delco systems; the one in my '84 Cutlass was wonderful. Sounded much classier to me (with four new Pioneer speakers) than everyone else's "juiced up" systems. The Cadillac is the same way...the rearview mirror vibrates with every bass hit, whether my wife is listenin' to Kelly Clarkson or I'm listenin' to Reba McEntire. With the 12-disc magazine in the trunk, there's almost TOO much music in the car!

[careldo]

I agree the Bose system in my car sounds great i think you are going to spend some big bucks to get better than that.

[justgreat]

in the past, when someone posted a question/complaint about the bose system in their caddy, i was always mystified. when bose got together with gm and designed the audio systems for cadillac (i'm going back to the mid 80"s?), it was considered a "break through" in high end stereo euipment in a factory system. in fact, when bose started their tailor made systems for cadillac they were considered to be some of the best systems, including aftermarket, that money could buy.

the speakers are custom equalized to the specific amplifier in the car with distinct equalization settings...there was tons of research done to tailor the equalization curve to compensate for the interior components used (some surfaces are "hard" versus "soft" and change the sound of the system).

of course, tastes in music have changed considerably since the first bose systems...the insatiable lust for super bass was unheard of...so maybe that has something to do with the distaste for the original "super system" put into a car from the factory. bottom line: messing with a bose system is a major headahce.

jackg

[Scotty]

While we are on the topic of AUDIO, I have a 96 DEVILLE withOUT the BOSE system. I must say that is sounds very good, but my 17 yo son BLEW one of the door speakers the first time he got into the car! I was quite happy with the sound before he blew the front speaker.

I want to replace the speakers, and have been looking at Alpine, Polk, and Infinity separates (woofer and separate tweeter). I think the front is 5 1/2 inch. Has anyone done this? Also how big are the speakers in the rear? Thanks, Mike

[jinxed45]

The reason I am putting a whole new system in is because my car did not come with a CD Player, just the tape deck. I need a CD player. And I get below wholesale prices for head units/speakers. I agree, BOSE does sound great, but all my speakers are blown, except one, and BOSE systems are confusing to work with if you're inexperienced like me.

-Leo

[98Concours]

You can put a 12disc changer in the trunk......it's already wired and ready to go.

[JasonA]

The reason I am putting a whole new system in is because my car did not come with a CD Player, just the tape deck. I need a CD player. And I get below wholesale prices for head units/speakers. I agree, BOSE does sound great, but all my speakers are blown, except one, and BOSE systems are confusing to work with if you're inexperienced like me.

Yeah, don't hack up the whole thing for a CD player! Get you a CD changer out of a wreck for 50 bucks and plug it in! Surf eBay, you should be able to find one there easily. Your trunk is prewired for the changer and it'll plug-n-play with your stock headunit. Hook it up and go. Your trunk even has the bracket welded into the floor under the carpeting on the passenger side. If you've already cut wires, I guess it's too late now, but if you haven't, I'd put a hold on what ever you're looking to do because you can get the result you want for much less $$ and hassle -- and keep the good looks and sound from the Bose headunit.

Edit: I just saw that you said you also had some blown speakers, so from that angle, I do agree that replacing them with standard speakers would probably be "easier" and cheaper in the long run. Hope your project turns out well.

[KenD]

Just a note that you can't run new speakers off of the Delco headunit. I believe that your aftermarket speakers are rated at 4 ohms whereas the factory speakers are rated 1/2 or 1 ohm. I tried and the sound is absolutely terrible. Chances are you will ruin your speakers. If your head unit has a built in amp, then you should be fine with some good quality speakers. I have Infinity 9602s in the rear and they pump out some serious bass. Much more than my old paper coned stock speakers did. It's almost like I have a sub in the car. The 5 1/4s in the front are Infinity Kappas, but most of the bass comes from the rear speakers and the high notes out of the fronts when possible.

Grab a wiring harness from crutchfield or bestbuy or circuit city for your car. Get the installation kit for the head unit. You may have to do some serious research on this though as I don't know if you can find one too easily, but again, try Crutchfield, they are really good. It's not too much of a PITA, but it's very time consuming.

Good luck!

[JasonA]

Is that right??? The factory speakers are only 1-ohm??? Wow...I didn't know that. On my old '84 Cutlass, they were 10-ohm speakers, and when I went to aftermarkets (4-ohm), it flat KICKED!

The rear shelf speakers are 6x9, correct? I think that's what they are for the '97, and should be for all the 92-97 cars. I was casually thinking about some different speakers, but based on your notes, I'll leave in there what's in there now! I didn't know they were so low (on resistance)!

Thanks,

[JasonA]

Oh...and most of the aftermarket head units have built-in amps in the range of 40-60W per channel. Anyone have any idea what the stock Delco's amp is rated? For the non-Bose, I would assume the amp is built-in to the headunit, right, since it serves high level audio straight to the speakers (vs. the Bose where the headunit pipes low level signals to the amps).

Thanks again,

[Dynomite98]

I think the bose system is fine, it just doesn't like some some songs with alot of bass. Thats why i added 3 12's. I like the factory look inside though, i wouldn't change the headunit unless it had a flatscreen.

[Scotty]

I agree totally with that factory look. My son (24 tomorrow) keeps telling me to "change the face"?!?, and I don't think that is necessary at all. I really thing the sound even in the non-Bose system I have is very good. Bass is especially good, I have not looked yet but they must have good sized & well dampened boxes that they are enclosed in. They sound to be ported in the rear.

Anyway I like the factory look. It was mentioned above that some of the trucks are pre-wired for CD units. Are all models wired for CD or just the BOSE units? I was wondering if my truck is wired for CD, its a non-Bose unit (or FACE?!? lol).. Mike

[Scotty]

trucks are pre-wired for CD units. Are all models wired for CD or just the BOSE units? I was wondering if my truck

DUH, that's trunk...time to start reading it before I press add reply

[98Concours]

Scotty, I know the 97 and up models were pre-wired. Look in your truck(lol), by the passenger side tail light. Pull the floor carpet/mat up and see if there is a wire harness there. If so, your wired!

[justgreat]

i believe the bose units have a pre-amp built into the head unit, with the individual amps built into the speaker assemblies. with bi-amplified systems and tailor matched speakers, the output of the amps can be extremely low (30 watt range) and still have kick-*smurf* sound levels. that's why it's critical to do your homework with any system before modifying it. it's not always easy to improve on the original design. jackg

[coffeebreak1]

the cover on the front speakers should just pop off,at least mine do(94SLS)then you can see what size they, are mine are 5 1/4 non-bose.

[crich8136]

Help!!

I just bought a 98 Deville. There is power to the radio. The CD changer in the trunk cycles through looking for CD's and shows up as an option on the control panel.

There are a bunch of loose wires in the trunk which are obviously not factory stuff. My guess is that the former owner had an amplifier or other equipment which he removed when he sold the car. Obviously there is no sound from any of the speakers.

Also the radio antenna is extended all the time. The motor cycles when the radio is turned on or off but the antenna does not move. The owner manual says to "gently" push it down into the trunk but it doesn't feel like that will work. It is very rigid.

I would dearly love to get back to the original configuration (assuming that it was working before the former owner messed with it).

QUESTIONS:

1. Where can I get a diagram of how this is supposed to be wired?

2. Is there an amplifier somewhere that he may have disconnected and which could be reconnected?

3. From reading these posts -- what is a head unit? (Sorry, I am a complete novice at sound systems.)

4. Any other advice about how I can get back to normal?

Thanks for your help.

[SPreston2001]

No disrespect, but anybody who claims the stock Bose system is awesome and is on par with an aftermarket setup, clearly doesnt know car audio. Dont get me wrong the Bose setup sounds great for a factory setup, but it doesnt come close to a aftermarket install. It all depends on how much money you want to spend and how important sound is to you. An aftermarket cd player will sound better than the stock player if installed correctly and give you mp3 controls and lots of other options, but you will have to do alot of work and re-wiring. And as far as speaker replacement goes, you can try to look on Ebay for some replacement Bose speakers, or if im not mistaken you will need to find some 1-ohm speakers that are shallow enough to mount into the front doors. If you find some 2-ohm speakers you can hook the factory amp back up to them without losing too much power and will probably still sound better than the factory speakers. You should take one of the factory bose speakers to a local car audio shop and try to find a speaker with similar depth. Im planning on replacing all my factory speakers, but I dont think I want to go through all the work thats involved in installing a aftermarket headunit so ill probably stick with the stock headunit. There are alot of benifits from installing a aftermarket radio. Alot of people may not get into loud car audio and think the Bose setup is the best thing ever but I hate my stock headunit and would love to have a nice aftermarket headunit with a screen installed. Aftermarket decks give you alot more EQ options and look way cooler than the boring stock unit. The stock setup isnt as clear and crisp as a aftermarket deck either. The paper cone factory Bose speakers dont stand a chance against Focal, Rainbow, Infinity's, or other quality aftermarket speakers. I guess if you've always had factory setups in your cars, then the Bose system would sound heavenly, but to me its just "good" for a factory setup. Installing a nice setup is possible, but like alot of other things on these cars, GM went out of its way to complicate the process.