I wanna add a amp to the bose factory system in my car.I tried to use the back speakers to the hi input instead of rca cable input but the stereo wont work then...Is there a way to bypass the facotry amp where I can hook up the amp to it where the speakers will work...I know it has to have like a rca type style to the factoy amp but its wires instead...Is there a way to get the new amp and the rest to work also with out replacing the factory stuff?
Replies (13)
trunkisloud on 04/2/2007 00:26:12
if u are wanting to add a new amp you may wanna replace the speakers that it will be running....just because it says bose doesnt mean it can handle more power...factory speakers arent rated for much power no matter what brand......especially in a 9 year old car.
jessiejames232 on 04/2/2007 00:29:26
Im adding a new amp for a sub woofer and I need to know how to hook up the amp for the sub.Not to hook it up to the factory speakers....The factory speakers has a amp and its all bose and I need to know how to bypass the facotry amp to get the whole stereo to play when adding the new amp for the subs
cplkittle on 04/2/2007 07:55:08
All you need in this case is a line output converter (LOC).
You don't need to bypass anything. The LOC will tap into the speaker wires at the speaker, convert the signal to low level inputs (RCA) and you just plug the RCA into the LOC and into the amplifier and you are good to go.
jessiejames232 on 04/2/2007 09:08:33
And this LOC will work with a premium bose stereo system right in the cadillac? It was just odd how it grounded out the whole stereo system where the factory speakers wouldnt turn on when I hooked it up to just the hi pass connector..but I will try it tonight and see what happens they got one at wal mart that say's it's just for that I checked last night....
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/2/2007 10:12:21
The LOC will usually work, but in some complex vehicles, they suck. Should work fine for the ol' Caddy though. Make sure you use a good ground for it.
ttocs on 04/2/2007 14:15:41
You will need to try the LOC but unfortunatly it may not work so well with the bose system. Bose does everthing they can to discourage the aftermarket from working with their systems....
swez on 04/2/2007 22:36:48
Many guys will opt to bypass the Bose components completely and upgrade to Aftermarket HU's, speakers and amps. New wiring is needed to do this process, but the results are often superior to a factory Bose system and worth the investment if you plan to keep the car a few years.
As others have said, Bose does things their own way and GM allows it to get the most $$$ from the car buyer and limit the options and reworks too. Some LOC's can take high power speaker outputs and convert them to normal RCA levels. However, the ones I have seen are often expensive and have some tradeoffs that are less than wonderful.
Swez
cplkittle on 04/2/2007 22:50:51
I am 99% sure the LOC will work on the speaker side of the amplifier. All of the problems I have encountered in the past were preamp signals being common ground instead of floating ground.
You shouldn't have any problems just adding a sub.
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/3/2007 10:42:55
I agree with kit on 99% sureness of the compatibility of the LOC. Most of the troubles I have seen them with is on DSP equipped Bimmers. They don't take very nicely to LOC's, or much any sound mods for that matter
UKinstaller on 04/3/2007 23:32:01
is there a factory sub in the car?? if there is, use a line out converter there for a guaranteed good frequency range for your woofers. i'd disconnect it though, usually sounds a little better in my opinion.
if there is no factory subwoofer, you'll have to use a line out converter AFTER the amplifier, i.e. tap into the woofers in the doors. those will cover subwoofer frequency fine. should be a big factory amplifier in the trunk, can catch the speaer wires there instead of having to catch them in the doors.
if there are woofers in the rear doors, you can catch the signal going into them easily by popping out the B pillar in the car and locating the wires running to the woofer in the door.
either way, that will get the job done. and contrary to shootuhmcbustacaps claim of making sure it's grounded, do NOT ground it. on bose systems grounding it can induce noise in the woofers. only ground the wires of the LOC if you are ALREADY experiencing noise problems. luckily, noise is very rarely an issue in subwoofers, except on the poorest of installs.
not bashing shootuh, just clarifying.
-UK
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/4/2007 01:20:28
I actually appreciate the correction UK. Have at it Jessie!
jessiejames232 on 04/4/2007 01:39:36
Well to be honest with you all non of it worked at all damn it....and to replace the factory stereo to a after market stereo even you still got to leave the freaking factory head unit installed I freaking hate cadillacs
swez on 04/4/2007 05:41:08
Yes, thank GM for all the headaches here JJ. In their premium car lines, they make things pretty difficult to work on or swap out to better aftermarket systems. (Data bus connections and other electronics integration used in factory HU's)
Have you tried tapping signals off the rear speakers/woofer? These are higher voltage signals and may need attenuation circuits to bring the voltage levels down to usable levels for aftermarket amps.
Bose often uses selective signal processing on full range speakers and subs that may not be suitable for sub only taps. (Crossover frequencies are preset to limit bass content to rear speakers so they don't break up at high listening levels) That's often good enough for the casual listener, but not an audiophile who wants it all just right.
Just for fun, call the Tech guys at Crutchfield and see what they have to offer in specific details and possible integration patch devices. 1.888.955.6000
Swez
Replies (13)
trunkisloud on 04/2/2007 00:26:12
if u are wanting to add a new amp you may wanna replace the speakers that it will be running....just because it says bose doesnt mean it can handle more power...factory speakers arent rated for much power no matter what brand......especially in a 9 year old car.
jessiejames232 on 04/2/2007 00:29:26
Im adding a new amp for a sub woofer and I need to know how to hook up the amp for the sub.Not to hook it up to the factory speakers....The factory speakers has a amp and its all bose and I need to know how to bypass the facotry amp to get the whole stereo to play when adding the new amp for the subs
cplkittle on 04/2/2007 07:55:08
All you need in this case is a line output converter (LOC).
You don't need to bypass anything. The LOC will tap into the speaker wires at the speaker, convert the signal to low level inputs (RCA) and you just plug the RCA into the LOC and into the amplifier and you are good to go.
jessiejames232 on 04/2/2007 09:08:33
And this LOC will work with a premium bose stereo system right in the cadillac? It was just odd how it grounded out the whole stereo system where the factory speakers wouldnt turn on when I hooked it up to just the hi pass connector..but I will try it tonight and see what happens they got one at wal mart that say's it's just for that I checked last night....
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/2/2007 10:12:21
The LOC will usually work, but in some complex vehicles, they suck. Should work fine for the ol' Caddy though. Make sure you use a good ground for it.
ttocs on 04/2/2007 14:15:41
You will need to try the LOC but unfortunatly it may not work so well with the bose system. Bose does everthing they can to discourage the aftermarket from working with their systems....
swez on 04/2/2007 22:36:48
Many guys will opt to bypass the Bose components completely and upgrade to Aftermarket HU's, speakers and amps. New wiring is needed to do this process, but the results are often superior to a factory Bose system and worth the investment if you plan to keep the car a few years.
As others have said, Bose does things their own way and GM allows it to get the most $$$ from the car buyer and limit the options and reworks too. Some LOC's can take high power speaker outputs and convert them to normal RCA levels. However, the ones I have seen are often expensive and have some tradeoffs that are less than wonderful.
Swez
cplkittle on 04/2/2007 22:50:51
I am 99% sure the LOC will work on the speaker side of the amplifier. All of the problems I have encountered in the past were preamp signals being common ground instead of floating ground.
You shouldn't have any problems just adding a sub.
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/3/2007 10:42:55
I agree with kit on 99% sureness of the compatibility of the LOC. Most of the troubles I have seen them with is on DSP equipped Bimmers. They don't take very nicely to LOC's, or much any sound mods for that matter
UKinstaller on 04/3/2007 23:32:01
is there a factory sub in the car?? if there is, use a line out converter there for a guaranteed good frequency range for your woofers. i'd disconnect it though, usually sounds a little better in my opinion.
if there is no factory subwoofer, you'll have to use a line out converter AFTER the amplifier, i.e. tap into the woofers in the doors. those will cover subwoofer frequency fine. should be a big factory amplifier in the trunk, can catch the speaer wires there instead of having to catch them in the doors.
if there are woofers in the rear doors, you can catch the signal going into them easily by popping out the B pillar in the car and locating the wires running to the woofer in the door.
either way, that will get the job done. and contrary to shootuhmcbustacaps claim of making sure it's grounded, do NOT ground it. on bose systems grounding it can induce noise in the woofers. only ground the wires of the LOC if you are ALREADY experiencing noise problems. luckily, noise is very rarely an issue in subwoofers, except on the poorest of installs.
not bashing shootuh, just clarifying.
-UK
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 04/4/2007 01:20:28
I actually appreciate the correction UK. Have at it Jessie!
jessiejames232 on 04/4/2007 01:39:36
Well to be honest with you all non of it worked at all damn it....and to replace the factory stereo to a after market stereo even you still got to leave the freaking factory head unit installed I freaking hate cadillacs
swez on 04/4/2007 05:41:08
Yes, thank GM for all the headaches here JJ. In their premium car lines, they make things pretty difficult to work on or swap out to better aftermarket systems. (Data bus connections and other electronics integration used in factory HU's)
Have you tried tapping signals off the rear speakers/woofer? These are higher voltage signals and may need attenuation circuits to bring the voltage levels down to usable levels for aftermarket amps.
Bose often uses selective signal processing on full range speakers and subs that may not be suitable for sub only taps. (Crossover frequencies are preset to limit bass content to rear speakers so they don't break up at high listening levels) That's often good enough for the casual listener, but not an audiophile who wants it all just right.
Just for fun, call the Tech guys at Crutchfield and see what they have to offer in specific details and possible integration patch devices. 1.888.955.6000
Swez
Copyright ClubKnowledge 2009 * All Rights Reserved
