RX8J

Hello,

I live in Coconut Creek, Fl. (South Florida). I am getting ready to install an upgrade to the Bose stereo (no nav, but with in dash changer). I am looking for someone I can trust to install the stereo upgrades (speakers, amp, sub). I dont let just anyone touch my 8!

Also, I have about $1000 to spend and I am looking for something to improve on what i have (thats not hard) I don't want to replace the head unit. I do NOT want or need big booming bass that will rock my neighbors house as I drive down the street. (nothing against those who do, I just am not looking for that). I want some nice tight bass, crispy highs and I dont want it to break up if I turn it up. I dont need it to go that loud, I would easily take quality over volume!! As a matter of reference, I dont need more amplitude than what comes stock, I just want it to sound great .... well as great as I can get for $1000.

Suggestions on components and installation?

Any help is appreicated!
-RX8J

SpearRX8

RX8J
You sound like you need what I put on my 8. I was frustrated over the lack of punch the Bose has. I installed a single 10" with an amp and believe me, It made a lot of difference in the sound Q. I was able to lower the bass signal from the headunit to arround +2 from the usual +5 I had it at . WOW, It cleared the mid and highs from distortion at higher volumes and the tight bass comes from the sub. Now it is a very well balanced sound system with vivid separation of frequencies. Again, I did not want to wake up my neighbors so I did not get a very expensive system that held 1000 watts. One Sony 300 watt rms amp in mono mode and a Kenwood 10". Total cost is about 300.00 if you do it yourself. Otherwise add another 75.00 install. Sound Advice in Kendall drive in Miami has one good installer that was worked there for years. They do custom boxes if you want to get creative and spend a little more. If you do a DIY, connect the line convertor to the output of the Bose amp. Its about a 2 hour project and about 15 minutes to tune it to your taste if you do it yourself.
Best of Luck

RX8J

SpearRX8,

That sounds about right, the only other thing I figured was that I would also need to replace the tweeters in the door. I dont hear that crispy high end I was looking for. I guess you are saying that once I tighten up the bass, the highs will come back....

Did you buy a pre-fab 10" box, or was it made for you? Where does it physically sit?

Kendal is kind of far for me, but my in-laws do live right near there... Maybe I'll go talk to the guys at Sound Advice near me and see what they say.

Thanks for the tip...

-RX8J

SpearRX8

RX8J
Believe me, I thought that I had no highs. The bass from the 9" speaker in the bose system drowns whatever comes out of the tweeter mounted in the pillars. The bass from Bose is very booomy. When you release these frequencies from the bose system it becomes alive. I suggest to try it. Spend some time tuning the amp/sub to your taste. You have two gain signals and a cross over setting in the amp. I have mine crossing over at the lowest frequency (because I like tight bass not boomy) and my gain about 60% and the bass boost at about 65%. Again, this is tuned for my taste but it allows me to adjust the bose bass setting from 0 to 3 depending on the music I hear without re-adjusting the amp. If in the end, you think you need better tweeter. It is a snap to change them. They are on the door frame and they just simply snap. Think of another 100.00 for a good pair. Make sure you get some that go from 900hz to 5000 Hz. That is what the Bose output to the tweeters is putting. If you do not get one that has that range , you may be missing some mid frequencies. I just bought an off the shelf box. .65 cubic feet in volume. Does not take that much room. I will eventually make a custom one whenever I do not have to go to my kid's baseball games. There is a good thread that I am trying to find that mentions a good pair of tweeters that covers those freequencies. I will try to search for it.
SpearRx-8