Standard (base) sound system question
 

I'm gonna have a car with the base stereo, and was looking at improving the sound quality. Obviously, first thing would be to replace the stock speakers and eventually look into getting a better amp plus installing a subwoofer.

Regarding the amp, any info where is it located (if it's separate from the head unit - I suppose it is), and how to get at it?

Is there some wiring schematics available for the base system?

Basically, any info that would aid this process is appreciated.

Thanks!

The base stereo doesn't have a seperate amp. It has 4 sets of 4 ohm speakers being powered by the Headunit itself.

I can get you a scan tomorrow.

-Mr. Wigggles

Here's the scan from my dealer.

thank you
mr wiggles

Yea, thanks MrWigggles.

I also have the base sound system, and I have another question.

Will an amp need its own power wires. If so, do they have to be installed all the way from the battery? Or is the wire used by the Bose amp somewhere near the back ready for us to just grab?

T-REX,

The topic is about the base radio not the Bose radio. I doubt the power wires are available at the rear deck for the non-Bose owners.

For the Bose owners, you could remove the Bose amp and use its power wire but there is a catch. The Bose amp only has a 20 amp fuse for the ENTIRE Bose system. This makes their 300 Watt claim BS because the maximum input power to the system is only 14.4 Volts X 20 Amps = 288 Watts. Which even if the amps are extremely efficient would only equal about 200 Watts of audio power. Anyway, if you were to use their wiring you would need to "upgrade" two fuses in the system: the 30 Amp BTN fuse shown above and the 20 Amp audio fuse the Bose amp uses. At which point you need to make sure that the wires are capable of carrying that amount of current properly. (The Bose power wire only looks like a 10 guage cable)

I would route my own power cable personally - 6 guage for modest systems, 4 guage or thicker for the serious systems.

-Mr. Wigggles

That's what I was afraid of. :(

Is this something one would route all the way from the fuse box in the engine compartment? Or where would be a good place to tap into some power for the amp?

Thanks again for all this info.

I have the Bose system and it really is awful.....no highs no lows it must be Bose.....I am reworking my entire system.....the car is the best, the stereo is not....Bose is just a good marketing company and that is it. Mercedes-Benz and BMW are ending Bose use in favor of the fantastic Harmon-K. 7.....My new Range Rover has this new Harmon K. system and it is the finest stock system I have ever heard.

I have a question on the base stock system. I haven't bought my RX-8 yet, and I'm trying to decide which option package to get. I'm definatley going to go aftermarket with my stereo and I was wondering...

This thread says that the stock bose system has low level outputs that can be tapped at the headunit. Does anyone know if the base stock headunit has the same outputs? In other words, is the headunit the same between the bose and standard stereos? I'm not really itching for anything in the Touring package, so I was thinking of just getting the Sport package, but I don't want to do a hi/low converter to get my stereo going (or replace the stock head unit).

Thanks in advance!
Andrew

PS BMW has been Harmon-Kardon for several years.

Anyone know the answer to this one?

Thanks!
Andrew

The stock 6x9s are not bad atall. I am keeping them. The onlything I might change later on are the tweeters.