Upgrading speakers in Bose system while keeping Bose HU and amp
 

Has anyone successfully replace any speakers in the Bose system WITHOUT adding an additional amp and keeping the Bose HU and original Bose amp. I have searched the threads and have only found posts on successful speaker upgrades with non-Bose systems or replacing the amp in the Bose system along with the speaker upgrades.

To share some info also, I have successfully installed a 10" amplified Bazooka into my Bose system.

The head unit is not Bose... it is the same like in the non-Bose system.

I remember OverLOAD posted a thread about replacing just the rear speakers: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-how-replace-rear-6x9-speakers-9991/

Also, I recall that there was someone with a Bose system who installed a 3-speaker component setup in the doors - so yes, this was done too. I'm too lazy to search for the threads though :p

OverLOAD's thread about replacing the rear 6x9's has been mentioned and is an excellent how-to.

There's also this thread which covers options for replacing the 2" speakers in the A-pillars: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...highlight=NX30

I plan on doing both of these upgrades when I get my RX-8.

Thanks for the link on the threads guys!

I'm only interested in changing the fronts to get crisper highs. I’ve concluded there are 2 choices:
1. Only replace the A-pillar tweeters with the Image Dynamics NX30s
2. Replace the Bose door woofer and 2" A-pillar tweeters with a component speaker system (ex. Infinity Reference 6000CS).

Has anyone tried the second option successfully powered by the existing Bose amp? Correct me if I’m wrong, but from what I read in the threads, Bose runs on different ohms which poses a problem to upgrade the speakers without upgrading the amp as well.

calmoy: I'm curious about your 10" Bazooka install. Where did you tap into the existing Bose amp? Thanks!

I did all upgrades that are posted on the site.
Image Dynamics tweeters front, Infiniti rear, 4080 sub with 10 inch woofer.
All "mods" where easy and not do difficult nor pricy to install.
It does sound a lot better than it was when it was stock!


More pictures here: Mazda RX-8

Modena: That's a beautiful setup, and I wanted a simple sub setup to accentuate the lows. I didn't want to add another amp, but instead, hoped to tap into the existing amp (and use a powered sub). Thoughts?

I installed an DLS Iridium 8" midbass driver in the doors which are currently, as a stop-gap solution until the kicks are completed, powered by the Bose amp. The impedance of the original Bose woofer was 1 ohm, these are 4. However, since they are more efficient speakers I only lost a slight bit of volume. Regardless, the speakers certainly sound better, but I can't wait until they are powered by an appropriate amp and paired with the proper DLS 3" mid and 1" tweet.

You might want to look in to the new Infiniti powered sub:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-NTa7x0q...0&I=108BASSLN2

Looks like it can do the job.

Where did you got the speakers for the doors?

"DLS Iridium 8" midbass driver"

Direct fit or small modification?

How's that Basslink II better than the original Basslink? Just asking since the Basslink can be had for a lot less and it likely will do the job fine as well.

Also, square woofer? Isn't that more like a gimmick or does the square format actually have any advantage?

yes, the square woofer is going to be louder. it has more surface area, so it can move more air than a round woofer. the more air you move, the louder you can be. just like in engines, the larger the displacement, the more power you can generate.

only disadvantage to the square woofers is that you need more power to run them.

^^^ not entirely accurate. The tradeoff here is that the cone loses shape under extreme conditions, it also does not travel as far. So it is a coin toss, larger surface area and less throw, or slightly smaller area and more throw. Correctly pointed out is that they do need power, more so than the comparable round speakers.

Where did you get that subbox... Thats freaking sweet!

PM the forum user '4080'.

thanks!

personally im going to do diamond d9 subs, d9 component fronts, and probably d6 rears. still doing all the planning on my system, and im not doing anything till its all planned out. i have some crazy ideas, and have a really good custom installer working for me, so i should be able to come up with something pretty cool.

So I looking in to adding another tweeter and replacing the mids in the door but I don't under stand how to hook up the mids, would you just plug your speaker in to the the wires that powered the bose speakers or do you have to add an amp and revome the Bose oem amp?

Please read the sticky at the top of the forum. It's very clear.