I'm trying to find out if I can expect the same problem with the stock Bose amplifiers that I had on an older car I used to have.

I used to have a '92 Infiniti Q45, with a bose system. It also had individual amplifiers in each door (50 watt I think?). When the car was perhaps 7-8 years old, the sound started to degrade in quality significantly, particularly the clarity and power of the lower/base tones. It was pretty annoying.

I don't have much experience with different audio systems....so I'd like to know: is this something that happens to all amplifiers after 8-10 years? Or was this just a problem with some specific Bose amps? More importantly, is there any reason to think this will happen with the system in the RX-8? My car is almost 4 years old, and I'm planning on owning it for a very long time, and have found barely-used amplifiers for relatively cheap prices. If I believe I will eventually need to replace them, I will buy them now instead.

I'm talking about both the larger "main" amp (mounted under the rear shelf), as well as the little ones in each door, both seen here:
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...3&d=1077675126


On the old Q45, the stereo and amplifiers were the same used by a few other Nissan's, as well as the Corvette's of the time that had bose audio. Because the amps seemed to fail, replacements were in high demand (they still are, google it!) and cost more than $150 for each small door amp.


Any info or advice would be appreciated.....thanks.
-Andrew


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I've never heard of an amplifier "wearing out" like you describe, but that doesn't mean it cannot happen, theres a lot I've never heard of.

I wouldn't worry about it much. The Bose system in the car isn't that great compared to even a modest aftermarket setup. If your system dies at some point in the distant future, replace it with aftermarket gear and it will sound better then new, and probably cost as much, if not less the OEM replacements.

 

Yeah, I didn't think it was very common in general, but it was very common on the corvette's and Q45's and other's that had those amplifiers. After 8 years, the bass would just be really weak and crappy.

Alright....guess I'll just forget about it then...

 

both of my door amps have gone out...the first was replaced under warranty...now the other is out and i'm out of warranty...i've contacted bose to complain about the poor quality but i haven't heard anything back yet...my car's only 4 years old...sad

 

There are many 2004 owners on here that are still rocking the entire Bose system. I wouldn't stew about it. If you DO have issues, there is also many of us who ripped out the Bose system and went all aftermarket. Surely you could get a decent deal on a replacement amp from one of us. (Well under $150)

 

The issues with amps (or anything electronic for that matter) is, they are affected by what ever is attached to them (electronically speaking), either on the input side or output side. Now, there could be MANY factors that cause an amp to go bad, or burn up. Most of which are caused by installation issues, however un-altered stock amps usually suffer for different reasons, but not limited to the following:
Mainly starting with the fact that they (the amplifiers) typically use inferior electronic components, Inferior speaker components - the output of the amp is converted to A/C, that’s what makes the cone of the woofer oscillate. Now, with time and use, the woofer's suspension starts to loosen and degrade, which causes impedance (resistance) changes in the circuit. The changes in the resistance creates more of a load for the amps transistors to supply. That’s why you should change your speakers every 2-4 years. Continued usage of a failing speaker(s) will cause the amplifier running it, to fail prematurely.

Hope this clarifies things a bit for you.

 

i have an 04 with the bose set up and it was great until just a few months ago..when i ran out of the warranty..the driver side amp cuts of intermittently...i called bose they said it was a manufacture item and that i need to call mazda....i called mazda they said the part was 350.00 So i'm considering other options

 

Audiocontrol LC6i tapped in just before the Bose amp. Then use a single 5-channel amp to power all four speakers and a subwoofer.

 

or buy a replacement door amp from me for cheap

 

i logged-on to bose.com and emailed them:

To Whom it may Concern:

About a year or so ago the amp in my passenger door went out and the dealer replaced it under warranty. Now, the amp in my driver's side door has gone out. This upsets me because I thought Bose products were better than that for one but also my car is out of warranty now and I'm being told that the part alone is $341.82.

I'm wondering if Bose is going to step-up to the plate and stand behind their product and help me out with this. My car is only 4 years old and I've had a speaker and an amp replaced and now I have yet another bad amp.

they sent me the amp...i haven't installed it yet (too cold and no garage)...squeaky wheel gets the grease

 

you wouldn't happen to have an amp for the sub in the left front door would you? mines crapping out and i have to hit it to get it to work, with less and less success...

 

I have the exact same issue, i think its a cold solder issue ... looking to buy one off the forum.

 

Just for the record, what you guys are describing is different than what I was asking about in the first place. The problem those old units had was that they would gradually degrade in low-freq sound quality over time. You seem to be talking about something "going out" quickly, like a failure or loose connection.

 

i have a 04 and ive had this problem here the drive side speaker went out then shortly after the passenger side speaker went out too. So i took it to an audio shop and they tested the speaker and it worked. I was telling the tech that the sound come on and off randomly so he hit the small amp box and it started working. Luckily i found someone in my local area parting out a rx8 and i got both of them for 150. For other people who want to switch them out go to this website. They are 90 bucks each.

Here is a pic of the part with the part #


http://www.partsgroup.com/store.aspx...ctrical&Page=0