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Bose Upgrade

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:06 pm
by A20LEE
I've been disappointed with my Bose after having aftermarket systems in all my previous cars so today i tried a simple upgrade on the front doors while replacing a faulty front speaker. I've reinforced the door pods with fibreglass and used three and a half rolls of dynamat extreme to damp the vibrations. The result isn't as good as replacement speakers but is a big improvement and has doubled the bass and volume without turning up the volume. The result sounds like bigger Bose speakers have fitted, i think it was definately worth while if you don't fancy ripping the factory system out. Rear doors next then the sub!

RE: Bose Upgrade

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:21 pm
by petephil
I've got a faulty speaker on the front passenger side seems to crackle and vibrate. Which one of yours was faulty?

Just wondering because if you will be getting rid of the speaker/s i may be interested in one.

Also is it an easy job to replace?

RE: Bose Upgrade

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:32 pm
by neckarsulm
Bose replacements are 4-5 times the cost of standard speakers!

Re: RE: Bose Upgrade

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:09 pm
by A20LEE
petephil wrote:I've got a faulty speaker on the front passenger side seems to crackle and vibrate. Which one of yours was faulty?

Just wondering because if you will be getting rid of the speaker/s i may be interested in one.

Also is it an easy job to replace?
It was the drivers door on mine. Not planning on going aftermarket in the near future but i'm going to look into methods of using a 10" sub in place of the bose. Yes its an easy job but i've stripped door panels off ever car i've owned so its no big deal.

RE: Re: RE: Bose Upgrade

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:12 pm
by Virdee Autos
Bose speakers ain't that expensive.

Changed my P/S one couple of months ago, which was around £70. Now the D/S has gone up the duff!

RE: Re: RE: Bose Upgrade

Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 10:37 am
by petephil
Was that £70 from Audi?

Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 11:18 am
by neckarsulm
..I think a non Bose speaker (for a car where Bose was an option) is just £20 so 3.5 times cheaper.
Had to replace one on an A3 and now the other one is going too, that's a V reg so if it's age related it's going to be hitting mosts RS4s soon!

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:12 pm
by R5YUG
I need speakers - rears for mine, really nasty crackle from both - seems to be worse since it's got warmer again after all the cold.
Witout digging about what's the size of the rear speaker, going to see if I can get some Focal items that will fit.
Unless anyone's got any cheaper / options or suggestions for upgrading the lot?

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:17 pm
by A20LEE
R5YUG wrote:I need speakers - rears for mine, really nasty crackle from both - seems to be worse since it's got warmer again after all the cold.
Witout digging about what's the size of the rear speaker, going to see if I can get some Focal items that will fit.
Unless anyone's got any cheaper / options or suggestions for upgrading the lot?
I was told that the system is rated at 2ohm so you have to dump the whole lot as 4ohm speakers will kill the bose amp or the amp will kill the speakers?

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:35 pm
by reserves
You can get 2ohm speakers from carAudioDirect.com, send them a mail, they'll be better than the bose ones I think and much cheaper.

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:51 pm
by Virdee Autos
I think others have tried some 2 ohm drop in speakers, Have a search

Yes that's £70 from Audi

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:00 pm
by jimbo1234567
a few people have ditched the bose sub and built aninstall in the spare wheel well

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:54 pm
by Ash25
Hi there, just wondered if you had any pics of the door stuff you did? going to be doing mine in a bit and wondered how it was done?

i take it you used dynamat on the metal door skin, but did you also line the door card as well?

was it an easy enough job, or should someone experienced do it?

how did you FG the door pods? did you have aftermarket pods done or something?

sorry lots of questions

:oops:

Ash

Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:09 pm
by A20LEE
Ash25 wrote:Hi there, just wondered if you had any pics of the door stuff you did? going to be doing mine in a bit and wondered how it was done?

i take it you used dynamat on the metal door skin, but did you also line the door card as well?

was it an easy enough job, or should someone experienced do it?

how did you FG the door pods? did you have aftermarket pods done or something?

sorry lots of questions

:oops:

Ash
No i didn't take any pics. I put most of the dynamat on the door card as the speaker is mount to that. The ring which the speaker is mounted on was fibreglassed all the way around and the mounting posts. Its an easy job but a second pair of hands is a good idea when refitting the door cards. I'll probably to the rear doors so i'll photograph them for you.

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:49 am
by Ash25
cheers mate, much appreciated.

will prob get sown to sorting out some dynamating once i get time!

didn't think of going for some aftermarket speakers and head unit then?

Ash