Is there anyone that is using the factory head unit with aftermarket amps and speakers?

I unplugged the factory amp and wired in some rca cables straight to the low level wires that were going to the factory amp. What I ended up with is a signal that was about 1/4 the power I'd expect from a head unit's low level output and very dirty. It picks up engine noise and even noise from the cd player's own motor.

So what I'm wondering is if everyone who's still using the factory head unit is also using the factory amp with hi to low level converters before they dump it in to their aftermarket amp or if there's a better alternative?

Thanks,
Keith

 

If you're going to change anything let it be the headunit. Cause it will make the biggest difference in sound.

 

when i had my bose headunit i wired the converter to the rear 6x9 to get the input to the aftermarket amp with no problems

 

do you want to put in new speakers with amps, or just a sub?

 

The problem is your hookup. The bose uses a true balanced signal tranfer, and you guys are not even wiring it down to ground referenced. Still, this is why most bose converters have a preamp/isolations circuit, to can the noise and get some level.

 

I have a nice 4-channel amp, a mono amp and a 12" Infiity sub from a previous car. My first thought was just to add the sub but then I was thinking I might as well throw the 4-channel in as well instead of using the dinky little Bose amp.

Going off of what proaudio22 suggests and what others have done I see two possible paths:

1. Get a Bose converter such as the PD4 from http://www.linkmeup.com, keep the Bose head unit and use my amps. Do I need to replace the speakers as well or are these standard 4 ohm speakers? Anyone had any experience with the linkmeup products?

2. Remove everything that says Bose on it and build a new system from ground zero. Any recommended face plate kits?

Thanks,
Keith

03' CL Type S
6-speed

 

metra makes a faceplate kit.

 

A quick search of the A/V forum should answer all of your questions. Short answer: replace the speakers. They are not 4 ohm speakers, and they are crap to begin with. No sense in installing an aftermarket amp to give crappy speakers more power.

Wire a LOC to the "low-level" coming from the Bose deck. I'm using the navarone LOC (or something to that effect.. been a while since I bought it). No engine noise and I get to keep the in-dash 6-disc.

 

Factory H/U, aftermarket everything else. If you are keeping the factory amp in your system, you're guaranteed not to be happy with the result. The parts that make the system "Bose" are the speakers and the amp - the H/U is not/NOT Bose. It goes without saying that the best sound upgrade would come from a total, complete aftermarket install --- which mandates an aftermarket H/U --- but then you get into cosmetics/asthetics issues since the design of our H/U is inconsistent with any faceplate available on the market. I've heard some threats of new din/double-din units being designed for the CL, but since the vehicle has been discontinued, why would any manufacturer invest in something with such a limited return? and I've yet to see anything that anybody has created which really looks like it fits in with everything else (which if this is not an issue for you than this wouldn't be a problem). What you are asking can be (and has been) done - a search would show you that my methodology is the least accepted path, but I stand by the results I have gotten.

 

The big question is did you replace the factory speakers?

If you didn't, that is your problem. If you did then I honestly think you did not wire the lines coming into the bose amp, but rather you wired the lines coming out of the bose amp. The signal coming from the headunit is perfectly fine and it is preamp.

If you want you can get a PD4 and the associated harness. That will actually make everything very clean simple to do. However, if you did wire your RCA's correctly the greatest part of the battle is done and you can just get the PD4 without the harness and save some that cost.

 

as mentioned, keep the stock deck and bypass the stock amp.

www.davidnavone.com

i haven't seen any other LOC come close to it in terms of performance and quality.

 

I have factory head unit, and aftermarket everything else, and I'm perfectly happy with the way it sounds.

 

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I went back and forth but finally decided I'd be happier to replace everything. I ordered the Metra kit and a new Apline headunit yesterday.

03' CL Type S
6-speed

 

Sir spiff, how is everything going? I'm most likely going to swap out my speakers and amp, keeping the H/U until more funds majically appear in my bank account. Let us know!!

 

Haven't touched it yet. They sent me the wrong metra kit and the correct kit hasn't showed up yet. I hope to install it this week and I'll let you know.