Will it make alot of difference just by replacing the front door speakers with a good set of speakers with tweeters? Eventhough without adding an amp? I don't want to mess around with the stock speaker wiring too much. Or is it just a waste of time and money if I don't add an amp together with the speakers? Plus, I am kinda on a budget.

 

Well here is you answer in a nutshell. The stock Bose speakers sound horrible. Any aftermarket replacement will sound better BUT there is a "but" here.... Bose is famous for taking really inexpensive paper cone speakers, which have inherently poor sound reproduction, and then compensating for this by using heavy equalization. What this means is that if you use a good aftermarket speaker with the stock head unit you will experience very strong sibilance because of the in-line eq. It is possible to bypass the EQ if you know what you are doing. Alternatively, if you do a search for the Polk DX6 project, a member named Southbound designed a circuit to comensate for the bose equalization and make you aftermarket speakers sound better.

 

Or you can simply add a set of tweeters and mount them where the mirrors are attached. That's what I did and it sounds pretty damn good. I'd also recommend disconnecting the ****ty stock sub and getting a nice, high quality sub.

 

Thanks guys. I'll probably go with GTPdriver idea, since probably that's the cheapest way to go. By the way, where's this Bose's in-line equalizer located? Can I just unplug it? Or it is built into the stock head unit?

 

problem is even if you add tweeters to the factory Bose system, you will still have a sibilance problem. The EQ is on a bracket just above and to the back of the head and behind the climate controls. (non Nav TL) I assume its in the same place in a TL with Nav, but it will be behind the Nav screen. You can bypass it but from what i've read, there is also a line signal gain accomplished by the EQ output back into the head (the eq is in a 'loop' with the head meaning the signal comes out of the head, goes into the eq and then back out of the eq and into the head for final amplification.) If you remove the eq and dont add an amp, you will have a decrease in overall sound volume.

 

Would that be why when I added a set of Kenwood co-ax's to my 2000 Tl it sounds worse the the stock speaker? I added then to get more highs up front but it sounds worse after the replacement. Anyone got a link to how to bypass the EQ thread?

D.

 

Hmm.... Sounds like it's not a good idea to change anything until I get enough dough to buy both (speakers and amp). Thanks for all your help, guys.

 

Hey Guys. I just found out what DX 6 project is all about. Initially, the "DX 6 project" sounds like a hell alot of work, but the more I read about it, the easier it is to install a better front speakers WOW!!! I didn't think that there would be a whole lot of info about it, but I was definitely incorrect. Thanks to all you guys especially Southbound (with extreme detail info ) about the Acura TL Bose systems.

 

Back when I first got the TL I got some tweeters installed in the front doors and it did make a differ. They where just simple cheap clarion ones and for $50 I thought it was a nice improvment. But now I say change it all get a deck, speakers,and amps

 

Only problem you'll have with the DX6 project is locating a pair od DX6 speakers. They dont make them anymore and the EX series are no anywhere as good. This is not to say that Southbound's little circuit design wouldnt also work with another model of aftermarket speaker. You might private message him and ask the question.