I would like to replace the front/rear door OEM speakers with better 2-way or 3-way speakers. The salesperson at one local audio store told me that those speakers (Polk, Alpin etc.. 2-way and 3-way) don't work with my stock 02 Bose tuner??? He started recommending to replace the entire system: tuner, speakers and amp, speakers, cables..... Is the salesperson unfamilar with the stock Bose system? Their manual only showed TL information up to 1999! I would like to keep my Bose tuner for now. Would 2-way, 3-way speakers work with the stock Bose tuner and amp?

 

he is lying!

 

i change all my speakers on my door with three way and kept my original head unit, and it work great for me. I am using infinity. I guess that salement want to make more money out of you. Go search around for a better shop, and they can do it. Good luck..

 

Thanks for the information. Your replies confirmed what I thought was total nonsense from that Audio Salesperson.
I have another question about the amp in our TL. Is there just one or more amps driving the five speakers in the TL?

 

The door spkrs are powered by the Bose h/u. There is a small amp (for the subwoofer) behind the right-rear seatback. I removed that amp and my stock sub too.

I installed two 6.5" Infinity Kappa 3-ways in the front doors and two Kappa 5.25" 2-ways in the rear doors. Ran all new wiring for the spkrs too. Running off the Bose h/u and an Alpine parametric EQ/Sub processor. They're powered by a Phoenix Gold ZX475 and a PG ZX400 for my 10" BP subwoofer.

Did all the work myslef so I'll be happy to answer any other questions. I just haven't been here that much lately :o

 

calvin, i would like to know if the infinity 63.3 fit perfectlly in the door? because i planning to buy it and install it myself, and how it's sound? do you hear alot of high end? or in the midrange?
thank in advance

 

actually, the reason the salesperson said they dont work together is cause its true, in a way. the bose speakers are 2 ohm models, so if u dont replace them w/the same resistance speaker, you get less volume out of them. that is what happened when i installed my diamond audio components in the front and left the stock rear speakers. the rears were louder than the front, but the front are much much clearer and detailed.

of course this is just a temporary thing, until i decide what amps im going to use in my setup. but i can see what the salesman was trying to do. he was half right.....but, if u wanted to keep the speakers and use an aftermarket HU, say goodbye to that HU, cause the bose speakers would burn up our outputs...!!!

anyway, in order to fit those speakers, you will have to make a spacer, preferably out of MDF, but there isnt much space behind that speaker grille so be prepared to double ck your clearances...

http://www.dreamwater.org/systek/acuratls/DVDHACK.html

 

The other problem with using the Factory radio with aftermarket speakers is that behind the dash (behind the heater control in non S type, or behind Nav in the S type) there is a Bose EQ in a small metal box. This thing is set up to artificially boost the audio to make it sound better. As you know, Bose uses cheap paper cones which otherwise sound horrible and are inaccurate. Then to make it sound better, they equalize it to death. When you hook up nice aftermarket speakers, you really need to bypass the eq otherwise all that eq-ing will actually wreck havok to the sound quality of the new speakers. The other problem is that the eq also is a signal cooker, so expect the volume to be lower after you bypass it. You can remedy this too with any number of signal gain amplifiers that are available for hi-end systems, just dont go crazy boosting the signal to 10volts or you will probably kill the factory head altogether.

The signal goes out of the head unit, into the eq, and then back out of the eq and into the head. there are other discussion boards on this site that show you exactly which wires you need to jump on the eq to bypass it.

 

why go through all that trouble? just replace the HU w/a nice aftermarket one and get a decent amp

 

I agree that replacing the whole system is the way to go but thats not always the best option for everyone. For one, it gets costly and second, if you are just looking for pretty good sound quality, dont need really loud volume, and want to keep the stock look, there is something to be said about using the factory head's built in dash 6 disc changer on the 2002 model year. Its a pretty decent unit for factory equipent (its stickered Pioneer on the bottom btw) its the speakers that are the weakest link. A quick swap out of the 4 speakers makes for an inexpensive fix and major sound improvement for the money.

 

well, since that is what you want to do, make the effort to find 2 ohm speakers that will integrate well w/the bose system...you get ur volume back and better sound

 

hey acura as for the speakers fit perfectly in the door. I have no idea on that because i left the car there for them to put it on. The salement told me it fit perfectly that is why he suggest me to get that speakers. As for the sound. I hear very clearly and from the midrange on. I wish you live near me, so i can let you hear it. Sorry if this doesn't help you much.

 

as long as the magnet doesnt stick out too far, you can comfortably fit 6.5" speakers in the front AND rear door. that is what matters most cause there isnt too much room for a deep speaker.

like i said before, a simple wood ring would work. in my case, i was able to use the factory mount after adding a 1/4" masonite ring..!
http://www.sounddomain.com/member_pa...=164157&page=3

 

systek

Thanks for the link, lots of good info. I have been thinking about replacing my factory speakers and now I feel better about doing it.

Matt

 

Rick (systeq)

I visited your website, lots of great information. I see that you listed Kicker Subwoofers. What model of Kicker did you use to replace the OEM unit? Is the Rockford amp also replaced the OEM amp? Thanks again for your inputs.

 

if things go my way, i will be using a different amp for the subs...the kickers are the same as in my previous install... http://members.cardomain.com/systek

4 10 solobaric subs, s10d8's, which mean they are 8 ohms each and will give a 2 ohm load when all four are wired in parallel. that means my rf 800a2 wont work for me anymore and that is why i want to get a class D amp...just not sure yet...

 

Don't do it to yourself...don't put in Kicker!!! Put in a nice Infinity or a nice JL system instead...anything but Kicker! Systek and I have talked about this a good bit....heh heh. You will almost definitely want to use an aftermarket amp for the front and rear doors...because it's only 12W to each, assuming you get 2 ohm speakers. You'll more likely get 4 ohm speakers, and then you'll be getting half of that, or 6W, out of the system. Considering that most average systems put out 40W to each channel...and mine puts out 100W to each channel...6W will be pretty pathetic. So go get an average 400W 4 channel amp for $150...and two average speaker setups for 150 apiece...a total of $450, and your stereo will sound beautiful

Austin519

 

hey TLS988,

as 2002acuraTL said, and I can confirm this for a fact . . . if you are lookng for a major sound improvement for relatively little $$$, just wasp out the 4 spkrs!!! I did this today at CC for $210 (including install) by buying 2 pairs of Polk EX602a spkrs for 59 $/pr (i kept the stock amp - works fine!), heck you can easily do the spkr install yourself and save $70 in installation costs - anyway, the system sounds so much better even with the Bose woofer running. Granted, this is not a LOUD system, but it's more than enough for most!

 

HI NCSTATESMAN,
I am glad that you like your new Polk EX602A speakers.
I replaced my door speakers with Polk EX365 last month and
very happy with them. More bass and treble than the stock Bose speakers.

 

howdy tls 988,

I listened to those today, they sounded very nice!, I went with the ex602a's because they were on sale and they have a low end of about 75Hz, so i figured the Bose sub could handle the sub 75Hz freq that the 602 couldn't reach I wanted to get the 365's, but was concerned that the bose would muddy up or interfere w/the 365's 55Hz low end, then I'd have to spend more $$ to replace the Bose sub to handle that potential problem. Are you having any problems with the Bose sub not blending in well with your 365's? Are you planning to replace the sub?

All in all, I'm really pleased with my purchase - b


sub would mess up the 365's low end capability (55 Hz) and I was afraid to take a chance on that

 

Hi NCSTATESMAN,
The store that I bought my speakers didn't have any Polk EX602a and only EX365. The store also was promoting 1/2 half for the second pair of Polk speakers so I paid about $180 for two pairs.
I am very pleased with the sound of these Polk speakers so I will leave my OEM woofers alone at this time.