I have spent 2 days searching threads on replacing Bose stereo, please help.

[Parker986]

Originally Posted by demick

My 04 Box had the same Bose setup as yours. Your door speakers are not subwoofers, but are bass only (just slightly higher frequency than the subwoofer behind you).

Dash speakers suck and you definitely need to replace those. I chose Boston Acoustics, but there are plenty of choices.

Can you tell me which model of Boston Acoustics you selected to replace the dash speakers?

Originally Posted by demick

The key to much of this is the amplifier. I used a 5 channel amp which has frequency control for each channel. I don't remember the cutoff frequencies off-hand, but the dash speakers get midrange and high, the doors get mid-bass, and the sub gets the low bass. Takes some fiddling to get happy with the frequencies and gain settings for each that satisfies your tastes.

Can you tell me which 5-channel amp you purchased, also which head unit?

Originally Posted by demick

There are lots of ways to do this depending on your tastes and goals - this was just how I did it.

Nice to find someone that has the same Bose setup as mine. Spent a fair amount of time looking at car audio at ABT in Chicago this weekend.

[demick]

Originally Posted by Parker986

Can you tell me which model of Boston Acoustics you selected to replace the dash speakers?

I'm pretty sure it was RC420. Out of production for several years, it was a 4" component set. Now that I think of it, 4" component speaker sets aren't very common - so there aren't many choices.

Originally Posted by Parker986

Can you tell me which 5-channel amp you purchased, also which head unit?

For the amplifier, I wanted it to fit in the stock location behind the spare. I researched and came up with 3 options:
Alpine PDX-5
Infiinty Kappa Five
Blaupunkt THA 555 PNP
I went with the Blaupunkt. Also several years out of production now. I'm not sure which of the others might still be available. Installed pic's below.

The head unit is a Alpine IDA-X001.

Originally Posted by Parker986

Nice to find someone that has the same Bose setup as mine. Spent a fair amount of time looking at car audio at ABT in Chicago this weekend.

[Parker986]

I decided I should go listen to speakers yesterday, as several members have recommended. I searched the web for the best rated car stereo shops in Cincy. The first place only had Focal speakers and the guy never offered to let me listen to any speakers, and had to go to the computer to figure out what could be installed in my car.

The second place had a huge set up of mostly JL Audio and Alpine, but no one was there on Saturdays to talk audio, only window tinting. When I asked to listen to the speakers they said their circuit board was blown and nothing worked.

Needless to say, my quest was a wasted trip.

I had decided to put in a single DIN, a Pioneer DEH-80PRS. While I love the looks of the double DINs, I want to try to keep the cost under $1,500, and keep the car stock looking.

My next quest is to find the best 4" speakers I can find. I have been trying to find what others have installed like, MB Quartz PVI-210, Boston Acoustics, or JL Audio. But, either I am not searching correctly, or they have been discontinued. I have a feeling that component speakers are the way to go over coaxial speakers for quality sound. Seems like Focal K2 100KRS at $650 is the most likely choice, although, I have read reports that those sound quite bright, especially bouncing off the windshield.

I am thinking I should spend the majority of my budget on the dash speakers and an amp. May keep existing door speakers, and probably will not have enough funds to replace any of the speakers in the Bose rear speakers boxes.

Are there any other considerations for 4" component speakers?

[Dave S.]

I have some coaxial Alpine speakers in my dash and I really like the way they sound. I think they cost about $60 and to me they sound great, certainly a huge improvement over the stock ones.

Originally Posted by Parker986

I decided I should go listen to speakers yesterday, as several members have recommended. I searched the web for the best rated car stereo shops in Cincy. The first place only had Focal speakers and the guy never offered to let me listen to any speakers, and had to go to the computer to figure out what could be installed in my car.

The second place had a huge set up of mostly JL Audio and Alpine, but no one was there on Saturdays to talk audio, only window tinting. When I asked to listen to the speakers they said their circuit board was blown and nothing worked.

Needless to say, my quest was a wasted trip.

I had decided to put in a single DIN, a Pioneer DEH-80PRS. While I love the looks of the double DINs, I want to try to keep the cost under $1,500, and keep the car stock looking.

My next quest is to find the best 4" speakers I can find. I have been trying to find what others have installed like, MB Quartz PVI-210, Boston Acoustics, or JL Audio. But, either I am not searching correctly, or they have been discontinued. I have a feeling that component speakers are the way to go over coaxial speakers for quality sound. Seems like Focal K2 100KRS at $650 is the most likely choice, although, I have read reports that those sound quite bright, especially bouncing off the windshield.

I am thinking I should spend the majority of my budget on the dash speakers and an amp. May keep existing door speakers, and probably will not have enough funds to replace any of the speakers in the Bose rear speakers boxes.

Are there any other considerations for 4" component speakers?

[urban]

Originally Posted by Parker986

Needless to say, my quest was a wasted trip.

I had decided to put in a single DIN, a Pioneer DEH-80PRS. While I love the looks of the double DINs, I want to try to keep the cost under $1,500, and keep the car stock looking.

My next quest is to find the best 4" speakers I can find. I have been trying to find what others have installed like, MB Quartz PVI-210, Boston Acoustics, or JL Audio. But, either I am not searching correctly, or they have been discontinued. I have a feeling that component speakers are the way to go over coaxial speakers for quality sound. Seems like Focal K2 100KRS at $650 is the most likely choice, although, I have read reports that those sound quite bright, especially bouncing off the windshield.

I am thinking I should spend the majority of my budget on the dash speakers and an amp. May keep existing door speakers, and probably will not have enough funds to replace any of the speakers in the Bose rear speakers boxes.

Well, my budget is lower than yours and this is what I've decided to get.

HU
I didn't want nav (I use my iphone for that), and the idea of a double din didn't seem appealing to me.
I loved the DEH 80 PRS because:
- it has a good DAC (which for me is something I enjoy, because I think my iPhone 4S lacks it), and the iphone is my main audio source.
- it has high sound quality, which is another thing I enjoy too
- initially I was thinking to buy a 3 way setup (1 inch tweeter, 4 inch mids on the dash, and midbass on the doors), and the DEH 80 PRS allows to use active crossovers on the unit, so I could use it to setup a very high sound quality without having to buy a sound processor, and because of this, I would have the ability to setup very high sound quality within my budget.

If I didn't care about both these, I would go with the DEH-X9500BHS, because I wouldn't use the advantages of this model over the 80PRS.

speakers
The best bang for the buck 3 way system I've managed to find was for the Focal PS 165, but it was more than 500 USD. In my budget I could only get Hertz ELKs, and that's Hertz entry line, and these wouldn't be as good as a higher 2 way system.

I didn't want to spend 500+, so I began to think about the 2 way option. So I thought my perfect setup would be a set of Focal KR 2 way. But when I got to the seller, I learned that Focal has just launched the PS 165 FX that have better specs, so that was my choice. My 4 inch speaker pods are empty.

amp
I don't need much power, and I think the amp is the less important part on sq, and I don't want to play it loud for the neighbourhood , so I got a cheap 4 way Pioneer and bi amped the speakers.

IMHO, if you're willing to spend 600, I'd either go to Focal 3 way PS 165, or probably Focal PS 165 FX and crossed tweeter and mid passive to the high channel, mid channel to mid bass, and the back box on the low channel from the 80 PRS.

I wouldn't change the speakers on the bose box unless it distorted with 40w from the amplifier. I'd buy a 5/6 way amplifier. You can upgrade to 6.5 inch without changing factory look, which I know it is important for you. I think mine is the perfect setup for under 500 USD (speakers and columns, and because I don't want a sub).

With your budget, I'd go Focal PS 165 3(600 USD) way or PS 165 FX, (300USD) and a cheap 6 channel JBL amp (less than 300 USD). If the bose sub doesn't make your audio nicer, I'd change the 5.25 rear speakers for a couple of JL Audio C5-525cw (another 300).

I would think of this as a great sound quality for a 600-1200 budget. If you want it louder, drop another 150-200 for a powerfull amp.

[Parker986]

Urban, I can't find the Focal PS 165 3 setup for $600, or can I even find that here in the US. Only 2-way setup comes up on the search. Also, I did research the new Focal PS 165 F3 coming out, and it looks like they won't reach the US until next spring.

Read some decent reviews about the Focal Polys. But, the P165V33 are $900 from an authorized seller, and that means modifying the doors for the 6.5" speakers, I am not sure if the 1.75" tweeters would fit in the front dash bracket. Maybe they will go on sale when the new ones come out next spring.

I am interested in the Hertz speakers too. I appreciate you sharing your plan as it seems pretty close to where I may end up.

I need to become more educated on a digital sound processor and drivers. The Morels also look interesting.