I'm sorry for using a Thirdgen resource for help with Fourthgen, but I've know you guys longer and generally get better advice (obligatory a*s kissing complete)

My daily driver is a '94 Camaro w/Bose, and I recently toasted the front speakers. While trying to order a pair of Rockford Fosgates from Crutchfield, under the notes section I get:

"Replacing any of your factory Bose speakers requires replacing your factory Bose radio and all of your Bose speakers, as Bose radios are incompatible with aftermarket speakers."

Is this or has anyone else had this experience? I like my factory deck, but will change it if I have to. Also, if I am forced to change the head unit, I would like to keep the Bose sub in the rear, but don't know how it is connected to the deck.

Any suggestions? I throw myself at your mercy, I am ignorant when it comes to car audio, unless the tunes are coming from the engine compartment...

 

Yeah Crutchfield is correct.
The Bose systems work like this: The head unit is merely a preamp. It sends a line level signal to each of the Bose speakers,which have amps built into them. It's a great idea by Bose to have discrete amplifiers for clarity. However, you will have to replace your head unit.

 

I'm okay with that - I can always go with more power!!! What about the sub in the rear? Is that a dead soldier now?

 

AHHH, the rear sub. I'm sorry I forgot to answer that question. If it hits about as hard as you want, then I would suppose you can rig it. Any aftermarket head unit with a "sub out", should send it a readable signal. But, alas....this, I have not tried. You'll just have to see how many wires are going to it. One should be 12v power. One should be a remote "turn on" wire. it'll be small. And the other should just be some kind of audio wire. That's the one you'll need to patch into to send it a signal.

 

A little background on my BOSE experience:


My 84 Berlinetta has an 8 way BOSE speaker system using the factory Berlinetta cassette deck with equalizer......

My 95 Z28 has the 4th gen 5-speaker BOSE system that was installed by me (NOT from the factory) & it's using a Delco cassette player with equalizer.

With that said: I like the BOSE speaker system !

I was able to retain the factory BOSE speakers and use factory Delco decks by installing an "interface" between the head unit and the speakers in both my rides. The one I used was made by "peripheral" electronics and they cost about $50 - $60 new....... $25 used.

I would ditch the BOSE head unit right away !! It has NO equalizer and I wouldn't use it in anything I had to drive !!

If you liked the quality & decide to keep the BOSE speakers than just buy an interface from somewhere and use ANY head unit you want. The added advantage of the interface is that all 4 output channels are "adjustable" and act as a amp - when you combine that with the effect of an equalizer you have made a significant improvement to your sound quality / clarity.

I realize that your car is a 94 & you only have a 3 speaker system, but there is an interface for that car to !

If you feel the need to swap your speakers - swap the deck and make life easy for yourself !!!

 

Hey, Have 2 rear bose speakers, here..
we put in a new radio and it worked (until the radio started fecking up....)

what's this INTERFACE you're talking about?
what does it do / how much/ is it required?