cozmo kraemer

I have a 500/4 JL Audio amp with a 10w3v3 in a box that fits perfectly in the 7. Would it be possible to use the two "low" power channels of my amp (75W RMS) to power the stock front Bose speakers?

I want to install the amp and run the speaker wire but I have other projects that require my attention before I install my front speakers and build brackets to fit the speakers I want to mount. I was looking at this as a short term alternative and was just wondeirng if it was possible. The JL Audio amp is stable from 1ohm all the way to 8ohm so I think it should work...

Any body have any thoughts?

rx73rotorj

NO you cannot run that amp on those speaker because they are ohm'd at 1.5 or something wierd like that and that is way to many watts going to factory speakers. I would get a pair of speakers (5 1/4) plus it would sound a lot better.

cozmo kraemer

The amp is stable to that many ohm as long as the channel isn't bridged. I could just turn the gain way down so that they aren't overwhelmed. I was just wondering if it would work short term...

I want to throw the sub box into the trunk so I can put the rear interior all together with the box in place, but i dont have time to build the brackets for the front speakers yet (probably about a month away or so)... Maybe I will just try it and see if it works. If i blow the stock speakers...no big deal...I will just have to move my front speaker project up in time frame.

rx73rotorj

your speakers will be out of faze with the amp and YOU WILL blow them because amps are ONLY stable at 8 4 2 1 etc depending if it is a mono 2channel 4channel etc.

cozmo kraemer

I guess it will be an interesting experiment then, because I think it has a chance of working... I have seen the rear Bose speakers amped with good results. Do you have any direct experience with this sort of thing or are you speaking based on theory? I will report what happens. I could care less about the speakers.

My amp is stable at a 1.5ohm load if the front channels are NOT bridged, which they wont be. I think it could work but you might be right.

My question is more... "Has anyone tried it?"

cozmo kraemer

Well it worked. It didn't sound any better than the stock amplifier though... Any time I touched the gain (RCA input sensitivity) the speakers would shoot up in volume/distortion. When I backed it WAY down (barely above the lowest) they did work but sounded similar to the stock amp.

My Focal components get here on Tuesday so they will be in the front of the car before next weekend and I will have a true sound setup.

For what it's worth. When you take the bass pressure off of the stock front speakers they actually sound pretty decent. I would say someone with a quieter car overall (ie more stocklike than mine) could easily get away with amping a rear sub and keeping the front amped bose speakers in place. It is definately loud enough at its loudest 'clear' volume to make your ears ring after 20 minutes.

I will have a writeup of my front speaker install and pictures of my whole system once it gets completed sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Stay tuned....