Bose System MINUS Acoustic Snake
 

I've been looking around for threads asking a similar question.. Can I use an aftermarket headunit (Kenwood Z828) with the bose speakers MINUS the acoustic snake, and run a sub with an external amp? Every stereo shop seems to want to rip out the entire bose system, which is fine if it will sound better.. but I just wanta new headunit and more bass.. suggestions? Remove Bose system entirely, or get a Bose specific harness and run RCA to the external amp/sub?

One thing: The bose acts as rear speakers as well (You will have to install a set of rear speakers for surrounds or just run fronts and subs ...... means running new wires, etc....

How would it act as a set of rears as well? I've got the harness that allows you to plug a new headunit into the Bose system and change the gains on the factory amps ($50 harness by the way.) So I figured I could disconnect the Bose tube and put a sub right in, or even leave the tube and add a sub to it...

j spec, i was wondering where you got the harness from?
i want to run the same setup as you, aftermaket head unit, and run one 10 inch sub with all the stock bose speakers.

It's basically the standard stereo harness built around a Scosche unit, which allows you to control the gains on the Bose amps. I got mine from Crutchfield, but someone is selling on on the forum for $40 shipped. Crutchfield wanted $50, but they gave mine to me at cost ($15) because of an error they made..

Here's the thread for the other harness:
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=67031

The problem with bose is that the head unit unit is passive, meaning that the stereo does not supply power to the speakers. That is the reason why each speaker has it's own amp. There are converters out there that allow you to install a head unit with bose speakers. Another option is to get yourself an attenuator and dampen the signal coming from the new deck to the bose speakers so the signal won't be as strong, since it is actually expecting a passive signal intead of an active one. And get yourself a base tube to go along with the the snake. That should take care of your yearning for base.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I have the regular non bose head unit, polk audio component speakers in the front, behind the seats I have some kenwood 5 x7's and in the rear I have the BOSE SNAKE so i have a little experience in dealing with non-bose to bose systems. Oh yeah in about a week I'll be adding a 10" woofer to help out with the base. I come to realize that the snake is for surround sound rather than base. Hope this helps lates-

That's pretty much along the lines of what I want to do. The Scosche unit also dampens the signal from the head unit, so I believe I should have that under control. I wanted to leave the bose snake for what you said -- surround sound. I planned on putting 5x7 in the rear as soon as I can find a R1/R2/Base parting out the grills, unless you have another idea. I'm sure I can use the grills supplied with the speakers, just unsure as to the looks.

Is it in my best interest to replace the Bose fronts and center channel with newer speakers? I'm sure the Bose speakers were fine 8 years ago, but I don't want to rip them out and regret it..

If you like the the way the front bose sound why change it? What I would suggest you do get the 5x7's along with a base tube powered by an amp. Better yet, why don't you do this in steps? First get the tube and if you feel you need more high's and mids get the 5x7's.

a bose stereo system has 5 speakers. One in dash, two in doors, and two in hatch. If you remove it, you lose all reasr speakers. HINT (no rear mids or highs) that equates to bad in my book.....

Just get a add a headunit Bose Harness as these guys mentioned. (about $50) Use everything the way it is now, and then use the Kenwood's decks Sub out to a amp of your choice... Then from the amp to the new sub enclosure and sub(s)... Ive done quite a few Bose systems like this :)

I've already put in a new headunit with the damping harness like we've been talking about. I havn't removed a thing except the Bose headunit so far. I planned on adding the 5x7s and a 10" sub to the existing setup. Hopefully by the time I'm done I should have 7 speakers and one sub. I was just unsure as to upgrading the fronts, being that they do have some age.