Hello all, sorry if my search-fu is weak today but I couldn't find any posts that directly deal with my problem. The external amps in my Bose system seem to be failing, as I've had some popping noises occasionally for months and it recently got really bad (with an accompanying electrical fire ozone scent) and I haven't been using my stereo at all. I tried going to Best Buy, but they gave me quite a runaround and so it looks like I'm going to have to find the time to order the components and install myself.

Basically, I'd like to take out everything associated with the Bose system because if the amps are failing, I don't have much faith in the wiring. My current plan is to get an Alpine 9856, and wire it to four Infinity Reference (non-component, I'm not really an audiophile). The sizes I've worked out by myself are the 5.25" front (mounting depth 2-5/16 according to Crutchfield) and 6x8" for the rear.

The things I'm unsure of: Best Buy said my current front speakers are 4", which seems to be backed up by some of the info here. My question here is how difficult it would be to mount my chosen speaker in this spot behind the factory grille? I've heard people mention custom work, is this fabrication or a custom bracket a vendor like Crutchfield might sell?

Second question, for the rear speaker location, how much work is involved in mounting a speaker in the rear pocket location, where the base model's are mounted? Would it just be a matter of taking out the pocket's plastic and bolting a speaker in, or would I have to find someone parting out a base model? I'd like to keep it as stock as possible, but since I have the red interior I wouldn't mind having a black grille.

Thanks very much in advance for your help, and I'm not totally set on the parts I've chosen, so suggestions are welcome. Just please keep in mind I'm trying to do this somewhat cheaply, so audiophile-quality components are not required.

 

I just had my Bose system yanked and replaced by aftermarket speakers. I put 6 1/2 s in the doors (yes you have 4 inchers). You have to be really careful about mounting depth; you have about 2 1/2 inches to work with so look at the speaker specs. I had to have the Bose enclosures modified to hit the 6 1/2s, doors Dyamatted, new wire run to the doors, and the door panel trimmed a bit to fit the speakers. All this cost $363.00 including the $100.00 pair of speakers. They sound ok, but I am an audiophile so I'm never really pleased.

Personally, I wouldn't put anything in the rear of the car except a sub. Reason is this: it ruins your imaging. It becomes really hard to "tune" you stereo to make it sound right. It'll sound like the band, rapper, or whatever is behind you singing. When you close your eyes you want the it to sound like the music is coming from right in front of you. A good set of 5 1/4s and maybe an 8 or 10 inch woofer will put the Bose system to shame, and if installed properly, it won't burn your car to the ground.

 

Yeah i would agree and disagree with some of that. Sorry that your bestbuy sucks the one i work at we do some pretty good stuff. Think of it this way do you want more sound, more bass and treble if so i would go all four speaker and maybe one or two subs. It is not that hard to rewire your own speakers its just like an amp install, your just going to speakers instead of an amp and sub.