Will Sony's CDX-M620 head unit work with FD Bose system?
 

Ok, first off... I know next to nothing about stereo mumbo jumbo!

I want to replace my stock bose CD unit and AM/CM cassete deck with a Sony CDX-M620 (1.) because my stock CD player only works for like 20 minutes, and then starts to skip. (2.) it would free up some space in the dash for gauges and such. (3.) The sony unit is sweet! Looks plain when off, but cool when its on :)

Any way.
Could I use the stock Bose speakers with the Sony head unit? I know the center speaker won't work, but what about the rear snake base system? and the speakers in the doors (which are the only other speakers, right?) are they good quality, or should i drop a couple hundred and replace them?

I don't want to spend a lot... a stereo is not top priority, but I like good music while cruising.... also, i listen to all types of music, from classical, techno, rap, rock, anything really.....
I am hoping if I replace all the speakers (which i don't really want to) that I could do it all for under a grand.

Thanks for any help!!!

Shrubba

Re: Will Sony's CDX-M620 head unit work with FD Bose system?
 

After some minor modification, yes.

How do you know that the center channel won't work? You are probably thinking that you'll be feeding the speakers with the output from the headunit, right? Not true. What you will be doing is feeding the Bose amps with a reduced amplified signal from your new headunit. The Bose system will then power your existing 5 speakers.

If decide to replace the speakers, you will start to make matters more complicated. The speakers are 1-ohm, (except for the center channel which is 4-ohms), so you would be hard pressed to find 1-ohm speakers that are the same size as stock. If you change your speakers, (new ones are usually 4-ohm), you will then need a new amp to run them. If you decide to run them from just your head-unit, you'll lose the center channel like you said. Oh, and you'll probably need to fabricate some custom enclosures...

The minumum you can spend is the cost of a new headunit and some line-level converters. The most you can spend is up to you.

If you do it similarly to how I've described, you won't have to change the speakers.

To put it simply, there are lots of things you can do or skip doing to your existing Bose system to make it sound better. It's really up to you and what you want.

I really don't want to change the speakers, unless i have to.

So, if I line the head unit to the bose amp, i can use all the stock speakers? That would be nice, but will the center speaker work like it should? I don't know much about this stuff...
Oh, and will I have control of balance and fade using the Sony head unit and running through the Bose amp?
So you are saying there is a single Bose amp that out puts to each stock speaker/sub?

Forgive my ignorance when it comes to this stuff... I am a newby :)

Any more information would be great!
Where can I find more information about the stock Bose set up? Like the wiring of the existing head unit, amp, speakers... etc...

Thanks,
Shrubba

yup, you can run an aftermarket head unti w/ the stock bose speakers and base tube. You just need the wireing harness, as you would need for any aftermarket headunit in any car, and the adapter for bose systems. I think its called a peripherial (sp?) adapter. just goto any audio shop and tell them that you need to hook up an aftermaket headunit to a factory bose system, and they'll know what you need.

It is to my understanding that in a bose system each speaker as its own small amplifer. At least thats how it was in my friends 300zx so I assume bose set it up the same way for our cars.

Umm.. I see you are still confused. Take a look at this diagram (don't let it intimidate you, it's not as confusing as it looks):

http://www.studio305.com/rx7/bosediagram_small.jpg

click for a bigger version


As you can see, the reason you won't lose the center channel speaker is b/c the center channel amp shares its input signal with the door speaker amps. The connection (1K)(1J) and (1M)(1N) are the L/R signals for the door amps, which are leeched by the center channel amp.

Performing the installation without removing the speakers is the chepaest, easiest, and safest way to install a new head unit in the car.

Another thing you will notice (and will need to notice if you are performing this install yourself) is the (1J) connection. Without this you'll have no sound. This connector sends a signal to the radio relay" which effectifely turns on your amps. In the factory setup, this is controlled by the bose unit. If your new unit does not have such a connection, you'll probably just want to use the switched 12V from the car's harness.

As for your question about the one amp controlling everything: the answer is no, as you can see by the illustration.

You have four seperate amps in the whole car. One for each door speaker (which are impedance-matched, that's why you can't replace the speaker without replacing its amp and vice-versa). The other is the center channel amp. This one is located at the very end of your center console. The last amp is the one that powers the bose tube in the back. This one is located on the snake tube itself.

Hope this answers some of your questions. I know you'll probably have more, though, after digesting some of this information.

Peace.

call crutchfield and say you need a converter for 93 mazda RX-7 radio, they will send you the right part...and harness for the stock radio as well.....

uh u better not send 50X4 to those amps....thats what it sounds like your doing

Pssst.. Dazman69.. the last entry on that thread was from 2001