Bose with aftermarket head unit, using factory amps?

[Bernie Benz]

On Nov 20, 2008, at 8:30 PM, Ben Swann wrote:

>
> The Bose systems can only be wired to a head unit that uses common  
> speaker ground - some do and many newer don't as they have  
> independent amplifier circuits for each of the speakers.  If you  
> can find a unit that shares the ground for all the speakers then it  
> would be relatively easy.
>
>  I just installed a stereo in a V8 Quattro with a Clarion that had  
> indepaendent amps per channel and flating ground and had to  
> completely rewired everything.  None of the Bose stuff was  
> retained, although those speakers can be rewired directly to the  
> speaker and remove or bypass the amplifiers.  This is fine if you  
> don't mind removing the speakers from the door and redoing them and  
> removing the ones in the trunk.  Still you need to run the wires to  
> them - that is the major PITA.
>
> Why on earth Audi let this type of wiring go into their cars is  
> beyond me. It really turns aftermarket stereo installation into a  
> nightmare.  You cam't even readily break out the power wires for  
> reuse as speker wires since they are relay control wires -  
> overengineered to obsolete.
>
> Ben
>
> [Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:57:08 -0800
> From: Bernie Benz <b.benz at charter.net>
> Subject: Re: Bose with aftermarket head unit, using factory amps?
> To: "Kenneth Keith" <auditude at gmail.com>
> Cc: 200q20V mailing list <200q20v at audifans.com>
> Message-ID: <A56FB50B-23BF-4172-A6A9-A32ED20057CF at charter.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
>
> On Nov 19, 2008, at 9:14 PM, Kenneth Keith wrote:
> >
> > Anyone interested in some brand new Bose speakers in case I  
> convert to
> > a regular setup?  The head unit apparently has some preset buttons
> > that are stuck down and they said they couldn't enter the security
> > code that was activated when I bought the car with a dead  
> battery.  If
> > I can't fix that or put in another free one, I'll put in an
> > aftermarket head unit which I don't think I can use with the  
> amplified
> > Bose speakers (right?).
> You can drive the Bose speakers with an aftermarket head unit, BTDT.
> The easiest head unit to install is Blaupunkt, inasmuch as the  
> connectors are plug and play with the Audi harness, just two pins  
> to move in the power connector. With a little rewiring at the Bose  
> amps you can use the Audi harness wiring to the speakers.
>
> Bernie
> >
> > I thought I would give the stock Bose system a try since I  
> haven't had
> > a working setup before, and I think the station frequency display in
> > the instrument cluster (which I have to pull to repair an apparent
> > ground problem, btw) is pretty cool.  My last 200q20v got totalled
> > before I could respond to the Bose recall postcard, so I never found
> > out what that's like (since it had aftermarket speakers in it when I
> > got it).
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Kenneth]
>