Bose amps (was NAC! Fwd: Bose radio "possessed")

[Kent McLean]

Since bitching about the Bose speakers and amps
seems to be a recurring theme, I'd like to pose
some general questions regarding the beasts. If
we need to be specific, let's take my '89 200 TQ
as an example...

1. Exactly how many watts of power do the amps
    provide?  Per speaker or system total? Are the
    fronts different from the rears?

2. Given the age of "our" systems, are the stock
    speaker/amps so good that they warrant replacement
    with either factory units or rebuilds (assuming
    the head unit is OK)?

3. Is the stock head unit so good that it warrants
    replacing it with a factory head unit (also
    assuming the speaker/amps are OK)?

4. How "premium" were the sound systems from circa
    1990 v. what the aftermarket can provide today?

5. Finally, if you had $1000 (more or less) to spend
    to "fix" your system, would you:
    a) replace just the speakers (and amps),
    b) replace just the head unit (with appropriate
       wiring for the unique Bose ohmage),
    c) replace the system with stock Audi units,
    d) rip it out and put in good aftermarket head unit,
       amp, and speakers?

For the record, I replaced my head unit for $100 when
the radio station would jump to button two's preset
whenever I hit a bump. It holds the station, but it
still sounds "muddy" (for lack of a better term to my
untrained ears). But I can crank it when "Smoke on the
Water" is aired.

Mr. Sulu, raise the shields...

Kent McLean,
poking a sleeping dog (a pit bull)