[s-cars] URS4 Bose System replacement

[Lee Levitt]

Angelo writes:
>
> Hi all,
> One of the rear speakers has bit the dust, ripped, so now I hear a ripping
> sound when there is bass coming thru, and I went down to Tweeters
> to replace the speakers. I wanted to go with some Boston or MB Quartz but
I was told
> that because I have a Bose system it uses an 8ohm system and
> would therefore have to replace everything in the car....headunit and all
because
> of the way the car is wired up. Now, please tell me that I heard them
right and this
> was not some kind of sales BS. I have heard some horror stories
> about stock Bose systems catching fire. Has anybody replaced every part of
the sound
> system? Thanks for any feedback guys.

Speaking as an ex-Tweeter guy...no it was not some kind of sales BS, mostly.
Speakers have a *nominal* rating of 2 or 4 or 8 ohms, but they vary based on
frequency (IIRC).

The real problem is that the Bose system is designed to work as a system -
you certainly *can* hook up other brand speakers, but the equalization
between the amplifier and the speaker will be off and the sound quality will
be poor.

You have two choices - buy a Bose speaker (you can sometimes find them on
ebay) or rip everything out and have a new system put in. The latter will
probably cost you $500-$1K or more.

There are other list members who have done part or all of this job.

I've certainly thought about it, but unlike in our 200 Turbo, the overall
sound quality isn't *that* bad. I'd have to spend a couple of $K to
significantly improve it, and it's just not a problem I am going to take on
right now :)

Lee
'95.5 S6 avant (with stock Bose sound system)
'96 A6 quattro avant (with stock Bose sound system)