[V8] 5-speed in driveway/radio question

[Tony and Lillie]

Bose speakers are about 1.3 ohms, so they really can't be run with an 
aftermarket deck. The current running through it at high volumes would 
surely kill the internal amp eventually, and probably in short order. The 
other thing is that the amps are also an active equilizer, and the Bose 
speakers really don't sound right without them. Not that you would 
necessarily tell the difference, till you heard one then the other. I have, 
and can definately tell you there is a pretty big difference. There is an 
interface that can be hooked up in between, some guys on the quattro and 
s-car list have done this for sure. I've not, so I can't tell you where you 
can get one. However, it allows you to keep the Bose amps and speakers, and 
hook them up to the aftermarket deck. Crutchfield probably has one, for 
starters.

As for the difference between the auto and manual, yea, it's huge. Right off 
the line it doesn't even feel like the same engine. However, as fantastic as 
a stock 5-speed is, you should try a built or swapped 4.2 one. I've had the 
great privelage of driving one of each, and can tell you it's a magnatude of 
difference beyond a stock one that can't really be described. Oh, and if 
yours hasn't been chipped, I'd do that first. It also makes a huge 
difference in torque.

HTH,
Tony


----- Original Message ----- 
Subject: [V8] 5-speed in driveway/radio question

> The stereo (Alpine CDA-9856) sounded great, except for the crackle
> over bumps.  I'd assumed that whoever put the stereo in(not PO), had
> run new wire/etc, as I was under the assumption that only a Bose unit
> would work with the amp'd speakers.  Well, I removed the front
> "crackler", and everything looked stock, but someone's been in there
> as there was some fiberglass kinda fuzz packing(looked newer/not
> stock).  No rewiring at the speakers appeared to have been done.
> Rears are lacking their amps.  I thought the bose sent a small signal
> (via small wire) to the amps, then they boosted it to the speakers.
> I'm guessing the crackle is a bad cap/solder,(after verifying wires/
> connectors), but also thought that with a "normal" stereo, you just
> bypassed the amp, and ran right to speakers....since I already love
> the unit(has xm, and ipod jack, will do whatever to do it right...any
> thoughts are appreciated.....Tom
>