01 Audi with Bose system

[iLLest1aLive 10+ year member]

Ok i really dont like the Bose system in my car as it sounds like CRAP. So if i switch the factory HU with aftermarket do i change all the speakers too? if so, what would be a good choice? budget is roughly $150-250 so anyone got any ideas?

forgot to mention i believe the fronts are 5 1/4 and the rear (i think) hope that helps

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[iLLest1aLive 10+ year member]

anyone?

 

[Echo42987 10+ year member]

If you change your HU your not going to have to change your bose speakers. It might even sound better but I highly doubt it due to the fact that most bose systems have a amplifier built into the car somewhere. It would be a good idea to buy a system but like you said it's not in your budget! Change the HU and I gurantee you'll hear a noticable difference in quality. Though it won't be a lot better, it'll still gain some positives.

-Nick-

 

[iLLest1aLive 10+ year member]

cool thanks for clearing that up for me. i might just have to buy better components later. well i have another question about the bose system and its about the amp. could a bose amp cause bad sounds? such as making the whole system sound like its blown? or would that just be the speakers itself? i really hope its not the speakers cause i just dont have the money right now to replace all of it..

 

[2kchevy06civic 5,000+ posts]

It depends really. I'd probably get a decent headunit first and then I would save up and really work on your front stage, example: speakers, amplifier, dampening. That's just me though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[up2me 10+ year member]

I have a 2000 grand prix that came with the bose system. My speakers in mine were 2 ohm, so i would first look to see what ohms your speakers are and how many. That way your not going to drive your aftermarket hu into a really low ohm load and burn it up. If you plan on using the amp that is supplied with your car it will get loud with the volume knob not up much.

The reason is that the bose amps use a really low voltage from factory hu to make it work. So once you hook up this amp to the aftermarket hu speaker wires this will give the bose amp more voltage and in turn your volume goes up. This is just reference to my bose system that was in my car it might be totally diff than yours. i would check to see if there is a audi forum and see if anyone else has done this. Hope this helps

 

[MSimz 10+ year member]

Is it an A4, A6, or what? On the Symphony HUs (which you should have being a 2001) you can adjust a 'hidden' internal EQ with 4 seperate bands for both the front and rear independently. You can also turn the Bose functions (all the internal EQ crap that come along with the Bose nameplate) off altogether. Don't know if you've already done all that, so I'll wait to see before I post all the instructions. But, yes, a blown Blose amp can make things sound REALLY shitty as well as the blown speakers. In both my 2001 A6 and my 2000 S4, playing with some of the built in funtions made a BIG difference in the stock stereo.

 

[alxmlr789 10+ year member]

I have a 2000 grand prix that came with the bose system. My speakers in mine were 2 ohm, so i would first look to see what ohms your speakers are and how many. That way your not going to drive your aftermarket hu into a really low ohm load and burn it up. If you plan on using the amp that is supplied with your car it will get loud with the volume knob not up much.
The reason is that the bose amps use a really low voltage from factory hu to make it work. So once you hook up this amp to the aftermarket hu speaker wires this will give the bose amp more voltage and in turn your volume goes up. This is just reference to my bose system that was in my car it might be totally diff than yours. i would check to see if there is a audi forum and see if anyone else has done this. Hope this helps

eh?

 

[iLLest1aLive 10+ year member]

again thanks for the help guys..MSimz its a S4 and i havent really tried messing with the settings as just left them alone and it just didnt sound good. i didnt know there was a hidden EQ. i would like to know more about that.

 

[MSimz 10+ year member]

again thanks for the help guys..MSimz its a S4 and i havent really tried messing with the settings as just left them alone and it just didnt sound good. i didnt know there was a hidden EQ. i would like to know more about that.

To access the EQ all you have to do is turn off your car and remove the key. Then hold down the number '5' on your CD changer/Radio preset control and power on the head unit.

You will see '55555555' if your radio is in stock form. These numbers represent 4 EQ settings each for front and back. They are, in order from left to right:

1. Front low bass

2. Front mid bass

3. Front midrange

4. Front treble

5. Rear low bass

6. Rear mid bass

7. Rear midrange

8. Rear treble

To adjust the settings, use your volume knob to change the flashing digit to a value from 1 to 9 (1 being the lowest level, 9 being the highest) and press P.SCAN to go to the next digit. When you get to the end it will wrap back to the first digit.

Play with it and see if anything helps.

You can also De-Bose you HU if you wanted to keep the stock HU, upgrade to amps and speakers, and kill the "Bose" EQing built in (it is there in addition to anything else like the hidden EQ and the knob controls). You need to VAG your car in order to do this, though.

1. Connect scan tool to the car's OBD-II diagnotic port.

2. Turn on ignition and radio, select Radio Controller in scan tool.

3. The radio shows "DIAG" in the display.

4. Select "Recode Module". You may enter a 5-digit code according to the table below. Change the 4th digit from 1 to 0 (1 = Bose, 0 = standard).

5. Turn off radio and ignition, disconnect scan tool.

6. Turn on radio to hear the effects. In Bose mode, the radio display will show "BOSE" briefly after turn-on

There are also other hidden menus, like adjusting the speed-volume control, and other stuff. Hope this helps.

 

[iLLest1aLive 10+ year member]

thanks for the info..i will try this out and hope it helps with the sound.