Looking to upgrade speakers on a Acura CL

[Jack10525 10+ year member]

Ok I've got a 03 Acura CL with factory Bose system. It sounds ok if you listen to elevator music but I like my music to hit hard and loud. So I would like to upgrade the door speakers and the rear deck speakers and power them with a 4 ch amp. I've done installs before and know I will need to include a loc because I want to keep the stock head unit. So has anybody installed an amp and speakers to a bose system? I have heard it can be alittle challenging. Aslo can anybody give me examples of speakers that will fit right in with out any modifications? Thanks.

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[jaymann107 10+ year member]

I've replaced every bit of Bose in my 01 CL and could not be happier. I started with just the door and rear speakers powered by an amp and still felt like the stock head unit was holding me back. From there I replaced the head unit and took out the after market amp because it was my brothers and belive it or not the after market head unit (combined with the stock bose amp) pushed the after market speakers really well. Now as far as mounting depth goes for the doors I want to say it is 2.5" and every pair of speakers I put in there needed a 3/4" spacer so good luck finding a pair of 6.5 that will just fit right in without a spacer. I hope this helped.

 

[alxmlr789 10+ year member]

Werd.

I'm about to do my system revamp in my '03 CL.

 

[eharri3 10+ year member]

Do you really care that much about how good the music sounds to your car's rear window and roof that rear deck speakers are an absolute must? That money could be put to better use being applied to the price of an amp and/or head unit or even better fronts.

 

[lyttleviet 10+ year member]

A lot of guys on here would suggest forgetting about the rears, getting a nice set of components up front, and powering them with some headroom. Shoot a budget out there so people can help you.

 

[jaymann107 10+ year member]

OP I see you posted in acurazine also, not a bad site and alot of good people over there too. And I noticed that you went to Senor Stereo in Miami and they told you that you can not just replace the factory speakers with aftermarket, that's BS. There are alot of myths that come along with the CL Bose system(the factory speakers are 1ohm, you can not change just one component of the Bose system wothout changing them all) and I'm fairly comfortable saying that about 90% of those myths are BS. If you want just change out the speakers but you will not notice a big diffence in sound, from there since you like the factory look add an amp for your mids and highs and you will be good to go. If you have any questions you can always PM me and I will be happy to help.

 

[Jack10525 10+ year member]

Thanks for all the responses guys.

Jaymann,

Do I just add the loc to the stock head unit up front. I read something about connecting it at the stock amp in the trunk.

 

[jaymann107 10+ year member]

If you are going to use it for just mids and highs hook it up to the front outputs on the stock amp, located behind the beauty panel in front of the jack location. If you hook it to the rear outputs/6x9 wires you may get more bass than you will like. Here is the wire diagram.