bose sound system

gmgagne

Member
Location
Potomac Falls, VA
Car
09 FX50S 06 FX45
Name
Greg
hey guys just a quick question, how should you treat the stock sound system? can you blow the speakers? how loud do you guys run the bose
 
You probably would not blow the speakers but you will damage it.

In most cases if you turn up your volume past 3/4 of the way, your sound will get distorted. SPL (Sound Pressure Level) is measured based Decibels (db) per Watt at 1 meter. Loudness has to do the number of db and the distance from the which you're listening. However, for every doubling of the distance, you'll lose -dB and for ever doubling of the amplification, you'll gain +3 db. This means that when sitting in your car, you'd be listening to your speakers at approximately 1-2 Meters from the speaker. So you might lose anywhere from 0-6 db's. and for ever doubling of the wattage (amplification) you'll gain +3 db. So if you start with a 90 db speaker you'll be at 84 db to start and then you amplify by lets say 60 watts, and you'll be at 102 db where as 120W will give you only dB. So you should start with speakers that already have a high SPL.

Based on the above calculations, you don't need a 200W speaker. You should look for speakers that have low wattage, but high SPL. You need to start with something that is already at 92+ db. Just to give you an idea, a hairdryer has about 80 db, lawn mower has 90db, and Car horn 110 db, where a rock concert will have 120 db.

If you want louder sound, you need to upgrade your speakers and your Amps. You may do this using the factory head unit. You'll need get Speaker to Line-in converters for the wires that go to your doors. then, rewire each one to each channel of an amplifier, then run wires back to speakers.

Most amplifires now have gain control that will make your speaker louder where the bose system will not have that.
 
Just to add on, I agree with FXtion upgrading speaker will always improve your system. just remember loud doesn't always equate to SQ. unless you just want loud. So try to ensure that you pick quality over cost, sometimes it's easy to replace your speakers w/cheap replacements and still end up later having to replace what you just spent a quick buck on.
 
I turned mine to maximum today and it didn't sound as nice, but speakers are made for the car's original sound system so it shouldn't damage or blow them out.
 
I turned mine to maximum today and it didn't sound as nice, but speakers are made for the car's original sound system so it shouldn't damage or blow them out.

Untrue!!!

The speakers react to the music you listen to not the head unit or amp which they are connected to.

If you listen to elevator music all they long, and blast your speakers all the way up, they actually sound OK at full volume. But doing the same listening to music that have too many High and Low notes will have a different effect. Also, depending on what you set your EQ to will make a lot of difference as well.

One of the most common problems with speakers are that the plastic on top of the wires in the Voice coil will get too hot and eventually short out. This causes an Impedance Change in the speaker which will cause the speaker to not sound good at all.

high Quality Speakers have taken into consideration a lot of other factors over cost. Although BOSE is a very high quality company, they are not known for their Low Power, high quality systems. Meaning that they give you exceptionally good sound at low power, and moderate volume.

Competition level Amps and Speakers concentrate on High Quality sound in Extrema Power and Volume. Also, just like a good tuner would be able to do wonders with a car, a good EQ and Cross over would do wonders with the sound.
 
Distortion is what kills speakers more than anything else. A speaker can handle more than it's rated wattage with no distortion or clipping but can be damaged with a lot of distortion with even less that it's rated power.
 
I was on a road trip to Saskatchewan early this week, while trying to stay awake I had Metalica - One playing, ended up turning it up full close to the end, if you know the song then your right with me, but I think I damaged my passenger door speaker. I may have found the limit that night. It has a 'buz, buz' on some notes now. Oh well, I guess it's time for some up grades soon.
 
I was on a road trip to Saskatchewan early this week, while trying to stay awake I had Metalica - One playing, ended up turning it up full close to the end, if you know the song then your right with me, but I think I damaged my passenger door speaker. I may have found the limit that night. It has a 'buz, buz' on some notes now. Oh well, I guess it's time for some up grades soon.


1 word .... warranty!
 
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