Get more output from our Bose subs!

T

toy4x

Premium Member
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Can we get more output from our Blows subwoofers?? I think we can....The following has been done on the Mazda 6 website to an overwhelming success. Hundreds of these have been sold and everyone has great things to say. The bass output level goes way up, and gets rid of some of the midbass making way for a much better lower end.

First of all I need to say this is from a Mazda6. But I can't see why someone here who knows electrical boards/circuits/resistors can't get this to work for us. Plus its great because no wires are cut...only tapped into.

DISCLAIMER:
Wire colors are not the same and this has not been tried yet on our systems. ANY thing you do is on your own..I am not responsible !!

this is from my other website:

Connections (on my speed6, may be different for other cars)
12v power can be tapped on the amp harness: orange wire
ground: tap black wire
in+: cut purple wire, connect harness side to preamp input, amp side to preamp output
in-: tap yellow wire

Parts Needed:(approx $12-$20)
-breadboard (solderless) or perforated board (solder)
-thin gauge wire
-15K ohm resistor (1/4W or 1/8W)
-4.7K ohm resistor (1/4W or 1/8W)
-1uF capacitor (>25V)
-100uF capacitor (>25V)
-LM741 op amp
-electrical tape

i suggest you get a breadboard if you're new at this. from radioshack, total cost was ~$20. i had to buy a 50 pack of resistors and breadboard which doubles the costs of 808's original $10 estimate.

ok, here's an attempt at walking you through this. please note the colors in the attachment because the colors correspond to the wire color you will need to splice or tap. the only wire that needs to be spliced will be the purple wire. all the other wires just need to be tapped.

please note the 100uF capacitor direction. the capacitor i used has an arrow on it. it indicates the side of the capacitor that connects to the negative (-). the 1uF capacitor is usually bidirectional.

i've also drawn out an example of a breadboard in case someone doesnt know how to use one. if you look at the drawing you'll see the lines labeled 1,2,3,A,etc. those lines means that all the points on that line connect. so everything on line A is connected and everything on line B is connected, etc. all the pts on the GROUND line are connected as well.

View attachment 796
View attachment 795

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Now, is this possible or will it do anything for us? The person who developed this circuit even has a new one with a gain level and eq. Here is his completed circuit board:
http://go808speed6.ulmb.com/home.htm

I'm going to buy this and try it on my 6....but wondering why this couldn't be hooked up to the FX? He's out of stock of the new ones now, so have to wait and see....
 
Gilley said:
What is this device and what does it do?
Click to expand...

Here is a description of the pre-amp with a EQ, the one listed above is just a pre-amp
http://go808speed6.ulmb.com/Preamp_EQ.htm
Background

The stock Mazda6 Bose audio system is fairly decent for a factory system, however, lower frequencies are rather disappointing in stock form. For this reason, the quest for better bass at an affordable price bagan with the original preamp circuit. Consisting of only 5 electronic parts, it is easy to build, simple to install, and provided noticable improvement in the sound quality of lower frequencies. By raising the level of the subwoofer, this allowed the ability to reduce the bass control on the headunit, which reduced the excessive midbass in the system that ruined the sound quality. Many people on Mazda6club.com forums have constructed this circuit with this schematic and have appreciated better bass without having to resort to the cost, complexity, and loss of trunk space required by aftermarket amplifiers and subwoofers.
Not able to leave well enough alone, a new project was undertaken to not only increase the relative output of the stock subwoofer, but to also add active processing to bring out the lower octaves of music. The stock system rolls of bass rather quickly, and thus does not produce the lower frequencies adequately. The goal of the Preamp+EQ circuit is to remedy this problem and allow users to get the most out of their factory systems affordably. Because the new circuit is much more complex, having nearly 5 times the part count of the original preamp circuit, a commercial grade board was developed to allow more people to enjoy the benefits of the new circuit. It is constructed with audiophile grade parts and each unit is hand assembled with meticulous attention to detail. Click here to read reviews from satisfied customers!
Click to expand...
Features: - For 2003 to 2008 Mazda6 vehicles with factory Bose subwoofer - 30Hz and 60Hz center frequency bands with variable boost/cut - Variable gain - No turn on/off thumps or pops - Low noise JFET amplifiers - 1% tollerance metal film resistors - 5% tollerance polyfilm filter capacitors - 10% tollerance potentiometers - 40mm x40mm 1oz, single sided, copper clad, 1.6mm thick glass epoxy board with silk screen, solder mask, and groundplane - Hand assembled with lead free silver bearing solder - Factory color coded wires for easier installation
Price: $70 shipped in US, $85 shipped to Canada, Purchase HERE
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its crazy they want $70 bucks for this. doesnt look to hard to build.
 
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one word for whoever wants to increase the bass bigtime from just the stock bose...

"epicenter"

I guarantee that will really wake up your bass & make you wonder how the hell your getting that much bass from the stock bose sub...

this circuit they built is a very crude but similar type thing, but the rockford fosgate epicenter is the real deal, assuming it's still available, I think it is...
 
i wnt this too haha now i can spend money on other stuff and still deal with the blows speakers fro a while longer
 
John is right as always...this is a do it yourself epicenter...but here is the price of the Audiocontrol Epicenter:
Epicenter = $159.99 http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1261
Epicenter Plus = $209.99 http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=7531

This circuit is basically the same thing, but without Audiocontrols name, fancy box, and well lets face it quality.

This can be made by everyone for no more than $20. The fancier one with eq can be made for approx $30 or bought from the guy for $70. This piece is really small, no problems hiding it, and works.
 
For those with not much knowledge on circuits. Where can we get one for less without having to pay 150+?
 
the epicenter is nice cause you can tune it & dial it in for best reponse from your system. also comes with a dash mounted knob to be able to increase or decrease the effects or turn it off which is important if you care about SQ, your not going to always want it on & some material will need more & some will need less

I've done something similar through my pc & let me tell you, the bose is capable of WAY more bass than you'd ever expect or believe with something like this...

also, if I'm not mistaken, I think the epicenter is way more sophisticated than this, I think it actually derives a bass signal from one that is just not there by say editing of the producer of the recording, it looks at the signature of the music & can detect octaves & there decline & estimate where the bass should have been & restores it, this other circiut shown here is more of an amp & a freq boost...

like bass? get an epicenter :)...
 
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The epicenter has a wired remote that goes to your dash, or wherever you want to install it. It also has a subsonic filter at 33hz.

The first board is just a filter and bass producer. There is little control of this unit. Some people have changed the 4.7 resistor to a 6.0 resistor and claim to have a better overall sound. The 4.7 was producing too much bass.

These new circuits have an adjustable filter at 30hz and 60hz and a gain control.
preamp_eq_size.JPG


Yes the Audiocontrol Epicenter is an awesome unit that has been selling very well since the late 80's. It does everything it was designed to do well. I love Audiocontol products and have the EQS and 6XS in my other car system. If someone wants a great unit, absolutely get the Epicenter. But, if you want to be able to save $100+, and do basically the same thing, I think this is at least worth a try.

That being said, Can this easy to use/build/install/hide board work for us? for $20, its worth a try. Turbo just said that our Bose subs are "capable of WAY more bass".

Who is capable to build a board and try? Also, I do have a parts list for the second preamp +eq. Or when I get the part in from the Mazda guy, I can send it out to someone that is capable to build and see what parts are there.
 
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I have loved my Epicenter since I bought it in about 1990. I still have it and it still works.

If an Epicenter can be adapted to the stock Bose subs, I'm all in for that. I was looking at installing a small amp to send more power to the subs too.
 
Well I actually just finished up a circuits section in school so I know a good bit about resistors, capacitors, current, voltage, etc. Seems like this is something I should be able to build.
 
Alright, I have a buddy that went to ITT going to build me a couple of these. Should be done in about a week. One for my Mazda, and the other I'm going to install in the FX. We'll see how it goes.

---------- Post added at 07:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:20 PM ----------

StuLax18 said:
Well I actually just finished up a circuits section in school so I know a good bit about resistors, capacitors, current, voltage, etc. Seems like this is something I should be able to build.
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My buddy says this is VERY basic, and actually laughed at me when I told him to build a couple. You should have no problem.
 
yup 1st board is easy to get soldered up, second one needs a pre-fabbed circuit board or etch your own.

thanks for sharing toy4x , you stirred up some ideas :tup:
 
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