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ok ok - my car is no longer an SVT... But i'm trying to find specs on the Bose system in my Mazda6 to see what i could/should replace... I search Bose's website and here's the answer i get! 3. Can I get a list of technical specifications? Quote:
No, because our custom-engineered, complete system solutions largely supersede conventional audio measurements. Even some basic building blocks have been redefinedâ??including amplifiers, speakers and equalizers. But most importantly, our integrated systems deliver results significantly different from those of conventional systems with individual, unmatched components. With a Bose automotive sound system, the location and design of the speakers can be much more important factors in determining output than a wattage power rating. The bottom line? The best way to test a Bose system's sound quality is to use your ears, not a list of specifications.
can anyone say "dodge the answer?"
anyone know how to get/determine specs of a bose system? It's kinda cool how they put a free-air 9" subwoofer (100W) in the rear deck (I'll haveta take some pics) 
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Here's a way I thought of to measure the RMS output power of an amplifier. You need to know the speaker impedance, which is not quite the same as the resistance you'll measure with an ohmmeter. I've heard that Bose systems use 1 or 2 ohm impedance speakers.
If you don't know the impedance you can break the circuit to the speakers and insert an AC ammeter in series with the speaker to get a current reading. Otherwise, if you know the impedance you can calculate the current from the voltage.
Get a test CD with a sinewave test tone at a consistent level. Also get an AC voltmeter (a multimeter set to the AC range will work fine).
With the AC voltmeter hooked across the speaker terminals and the test tone playing, turn the volume up to just below the point at which you hear distortion. Note the AC voltage reading at this point. Also note the AC current if you are measuring it directly. (Ideally it would be best to use a scope to verify at which point distortion occurs, but not everyone has one of those...).
Now you have the voltage and the resistance (impedance). From there you can figure current by using this formula:
current = voltage / resistance
Or you can use an AC ammeter to measure the current.
And once you know the current you can figure out the wattage:
watts = voltage * current
And that should be the RMS output wattage.
(Note that all AC meters are calibrated to give the correct RMS current and voltage when dealing with a sinewave. It's when the wave is not a sinewave that they don't give accurate readings and you need a tru-RMS meter).
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Originally posted by Toadster:
ok ok - my car is no longer an SVT...
But i'm trying to find specs on the Bose system in my Mazda6 to see what i could/should replace...
I search Bose's website and here's the answer i get!
3. Can I get a list of technical specifications?
Quote:
No, because our custom-engineered, complete system solutions largely supersede conventional audio measurements. Even some basic building blocks have been redefinedâ??including amplifiers, speakers and equalizers. But most importantly, our integrated systems deliver results significantly different from those of conventional systems with individual, unmatched components. With a Bose automotive sound system, the location and design of the speakers can be much more important factors in determining output than a wattage power rating. The bottom line? The best way to test a Bose system's sound quality is to use your ears, not a list of specifications.
can anyone say "dodge the answer?"
anyone know how to get/determine specs of a bose system? It's kinda cool how they put a free-air 9" subwoofer (100W) in the rear deck (I'll haveta take some pics)
I used my ears last time I heard a Bose system, I think they should change that to cover your ears I haven't heard the system in the 6, but if the one in Volvo's flagship sounds bad, I can't imagine the 6's being eny better.
The reason they refuse to reveal any specs is because they are likely very very unimpressive. Just like any other car stereo, bose plopped speakers into the doors of the 6. The 6 was not designed around the stereo, that's absolute horseshit. The Bose system is limited to whatever speaker locations the 6 has available, meaning door speakers and maybe tweeters in the a-pillar trim, and an ammount Mazda is willing to pay for it. If Bose really did do thier on placement you'd have speaker pods in the kickpanels, time alignment, and you'd sure as hell have better amplification.
Quote:
our integrated systems deliver results significantly different from those of conventional systems with individual, unmatched components.
The difference is, by mixing components, and taking the best parts to make the whole, you end up with a better end result. Most of Bose's car systems use the same components in each car.
Any audio company that won't even give thier own customers a list of specifications seems a bit shady to me. It would be like me asking for how much HP the car I just bought has and getting "We don't feel HP is an accurate reprsentation of power, we feel that the placement of individual components of the engine has a much more profound effect than the engine's actual output" Bose is a big name, but it's only because of advertising that caught on with peopel with too much $$$.
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ranting is over
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Although for a stock system it sounds decent I would look at replacing parts fairly soon if you are looking for an improvement.
By replacing that 9" and it's amplifier, you would gain alot of low end. I'm guessing that, being Bose, the system can't play anything under 50Hz at all. Even a 10" in a small enclosure hanging from the rear dash will be a drastic improvement. You'd most likely need new power cables as the Bose amp is likely using smaller wire than what I use for speaker cable. The 100W amplifier is probably only producing 100W when all the planets fall into alignment.
I would tackle the head unit, and replace it with something mid-line, like the stuff that we usually push around here. Chances are they will sound better than the bose unit. You lose certain things like speed sensitive volume, etc... but you gain so much more in the area of sound quality and flexibility with future expansion.
Your stock speakers should be alright for the time being, hopefully they aren't like the speakers in most other Mazda vehicles, which you could buy at PE for $1.23 each. Either way they should sound better powered by a new head unit. Eventually as they stop working you'll want to replace them as well. We'll be here 
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great responses guys!!! honkey... I agree with your comments - but have you seen the dash in an M6?   I like the auto-volume settings and from what i've read in the M6 forums the Bose has pre-outs that i could use for amps (which is great!) anyone know of a "good" 9" subwoofer? I'd love to drop one in with a good xMax and a decent amp so i can get a 'true' low end also, I think i can put 5 1/4" components in the doors - gotta scour the forums more thanks again!
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the problem with replacing the head unit is that...you can't (right now). there's no dash kit available to retro-fit a different head unit. the sound quality is actually not too bad on the bose system. i think it's especially good when playing a CD as compared to listening to the radio. i'd still like to add a separate sub in the trunk. from what i've read you can tap into the sub lines and run that to an amp, though you will need to run a separate power wire as you mentioned. i'm still debating....
i have an infinity kappa perfect 12 right now but circuit city has a 12" momo with plexiglass box on sale for 129 after rebate right now. it's very tempting... though i dont think my jbl bp600.1 would be powerful enough for it.
toadster, the info you just dug up is more than i've been able to find out so far! there are no specs whatsoever on the bose system (that i can find).
by the way, do you remember where you saw the info about the bose having rca outs? i'd love to check that out!
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Originally posted by Toadster:
great responses guys!!!
honkey... I agree with your comments - but have you seen the dash in an M6?
Yep, that's why I said I would tackle it. It's not going to be fun or easy...
I hate the dash layouts in some of the new cars. Pretty, yes, but it totally goes against the realively small portion of customers that are going to tear out thier stock HUs 
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Originally posted by Honkeytonk Monkey:
The reason they refuse to reveal any specs is because they are likely very very unimpressive.
My thoughts exactly, Bose is the most overated, overpriced company on the market. That wave radio is the most expensive pile of plastic I've ever seen. And somehow, they sell.
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Originally posted by SVTour98:
toadster, the info you just dug up is more than i've been able to find out so far! there are no specs whatsoever on the bose system (that i can find).
by the way, do you remember where you saw the info about the bose having rca outs? i'd love to check that out!
http://mazda6club.com/forums
check the "In Car Electronics" forum...
I didn't "pick" the Bose system, it kinda came with the car... seems like EVERY '04 in the dealerships is coming with the Luxury Package and Bose package!!
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Originally posted by CarpePoon:
Originally posted by Honkeytonk Monkey:
The reason they refuse to reveal any specs is because they are likely very very unimpressive.
My thoughts exactly, Bose is the most overated, overpriced company on the market. That wave radio is the most expensive pile of plastic I've ever seen. And somehow, they sell.
Ah, never underestimate the power of marketing!
It sold us a war, eh?
This war brought to you courtesy of Karl Rove, former director of the Direct Marketing Association (you know, those people who call you at dinnertime).
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Originally posted by CarpePoon:
Originally posted by Honkeytonk Monkey:
The reason they refuse to reveal any specs is because they are likely very very unimpressive.
My thoughts exactly, Bose is the most overated, overpriced company on the market. That wave radio is the most expensive pile of plastic I've ever seen. And somehow, they sell.
If only they put as much effort into their product as they do their marketing...If you ask any non-audio enthusiest what the best speakers on the market are, they would say bose. Not because they've heard them and compared them to other speakers, but because the ads told them so.
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