Lack of bass

[darkz711]

So recently I installed some new speakers into my car because my rear ones stopped working aka i blew them out. I had the bose package in my car so I had the sub and the 4 speakers and the suckers put out some good base for what they were. I now have a new head unit from JVC and some decent speakers from pioneer and still have the sub but for some reason the bass just isn't there at all. I can't imagine that these pioneer speakers would be lesser quality than factory speakers. I know bose is known for pretty good quality but whats the deal?

Is it that the new speakers arent getting enough power? Do I need an amp?

Here is my deck
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cVuS7xs...00&I=257KDG420

Here are the speakers
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-cVuS7xs...0&I=130TSA1681

Let me know any input you might have



Oh and for those of you that saw that my car got hit, Insurance is doing full coverage minus the deductable without increasing my rates since this is the first claim made in 6 years

[Z Ya Later]

I have a friend who has the same complaint about the Pioneer speakers in her 99 GT.

In any case, you've gotta remember the Bose speakers were on their own amplifiers, but I don't believe you can make aftermarket speakers work with the Bose amps. You may need to look into an aftermarket amp and sub if you want some good base, or go back to the Bose speakers. Also, your Bose unit had an EQ built-in, didn't it? If so, that can make a difference too, as the JVC unit you installed doesn't have one. Did you use the adapter harness on the deck?

[Jeff_in_Atl]

How did you hook this up? Did you take out the Bose amps and wire the speakers directly to the amp OR did you just replace the speakers and hook the radio up to the line level outputs or use one of those line level adapters?
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-vpbFytq...sp?i=142C4GM02

[MN6WS6]

The problem is that your Bose system works with a different ohm impedance than the Pioneers. Bose stuff is 2 ohms, or 1 ohms, or sometimes even 1/2 ohm speakers, and the amps are set up for that ohm load. So, when you put your Pioneer speakers in, power was decreased.

You know how you bridge an amp and power increases? 4 ohm mono and the amp doubles it's watts? It works the same way in reverse. Since most Bose is one amp per speaker, every amp is "bridged". The amp is designed to say put out 20 watts per speaker at a 2 ohm load. You put a 4 ohm speaker in it's place, and wattage just dropped to 10 watts. If it was originally 1 ohm and you put in a 4 ohm, wattage just dropped to 5 watts. Less watts, less sound.

So what do you need to do? Take all the Bose stuff out and chunk it. Replace it all with aftermarket equipment. Aftermarket is better stuff anyway, costs SIGNIFICANTLY less money, and will increase sound quality. No highs, no lows, it must be Bose.

Disclaimer: This is all redneck and laymans terms, as we all know that bridging and ohm loads are varying terms, no amp runs at 100% efficiency, bridging doesn't really double wattage, and differences in ohm loads don't quite work on a linear scale as is depicted. I am just trying to make this as easy to understand as possible. All information is correct, just without all the masters degrees in engineering and electrical theory to back it up. Just a guy with 16 years of car audio experience.

[Z Ya Later]

While eliminating the Bose equipment from use isn't a bad idea (I'm using all aftermarket stuff as well), I wouldn't junk everything. The Bose speaker brackets are necessary to mount the speakers in the doors and very helpful for mounting them in the side panels. Just my thoughts.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

The problem is that your Bose system works with a different ohm impedance than the Pioneers. Bose stuff is 2 ohms, or 1 ohms, or sometimes even 1/2 ohm speakers, and the amps are set up for that ohm load. So, when you put your Pioneer speakers in, power was decreased.

I measured one of my Bose front door speakers. It was around 3.2 ohms.

darkz711, the thing is no one can answer your question until they know if you are using the bose amps on the speakers or not.

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

Impedance varies with frequency, so not always the same as DC resistance.

[darkz711]

i unhooked the speakers, i didn't take anything off the speakers, just unscrewed the 4 screws and put the new speakers in. I dont think i'm using the same amps form the speakers

as far as the deck... i had it installed by circuit city because i had a gift card to cc and installation was free so i had them do it. I bought the wire harness that they said was required for installation but i dont know what i actually have in there

[Jeff_in_Atl]

i unhooked the speakers, i didn't take anything off the speakers, just unscrewed the 4 screws and put the new speakers in. I dont think i'm using the same amps form the speakers

as far as the deck... i had it installed by circuit city because i had a gift card to cc and installation was free so i had them do it. I bought the wire harness that they said was required for installation but i dont know what i actually have in there

Then it sounds like you are using the Bose amps. In that case you can not just add an amp. You could remove the Bose amps and ad an amp but in any case the way to fix it right is a re-wire and get rid of the Bose amps. They are not going to be very loud with aftermarket speakers becuase of the different ohm ratings. You could take the Bose amps out and take the wiring harness adapter out that I showed above and use the speaker outputs from the stereo. They will probably sound batter.

[darkz711]

Then it sounds like you are using the Bose amps. In that case you can not just add an amp. You could remove the Bose amps and ad an amp but in any case the way to fix it right is a re-wire and get rid of the Bose amps. They are not going to be very loud with aftermarket speakers becuase of the different ohm ratings. You could take the Bose amps out and take the wiring harness adapter out that I showed above and use the speaker outputs from the stereo. They will probably sound batter.

so if i take out the amplifiers and the wire harness and got an amp, i'd have my bass back? What would happen to the sub?

[Jeff_in_Atl]

so if i take out the amplifiers and the wire harness and got an amp, i'd have my bass back? What would happen to the sub?

There are several things you can do. There are a bunch of options and I don't know where to start. It depends on how much you want to spend and how far you want to go. Are you going to do the wiring? If not you might want to talk to an installer.

The sub is driven from the rear channel amps. (The crossover is in the rear channel amp.) If you disconnect the amp the sub will not work.

If you are going to keep those speakers you are going to have to remove the Bose amps. If you do that it is going to be hard to keep the sub working.

The best method would be to get a seperate sub amp along with a seperate 4 channel amp for the mains. Then you have to figure where to put the amps. It's really going to snowball.

Something that might be of interest. http://www.subthump.com/acamarorack2.htm

[Z Ya Later]

Something that might be of interest. http://www.subthump.com/acamarorack2.htm

Amazing. I was looking for something like that for my setup. Thanks Jeff

[fullthrottleZ]

I kind of did the same thing. I replaced my head unit and when i did my speakers they sounded bad so i (temporarily until i got a 4channel) went to where the wires go into the sub in the back-looked at what colors each wire was at the back of the head unit and bypassed( cut where they come in and out of the amp/speaker box and just spliced them together) the amp all except the power and ground so my speakers all worked off of the head unit but the sub was still powered

[Jeffs Black 97 Formula A4]

Sorry I can't resist posting this, but.......

.....lack of bass? Do what others are suggesting and get a sub! I mean a real one.

www.subthump.com is a good place to start as they have several enclosures to choose from. Or, a 10" or 8" bazooka can help restore the bass that's missing if money's a problem.