Anyone with BOSE amp / speakers ? Please HELP

**Gene** · 06-22-2004, 05:55 PM

Hi guys,
I found several posts that discuss this, but I am still lost. Here is my setup:
'99 Pathfinder w/ BOSE amp.
No HU. I could mount it somewhere else in case I have to use connections on the back of it but I'd like to have this as my last option. Carputer and JBL 4-ch amp are installed in the back. Both come on when I turn my key. I don't want to replace my speakers. I know that sound works on my computer because I had headphones connected to it.
What are my options? I found this site, will this work for me? I bought a wiring harness and ran speaker wires from the harness to the amplifier. I'm guessing the harness will not work here.
What is the purpose for the two connectors on picture 1? AUX?
Can I use an FM modulator w/o the HU? Do I need to disconnect BOSE amp?
Sorry if I missed something in my project description.
Thank You

**god_of_cpu** · 06-22-2004, 06:24 PM

If you want to use an aftermarket amp, your best off replacing your speakers, I don't think it's easily possible to use BOSE speakers as they usually run off of 4 ohms not 2. Speakers even better then the BOSE are relativly cheap.

You can't use an FM modulator without a head unit. If you use the BOSE amp and not the JBL one, you may be able to make it work with just a Ven-4 or other converter.

If you want to know what those connections are I would recommend you download the service manual for your car from http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/ . It will save you tons of time if you plan on doing any modifications to your car and it's only $20 for a 1 day pass.

**Gene** · 06-22-2004, 06:50 PM

Thanks a lot for the info. I did a quick search for VEN-4 and this is what i found:
"....The VEN 4 can also be used to replace the factory receiver with an aftermarket unit, and retain the premium OEM amplifiers and speakers..."
That sounds like the Head Unit has to be present in the setup. Is that true or can i go HUless? Have you ever worked with one? Are they pretty simple to hook up?

**krystar** · 06-22-2004, 07:18 PM

if your bose amp is anything like mine (acura rsx) you should be able to find out which of those wires are:

front left speaker +
front left speaker -
front right speaker +
front right speaker -

then just tap the connection and feed in the audio cable.

**Gene** · 06-22-2004, 10:47 PM

Krystar,
I need to tap into the wires going go the amp from the speakers and route them to the aftermarket amplifier?
Thanks

**krystar** · 06-22-2004, 11:47 PM

no tap the wires going from HU harness into the bose Amp. tap those and then route them into your aftermarket amp input.

**Gene** · 06-23-2004, 12:34 AM

OK, now I think I understand. Match the wires from the harness to the BOSE amp (-,+), then route each speaker into the RCA inputs on the JBL amplifier. Tap each speaker (- and +) to a different RCA plug (red or white, rear or front).

**frodobaggins** · 06-23-2004, 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by god_of_cpu

they usually run off of 4 ohms not 2.

The majority of car speakers are 4 ohm.

**_maelstrom** · 06-23-2004, 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by Gene

OK, now I think I understand. Match the wires from the harness to the BOSE amp (-,+), then route each speaker into the RCA inputs on the JBL amplifier. Tap each speaker (- and +) to a different RCA plug (red or white, rear or front).

Is your Bose amp a separate piece? In my factory Bose system, each of the speakers had it's own amplifier built around it.

**Gene** · 06-23-2004, 12:27 PM

maelstrom,
I never took my door panels off, so I am not sure. I found my amplifier in the trunk behind the plastic, and the connector that connects to it looks like the wiring harness with neg.spkrs, post. spkrs, grd, etc. Does that sound like single amp or amp per speaker or hard to tell? The info that I found on Pathfinders only talks about the amp in the trunk.