sleeper84

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I'm looking to install a Retro Sound M2B head unit in my 1989 RS with the BOSE system. I was wondering if anyone had don't this and what I need to know to do the install beyond just doing the wiring.

John in RI

iTrader: (167)

If the Retro Sound radio produces the typical radio output levels then you can use one of these to simply plug your existing dash harness into so you can "convert" the output from the aftermarket ( or regular Delco ) radio to be compatible with the rest of the BOSE Speakers + AMP system & no other wiring work required.



BOSE speakers are only 1 or 2 OHM speakers so you can't just bypass the BOSE wiring and connect a non-BOSE radio to BOSE speakers. You'd have to use regular speakers in that case. ( 10 OHM front and 4 or 10 OHM in rear with DELCO & usually 4-4 OHM for aftermarket)

sleeper84

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It's has a Sony cheapo unit in it now without an adapter. It had a lot of high pitch whining in it most of the time.

The rear speakers are bad I believe as well. I'm probably gonna regret it but I want to try to piece it back together, probably recap the amps myself and hopefully source suitable replacement speakers.

First step is a decent radio though.

Airwolfe

iTrader: (1)

No highs, no lows, must be a BOSE. BOSE is nothing more than a bunch of psychoacoustic BS and EQ curves. BOSE got to where they did based on BS marketing and great lawyers.

At this point in time with the age on the BOSE speakers and amps your best bet is to kick it all to the curb. The surrounds will be rotted and the amps in various states of disrepair. It will all have to be sent off and rebuilt and when done it's still just going to be a BOSE.

Carefully remove the entire BOSE system wiring and all and the radio if you still have it and sell it off on Ebay to someone that doesn't know better. Don't throw it away. There is somebody that wants it.

Put a normal radio, wiring, and speakers in the car. 4x6 in the dash and 6x9 in the sail panels.

sleeper84

iTrader: (1)

I completely understand what you're saying and why.

My counterpoint is this: This is a factory installed option in my mostly complete 1989 RS t-top car. Is it a super rare car? No. Is it a super valuable car? No. Will it ever be? I don't care. But I like that it's complete and I've been able to keep it mostly original and functional.

If I can piece the BOSE system back together and it sound at least as good as stock, I'll be happy. I'm not building a competition sound system. I just want it to work and be complete. If I can find compatable speakers from another manufacturer that will fit the BOSE boxes and improve sound, I'll gladly use them. Just like I'm trying to use the RetroSound head unit.

sleeper84

iTrader: (1)

Is this a suitable line level adapter?

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_541GM2...e.html?tp=3486

Airwolfe

iTrader: (1)

Yes that is the correct adapter to use an aftermarket radio with you factory installed BOSE system. Even though there are adapters to mate an aftermarket car stereo into a Bose system and they will work they aren't 100% correct. The Bose system is meant to be used with the Bose radio for that car be it cassette or CD.

BOSE speaker systems can't be mixed and matched with speakers, enclosures, and amps. They are a matched set and can be different for the same car depending on options such as leather or cloth interior, hardtop, T-top, convertible. Sometimes you can't even move the position in the car where an amp belongs because the EQ and gain curve are specific to its location in the car.

If you are going to have to send the Bose amps off for repair then send ALL of them off to be repaired at the same time. Well just one of them is bad. NOPE they are all bad you just don't know it yet. Before sending the amps off for repair check the labels on the amps to make sure they are the correct Bose amps for your car and the location in the car and haven't at some time before in the car's life been replaced with the wrong Bose amps or aftermarket "Bose" amps.

Also check the Bose speaker driver in each enclosure to make sure it's not bad. Cone is not torn or ripped or water/moisture damaged, surround is not rotted or torn. If a foam rubber surround it will be rotten from age and exposure to the elements. Hot and cold, humid and dry. If the surround is treated cloth or butyl rubber it will probably be OK as long as no physical damage.

The place below is where I sent Bose systems off for repair many years ago. Back in the day they were great to work with. It's been forever so I have no idea now. I sent 100s of Bose systems and other factory radios to them for repairs over the years. Back in the day I did repair work for the local used car dealers and new car dealer used car lots. Mostly repairing idiot level aftermarket car alarm and stereo installs, factory systems, and more power antennas than I care to remember.

https://www.carstereohelp.com/chevrolet.htm

https://www.carstereohelp.com/bose.htm


Call the guy up and tell him exactly what you have and if he can repair all four of the amps. I have no idea what parts are available these days. A lot of the things he could repair back in the day I see that he now can't due to parts availability. I think he charges $110.00 per Bose amp so would be $440.00 to repair them all.

The video above is not Camaro Bose specific but gives you a rough idea about GM Bose systems.

Airwolfe

iTrader: (1)

@John in RI Is the resident radio expert here on the forum so I would defer to his advise about radio related questions.

Also I don't know if John repairs GM Bose radios and amps. If he does than I'm sure he would be great to have the work done by.

John in RI

iTrader: (167)

Ya',... I've done more BOSE work this winter than in all past winters, and that's sayin' something. I just picked up this set-up from a 95 Caddy this week; 100% working set-up,....MUCH better condition than the "touch screen" BOSE system I got from an 89 Riviera a couple weeks ago !




I've got a pair of 02' BOSE 6x9's running 100 WATT Caddy AMPs in my 84 right now and they are a very nice fit with the rest of the set-up. I'm using the factory Berlinetta head unit and a signal converter so I've got 4 channel output control (not just F/R FADE) as well as an equalizer (over Treble/Bass) to play with. Just about every car I've owned ( except that dam Explorer ) has had BOSE installed. I installed a custom BOSE GOLD system into my 84 Berlinetta, custom installed the factory 5-speaker 95 Camaro system in my 95Z, converted my 05 Trailblazer from 'normal' BOSE to "LUX BOSE", and even custom installed a full BOSE system into my old 91 S10 Blazer. As long as you match a BOSE AMP to the proper BOSE speaker,... you can work wonders !

** I didn't install BOSE in my GTA; because that one has a factory restored "Performance Sound" system in it.

For future readers,.... I re-cap BOSE AMPs @ $45 each. The success ratio was about 80-85% till this year,... had about 20-25 AMPs this winter that couldn't be repaired so It's dropped to about 75-80%. ( & For the record; I did try to repair some UGLY AMPs and I did get more than that working again !!! )

sleeper84

iTrader: (1)

Called Crutchfield and they didn't recommend the Retrosound. Instead they set me up with an Alpine unit and the line converter.

Now I've got to pull my amps and get them shipped off to repair.

ksr

Before I got my GTA's original radio refurbished (true retrosound?), I considered Retrosound. But I read a fair number of negative reviews about their products.

Also, the steering wheel controls wouldn't have worked with Retrosound. And having that bank of dead buttons in front of me would have annoyed the heck out of me.