Replacing Bose amp while retaining the stock HU in 09 Esky...can it be done?

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Deephaven

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Don't mind me asking but if you are going through all this trouble to upgrade everything, why not ditch the factory HU? The sad thing on these GM vehicles is the outputs from the factory deck are just as bad as what comes out of the Bose. In my Saturn Outlook I used the Cleansweep and although I was much happier than what it was before I still wasn't totally satisfied. Pulled that factory unit out and installed a Pioneer AVIC deck and never looked back. Heck, I liked it so much I pulled that deck and put it in my Denali. Could not believe how much better the BOSE system sounded with just a head unit swap.

New units are can bus controlled so a swap isn't really feasible. Obviously you can replace it all which may be my course of action, but the whole basis here was to see if there was a way of hacking into the signal to get out what is necessary.

Also pretty sure that a replacement headunit wouldn't provide any gains on the newer systems IF you managed to talk the bus to keep the controls comparable. I haven't yet measured the outputs for complete verification as my nav crapped so yanking it all may be my approach instead of trying to continue to search for ways to integrate with it. The last few systems I've measured have been every bit as reasonable as an aftermarket headunit, signal normally gets jacked further down stream.
 

Ponchonutty

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New units are can bus controlled so a swap isn't really feasible. Obviously you can replace it all which may be my course of action, but the whole basis here was to see if there was a way of hacking into the signal to get out what is necessary.

Also pretty sure that a replacement headunit wouldn't provide any gains on the newer systems IF you managed to talk the bus to keep the controls comparable. I haven't yet measured the outputs for complete verification as my nav crapped so yanking it all may be my approach instead of trying to continue to search for ways to integrate with it. The last few systems I've measured have been every bit as reasonable as an aftermarket headunit, signal normally gets jacked further down stream.

Well, this link below may just change your mind. The freaks at Idatalink.com who partner with Compustar remote starters came up with an audio interface that does EVERYTHING when you swap out the head unit. It can be used with any brand radio but when you use it with the new Kenwood units it does soooooo much more. Click this link to the Acadia Forums to see my write up on it.
http://www.acadiaforum.net/index.php?topic=13017.0
 

Deephaven

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Well, this link below may just change your mind. The freaks at Idatalink.com who partner with Compustar remote starters came up with an audio interface that does EVERYTHING when you swap out the head unit. It can be used with any brand radio but when you use it with the new Kenwood units it does soooooo much more. Click this link to the Acadia Forums to see my write up on it.
http://www.acadiaforum.net/index.php?topic=13017.0

What would change my mind is measuring a headunit and seeing a crap response. Last GM Bose I measured was awesome...until it hit the amplifier and speakers. Headunit was fine, the rest junk.

In the new ones though it is all bus controlled so replacing it all is probably what needs to happen.
 

Ponchonutty

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Well, you got me on that one. Yes, the BOSE system is certainly the weak link. We measured the responses on a '08 Vette before and after a head unit change and for some reason, it was much, much better than with the stock unit. We were all scratching our heads as to why???? Granted, for the true audiofile, ditching the whole BOSE system of which if you are going with quality mids/highs you wouldn't want them running off anything BOSE anyways.
 
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