Concert Radio (bose Vs Non Bose)

[corcav]

I have a Concert radio with no BOSE system (if i turn it on i see no BOSE message) tried to replace it with a BOSE model but can't get any sound from front speakers (rear are ok).
Is this due to BOSE incompatibility?, has anyone tried replacing a non BOSE model with BOSE one?

Thanks

[audipardner]

Bose systems use 1 to 2 ohms, while all other systems use 4 ohms. Also the front speakers in the bose system use a tweeter, that could also further reduce the ohms or resistance. That is likely the reason the fronts will not work.
Additionally you would probably have to use the bose amp in order to get the correct volume and sound charicteristics.
Long story short unless you get the whole system you probably wont get good results.
aftermarket systems are far better anyway IMO
Think Alpine and Boston acoustics.

[dcc236]

The Concert h/u in a Bose and non-Bose car are the same. The difference is that it is VAGCOM'd for Bose or non-Bose. The Bose setting in the Concert outputs a different equaliser setting in the line outs and the Bose logo comes up on the Concert screen when it is powered on. That's about it.

The other difference is the way the sound system is wired up:

- Non-Bose uses the h/u to power the front speakers (using its internal 20w+20w amp) and the rears use the rear lin level out from the h/u and feed the little amplifier attached to the left rear speaker, this amp then powers the two rear speakers.

- Bose uses the front and rear line level outs from the Concert, feed into a Bose amp, have Bose 2-ohm front and rear speakers and a small subwoofer.

If you want to improve the sound system without replacing the h/u, I'd recommend the following:
- Female RCA's can be easily added to the Concert h/u. Two options: 1. Buy a Blaupunkt style adapter or splice in your own. I spliced in my own.
- Replace the 4" stock component speakers in the front doors with high quality aftermarket 5.25" components. To make the job easier, you can buy a front door speaker adapter that will allow you to screw your new 5.25" mid-woofer in the same location the stock 4" stock mid-woofer is located. I used a set of Infinity Kappa's
- Leave the rear speakers as they are, they're only there to provide fill to rear seat passengers so not much point replacing them
- Add a subwoofer of your liking in an appropritae box. If you don't want to give up too much boot space, just add a single 10" or have someone custom build an enclosure into the left rear side where the tool kit and cd changer live. I used 2 x 10" Rockford Fosgates in a twin-sealed box.
- Get yourself a nice 3 or 4 channel amp to drive the front components and the sub. I am using an Alpine 4 channel amp, mounted to the underside of the rear parcelshelf.

This type of upgrade will give you better results than the Audi Bose system for 1/2 the price and aside from the subwoofer, the car looks stock.

Hope this helps.