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[Brucie1946]

I have a nice top end alpine headunit Id like to fit to the omega, its able to drive an amp through pre outs, but the bose wont accept the cables obviously.  Im happy with the bose, as itsounds pretty good when the volumes up tbh.

Speaker upgrades sound good too, along with replacement headunit as suggested.

The porsche/bose fix sounds good for a start.

Dean

[Dave DND]

I have a nice top end alpine headunit Id like to fit to the omega, its able to drive an amp through pre outs, but the bose wont accept the cables obviously.  Im happy with the bose, as itsounds pretty good when the volumes up tbh.

Speaker upgrades sound good too, along with replacement headunit as suggested.

The porsche/bose fix sounds good for a start.

Dean

Please don`t confuse "Speaker Upgrades" with "replacements for broken ones" -

Thats not really the intended direction of this thread -

Upgrade speakers will require an upgraded amp also, and then you can fit the head unit of your choice, this is more intended towards those who wish to retain the BOSE enable head units and what can be done when the speakers fail in order to maintain functionality.

[Brucie1946]

With the option I thought you gave on the previous page, for head unit replace, hence why I mention my alpine.

As for upgrade, I meant 2 ohm direct replacement.

Sorry if I put my foot in my mouth!

[Dave DND]

With the option I thought you gave on the previous page, for head unit replace, hence why I mention my alpine.

As for upgrade, I meant 2 ohm direct replacement.

Sorry if I put my foot in my mouth!

yep, you are right - I started it !!  My bad !!   

The only 2 Ohm replacements I am currently aware of, are the ones mentioned at the start of this thread.

I am hoping to have an aftermarket head unit solution available very very soon - just on the final mock up of it, and then I will need a few people to try it out.

[MaxV6]

chrisgixer, just so I know I am going in the right direction, I need you to answer a question for me.

Are you hoping that I can find a solution to:

A) Upgrade the sound quality of the BOSE audio system, and accept that this will mean the replacement of various BOSE components within - (excluding the head unit)

or

B) Find a workable solution for those of you who have broken elements of the BOSE system and need to replace the now discontinued faulty BOSE components within so that the BOSE system can be retained as much as possible - (excluding the head unit)

I would say B, but with A not far behind,

i suspect  the issue for many of us, is the additional functionality of the head unit when used in conjunction with the GID/CID ,  not just the audio aspects.....      I personally much prefer the built in Sat Nav to that on my iPhone, and my Tom Tom,  i dislike cluttering up the car , and finding somewhere to put the screen and so on....     likewise,  the screen functions,  and warnings, and so on , that you seem to lose if you rip out the head unit....

the bose systems sound acceptable to me ,   not great, but acceptable,  and given the acoustic arse of an environment,  that's all i'm really hoping for.....

okay, so my situation is a little different now,  in that my current Mv6 does NOT have Bose....    so i can upgrade along other paths....   or rather i COULD if i was prepared to rip out the damn head unit,....   which i'm not..... for aesthetic AND practical reasons....   none of which relate to the sound quality....


since my previous 2 cars both had it, and i liked it well enough,   at some stage, i would like to retrofit Bose,  IF,  i could do so with new drivers...  having seen the state of a couple of removed drivers....    i would much prefer something less knackered.... 

it's far from an ideal scenario,   sure , money no object,  i'd fit a mega expensive pro-audio grade system (not a loud-boi abomination) if it could replace all the functionality....

but money is not an infinite resource,   especially  if i keep spending it on other toys for work rather than for the mig,...  in a better cash flow period (recession and seasonal industry shifts are biting right now) i might go as far as £500 on it.... but really....   it'd have to be pretty bloody special for that much..... 

i really like the other concept you've been working on with the later unit (CD70?) as well.....   if one can be got up and running and keep the TC , sat nav and check control functions and a GID/CID running

[feeutfo]

chrisgixer, just so I know I am going in the right direction, I need you to answer a question for me.

Are you hoping that I can find a solution to:

A) Upgrade the sound quality of the BOSE audio system, and accept that this will mean the replacement of various BOSE components within - (excluding the head unit)

or

B) Find a workable solution for those of you who have broken elements of the BOSE system and need to replace the now discontinued faulty BOSE components within so that the BOSE system can be retained as much as possible - (excluding the head unit)

specific to this thread and speakers...B, surely? Given your own arguments, that we both agree on. Ie weighing up the economics of car value/system value v outlay to improve or repair. Its got to be B surely.

Although, ahem, depends on cost. My only minor annoyance with bose is low volume levels(although I haven't had to source new parts yet).
So it's a question of finding how much I'd pay to fix that issue, provided the solution works with 2015. A fubar cone might be the catalyst to pay out. But I bet a breaker will come to the rescue first tbh, however short term a solution that might be. Having said that, thinking about it, I would pay to upgrade speakers with 2015 to fix low volume levels if cheap enough.

So, depends on cost I guess...?

Over all view.
As said so many times
IMO it's not a Bose or nothing approach. It's a system approach. The system as a whole is the best available (call it a turd if you like, but that won't help your sales figures) . The fact it has Bose is irrelevant apart from the practicalities of up keep and the 2 ohms nuisance.

For instance, IMO, come up with a replacement system that's better, better in every dept mind! With latest features, Weather it's Bose or not and I'll be more than happy... If it's cheap enough. No, not cheap enough... If the outlay justifies the improvement. Put it that way. In that respect Bose or not is irrelevant, because the new system would have to spund better.

I don't give a rats arse about Bose as such. It's just what the best system available happens to have.

[Dave DND]

For instance, IMO, come up with a replacement system that's better, better in every dept mind! With latest features, Weather it's Bose or not and I'll be more than happy... If it's cheap enough. No, not cheap enough... If the outlay justifies the improvement.

OK then -

What is your requirement for an upgraded system? - I don`t mean better sound, thats a given, what features are you expecting it to have -

And what budget do you feel would be realistic, and that you would be willing to pay for such an upgrade? Don`t just say "Cheap" - give me an actual figure to work with.

[MaxV6]

as outlined in  previous conversations...


1) play CDR's without killing laser.
2a) have comprehensive connectivity,  perhaps digitally,  for iDevices and their ilk, and analogue for other external sources...
2b) preferrably more than one option as regards how many and what connectivity..... 
3) maintain non audio functionality. (sat nav, trip computer, check control and remote operation from steering wheel)
4) maintain Aesthetic integrity with vehicle interior..... 
5) integrate phone functionality, and hands free, and voice control , ....   and do so for all capable phones... for example,  Gayphone integration to work with Siri... but not actually REQUIRE Siri,  so it still works with say a 3GS, but also with android phones, and what not  (assuming their voice control works at all....    have you SEEEN  that side by side demo ??   ROFLMAO   )   




optional extras that might be nice.,


6) a set of headphone outputs for rear seats....   that can be individually source selected, or at least, all headphones can be sourced from, say Radio 1,  while the speaker system plays Classic FM. , or the CDs.

7) internal hard drive with iTunes library compatible play back system, so it integrates with an iPod,  but will also be able to store CD's that are physically loaded in to the unit... ... 

tea making attachment.

9) auto-wash....     washes and polishes the car while you drive...

10) optional DVD and MPEG/Quicktime  video play back to external screens  (so you can mount screens in the rear for the kids)

11) reversing camera feed to CID???   just wondering, if the feed to a CID is VGA based, then ought to be able to display a compressed rear  camera feed on it???   )

oh dear, i've designed a chavtastic thing....


scuse me while i shoot myself.

[Dave DND]

Ok, here is my suggested system for the Omega with a few "retail price" figures for you.

If I understand correctly from other threads, various display and computer functionality can be retained by use of different stalks and wiring, and since this is out of my area of expertise, I shall focus on audio. All of these suggestions will mean removal of the BOSE system in its entirety.


Speaker upgrade package approx  £210
Comprising
Replace front 17cm component speakers – Clarion SRP1721S  approx £100
Replace rear 13cm component speakers – Clarion SRP1321S approx £80
(Speaker ring adapter plates will be required – approx £15 per pair)

Head unit
Basic spec comprising of  CDR/RW / MP3 / dedicated IPOD control / Bluetooth phone kit:
Single DIN -  Clarion CZ501E  approx £195
Double DIN – Clarion  CX501E approx £295
(Steering control interfaces will be required for any aftermarket head unit – approx £40)

It must be noted that running any of the Clarion head units indicated here in conjunction with the speakers shown above, that neither any further amplification nor subwoofer is required to give exceptional performance and a very rich and fully rounded sound, which is why they are my speakers of choice.

However, those who still want to add an amplifier, or simply to retain the original head unit and run the above speakers, then allow an extra £175 for a four channel Clarion APX4241E for driving them.

Subwoofers (if required) can range from the subtle underseat Clarion SRV313 active subwoofer to a much larger 10”  Clarion SW2512 with APX 2121E amplifier, and either option would set you back around  £175 - this can be easily added at a later date as funds allow.

And for those of you who want to go all out on the head unit, Nav, DVD etc, then my personal choice  would be the Clarion NX501E which will set you back around the £800 mark

And for those of you who are still undecided about how this would all sound, then please come and visit me and have a listen to one of my cars – In fact our Astra Cabriolet has an awesome sounding audio system with an entire budget not exceeding £500 and I would put that up against many of the chavved up systems of today, let alone a 20 year old BOSE one.


Food for thought ?

[MaxV6]

and the tea making function??

 

[MaxV6]

so if i get this right, £560 gets you 4 decent speakers, an amplifier, and a sub,  all hooked up to the standard NCDC head unit (which then keeps the rest of the functionality intact....   )

and we carry on using Fm modulators for the gayphone etc...

??

, and while you're here....    is there such a thing as a decent quality version of this ??



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Holder-Cradle-Mount-Charger-FM-Transmitter-iPhone-4-3GS-3G-iPod-/270878292923?pt=UK_MP3_Player_Accessories_FM_Transmitters&hash=item3f119abbbb#ht_2439wt_1165


i'd fully expect it to cost a fair bit more.....      ( i had one , it's actually rather useful,  but died fairly quickly....  a quick inspection showed fried resistor on power plug board...     look like they're insufficiently rated for the job....  but since it cost all of a fiver,  i couldn't be arsed to break out the SMC soldering kit.  )

[feeutfo]

Head unit will lose functions, esp remote display(cid) in dash. Imo this feature is the shining light of the system in omega. No other hu can replicate that apparently, so 2015 stays.

Speakers and amp. Provided they work with 2015 etc ... Would need to hear the low levels as a fuller sound and that there is Zero distortion at max vol levels as the oe set up to consider it....  but at that price it would need to be rather good tbh.

List of annoyances with oe system
1 lack of inputs. Imagine
 a,displaying tomtom on that lovely colour screen. b, displaying/hearing phone music  player. 
2 tmc nfg (wouldnt get thst on tomtom, but it annoys me anyway)
3 disc comapatability with laser. Although phone input will negate that.
4 dodgy click wheel
5 cheesy appearance of oe nav software
6 cant remember i'm sure theres more
7....
8...
9..
10.
11 bose empty low volume levels. Obviously if a speaker faild this goes way up the list.

We're basickly talking about the age of the system and the features designed in at the time. Sound quality is nit high On my list of problems with it. But i may be persuaded otherewise on hearing an upgrade.

Re inputs we are putting up with modulator noise just to get mp3 from our portable devices. That should give you an idea of our priorities. How many modulators have you sold oofers? I bet its way more than speakers.

Sound quality is not high on the problem list imo. Failure thats differant. As saud repeatadly inputs are whats wanted to bring the system up to date. I would concentrate on running with the oe system and adding to it where possoble.

If you want to earn money out if me for instance, integrate video and sound input into the system cid in dash. These prioritys wont change until a speaker fails. For me anyway.

[Kevin Wood]

Head unit will lose functions, esp remote display(cid) in dash. Imo this feature is the shining light of the system in omega. No other hu can replicate that apparently, so 2015 stays.....

In other words, what you appear to be saying is that the CID is nice, but the rest of the system is cr@p.

Surely getting a decent head unit and speakers, then mounting a TomTom in front of the hole where the CID was (or just remove it, replace with a MID so you've got the trip computer and forget it ever existed) would be the best solution?

At what point does the whole host of other features that you're missing outweigh the fact that it won't drive the CID?

[MaxV6]

I'm slightly different to Chris...    NOT currently having a Bose system , after having had 2 in a row,  is definitely noticeable,  so my priority level on improvement is higher,,  and i may well be happy to spend that £560 on an upgrade.....   next year, if things pick up and i still don't replace my MV6 with an Elite.... 

(and to be fair, i probably subconsciously notice more about the sound than most.....   )

I still think it ought to be possible to modify the system to add inputs....  a buffered stereo input that's switched with one of the other sources.

(bearing in mind there's 2 CD sources, and a tuner.... and presumably something for the teletronics...       )

i guess one way to do it would be a small fixed gain mixer , inserted between HU and amp, to allow line level input from iPods and the like....  ,


much the same way we were talking about that line level balancing thing Dave....

could be built fairly cheaply,  or a cheap ass ready made product modified to do the job....   

[MaxV6]

anyone got a knackered 2013/5 i can pull apart and investigate ?