Replacing the Bose Subwoofer

[datskat]

I'm no audiophile, but boy does the bass in the Bose system suck.

I'm planning to leave all the speakers and the OEM headunit but want to replace the Bose subwoofer in the back deck.

A) For those that have done this, what's required?
B) Recommendations on a sub that will fit in this area?

Thanks

[Tusin]

Have you tried de-bose'ing your system yet?

[datskat]

Yes, about 4 different ways and none of them work on the 2007+ headunits.

[Gingerkid]

I'm no audio guru either, but I don't think you can get much sound out of a 'free-air' type subwoofer. My shop suggested removing the factory sub altogether (for trunk to cabin air flow) and putting in a 10" sub in a small trunk enclosure - which is the setup I plan on going with.

[ibiski]

Basically you have two choices:
1. Yank the Bose crap and in its place build a custom fiberglass box with a single 8" or 10" sub. It will stick out a bit in order to accommodate the sub, but you'll still achieve a very clean, OEM-like look.
2. Less expensive approach is to install a custom wood/carpeted box with a single 10" or 12"

[AudiWxGuy]

Yeah..as much as I love the car, I think a sub may be on my list too.

[datskat]

So no one makes a direct fit replacement for these OEM "deck" type of subs?

[Jedidiah]

there isn't a sub that is built for the B7. no.
but there are 8" mid bass / sub - woofers meant for open air installations. They are normally very shallow, and are not going to hit very hard / tight. but replacing that and putting an amp to it will help.

keep in mind all the BS work you'll have to go through to get to that actual stock speaker. It might be easier, fit your end goal to have some shop build a box into the drivers side rear of the trunk.

[Gingerkid]

there isn't a sub that is built for the B7. no.
but there are 8" mid bass / sub - woofers meant for open air installations. They are normally very shallow, and are not going to hit very hard / tight. but replacing that and putting an amp to it will help.

keep in mind all the BS work you'll have to go through to get to that actual stock speaker. It might be easier, fit your end goal to have some shop build a box into the drivers side rear of the trunk.

If anyone is interested, here is what my shop quoted me:

1 JL Audio 10" W3 sub in factory enclosure, Alpine 500w amp, remove factory sub, bass control nob, installed, out the door, about $850.

Or- custom fiberglass enclosure with same components about $400-$500 more.

[RVT]

Question:
Is the Bose unit actually a Sub? or is it a Woofer? Anyone know what the high end of the freq. range going to it is?

Just curious,
Vince

[datskat]

So what is involved in killing the OEM sub and installing a standalone sub in the trunk aside from the amp? I assume it requires a wire run from the headunit to the trunk, or can the OEM wiring be leveraged? Just trying to get a rough feel for level of difficulty.

[philaboy]

just got a new B7 Avant, and the sub suckz d*#k big time, my B6 sounds good, also note i have a non-bose system in the B6 and the Nav non bose in the B7! I need to do something.....

[p1nk50ck]

So what is involved in killing the OEM sub and installing a standalone sub in the trunk aside from the amp? I assume it requires a wire run from the headunit to the trunk, or can the OEM wiring be leveraged? Just trying to get a rough feel for level of difficulty.

a stereo install in almost any car is pretty much the same. luckily, our cars have a sub, so it's pretty easy to tap into that rear sub line with a line-out converter (so now you have RCAs that can be controlled through the sub option on the factory head unit), and then you pretty much just need to run a power line from the battery to the trunk to power the amp. the rest is up to you to figure out how you want to set it all up.

[dblock110]

i just made a sub box for my car . holds 2 10" polk subs . with a profile 1200 watt amp .

60 in box materials, 130 in subs, 140 in amp, gonna be about 100 for install+ wires

[yettavr6]

How much have people paid to have a sub fitted in the left storage cubby in the trunk (where the sirius tuner is located) ?

[datskat]

a stereo install in almost any car is pretty much the same. luckily, our cars have a sub, so it's pretty easy to tap into that rear sub line with a line-out converter (so now you have RCAs that can be controlled through the sub option on the factory head unit), and then you pretty much just need to run a power line from the battery to the trunk to power the amp. the rest is up to you to figure out how you want to set it all up.

I just came from getting a quote at the local place, was basically the same as the one above.

JL 12W3v3-4
Sealed Box
Alpine MRPM500
JL Bass Knob
8ga power line run
Kill the stock sub

$825 out the door

They told me they could just tap into the fuse panel for power in our cars and didn't need to go to the battery, is this correct?

I'm going to hunt down lower prices on the parts but the labor was only $130 for everything which I thought was pretty fair.

[Erocko]

I don't know about that. I would run it to the battery, especially since there are grommets directly above the steering column that can accommodate the wire. I don't think I'd want that kind of power draw from anything that is central to the car's electrical signal. But who knows. I have 4 gauge to the battery for my sub amp.

They told me they could just tap into the fuse panel for power in our cars and didn't need to go to the battery, is this correct?

[datskat]

I don't know about that. I would run it to the battery, especially since there are grommets directly above the steering column that can accommodate the wire. I don't think I'd want that kind of power draw from anything that is central to the car's electrical signal. But who knows. I have 4 gauge to the battery for my sub amp.

Ok that was really my big question, I don't want them to drill/cut anything at all so I can completely undo it all if/when I sell the car.

[marcl]

i had a bose in my last a4, the new one didnt. so ive got the rns-e running rainbow speakers with a jl amp and sub and lots n lots of dynamat and it blinds the bose (which i loved before)

i can get my clubs and trolly in no problem, but focal do a "all in one" amp and sub i think there about 3" thick and sticks to the back seat

[A4 Centaur]

How much have people paid to have a sub fitted in the left storage cubby in the trunk (where the sirius tuner is located) ?

I was thinking of going that route too. I did something similar in the VW. Remove the plastic door and then mount an sub-frame minus the sub. Do all the wiring and mounting and sealing. Then plug in the sub and screw it to the secured frame which is bolted to the area with that stupid plastic thing. It took me friggin 2 hours to get that thing out of there! With that kind of set up, you only lose a little space. I am gonna use a JL low profile sub as well.

[Heratik]

Cubby sub box. I think it will also work for 2005+.

[datskat]

That is one hell of a price to pay to save some space.

[thisonefoo]

a stereo install in almost any car is pretty much the same. luckily, our cars have a sub, so it's pretty easy to tap into that rear sub line with a line-out converter (so now you have RCAs that can be controlled through the sub option on the factory head unit), and then you pretty much just need to run a power line from the battery to the trunk to power the amp. the rest is up to you to figure out how you want to set it all up.

Which lines we do tap into for the OEM sub from the LOC?

[Heratik]

so now you have RCAs that can be controlled through the sub option on the factory head unit

Sub option? Is that a feature of the bose head unit or symphony II+ head units?

[Such]

Hello all. Does anybody know how to remove the Bose sub from the B6 Avant?Cheers.

[Charles.waite]

Sledgehammer?

Despite the fact that you're posting int he b6 forum, luckily the b6 and b7 are the same on the inside.

[naiku]

Hello all. Does anybody know how to remove the Bose sub from the B6 Avant?Cheers.

Since it is most likely the same in the B7, remove the trim that runs along the bottom of the trunk/boot (4 torx screws, T20 or T25), remove cargo hooks from floor (2 x torx screws hold each down, think these are T30), remove screw that is towards the rear bottom corner of the window (for me it's a philips screw), then pull on the side trim panel, there are 3 or 4 clips holding it on in the B7, I find it easier to reach in behind a little and push with one hand while pulling with the other.

Once that is off, the whole sub box can be unbolted, unplugged and lifted out.

[PNW Avant]

Emphasis is on PULL. First time you get that cargo trim off, you'll think you broke it.

I recomment using a trim removal tool or similar. Excessive pulling from this outside may break one of the cargo trim clips.

[ABreeden]

Make sure it's a gain control knob and NOT a bass boost knob.

[tchuck]

Since it is most likely the same in the B7, remove the trim that runs along the bottom of the trunk/boot (4 torx screws, T20 or T25), remove cargo hooks from floor (2 x torx screws hold each down, think these are T30), remove screw that is towards the rear bottom corner of the window (for me it's a philips screw), then pull on the side trim panel, there are 3 or 4 clips holding it on in the B7, I find it easier to reach in behind a little and push with one hand while pulling with the other.

Once that is off, the whole sub box can be unbolted, unplugged and lifted out.

That's pretty much it. :thumbup:

SfmDRuT2

[naiku]

Emphasis is on PULL. First time you get that cargo trim off, you'll think you broke it.

This is so true, the first time I pulled that piece off in mine, I had climbed into the trunk to get more leverage, and when it popped free I fell back across the trunk, first thought was that I had broken it.

[esandes]

yes it does suck. what size is the stock sub?

[aluthman]

Necro bump! I believe the stock sub is 8".

[menace1930]

I would personally not recommend using a free air sub in the back deck. You will spend more time than its worth trying to spot all the rattles back there. I see that you are in Connecticut. I actually have a Pioneer sub that I mounted to the oem subwoofer housing that I planned on literally throwing out. You can have it for free if you come pick it up.

[menace1930]

[drumnjuny]

always wanted to upgrade the sub, never got around to it

[tchuck]

FYI, the avant woofer is a 6.5".