99 Pontiac GP Bose System

metload1 · 03-18-06, 07:33

Hey,

I looked all over, and I can't find any info on the Bose system that comes with the 99 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP.

Does anyone know any specs to this thing? A site with a good description? A model number?

I'm really turned off by Bose, not only do they abandon their products (no info for the version of their sound system on the 99 GP at bose.com) and almost no bass in the system I got... Don't get me wrong, the mid ranges and tweeters are really nice. Crisp, clear, clean, and I've had them REAL loud and have yet to hear distortion, but no bass? Come on. I wish Paradigm did more with car audio.

Hopefully someone has some info... I sure don't.

Thanks!

Setec Astronomy · 03-18-06, 07:58

If you can't find any info, don't blame Bose. These systems are OEM only (AFAIK), and I wouldn't expect the Bose website to have any info since they don't sell or support them. The info you want might be in the Pontiac shop manual, or you can try emailing Pontiac, or getting cozy with the service/parts dept. at your local dealer. Also, there is likely some forum which someone on here may know about where they discuss this equipment.

metload1 · 03-18-06, 09:07

Actually, at the Bose site, they have a little thing where you can look through the different makes of cars that have come with Bose sound systems, and get info on them, however, my car is not in there. They have other makes and models of older cars, but I didn't find the Grand Prix anywhere. I feel that if they are going to give info on something, give all the info... but I guess some is way better that none.

But those are good ideas that you mentioned. Maybe I'll talk to someone at Pontiac, I'm sure that they still know about that sound system, because there should be plenty of used 99 GPs floating around at the dealerships. It was funny, but I noticed that Pontiac switched from Bose to Blaupunkt. Maybe too many complaints about what the Bose system was lacking.

Joshua312 · 03-19-06, 04:00

99 gtp owner here...got any pictures? I started a thread just like this about 2 months ago. I just gave up on my idea about switching everything out, decided to live with the sound for now and purchase something different. Good to see another gtp here

ZeusCGP · 03-19-06, 08:23

I have to leave soon, but I'll give you a quick run down.
Your system has 5.25" in the doors with .75" tweeters (I have to double check that). In the rear you have 2 4" and 2 6"x9"s.
The reason the bass is low is that the HU comes with a feature that lowers the bass output as you raise the volume to protect the speakers.
Now your easiest option is to replace your Bose HU with the non-Bose (ACDelco HU) which comes with equalizer sliders. This will get rid of that bass lowing 'feature'.
You next option is to add a sub/amp combo to the stock Bose system. This is what I did two years ago. The bass output was much better. But after a few months I just got new front speakers and a new HU.

So what exactly are you looking for in your car audio wise?

A helpful wiring guide.

ZeusCGP · 03-19-06, 08:30

Just with the sub (TypeS) and amp (M350).

Then I got a HU (9833) and speakers (5000cs). Let the stock speakers alone and didnt even hook them up. The sub takes car of sound from the rear.

Then I got a better mounting kit.

Upgraded the power wire.

Dynamat on the doors and in the trunk.

metload1 · 03-19-06, 04:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua312

99 gtp owner here...got any pictures? I started a thread just like this about 2 months ago. I just gave up on my idea about switching everything out, decided to live with the sound for now and purchase something different. Good to see another gtp here

I found a site that showed how to take the dash off the GP so you can put in a new radio, and I think that's the first thing I'm gonna do. Yeah, I like seeing people with GP's on this forum too. I wanna start doing some stuff to make my GP unique, hopefully I'll have the money this summer. There is another guy on this forum named Luster that did a great job on his engine compartment, check out his pics.

ZeusCGP

Thanks for the advice, I'm most likely going to get a new HU. As far as what I want for audio in my car... The quality of the mid-ranges and tweeters that came with the car sound pretty good, I'm just desperately needing some bass! It doesn't need to be horribly loud or anything, but loud, and most importantly, accurate. There are CDs that sound so bad without the bass that I don't even play them in my car. Now what I'm wondering, did Bose put those safeties on my setup because the woofers are cheap and will blow if I get them up too high? If they can't go any higher then they do now without risking a blow, then I'm defienently getting a new woofer setup. I see that you have a nice looking setup going, how do you like it? How does it sound? I was wondering some stuff...

Have you ever noticed how a lot of people get woofers that are really, really powerful, like 2x 12-inch 1000 watt setups (2000 watts overall), and when they turn them up, all you hear is nasty, inaccurate noise, that doesn't even sound like bass, almost as if your ears can't pick up most of what it's putting out? It's like it's loud... but you can't hear it, yet you walk away with pain in your ears. How do you avoid that? I have an set of Paradigm speakers in my basement for working out. Two 100 watt sattellites (mid-range and tweeter), and one 100 watt woofer (I'm pretty sure the 100 watt rating is RMS, not max). I also have a nice Denon amp, this system is probably about 8 years old now. It is so loud I can't bear to get it more than half way up... and it sounds good, really good. I've never been able to get it to the point where it distorts. The bass is LOUD, it'll shake the crap outta my staircase, and the celing, and I can hear it, as well as feel it. Yet with 2000 watts of woofers in a car, I can't hear anything but noise. I've even heard better bass from my I-Trigue 3500 setup on my computer than in a lot of cars. Why is this? One thing I know that is a problem, is that not all enlosures are made correctly. A lot of math is involved in making a good speaker box, to figure out the size, shape, and port placements. But other than that, what is wrong? Is there some common mistake that a lot of people make with woofers? How about your system, sound good? It seems like you put a decent amout of work into it. You sound like you know this stuff pretty well. Also, can you make any good recomendations on head units?

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it.

ZeusCGP · 03-20-06, 04:54

That feature there so when you can make it really loud you wont get any clipping.

You know about audio, excellent, make explaining easier

Just swapping out the Bose HU posses a slight problem in that the Bose system is assumed to operate at 3Ohms. Most aftermarket equipment runs at 4Ohms. The choice is really yours if you want to keep the stock speakers with an aftermarket HU. But I would rather not chance anything breaking.
Also it's not quite a plug and play thing. When swapping in an aftermarket HU you will loss the steering wheel controls, OnStar, and the radiostation/cd on the HeadsUpDisplay. The steering wheel controls you can get back if you install an adapter (like a PAC-X). When I say you loss OnStar I mean you loss the ability to hear or speak to them (they can still track your car). You can get this feature back by gettin an adapter. There is no adapter to get back the radiostation/cd track on the HUD. Also remember the amp is in the trunk. So you can't (well shouldn't) send a amplified signal to it; it would be better to run new wires from the new HU right to the speakers.

If you are happy with the system and your just looking for more bass, I suggest checking a junkyard or ebay for an AC Delco HU off any GrandPrix from 97-03. You won't loss the steering wheel controls, onstar, or HUD this way. If you wanted a little more you could swap the rear 4" speaker wires to the 6x9's (this way the 6x9 are getting a full range signal). If you wanted a little more you could skip the wire swap and get a selfcontained sub (like an Infinity Basslink).

If you want to have the ability to play mp3 cd's, and keep the car for a while, go for the aftermarket HU. Just go browsing on www.crutchfield.com and look at a bunch of HU's (I'm not saying buy there, but they have lots of products specs). Alpine, Eclipse, Pioneer are all good brands.

Krautfed 03 · 03-20-06, 05:52

Here is my 1998 Daytona 500 Pace Car. Traded in in 2003 for my 1st Audi. Car only had 18,000 miles on it in 5 years!!

For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to actually have my pictures show up!!

Krautfed 03 · 03-20-06, 05:55

Here are some more.

metload1 · 03-20-06, 03:42

krautfed 03 nice car! I like what you did with the engine compartment.

ZeusCGP

Wow, there's a lot more to consider than I thought... I was wondering, how come you can't run th HU right to the amp in the trunk? There must be something I'm not thinking of.

I don't have Onstar, so I won't have to worry about that, also, I've noticed that some HUs have a port on the back for steering wheel controls, do I still need the adapter? Or can I just get a HU with that built in? A couple other reasons I want a new HU is because I want to use my iPod without having to buy expensive adapters, or low quality FM transmitters. There are also a few things that I don't like about the AC Delco one I have, such as the volume button problem, and the CD player skips a lot, unlike the aftermarket HU I have in my Honda.

So there are a few things that having a new HU would help me with, so, if I do get one... am I looking at a total revamp? If yes, what are the best brands when talking the world of car audio?

Thanks!! I appreciate it.

I'm so glad I posted here before trying this on my own.

ZeusCGP · 04-02-06, 03:26

Quote:

Wow, there's a lot more to consider than I thought... I was wondering, how come you can't run th HU right to the amp in the trunk? There must be something I'm not thinking of.

You could, but you'd have to make sure it was not an amplied signal (easy option in the HU, internal amp off). If not than the Bose amp would be amplifying an amplified signal (one click up on the volume would make things a lot louder). The real reason you wouldn't want to is whatever internal amp the new HU has, it will probably be better than the Bose external amp. I think the Bose amp puts out 14watts per channel.

Quote:

I don't have Onstar, so I won't have to worry about that, also, I've noticed that some HUs have a port on the back for steering wheel controls, do I still need the adapter? Or can I just get a HU with that built in?

No you don't need the adapter if the HU comes with the steering wheel interface input. The hard part is finding good a HU with an input (all the adapter does is read what button your pressing on the wheel, and then send a signal to the IR sensor on the HU. So all it does is act like a remote for the HU. But it's nice cause you can customize the buttons. Like I made by 'mute' button the power button.

Quote:

A couple other reasons I want a new HU is because I want to use my iPod without having to buy expensive adapters, or low quality FM transmitters.

That's a good reason to get an aftermarket.

Quote:

So there are a few things that having a new HU would help me with, so, if I do get one... am I looking at a total revamp? If yes, what are the best brands when talking the world of car audio?

No you don't have to do a total revamp. It doesnt seem like your asking for too much. A new HU should suite you just fine. As for which brand... I pretty much just know Alpines. Go to www.crutchfield.com and look through some HU. Alpine, Eclipes, Kenwood, Panasonic and all good.
If you start modding your engine I can help you with that more