Junkyard Bose speaker

[LukeZ]

Hey all,

I just grabbed a small Bose sub from a junkyard today, and I was wondering if someone could give me some info on it (and subs in general, since I don't know too much about them).

Does this sub in particular have a built in amp? It has a large power and ground wire going into it, and it also has 3 smaller wires (the small red and black I assume are the speaker wires, and there is a third green wire that I have no idea about). Or do all subwoofer speakers have power going to them, regardless of a built in amp?

I couldn't find much online. The part is 28138AL500.

Thanks!

 

[fleming442]

Interesting... I would assume the larger gauge are power and ground, and as you suggested, input. The green is probably amp turn on.
If you can give me the make,model, and year of what you got it from, I can check on DirectTechs.
The problem you might run into is overdriving the input with a high power speaker lead. You might need a converter.

 

[Opie Knievel]

The way I understood things when I dealt with Bose stuff at the junkyard is that it's made to work as a system. The head unit (radio/cd player), speakers and sub are designed to work together.

A "regular" subwoofer needs an enclosure (box) and an amplifier to work. The head unit sends signal to the amplifier usually through RCA cables. Also, you'd need an amp with a crossover or an inline crossover to cut out the higher frequencies.

A common way to get a decent sound system is to buy an aftermarket head unit, RCA cables and an amplifier and power wires. You can reuse your factory speakers a lot of the time but replacing them with better components is recommended.

It is possible to add a subwoofer to a factory sound system with certain adapters that I can't think of the name of right now.

If you want to get into car audio I recommend doing some research. It's been over 10 years since I was heavily into it and I'm sure things have changed a bit in that time. Maybe somebody on here is more up to date.

 

[LukeZ]

I think it was out of a Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004. Thanks Fleming442!

Jeez, yea that kind of sucks that the Bose items aren't too useful just individually. I was thinking of maybe using it in a small homemade amp, or if I was lucky I'd like to use it in my car.

I put together a small amplifier a couple weekends ago using an LM386 op amp and some Infinity speakers I got from some Chryslers. I was hoping I could use the sub in a similar way.



I'll try and play around with it to see if I can get sound to come out lmao

 

[fleming442]

I forgot to add that, yes, Blows systems usually have built-in amps...

 

[Opie Knievel]

I think it was out of a Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004. Thanks Fleming442!

Jeez, yea that kind of sucks that the Bose items aren't too useful just individually. I was thinking of maybe using it in a small homemade amp, or if I was lucky I'd like to use it in my car.

I put together a small amplifier a couple weekends ago using an LM386 op amp and some Infinity speakers I got from some Chryslers. I was hoping I could use the sub in a similar way.

View attachment 84765 View attachment 84766

I'll try and play around with it to see if I can get sound to come out lmao

Give it a shot and see what you can get it to do. I'm definitely not an expert in audio systems.

 

[fleming442]

My log in isn't working- need to get on laptop...

 

[Ribbedroof]

My only experience with Bose stuff was in my Corvette. The Bose systems use low impedence speakers...maybe 1 ohm if I remember right. Which means, at least in the vette, when the head unit takes a dump, you get to replace all the speakers since they won't work with most any other system.

 

[TURNA]

The 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo with the Bose have a amped sub woofer under the passenger side rear seat. if that is what you are looking for

 

[Turbolq4]

No highs, no lows, absolutely blows?? Must be Bose.

They sound good at moderate levels when used inside of their proprietary system. It's a pretty fridge magnet.