I'm researching the same issue, Spartan. I want to keep the Bose unit, steering controls, blutooth, etc. but replace the speakers and subs. Using the info BigAudio offered, I found this article about factory sound processors that helped me understand (I'm pretty clueless with audio): Factory Sound Processors... they'll upgrade your sound and let you keep your factory stereo.

Basically says the same stuff that BigAudio was saying with some product recommendations... they also mention the MTX Re-Q.

I'm sorta thinking along the same lines. Keeping the head unit, and replace amp and speakers, adding in a JL 500/5 and a sub. I'm not sure I understand the difference between the MTX re-Q and the cleansweep. It looks like the MTX is just going to balance the levels and provide a good sub signal, and the cleansweep does that with some EQ.

JL clean sweep used for speaker amp on the bose system

MTX Re-Q used for the sub amp on the bose system you need both.

Confused. There is a plug for an iPod on the Bose unit already, no? There's one on mine!

:ugh2:

Did some more reading on these. Does the stock Bose head unit have a 5 channel output, or just 4?

It seems the proper way to set this up is to plug the head unit into the Re-Q, with the sub output going to the sub amp, the 4 line level then into the clean sweep, and the output of that to the speaker amp. Right?

It would be nice if the clean sweep also provided the function of the Re-Q, creating a proper sub signal.

Also, is there going to be a big drop off in sound quality by using the head unit volume control, rather than the clean sweep master volume control? One of the reasons for keeping the stock head unit is to have all the controls and such work like stock. I was hoping to get a Z with the touring options and NAV, hard drive and so on.

The bose has 5 outputs 4 for speakers but you only will need 2 for the front speakers and a sub out or low freq output.

The sub output should go threw a re-q because if not the output from the head unit will vary as your turn up the volume because of the possessor built in for alternating the frequency's.

You will not have drop off IF you install the jl and re-q. If you do not and just install the amps and run the wires from the bose to tha amps it will alternate every time you turn up the volume.

Trust me their really is no easier way than either to install them or rip everything out and start fresh. Also even if you pull your still out and install new you can have an aux input and control your head unit using the pac control box.

So you reccomend only using 6.5 components in the front, and a sub? Are there no rear speakers in the Z?

Wish there was somebody like you in Dallas. I'd just drop off the car and a check and not have to worry about this stuff.

LOL I know what you mean.:tup:

But the bose system does have rear speakers do I recommend using them NO. Nor to replace them. I mean you could but their so small that they really do not need to be their. Nor do they need to be their in the first place.

370zsteve:
If you have navigation, you'll have an Ipod jack. If you don't have nav, you don't have one.

I am still not sure one would need both an re-q and a clean sweep when thinking about keeping the stock head unit. Wouldnt we only need the re-q for both the bass response as well as the line live to pre amp outputs??

Not sure why you'd use 2 units, why not just use the re q5. it works very well and gives you all outputs you need.

yea... thats what i was thinking. But earlier in the thread, people were saying you should use both.

edit: Oh the r-eq and r-eq5 are different. Is this why we only need the r-eq5?

right, the re q5 will give you all outputs you need instead of just a subwoofer output. Also significantly cheaper than the CleanSweep

Look in the classifieds on this site! There is a guy selling a custom enclosure that fits in the spare tire that has a Jl Audio 8" sub in it. Then use your PG M-50 (great amp BTW) and an Audio control Epicenter or MTX r-eq plus the lineout converter I suggested and you have a nice, cost efffective solution.

The biggest difference from the re-q5 and the JL clean sweep is that the JL can do the cleaning of the signal a lot better than the re-q5 THAT us why a lot of people including myself recommend the re-q for the bass signal and the jl for the mids and highs or fronts. You can use the re-q5 but that is up to you. It might be cheaper but the prepossessing is not as good. This is probably one of the very few times that I recommend JL over something else.