OK. I just took delivery of my '04 G35 Sedan with Bose. I love the car (it's a bone-stock rocket), but the sound system is so-so at best. It's loud (ish) but the bass is flabby and muddy and there's no crispness to the highs. I've never been a fan of Bose sound of any sort, so some upgrades are necessary. I own an Infinity powered sub that I need to integrate and I want to install XM, Bluetooth and an iPod controller. My question for today is this. A regular Pioneer XM receiver runs about $69. The Infiniti/Nissan XM unit is like $290. Do I have to buy the "factory" unit or can the Pioneer be integrated into the factory head unit?

Also, can I just swap out the Bose tweeters?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Only the OEM tuner will integrate into the HU. Any other tuner will not be controlled by the HU.

Swap out the entire Bose system, not just the tweeters.

 

Thanks for that, it makes sense. I saw in another thread that the Bose HU puts out a flat, line level signal, with the amp in the Bose system adding fairly heavy EQ. Is that your understanding? Typical Bose weirdness if it's true. If that info is correct, I guess I can just find the input feed for the amp and the speaker lines there and replace the amp and speakers fairly easily. Is that what you did (if you did it)?
Lastly, if you go fairly upmarket and buy two good component pairs of 6.5" speakers, do you know if there is room in the doors for the cross-overs? I'm trying to find a way to leave the interior as intact as possible while getting the sound I want.
Thanks again for the info you already gave me and to everyone who created and contributes to this really helpful site.

 

I saw in another thread that the Bose HU puts out a flat, line level signal, with the amp in the Bose system adding fairly heavy EQ. Is that your understanding?

That is my understanding and observation and one reason why the Bose amp should be replaced to achieve better sound.

I guess I can just find the input feed for the amp and the speaker lines there and replace the amp and speakers fairly easily. Is that what you did (if you did it)?

Yes. I did that with my sedan. Only the HU is OEM. In my coupe, nothing is OEM with the audio system. See the sticky at the top of the audio forum about adding a sub to your Bose system.

Lastly, if you go fairly upmarket and buy two good component pairs of 6.5" speakers, do you know if there is room in the doors for the cross-overs?

If you buy one pair of component speakers for the front door, there is room for the crossover in the door. If you were intending to buy components for the rear, coaxials do just fine.