Any Thoughts on a Direct Swap of Bose Sub for another Passive Spare Tire Subwoofer?

[Dreamz]

I could be wrong, but the Bose spare tire sub as supplied is not passive. What you point to with the ??? is the Bose sub Amp Model 297172-003P It’s 70W @ 1 ohm. The 2 speakers are 2 ohm, and I suspect in parallel to get 1 ohm.

There are discussions about the Bose sub on 370z, Infinity G37 owners sites and also on Reddit car AV forums. 370Z and Infinity owners have been dealing with these crappy Bose spare tire subwoofers for at least 15yrs. I replaced mine in a 2010 370Z. It looks to be exactly the same sub & amp in the RZ34. Why would they run it passively?

Here is the site for the pic you asked about:
https://www.whatsinside.info/bose-nissan-370z-subwoofer/

I think these are the correct harness functions for the 370Z Bose Sub - the wire colors may have changed on the RZ34:
OR 12v+
BLACK Power Gnd
BLUE Accessory
Yellow SP+
Purple Sp-

Obviously run a 10A fused 12v power directly from the battery (or suitable tap) and find a decent chassis ground for installing ANY aftermarket Sub or Amp.

View attachment 33459

2024 Performance Bose Premium appears to have a passive sub woofer. There is no enclosed amp and only four (4) signal wires in the plug; red, green, white, black.

 

[alienpoker]

Strange. My Bose harness as supplied stock in my 2025 Nismo is different from your picture above with 4 wires.

Upon checking my Nismo, mine has only 2 wires (green & white) for the signal - so I agree it can only be passive and has no internal amp.

I was only answering your question about what was in the picture you posted & pointing out it was the Sub supplied with many Bose systems in the 370Z over the years.

I have edited my previous post to remove the picture of the wire colors to avoid confusion.

BTW- the Bose Sub sounds better with a spare tire below. It’s suspended over plastic & foam inserts in the Stock installation, so the acoustics are terrible. That & ANC/ASE make it sound weedy. I’m not into loud music and mostly listen to Jazz or news stations in the car. So I’m not planning on changing my audio setup rn other than having installed a spare tire below it.

 

[Dreamz]

Strange. My Bose harness as supplied stock in my 2025 Nismo is different from your picture above with 4 wires.

Upon checking my Nismo, mine has only 2 wires (green & white) for the signal - so I agree it can only be passive and has no internal amp.

I was only answering your question about what was in the picture you posted & pointing out it was the Sub supplied with many Bose systems in the 370Z over the years.

I have edited my previous post to remove the picture of the wire colors to avoid confusion.

BTW- the Bose Sub sounds better with a spare tire below. It’s suspended over plastic & foam inserts in the Stock installation, so the acoustics are terrible. That & ANC/ASE make it sound weedy. I’m not into loud music and mostly listen to Jazz or news stations in the car. So I’m not planning on changing my audio setup rn other than having installed a spare tire below it.

Thanks for your reply; it brought me to investigate further by making me realize that different systems might bear the name Bose Premium; the pictures were quite useful . I still intend to replace my subwoofwer. Your comment about the space being filled with foam and detrimental to the woofer makes sense. I have seen another post where the whole trunk has been gutted out, sound proofed and carpeted. Amazing the space you gain! And it certainly leaves breathing space for that subwoofer.
I will proceed with the installation at Sping time (March 2026) as the car is currently stored away from snow. I intend to document the process and post then.

 

[alienpoker]

Thanks for your reply; it brought me to investigate further by making me realize that different systems might bear the name Bose Premium; the pictures were quite useful . I still intend to replace my subwoofwer. Your comment about the space being filled with foam and detrimental to the woofer makes sense. I have seen another post where the whole trunk has been gutted out, sound proofed and carpeted. Amazing the space you gain! And it certainly leaves breathing space for that subwoofer.
I will proceed with the installation at Sping time (March 2026) as the car is currently stored away from snow. I intend to document the process and post then.

Just a footnote: There’s just enough space under the rear strut bar to place the needed sub enclosure. But it means gutting the trunk foam and inserts as you mentioned. Placed there, it leaves you decent luggage space.

Nissan’s soundproofing of the rear under the hatch is abysmal. If you’re into audio, or just to cut down the exhaust drone, it has to be addressed. Also- make sure any sub enclosure is removable as the fuel tank access for the fuel pump and level senders for the ‘saddle tank’ are located in that forward area. Luckily there’s some great “how to” threads in the forum… it really depends on the amount of $$ and time you’re willing to spend.

 

[Moto_Rotty]

Ill be installing this in my nismo when it arrives.

https://www.rockvilleaudio.com/rock...hhG5WPWbFdhQ0wSCtgDZnNq6rC1ag_nH6w-nfhgMPCfZi

I can share my thoughts when its all done.

 

[Moto_Rotty]

Ill be installing this in my nismo when it arrives.

https://www.rockvilleaudio.com/rock...hhG5WPWbFdhQ0wSCtgDZnNq6rC1ag_nH6w-nfhgMPCfZi

I can share my thoughts when its all done.

Update on the install of this.
It is great. Only need to run the power line from the battery. Everything else you can connect in the trunk. I cut the wires from the bose sub to use the existing harness and needed to add a hi-low controller for it to work. It sounds great for the type of installation it is. I would recommend it for the value.

Possible problems
1) need to turn off ANC & ASC.
2) (Possible nismo problem) need to turn off the exhaust burble amplification. I dont know what it is called. I noticed it does that sound while in sport or sport+, when shifting in manual. Its awful with the sub. When I find out, I'll update the post.

 

[dyc1077]

I’m so close to installing one of these spare tire type subs. In anticipation of doing so, I have removed the trunk carpet, trims and foam. You can hear so much road noise without the foam and carpet. But what I also noticed is that with the foam and carpet removed, the Bose sound system sounds dare I say it, adequate! I may just opt to drive without the foam and carpet. I can actually feel the base even at volume level 18. Before there was no base whatsoever.

I am curious how the aftermarket powered spare tire subs sound without the foam and carpet. Overbearing?

 

[alienpoker]

Kilmat (or a good quality sound deadening product) is your friend. It stops the metal (sides, hatch) resonating so much. Carpet and dense foam is better for road noise reduction. I added a stock spare tire… under the sub. Didn’t like the ‘flat kit’ and it makes the sub sound better to me.

 

[Moto_Rotty]

I’m so close to installing one of these spare tire type subs. In anticipation of doing so, I have removed the trunk carpet, trims and foam. You can hear so much road noise without the foam and carpet. But what I also noticed is that with the foam and carpet removed, the Bose sound system sounds dare I say it, adequate! I may just opt to drive without the foam and carpet. I can actually feel the base even at volume level 18. Before there was no base whatsoever.

I am curious how the aftermarket powered spare tire subs sound without the foam and carpet. Overbearing?

The Ghost has a good controller that does a good job of managing balance so its not overbearing. Took a few days to dial in but I think I got it in a good spot now. You can definitely dial that one in for a carpetless install.

 

[Nuthin]

Is there an adapeter for a subwoofer to plug into the atomatic seat adjustment power source? It would provide and easier way to get power to the back subwoofer. This exists for Toyotas.

 

[alienpoker]

Is there an adapeter for a subwoofer to plug into the atomatic seat adjustment power source? It would provide and easier way to get power to the back subwoofer. This exists for Toyotas.

Some people reported plugs that do have power, even though I believe the Stock Sub is passive. See pics above - I suspect that Red/Black are Acc & Gnd while Green/White are signal. On my Nismo it doesn’t have power. Weird they changed it- maybe different infotainment systems have different setups.

 

[Imperial]

Curious if swapping the factory sub for a powered older version would be any improvement if you could make it work somehow.

 

[KnightRiderz]

Ok I have been looking to do a budget upgrade and I have one question. I am looking at the Kicker down facing powered sub. If I get the OWC plug and play kit first which one would I need? second would this type of setup work? Looking for ideas. I am a noob when it comes to this stuff. Thank you