Bose Aux Jack Mod

[hiptech]

I don't mean to mislead anyone that I did this on my own though I did do the audio hardware removal and install. When I had some trouble a few years ago with the vacuum florescent display and volume crackle I located someone in Texas who specializes in repairing these systems.

The company Willman's Electronics is the last of a dying breed of repair centers who still specialize in fixing these Bose head units. He not only repaired all my issues but later when my power amp failed he managed to find one of the few remaining new units out there.

I think the best fix he did for me was attaching a direct aux input jack for me. I still haven't drilled any holes to mount it but it has definitely modernized the system and brought the 93SE into the 21st century... I've even looked at several Bluetooth adapters that plug into the aux jack to further modernize it.

I hope this info and pics may help someone.

[Vermonter]

This write up is for an RSX Bose system, but I bet it's the exact same process your guy used to make the aux input;

http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=547118

Hope this helps anyone looking to do it themselves.
Thanks for this post, it has inspired me to look for a Bose unit to match my door speakers.
Cheers.

[cp[mike]]

this is great! I recently was researching this same mod, ends up it requires a headunit that has either a tape deck or a CD drive. Do you need to keep a tape loaded up in order for it to play?

since I have a stock AM/FM radio only (no tape or CD add-ons) I ended up going with the following solution (a good alternative to your modded unit): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004613FCE/

[hiptech]

this is great! I recently was researching this same mod, ends up it requires a headunit that has either a tape deck or a CD drive. Do you need to keep a tape loaded up in order for it to play?

since I have a stock AM/FM radio only (no tape or CD add-ons) I ended up going with the following solution (a good alternative to your modded unit): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004613FCE/

Actually I haven't used tape in years so I can't answer that one. But I can tell you if the radio is selected it auto-switches to my phone or ipod. But if the CD changer is playing it won't auto-switch. Even my CDs are getting too little love anymore.

As for your alternative solution I recall looking at similar devices to yours. Unfortunately when a car gets this old there aren't too many options especially with the Bose head unit.

Even my '04 TSX doesn't have an aux jack but luckily I found a USASpec interface at the time for my vintage iPod 7G Video. The good part is has 2 RCA inputs that accept an RCA to Aux Y-cable which I still need to hook-up someday.

The problem with USASpec products is they only go back to '94 for the Accords. But they might work with the standard (Non-Bose) head units. I've called them on several occasions and their tech support is pretty good. So they may be worth a call.

http://www.usaspec.com/

In the end I lucked out with Willman's since he already had the unit anyway and was capable of adding the aux jack as a direct connection.

BTW, after looking at your cashmere coupe I bet it would make a great calendar pic side by side with my sedan let me know if you ever plan to drive it down to AZ

[cp[mike]]

Actually I haven't used tape in years so I can't answer that one. But I can tell you if the radio is selected it auto-switches to my phone or ipod. But if the CD changer is playing it won't auto-switch. Even my CDs are getting too little love anymore.

So it sounds like the Aux-input overrides the radio, rather than the tape. That's what I wished I could do to mine - perhaps it would have been possible had I traced out the circuit and cut some traces, but for $60, at a certain point adding a module ends up being more appealing. Sounds like your guy knew what he was doing, and that is definitely the best, simplest way to go!

As for your alternative solution I recall looking at similar devices to yours. Unfortunately when a car gets this old there aren't too many options especially with the Bose head unit.

Even my '04 TSX doesn't have an aux jack but luckily I found a USASpec interface at the time for my vintage iPod 7G Video. The good part is has 2 RCA inputs that accept an RCA to Aux Y-cable which I still need to hook-up someday.

The problem with USASpec products is they only go back to '94 for the Accords. But they might work with the standard (Non-Bose) head units. I've called them on several occasions and their tech support is pretty good. So they may be worth a call.

I've used USA-spec units in the past, for my family member's cars. They work nicely if the headunit has connections on the back for inputs/external modules like cd changers. The USA-Spec units typically hijack this clean method of inputting audio. The iSimple RF device i used actually gets inserted inline with the Antenna wire, similar to an RF transmitter, except this one is not suspeptible to outside signals. It basically disconnects the stock antenna when it wants to take over.

I suspect those USA-spec units might not be offered for our year cars because our headunits didn't have a rear upgrade jack for an external tape/cd deck. At that point you could probably get a stock headunit from a newer Accord just to get the newer style of connectors, so you can use the USA-spec unit.

I assume there is, or at least was at some point, a way of tapping an audio feed into that round 5-pin Equalizer jack on the stock CB7 headunits (since that one jack has audio feed in AND out), but I don't think that is common enough to exist as an available product anymore.

BTW, after looking at your cashmere coupe I bet it would make a great calendar pic side by side with my sedan let me know if you ever plan to drive it down to AZ

I bought it from Phoenix!

I would like to drive it down there someday but I feel like at this point for that length of road trip I would more likely take my camper van so I can hang out and go sight seeing.

yours looks SUPER clean. Why are cars down there so shiny?

[hiptech]

Why are cars down there so shiny?

Simple... no salt and less rain (mostly) but this gets over-ridden during the summer monsoon season when there is an abundance of blowing dust

[SEgirl]

I had an SE once that had the original Bose head unit, but did not have the CD changer in the trunk. I did buy a USA spec unit and plugged into the back of the head unit where the CD changer was supposed to go, so was able to use an ipod with the old head unit with no problem.