I have a crewcab with a factory Bose system in it...has anybody switched over to the LUX AMP and ALSO added an aftermarket head unit and speakers?

I'm going with a Nav/DVD unit soon and want to replace the crappy factory speakers, but I want to keep the door chimes and OnStar functions with it. I like the OEM look and function. Everything I've read so far say the LUX AMP is a big upgrade over what the Chevrolets came with. Does this sound like a good idea? Any thoughts or experiences?

the lux amp will NOT work with any aftermarket radio.

the lux amp is part of the oem head unit if im not mistaken

Oh snap. Now I have some thinking to do. Thanks for the info.

the increase of the aftermarket hus output will liven up even stock speakers

as for door chimes and onstar they have nothing to do with the amp or anything like that you will have to get a 80 dollar harness for the aftermarket head unit which you would need either way just need to make sure to get the bose and onstar ones.

Ah, ok. I was under the impression I had to retain the use of the factory Amp to keep the factory stuff. I re-read the sticky and it looks like the PAC-0S-2 should work to have a Kenwood power aftermarket speakers and still keep door chimes, RAP and OnStar. Am I on the right track? Thanks for the direction, I read a lot of posts and couldn't get a clear answer even though it was on the sticky:cool:

the lux amp is part of the oem head unit if im not mistaken

no its not. Its a separate amp from the head unit. But its a "smart" amp, it talks on the databus and must have communications with the stock head unit in order to work at all.

The audio signals coming from the radio are at a fixed low level. The volume is varied INSIDE the amp. When you turn the volume knob on the radio, it doesnt change anything in the radio...it just sends a data signal to the amp that says "hey, make it louder".

same thing with bass, treble, fader/balance, midrange, and DSP stuff...it ALL happens in the amp itself, with the radio instructing it what to do (what the driver wants) via a class 2 data signal.

ben

no its not. Its a separate amp from the head unit. But its a "smart" amp, it talks on the databus and must have communications with the stock head unit in order to work at all.

The audio signals coming from the radio are at a fixed low level. The volume is varied INSIDE the amp. When you turn the volume knob on the radio, it doesnt change anything in the radio...it just sends a data signal to the amp that says "hey, make it louder".

same thing with bass, treble, fader/balance, midrange, and DSP stuff...it ALL happens in the amp itself, with the radio instructing it what to do (what the driver wants) via a class 2 data signal.

ben

oh ok i wasnt sure on that

Ah, ok. I was under the impression I had to retain the use of the factory Amp to keep the factory stuff. I re-read the sticky and it looks like the PAC-0S-2 should work to have a Kenwood power aftermarket speakers and still keep door chimes, RAP and OnStar. Am I on the right track? Thanks for the direction, I read a lot of posts and couldn't get a clear answer even though it was on the sticky:cool:

i believe thats the one