How to hack Bose Companion 5

This is a small video witch show you how to hack your Bose Companion 5 speakers for non USB purposes.
Bose stay on, sleep mode, TV speakers, stay active

[@Akenrha]

Thank you for sharing this ! I ordered the same Panasonic relay and decided to do it on my Companion 5 to be able to use it with my tv. I would have not done it without your video, so thumbs up and huge thanks !

[@leighgate2]

I’m using them on my tv too. They sit right next to my RCN ARRIS router which has 2 USB ports on back. I’ve plugged it into one of the ports and the light stays green even when tv is off. Haven’t had any problems so far.

[@zxc1423m]

My bose companion 3 series 11 problem when full blast the bass. The sound go out and no more sound anymore . Your method able to solve this problem.

[@carlomontenegro1238]

I have companion 5 with broken pods.. how can i bypass the ON switch of the controller to keep it open .. thanks

[@johnjagtiani2097]

Hi - very formative video and comments. I have the same system, but I do not have the control pod. what is the easiest way to bypass need of the control pod all together if all I am doing is connecting to computer through USB (I can control volume on computer I suppose). Would like to bypass control pod plug in , keep fully on and full volume at all times and control through USB. any help appreciated!

[@carlomontenegro1238]

Bro i have the same problem as yours .. i have broken volume controller pod, what did you do to keep it On and in max volume to maximize the sound ..

[@martinlucero9594]

EXCELENT VIDEO!! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR INFORMATION!!!

[@Woermelon_cat]

FYI, Skip all that and plug the usb and the aux into the TV. Works No problem for 3 years so far so good. I have the Samsung 2015 65inch 1080p base model.

[@scottlawes2632]

Sonder do you have a pain lay out of the control input ? I want to do this mod but also put a headphone jack out of the back as well so all cables can be hidden Thanks

[@scottlawes2632]

Pin**

[@coopo95]

Comments are where the true answers lie, Thank you!

[@raghav1604]

what if i just short 1 and 4 , will it always stay on when i switch on the power?

[@FiveStonesChurchWaxhaw]

I tried this and got no sound from the system and the lights on the control pod was not on. I took the wire connecting 1 & 4 off and it worked again, so think I will try the Apple device... want to have the speakers on all the time. Thanks.

[@Eliafant]

Hi, there is an even better and simpler solution: just use an USB-Isolator (ground-lift) for USB devices, like for example the CesysC028149 USB-Isolator. Plug it between your USB-Port of your PC and the Bose and then the sleepmode does not auto-activate all the time when using the AUX-Input of the volume control pod. I do not know if it works with the 5V USB Power Supply though . It also reduces hum and noises form the USB-connection and the pod can still be muted by touching it. And there is not need to open and modify the speakers.

[@luc2yj]

What does the isolator do? Can you elaborate on how it works a bit?

[@stanblakey9669]

Works amazing! Thanks for your explanation.

[@YuchiR01]

Hello Would you please make a video make bose companion 5 work without control pod? I try many way but not success ( cut control pod cord and connect 1 2 7 ( red green gray)) … Btw any help with dual bass ? Thanks

[@torbenfunch9937]

Hi Sorry but don't have a clue how to make them work without the control pod. Best regards.

[@YuchiR01]

@@torbenfunch9937 ok thanks your reply, how do you think about mod with dual bass?

[@kold3d]

Do you happen to have the wiring diagram for the pod/control connector? seems like mine is finally giving up the ghost and am not able to get it to work. Jiggling the wire in the back gets it to come on briefly, but it is now a hit or miss. The connector seems like a 10 pin molex, that I can find easily. If you happen to have a wiring diagram or a color match scheme for the pins, I can cut the wire and solder the wires to the new connector. Please let me know. Thank you in advance for your help. Cheers.

[@torbenfunch9937]

Sorry I don't have any diagram...

[@kold3d]

@@torbenfunch9937 No worries. I did the whole unplug and plug back in sequence and it seems to work again =) If I need to rebuild the connector, I'll just take it apart and check I guess. I can't find the wire order anywhere. Cheers.

[@jjss65]

I can share the connection diagram (J5) Pin 1 - Mute, 2- RMTGND, 3-BOSELINK, 4-VOLUME,5-SENSOR, 6-AUXRIGHT, 7-AUXLEFT, 8-HPRight, 9HPLeft, 10-+10V . What Mr.Torgen Funch is saying PIN 1&2 short together when USB power removed and 2&5 short when USB power in. My companion 5 is not working since 2017, I am not getting +26 volt at Vsnub, Transformer output is getting 17VAc. I don't know whether Q10 MFET , or C48 capacitor issue , control pod green light and the amber light both lights are working OK . But no Sound...........

[@yanng3790]

@@jjss65 Q10 IS DEFECTIVE I changed it recently and the sound came back also check c48 if it is at the right value with a multimeter

[@schneidersn]

Is it somehow possible to modify the speakers so they wake up from sleep mode when the aux-signal starts again?

[@torbenfunch9937]

If you find a way then please post! I couldn't so that why I did it this way...

[@captaincool2077]

Sir i don't have control pod of bose companion 5 how do i bypass please help me

[@cordobato1]

Sir, would it be possible to connect two Companion 5 devices to the same PC? With an adapter, if there is such an adapter. Or in another way. Thank you.

[@torbenfunch9937]

Yes just get a Y jack splitter!

[@maximilianorandolph]

Hi buddy ...is posible conect to my galaxy ultra usb-c with usb port pc???

[@torbenfunch9937]

Hi I have no clue? I guess you willbe able to if you get an adaptor.

[@pabsgabs]

Good work! Thanks for sharing.

[@sonyindy]

Do you get weird feedback running through the speakers when your not playing audio?

[@torbenfunch9937]

Jorge Hernandez There is a little bit of white noise but that's it! I have ordered a ground noise filter for 3.5mm jack in AliExpress but I haven't received it yet, but I hope it gets it...

[@sonyindy]

Torben Funch have you thought of using a solid state switch relay? I get a very noticeable white noise tone. Solid state does not have any electromagnetic or moving parts!

[@torbenfunch9937]

Jorge Hernandez no I haven't thought about it. It is not a big problem, only if the volume on the controlpod is turned up very high. I will give feedback on the ground noise filter as soon as I get it!

[@luc2yj]

@@torbenfunch9937 Have you tried it?

[@meukrainian7]

Also had a question, how would it work if my control pod doesn't work at all. no light or power. Is there a way around it. Also im using the speakers for a pc. Thanks.

[@torbenfunch9937]

meukrainian7 Hi I guess it would work but I'm not sure?

[@ion_q]

All of a sudden, when ever i plug AUX into headphone jack on the bose control knob, it goes orange & refuses to output to my mixer / or headphones?!?!?

[@drlecter902]

You can convert your bose into a Bluetooth speaker. Lots of bluetooth device on line and eBay

[@isharaudayantha6386]

Can you guys pls tell me how to connect volume control bose 5

[@nathanielpestano1165]

my companion 5 have a problem coz i input into wrong power in 220power and now its nothing..what am i do this? pls help

[@advancedmonkey7702]

Open it up and looking for burn marks then try to replace the overload part.

[@kusubudo]

Short SENSOR pin (3.3V) and RMTGND pin to generate a softstart to reset USB controller to wake up system.

[@mvfernando]

Wich is the pin of RMTGND and which one is the sensor?

[@david.pitzler]

​@@mvfernando I just looked in the circuit diagram. And it seems its pins 6 and 9, if you look from the back at the connectors and count top-left=1 bottom-right=10. But I cant confirm if this works, since I dont have any jumper cables on hand.

[@jujudroidkoille6563]

Used your howto to power ON my device when I close relay connected on AC with Sonoff Basic. Just connected PIN 1 and 4 ( from right schema ) togather and it work perfect. Just little problem, I cannot control volume, it's locked " full " but I don't care I use my HTPC's volume to control it :) thank you very much !

[@carlomontenegro1238]

What did you do to make it work again.. i have broken pods how can i bypass the power ON to keep it open .. thanks

[@Andrejscharman]

What do you do if the control pod broke. Can you Share a video on the topic

[@torbenfunch9937]

I don't know how to fix the control pod, but I guess my solution would work even if the pod is defective.

[@krish8216]

How can I connect my pen drive loaded with music to play with bose companion5.

[@ashu4911r]

how can i extent the speakers wire

[@torbenfunch9937]

Just cut them and add wire in between! That's how I did.

[@pedrovelazquez6166]

Add a diode to the coil of the relay

[@torbenfunch9937]

To prevent the white noise?

[@pedrovelazquez6166]

@@torbenfunch9937 to prevent backwards current from the coil

[@ZorroDaddy]

Bose Companion 5 speakers really Sucks, paid $500 for something that works 'sometimes", and all what BOSE tells you, Oh, reset system, shut off pc, and unplug, they should have put it as ; How to use Bose Bose Companion 5 speakers and Bose Companion 3 speakers, This Pod is defective for both of my Bose 3, and the 5.

[@mgonzi]

Did it it works

[@mgonzi]

Thanks

[@torbenfunch9937]

Yes it works!

[@ZorroDaddy]

Bose Companion 5 speakers really Sucks, paid $500 for something that works 'sometimes", and all what BOSE tells you, Oh, reset system, shut off pc, and unplug, they should have put it as ; How to use Bose Bose Companion 5 speakers and Bose Companion 3 speakers, This Pod is defective for both of my Bose 3, and the 5.

[@ZorroDaddy]

Bose Companion 5 speakers really Sucks, paid $500 for something that works 'sometimes", and all what BOSE tells you, Oh, reset system, shut off pc, and unplug, they should have put it as ; How to use Bose Bose Companion 5 speakers and Bose Companion 3 speakers, This Pod is defective for both of my Bose 3, and the 5.

[@ZorroDaddy]

Bose Companion 5 speakers really Sucks, paid $500 for something that works 'sometimes", and all what BOSE tells you, Oh, reset system, shut off pc, and unplug, they should have put it as ; How to use Bose Bose Companion 5 speakers and Bose Companion 3 speakers, This Pod is defective for both of my Bose 3, and the 5.