Menu
Forum
What's new
New posts
Live Activity
Search forums
Members
Registered members
Classifieds Member Feedback
Car Audio Discussion
General Car Audio
Car Audio Build Logs
Car Audio Equipment
Subwoofers
Speakers
Amplifiers
Head Units
Car Audio Help
Wiring, Electrical and Installation
Enclosure Design & Construction
Car Audio Classifieds
Car Audio Classifieds
Car Audio Wanted
Classifieds Member Feedback
Gallery
New media
New comments
Search media
SHOP
Shop Head Units
Shop Amplifiers
Shop Speakers
Shop Subwoofers
Shop eBay Car Audio
Log in / Join
Test
Forum
Search
Search titles only
Search titles only
Log in / Join
Search
Search titles only
Search titles only
What's new
New posts
Live Activity
Search forums
Members
Registered members
Classifieds Member Feedback
Menu
Reply to thread
Forum
Car Audio Discussion
General Car Audio
2008 350Z - Budget install - need ideas.
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Chromatic" data-source="post: 8208929" data-attributes="member: 659121"><p>Thanks for the replies..</p><p></p><p>I upped the budget it was $350.. then I said there's no way I can get 3 speakers done for that.. so I went to $500. I understand the "free installs" and the installers being questionable.</p><p></p><p>I had a headunit installed by sound great in a Lexus I had back in 07.. and the guy did a top notch job on the install.. and boosted the factory amp (after asking me) for free with some part I forget (I'm sure it wasn't healthy for the stock sub.. but it was stock and I didn't care much if it died). BUT,.. he did accidentally slice a 1 inch slit into the side of the passenger seat.</p><p></p><p>I'm not the customer who let's that stuff slide.. unfortunate for them I guess.. but free install or not.. you mess up something on the car, or something is off .. I'm going to ride you till it's fixed by a pro.</p><p></p><p>Which I did here.. they were hesitant about the slash in the leather initially.. and I said Look,.. this didn't have a slash in it when I just brought it in,.. don't make this a hassle on both of us getting corporate involved,.. Just take the honus for the mistake and pay for it. They said, ok, you go get it fixed and we'll pay the tab.</p><p></p><p>I got a guy who repairs this kind of stuff who comes to you.. had him fix it (great job btw).. and then I took THAT guy immediately to Sounds great (I didn't pay him a dime).. and explained who I was and why I was there. They visually weren't happy about it.. but they cut him a check right there and we parted ways.</p><p></p><p>It was like a $60 repair.. they lost some of their overhead in the markup of the headunit.. probably all of it cause the installer made a careless mistake. It happens.</p><p></p><p>On another note -- In my 91 300ZX -- I had 2 JL 12" subs, in a custom box (built by them).. A kenwood amp for each sub to power them individually ( 2 subs, 2 amps).. bought at the time A kenwood (IIRC) headunit,.. the MB Quarts I still have and have pictured in this thread.. another Kenwood amp powering those MB Quarts at 75 watts x 2 channels (RMS)..</p><p></p><p>The installers did a free install .. and they went above and beyond on this install. They used I believe 4 Gauge wire.. (If may have the number wrong, but it looked like a waterhose going from Battery to A nice 3-4 Inch Fuse box. (Was like $20 a foot or something.. That was free).. the 300ZX's had the Bose systems in them and they had the amps built on the speakers so when you removed them there was a TON of space in there. They built the wood enclosures (you see in the pics) to form fit the inside of those 300ZX doors for best sound (for free). It took them a full day to get it done.. which is fine,.. but nothing was messed up.. doors were tight as factory.. and that was the best sounding system in my Highschool -- I spent like $1500 on that due to 3 amps, 2 subs, box, 2 6.5" coaxials, and headunit.. While others that would compare systems with me had spent 2-3-4 times the amount. I could only tell them it must be something about the subs rear facing the hatch in this car and the accoustics is why this sounds so much better than yours. I didn't know why.. they were only 12w1's.. with IIRC 100watts RMS going to each. And it was CLEAN.. VERY clean.. and the kind of bass you could hear miles down the road.</p><p></p><p>I do NOT want that kind of bass now.. Just enough thump to fill in with the mids and highs well..</p><p></p><p>$350 install, man that's steep. I have several options here.</p><p></p><p>1) Buy equipment online (that I still need help with.. mainly on what Amp(s) to buy and mids/tweets) and just take the install on myself.. spend a weekend on my car.</p><p></p><p>2) Go to a local sound shop that is NOT a chain.. these places do better installs in my experience. Pick it all out from there.. and tip the install guy $20 or something before I leave to try and take a little extra time/car with the car.</p><p></p><p>3) Buy everything online.. and pay $350 to have 3 speakers and 1 or 2 max amps installed.</p><p></p><p>Again,.. I'm a fan of JL Audio Subs.. had great experience with them in the past and the price is right on them. I'll go 8" or 10" with them.. I figure I might as well go with a JL audio 10w1 for $110 or so,.. get a 350z custom box for $100 on ebay or similar.. and you guys are saying do NOT use my MB Quarts.. I'll trust you on that,.. and buy (X) Component 6.5" mids with separate tweeters.</p><p></p><p>Headunit I have stays.. not matter what. It has 4v Preouts.. and more importantly I like the way it looks and it's easy to read and the touch screen operates very well.</p><p></p><p>Now.. The 10" JL w1 (or even a w0) is probably more bass than I'm looking for.. BUT, I can turn that sub down until it gives the right mix of bass I want, correct?</p><p></p><p>So with that in mind:</p><p></p><p>Could you guys recommend name brands that aren't crazy expensive (remember I'm not looking for competition stuff here).. and links for the 6.5" mids I need for front doors and the tweeters needed for the doors (usually come in a set).</p><p></p><p>The sub is either gonna be a JL 8 or 10" w0 or w1 -- Give your thoughts on that.. and give me what amp would power it 'well enough'.. remember this is a budget.</p><p></p><p>And.. it'd be nice to run 1 amp for the mids, tweets and 1 sub.. but if 1 amp can't do that.. then give me link/ideas for the amp that is not crap, but not crazy expensive to run the front stage.</p><p></p><p>You can play with the budget a little if you have to. If you find the perfect combo that runs $650 total or something.. that's fine. I'm only looking for like a 50 percent upgrade over these 18watt clarion factory speakers.. nothing major.</p><p></p><p>If I got something that sounded like the Monsoon factory system in my 2006 pontiac solstice, I'd be perfectly happy.</p><p></p><p>If I got something that sounded like the factory system in my 1994 Lexus LS400 , I'd be content. Expectations aren't super high here.</p><p></p><p>Thanks!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Chromatic, post: 8208929, member: 659121"] Thanks for the replies.. I upped the budget it was $350.. then I said there's no way I can get 3 speakers done for that.. so I went to $500. I understand the "free installs" and the installers being questionable. I had a headunit installed by sound great in a Lexus I had back in 07.. and the guy did a top notch job on the install.. and boosted the factory amp (after asking me) for free with some part I forget (I'm sure it wasn't healthy for the stock sub.. but it was stock and I didn't care much if it died). BUT,.. he did accidentally slice a 1 inch slit into the side of the passenger seat. I'm not the customer who let's that stuff slide.. unfortunate for them I guess.. but free install or not.. you mess up something on the car, or something is off .. I'm going to ride you till it's fixed by a pro. Which I did here.. they were hesitant about the slash in the leather initially.. and I said Look,.. this didn't have a slash in it when I just brought it in,.. don't make this a hassle on both of us getting corporate involved,.. Just take the honus for the mistake and pay for it. They said, ok, you go get it fixed and we'll pay the tab. I got a guy who repairs this kind of stuff who comes to you.. had him fix it (great job btw).. and then I took THAT guy immediately to Sounds great (I didn't pay him a dime).. and explained who I was and why I was there. They visually weren't happy about it.. but they cut him a check right there and we parted ways. It was like a $60 repair.. they lost some of their overhead in the markup of the headunit.. probably all of it cause the installer made a careless mistake. It happens. On another note -- In my 91 300ZX -- I had 2 JL 12" subs, in a custom box (built by them).. A kenwood amp for each sub to power them individually ( 2 subs, 2 amps).. bought at the time A kenwood (IIRC) headunit,.. the MB Quarts I still have and have pictured in this thread.. another Kenwood amp powering those MB Quarts at 75 watts x 2 channels (RMS).. The installers did a free install .. and they went above and beyond on this install. They used I believe 4 Gauge wire.. (If may have the number wrong, but it looked like a waterhose going from Battery to A nice 3-4 Inch Fuse box. (Was like $20 a foot or something.. That was free).. the 300ZX's had the Bose systems in them and they had the amps built on the speakers so when you removed them there was a TON of space in there. They built the wood enclosures (you see in the pics) to form fit the inside of those 300ZX doors for best sound (for free). It took them a full day to get it done.. which is fine,.. but nothing was messed up.. doors were tight as factory.. and that was the best sounding system in my Highschool -- I spent like $1500 on that due to 3 amps, 2 subs, box, 2 6.5" coaxials, and headunit.. While others that would compare systems with me had spent 2-3-4 times the amount. I could only tell them it must be something about the subs rear facing the hatch in this car and the accoustics is why this sounds so much better than yours. I didn't know why.. they were only 12w1's.. with IIRC 100watts RMS going to each. And it was CLEAN.. VERY clean.. and the kind of bass you could hear miles down the road. I do NOT want that kind of bass now.. Just enough thump to fill in with the mids and highs well.. $350 install, man that's steep. I have several options here. 1) Buy equipment online (that I still need help with.. mainly on what Amp(s) to buy and mids/tweets) and just take the install on myself.. spend a weekend on my car. 2) Go to a local sound shop that is NOT a chain.. these places do better installs in my experience. Pick it all out from there.. and tip the install guy $20 or something before I leave to try and take a little extra time/car with the car. 3) Buy everything online.. and pay $350 to have 3 speakers and 1 or 2 max amps installed. Again,.. I'm a fan of JL Audio Subs.. had great experience with them in the past and the price is right on them. I'll go 8" or 10" with them.. I figure I might as well go with a JL audio 10w1 for $110 or so,.. get a 350z custom box for $100 on ebay or similar.. and you guys are saying do NOT use my MB Quarts.. I'll trust you on that,.. and buy (X) Component 6.5" mids with separate tweeters. Headunit I have stays.. not matter what. It has 4v Preouts.. and more importantly I like the way it looks and it's easy to read and the touch screen operates very well. Now.. The 10" JL w1 (or even a w0) is probably more bass than I'm looking for.. BUT, I can turn that sub down until it gives the right mix of bass I want, correct? So with that in mind: Could you guys recommend name brands that aren't crazy expensive (remember I'm not looking for competition stuff here).. and links for the 6.5" mids I need for front doors and the tweeters needed for the doors (usually come in a set). The sub is either gonna be a JL 8 or 10" w0 or w1 -- Give your thoughts on that.. and give me what amp would power it 'well enough'.. remember this is a budget. And.. it'd be nice to run 1 amp for the mids, tweets and 1 sub.. but if 1 amp can't do that.. then give me link/ideas for the amp that is not crap, but not crazy expensive to run the front stage. You can play with the budget a little if you have to. If you find the perfect combo that runs $650 total or something.. that's fine. I'm only looking for like a 50 percent upgrade over these 18watt clarion factory speakers.. nothing major. If I got something that sounded like the Monsoon factory system in my 2006 pontiac solstice, I'd be perfectly happy. If I got something that sounded like the factory system in my 1994 Lexus LS400 , I'd be content. Expectations aren't super high here. Thanks! [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forum
Car Audio Discussion
General Car Audio
2008 350Z - Budget install - need ideas.
Top
Menu
Home
Refresh