350z - To rear speaker or not?

[Chromatic]

I'm letting my other threads falls off the list,.. to get to more specific threads now everything is decided on and ordered.

Here's the dilemma. My car is a 2008 350Z (base edition, stock 6.5" fronts and rears).

I've ordered a 5 channel PPI 900.5 amp,.. and JBL MS-62C 80Watt front components and have some Mb Quart 6.5" 70watt RMS coaxials in my closet I was plannong on putting in the factory rear 6.5" locations. Primary reason I went with the 5 channel PPI amp over the 4 channels. (So total setup is 6.5 JBL components front, MB Quart Coaxials in rear, and 10" JL sub).

Now (this is my fault really).. I've read in many places that putting rear speakers in this car ruins the front stage/sound.

What are your thoughts?

I really want to install these speakers in the rear cause they are great speakers and I have the amp for it.. and they are already stock locations.

So in this car (350z) -- 2 seater, hatchback.. coupe. Would you just leave the MB Quarts in the closet and install the components up front and the sub and that be that?

Or would you do what I want to do.. and install the rear speakers (MB Quarts) as well.. Then maybe I can dial them in at a lower level to 'fill" the sound a bit better?

Just trying to get thoughts on this. At the moment I'm inclined to go ahead and install them as planned.. and I can adjust them to 20% power or less if need be.

I guess the question is,.. is it really likely to sound worse to have any amount of rear sound coming out in this car,.. or would just a little bit of rear make it a net positive sound gain?

Plenty of people say rear speakers ruin the sound of the car.

I'll obviously go by ear on what *I* like.. but just wanted your opinions on the matter. If it ends up that any rear sound whatsoever makes things worse, I'll take them out and just bridge the front channels for more amp headroom.

Thanks for opinions/speculation.

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[atownmack 10+ year member]

I run only fronts, and I were you I would not run the rears. Some people like rear fill, personally I'm not a big fan of it. The rears tend to pull the sound stage behind you as opposed to have the sound stage in front of you at windshield level, making for a less than optimal listening experience. Since you already have the amp and speakers, why not install them and see if you like it. If you are happy with them keep them as is, if not take them out. Either way you have options, so test them out and see what you are most happy with! My opinion is forget the rears!

 

[Chromatic]

My thoughts exactly!

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

Spend the xtra $$ on the front stage (specially the install)

 

[Chromatic]

Spend the xtra $$ on the front stage (specially the install)

Money's spent.. Front stage is JBL MS-62 Components.. Rear's are MB Quart's, and Sub is JL 10" W1v3-4 in a custom enclosure built to order.. -- This was purchased last Sunday. Rears I have already,.. so no money spent there.

As for install,.. this is being installed solely by me. After all the knowledge accumulated over the last month,.. I'm 100% ready to rip the interior out and get to work this weekend. I have 30 Sqft. of Sound deadener which will help a great deal. Everything else is the best money can buy install wise,.. no corners are being cut , so to speak.

I'll likely dial the rears back while sitting in driver seat until the center of the "Stage" sounds best.. Where I am. Which is the primary reason behind the Rear vs no Rear argument: I've done a lot of reading.. this was helpful : GlassWolf's Pages

Thanks!

 

[d77543020 10+ year member]

you can always bridge the Front channels for more power

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

you will like the improved output when bridged.

while the car is out, install the rears. wire it back to the amp. then experiment for yourself. people can tell you what they like, but no one can tell you what you will like. so give yourself the opportunity to experiment.

you could also wire relays to allow you to switch between bridged front only vs. front and rear. hell, i've already made a relay board that does just that and it's sitting in my basement.

 

[jrdnhsnbrg 10+ year member]

I amped my rear speakers simply because quite frequently I have people (friends, family members) back there who also like to get the full effect of an amplified setup. And running the speaker wire was super easy, I spliced into the factory wiring just inside the door.

 

[Valdis]

I think I'm going to do this too.. I was going do go with comps up front and coaxial in the rear.

Instead of splitting my $$ up, now I spend it up front.

Great, need to think about a sub now. I didn't really want to get into all that.

Your next upgrade should be to get rid of that lame 350z and get a 300zx TT //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

ALSO, on a side note.... Why didn't you get MB Quart comps? I would assume they would sound better with the MBQ's you're putting in the rear.

Hope my "lame 350z" comment didn't offend you... I have a 300zx TT and they are killer in every way!!

 

[Chromatic]

you will like the improved output when bridged.
while the car is out, install the rears. wire it back to the amp. then experiment for yourself. people can tell you what they like, but no one can tell you what you will like. so give yourself the opportunity to experiment.

you could also wire relays to allow you to switch between bridged front only vs. front and rear. hell, i've already made a relay board that does just that and it's sitting in my basement.

That's the track I'm on.. Rears are going in.. and my ears will be the final deciding factor on that.

And.. Yes.. Bridging the channels will give me incredibly headroom.. something like 70 watts x 4.. or 230wwatts RMS x 2.. It's crazy the power difference bridged. But,.. I'm going 70x4 RMS, + 270W x 1 for the sub to start.

Thanks for the relay idea and the diagram. If it comes to that point, I may just build it.

 

[Chromatic]

I amped my rear speakers simply because quite frequently I have people (friends, family members) back there who also like to get the full effect of an amplified setup. And running the speaker wire was super easy, I spliced into the factory wiring just inside the door.

Yeah, a 4 seater with passengers really makes putting in rears a much easier decision. Given this is a 2 seater with the rears behind the seats.. it's hardly even questionable .. 90% of those who "know" say front only.

But.. I had the MB Quart coaxials already from an older system.. so that is the ONLY reason I even went this route.

 

[Chromatic]

I think I'm going to do this too.. I was going do go with comps up front and coaxial in the rear.Instead of splitting my $$ up, now I spend it up front.

Great, need to think about a sub now. I didn't really want to get into all that.

Your next upgrade should be to get rid of that lame 350z and get a 300zx TT //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

lol.. I have had a 300ZX NA, and 300ZX TT.. They are wonderful cars.. in fact the entire Z line has not dissapointed. I prefer the 1990+ Z's of course.. which is 300ZX, 350Z and 370Z.

The 350Z has more horsepower than the 300ZX TT (stock).. and 0-60 on them are identical IIRC. My 350Z is not 100% stock, but just a few bolt-ons.. so it pushes around 340HP.. 0-60 Just a smidge under 5 seconds. But, I don't use it .. I drive it 99% of the time at low shift points and cruise. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

ALSO, on a side note.... Why didn't you get MB Quart comps? I would assume they would sound better with the MBQ's you're putting in the rear.

Hope my "lame 350z" comment didn't offend you... I have a 300zx TT and they are killer in every way!!

Well.. two reasons.

1) I already owned the MB Quart coaxials 6.5" with 1" tweeter.. (from, ironically a system I had in a former 300ZX of mine.. and they were $500 speakers at the time 10+ years).. and had them active the whole time so they are not blown. I figured I might as well run them and see what happens.

2) The factory slots in the back (behind seats) for the rears is coaxial.. no tweeter location,.. and as so I don't see any need whatsoever to drill the car for tweeter components in the rear.. especially when just putting rear speakers back there is something 90% of people say just makes things sound worse.

Make more sense now? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[d77543020 10+ year member]

depending on what car you got the rears on deck power will be plentey

 

[Valdis]

The 350Z has more horsepower than the 300ZX TT (stock).. and 0-60 on them are identical IIRC. My 350Z is not 100% stock, but just a few bolt-ons.. so it pushes around 340HP.. 0-60 Just a smidge under 5 seconds. But, I don't use it .. I drive it 99% of the time at low shift points and cruise. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Depending on what engine you have, the 350z has 280 or 300hp stock. The 300zx TT has 300hp stock... so they are the same.

They actually had a drag race with numerous stock Z cars... If I remember correctly they finished 300zx >370 >350

I also have a few mods on mine... pop charger, ECU, underdrive pulley, Dupree downpipes, stock testpipes, upgraded exhaust, Stillen SMIC's, and Profec Spec B boost controller. I'm around 430-440hp... I can't drive the thing when it's under 70 degrees because when the turbos kick in the *** end wants to whip around the front of the car... I need better tires!!

Unlike yours, my car is not a DD.. she's a garage Queen //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I'll stop hijacking the thread with car talk....

I understand why you are putting the MBQ's in the rear locations.... just wondering why you went with JBL up front and not another set of MBQ's

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

I understand why you are putting the MBQ's in the rear locations.... just wondering why you went with JBL up front and not another set of MBQ's

because the JBL's are better speakers than the MBQ and the MBQ were what he already had. If anything, he would get another matching set of JBL's for the rear so tonality was maintained.