Audio help for a beginner?
 

Hello everyone.. lets start off with the stats i guess you could call it.
I have a 370z 40th aniv with bose, no nav.
First i would like to say the bose is OK would like some better sound though..
what would you guys recommend doing changing? (speakers, amp, sub, tweeters, in dash dd, true gauge wire? etc) what should i change for better sound/bass overall? im not familiar with audio so i need as much help as i can get..
i would put a budget but this thread could also be useful to some other people.

All of the above, if budget allows, but I would start with line out converter, Amp and speakers. unless you're going balls to the wall, then trade L.O.C for processor.

For finding the best speakers, you usually have to rely on recommendations from other people - unless you can afford to buy and swap out a bunch of drivers/enclosures until you find the "right" ones. RonRizz and the other audio gurus should be able to point you in the right direction.

For speaker wiring, there is no need for high-dollar "boutique" wire. A good-quality, multi-strand wire works great for car audio and all but the most demanding home systems. You can find charts that tell what size wire to use for a certain power level. From an electrical standpoint, the bigger the wire (the less resistance) the better but you run into problems routing the wire if you go too big.

You're never going to get true high-fidelity in a car so get whatever sounds good to your ears.

I would start by changing the HU with something that has better EQ.

Like my pioneer sounds decent even with the base speakers.

so swap out the bose amp and bose speakers?? leave the sub? also what brands and what converter, amp and speakers would you recommend?

thank you =) like i said im a complete stranger to car audio so i need as much help as i can get.

Bose subs cannot handle any power so if you plan on upgrading remove the Bose system entirely. Get a good H/U and put some good components in. Hertz, Focal, Alpine, Pioneer. Get a decent size amp, 4 channel with a minimum of 50 watts RMS and a good sub. Also replace your 3-1/2's with better ones as well. You can rock out and not spend a ton of money in the process unless you want to.

so a complete overhaul. i figured it would have to happen from what people say about bose. If its ok me asking could you make a list of everything you would recommend getting. type of speakers, amp, sub, hu, tweets,?? brand name and type aswell that way i get an idea of what would be a good system to put in?

Our ears and tastes will be different therefore go to a audio shop and start listening and pick what you like. Get the best you can afford

The main problem you will have if you keep the Bose is that it uses a lot of non-standard parts - it's designed as a complete system, not mix-and-match parts. This can cause problems (eg, impedance mismatches) when you start adding in more conventional amps, speakers, eq, &c.

As far as specific brand/model recommendations, if you stick with the major brands, it's hard to go wrong. I like Tadpole's advice - let your ears be your guide. Keep in mind that it will not sound the same if you are not listening in a Z, but you should be able to get a good idea of which components sound best to your ears. Nowadays you can get good sound in a car without spending big bucks.

yea i understand and i thank you all for the great advice. i would just like to know what you guys recommend doing and what route i should take.. if you guys recommend a certain product then i can look into that and see if its something that i would like. that way im not walking into a store completely blind..

Head units are relatively easy to demo as they are widely available for you to walk into an audio shop and play with. I would recommend looking at Kenwood and Pioneer first.

Speakers can be a much more involved process as sound quality is so subjective and no shop could possibly carry or have available to demo all of your options. My personal preference is for Hertz but good luck finding a local dealer that doesn't have to special order them for you.

Before you even choose a sub you will have to sit down and think about what you want to achieve. Are you looking for the biggest boom you could get, or perhaps you want something a little more subtle? Are you prepared to trade trunk space for a sub box, or do need something more discreet? You will have to give the logistics of this some thought. Start your search with well known brands like JL and expand from there. Sometimes there are lesser known brands that can give you just as high a level of performance (or higher!) for less money.

Your selection of amps will be in part determined by the speakers that you choose since you will want to find one that will drive your speakers appropriately.

Hope this gives you some starting points to work with. Best of luck!

I can't make any specific suggestions since I haven't kept up with car audio for a few years. I don't spend a lot of time in my car and, when I do, I don't need a system that goes to 11 - ie, something like the Bose or other "high-end" OEM system is just what I need.

In general, for a small car like the Z you don't need a lot of power. 30-50W for hi- and mid-ranges and 250-500W for the sub should be plenty.
All I can tell you about speaker selection is repeat "get what sounds good to you." The speakers (driver(s) + enclosure) will make the most difference in how the system sounds and everybody's ears are different. For most people, any of the popular brands (see recommendations on this site and check out a few car-audio related sites) should work well. If the drivers are demoed in an enclosure, make sure you get the same enclosure for the car.

Here is my deck I currently have. Im not too fond of the blue but it has hands free phone and bluetooth and an awesome equalizer setup.

Alpine CDE-W235BT CD receiver at Crutchfield.com

Here are my 6 1/2 components. These are a good entry speaker and sound pretty good amped and tuned. I will be upgrading these soon to Hertz or Focals for more clarity but these speakers get pricey.
Alpine SXE-1750S | Custom Sounds

Here is my amp. Its installed underneath the passenger seat. Do not let the wattage fool you. Your ears will bleed with this cranked up. I dont even have the gain half way up and its painful. One awesome amp. Major thumbs up from me on this one!

Alpine MRV-F300 | Custom Sounds



I will be installing these 3 1/2's tomorrow actually. I will post up later on my thoughts of these.

C2-350x - Car Audio - Evolution® - C2 - Coaxial Systems - JL Audio

I purchased the JL Audio microsub. As you can see I am starting to realize to get the sound I want and like is costing me some money. I should see this next week and will also post my thoughts after installed and tuned. I will be using velcro to keep in secured in the hatch.

CP108LG-W3v3 - Car Audio - Subwoofer Systems - MicroSub

I hope this helps and I am looking for the right set up myself still. I have a good feeling though with the JL Audio setup in the rear and upgrade the components I will be finally set. Roughly $1000 bucks in all will get you an impressive system that you will happy with. Good luck in your search and go listen and get what you like!

lol this will take some time.. instead of asking about brands and what not let me ask this.. what size speakers and tweets would fit in the z touring?