I want to improve my car's audio system - what is the FIRST thing I should buy?
 

A different head unit, or speakers?

I have a 2003 350z Enthusiast which I have owned for about a year now. I absolutely abhor the stock sound system in the car. The speakers seem very tight and provide clear, crisp highs and a tight bass, but the entire system sounds like on old Victorola. It has a "tinny" quality; my wifes 2002 Xterra sounds orders of magnitudes better than my car!

I am looking at an Eclipse head deck. Can I expect a significant improvement with the sound quality, or is the problem associated with the speakers?

headunit def. then move on to a component speaker system.

http://www.350zfrenzy.com/forum/show...ighlight=stero

6 months after having the above installed, I'm still really happy.
And still no rattles.

What was said above, I got a new HU first but after a week I broke down and replaced all the speakers as well. If you can't do it all at once get a hu first.

definitely HU~

Definately get a HU first. I got an Alpine about 5 months ago and don't regret it at all. Sounded worse than stock at first, but after tinkering with the setting a bit it sounds even better than stock now. Not to mention I can play mp3 CD's too ;)

I love having 130+ songs on one CD :D