Just received my new JL audio system on Friday afternoon. Before I get into the details I'd like to thank the guys at Sound Solutions in Kingston, PA, especially Dave, for giving me a good deal on the parts and doing a very professional install.

The system consists of:
XR650 6.5'' Components (Front Doors)
XR650 6.5'' Coaxials (Rear Deck)
JL Stealthbox - 2x 10W3v2-D4
JL 300/4 Amplifier (Front & Rear Speakers)
JL 250/1 Amplifier (Stealthbox)
100% JL wiring, etc.
Alpine 9830 HU

On the ride home I went through a variety of channels on XM from country, classic rock, new rock, and rap. Rap sounded particularly well and the bass was hitting relatively hard considering the subs were not broken in. When I cranked rock and country the front speakers sounded a bit tinny as another reviewer on the boards described. I have to attribute this to the subs not being able to keep up with the front speakers at a high volume (again due to break-in period). All-in-all, first day impression is very tight system compared to the Bose I was coming from.

This afternoon while I was cleaning the interior of the car I let the system play. Already I can tell a HUGE difference in sound quality. The subs are breaking in well and rock is starting to sound fuller and with less of the high-pitched squealing I heard the first day. The tweeters are AMAZING and I can now hear things in songs that I have never noticed in 5 or so years.

Also to mention is the 15% tint on the back three windows and 35% on the front two. Can only be described as AWESOME.

Left to do: find a place to mount the amps. They are currently tied down in the back and padded with carpet on the sides so they don't get banged up. If anyone has a JL SB installed, ideas on where to put the amps? I'd like to have *some* trunk space so mounting after the subs is out. I'm a bit worried about using the stock sub location mostly because of ventiliation. Anyone doing this with two amps?

Pictures to come after I've mounted the amps and the tint has had a chance to cure.

 

Nice set up man! Congrats! I was just looking at the 300/4 yesterday for the first time. Let me know how you like it in the coming days.

 

Thanks for the compliments!

I was going to go with the 500/5 but each of the four speakers are rated at 75 W RMS. The 500/5 outputs channels of 100 (front) 25 (rear) and 250 (sub). This wouldn't have been optimal so I went with the separate amps. The 300/4 delivers 75 W RMS to each speaker, which is the exact requirement. The 250/1 delivers 250 W RMS to the subs which is the recommended wattage. Cost a bit more but I figured that going with a system like this it would be worth it.

I'm planning on coming back for a 1 week and 1 month update so stay tuned.

 

You could put the amps behind the drivers seat where the stock subs used to be. Thats where mine are.


Edit: I have a JL Audio 250/1 and Alpine MRV-F340 in there. No ventialtion as my car did not have a facotry sub so I have a solid plastics pannel. Have never had a heat issue no matter how hard or long I have run my system for.

 

You have the amps totally enclosed with no ventilation at all? Any pictures? Just making sure I read that right...

Since I did have the Bose sub I may cut out the grill so that there is a large hole to vent the amps. I think I saw someone who has done this already, maybe on another forum though.

 

i have my 300/2 and 500/1 behind the drivers seat. there is actually a good amount of room back there and i never had a problem with the amps over heating or anything. my first set up was with my amps mounted on a rack i made and connected to the bar that hangs down in the back. the setup i have now is with the two amps mounted on the glove box bin (like behind the passenger seat). I cut a bunch of holes in the bin to allow more air to get to the amps. The 5001/amp was cutting out once in a while, though only after playing long and loud in the 95+ degree Miami summer. My plan is to add a big fan on the top of the bin to suck out the hot air. Right now both amps and my sub are out of the car so I haven't gotten around to adding the fan.

 

Z's fuel tank is right behind that stock sub location. I don't know if putting amps in there is a bright idea.

 

lots of people have utilized that space for their amps. i have had my amps there for almost 2 years now. i highly doubt anything would ever happen from mounting the amps there. just make sure not to drill holes into the tank!

 

Exactly...as far ventilation you read right. I have no holes cut. It is the solid trim plate for the non_bose Z covering that area and I have never once had my amps cut out. I've pounded my system on 3+ hour road trips to Vegas before and never had an issue.

 

I have my JL amps behind the passenger seat on a custom rack with no problems.

 

I'll probably build a custom rack and throw them behind the driver seat, obviously taking precautions to not disrupt the gas tank. Seems like enough people have done this with success, and since you're running a higher-powered setup than I am I think it will be OK.

 

I have a 450/4 and a 500/1 back there with no heat issues whatsoever. Completely enclosed.

 

Monkey...looking back on things would you still go with the 450/4 over a 300/2? I am considering the later and just running the rears from a new Alpine 9855 HU.

 

nice setup. You're right about giving the speakers time to bed in. My MB Q-Lines took a good couple weeks before they started developing that unique MB high, likewise the sub took a while for the rubber surround to soften up

re placement, imo amps need to be shown off

i put my dts processor, centre channel amp, tv tuner and deck module behind the stock sub grille, the holes are good for ventilation

 

^^ that is a sweet setup. its soo weird looking at a rhd car. do you have any good pictures of your rear strut bar? it looks like you've done something to it but it's hard to see in the pictures you posted.

 

i have the UTR led piece on the strut bar

all the info and pics here

https://my350z.com/forum/audio-and-video/144790-install-from-downunder.html

 

Theres A break in period on Subwoofers???

Thats Rubble.

 

Yes, as the subwoofers are stiff when you buy them and it is more difficult for an amp to drive it. All this means is sound quality will be poorer until they loosen up a bit.

I assure you, it is not "rubble".

 

Some subs are broke in at factory and some are not so for the first 3 weeks you don't want to turn your bass up more that 1/3, at the 2nd week you can go to 1/2 way. If you push it you'll blow it.

 

I've Pounded Mine Harder than Possible Since Day one and have yet to "Blow" Any thing.

then Again I didn't pay for overpriced JL Audio.