Hey Guys,

I tend not to browse the audio section to much, but I just got a new head unit (AVIC-D3) with all the toys to go with it and I'm looking to replace the crappy rear and door speakers at the same time.

I have a 10" Treo sub being pushed by a Audiobahn amp(nothing great). I love my bass, but the problem is I can never seem to get any good sound out of the rest of the speakers (probably cause there crap).

So questions I have:

What are some good brands (not Competition level) to look for when replacing the rear and door speakers?

Should I get another amp to run the door and rear speakers?

Are there any component set-ups I should look at?

Anything else I can do outside of the speakers to get better sound out of the overall audio system?

Like I said I'm definitely not the hard core audio junkie but I do like to have some descent clear music coming through the speakers

So advice is appreciated.

Thanks

T

 

alpine type-s...they are affordable and good sound, and im sure they will work great with the D3...i had them in my civic with a single din pio head unit and i loved them

 

do some type s in the rear and some component trype r's in the front.

 

first of.. forget rear speakers.. its a waste of money.. second.. how much are you looking to spend?

 

First off, I would recommend listening to a bunch of different component sets. See what type of sound you like. The best place to audition them would be in a car, if not, at least listen in a sound room in a store. All sets will have a different timbre and tone. Before purchasing any set recommended, I would at least listen to it. What sounds good to me may not sound good to you. I'm sure you test drove your Z before buying it, right?

You should think about a budget. It will determine what level of components you should be looking at. I would recommend an amp for the front components. IF you really want to do rear fill, then run those off the headunit. Many of us here don't run rear speakers. With a properly set up and tuned front stage, you shouldn't miss the rear speakers, but this is also a personal choice. You can try your install without replacing the rears (disconnect the stockers) and see if you miss anything after you upgrade the front. If you do, then get a cheaper coaxial set and hook them up to the headunit.

I would sound dampen the doors at least, if not the entire hatch are as well. This will assist in keeping road noise out and your music in. Enough to do the doors and lightly do the hatch will run your around $80-$100.

 

Listen to this guy, before you listen to me.

 

i think the alpine type s doesn't sound good at all. I have a pair of Alpine type s 6.5 for sale if anyone wants them.

 

Well Im not looking to enter any audio contests but I definitely want to be able to hear some clear music from the speakers.

I've spent more then is needed on the rest of the car why go cheap on the speakers.

T(Doesn't know if that answered you question very well)

 

Ok so the rear speakers are all but useless. Got it. So any advice on a nice front stage setup. I would give you guys a budget but I honestly don't know enough about the prices on speakers and stuff to give a good idea. I'm more concerned with the sound I be getting then the price tag that comes with it.

I thought the sound dampening added a good deal of weight? I sure have a CF hatch doesn't help with lightening the road noise either.

Thanks

T

 

OK, so weight is a concern, understood. I would at least do 1 layer on the doors. And I would recommend pods from Zenclosures or Nazar. I like the Zenclosures pods because they are slimmer, house the tweeter as well as the woofer and are cheaper. Nazar's pods are nice as well, they just didn't fit my needs. Here's what I would do on 3 different budgets, feel free to mix and match......

Budget:
AMP - Crossfire VR202 http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...Product_ID=169
Comps - Boston Acoustics S60 http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=3377
Sound damping - 20 sq ft (10 sq ft on each door)
Pods - Zenclosures pods

Moderate:
AMP - JL Audio 300/2 http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...Product_ID=244
Comps - Focal 165V2UV http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=4572
Sound damping - 20 sq ft (10 sq ft on each door)
Pods - Zenclosures pods

Pimp:
AMP - Audison LRX 2.250 http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=4287
Comps - Morel HYBRID OVATION http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=4756
Sound damping - 20 sq ft (10 sq ft on each door)
Pods - Zenclosures pods

You can go lower end than what I chose for the 'budget' system and more high end than what I chose for the 'pimp' system, but I tried to stay in the meat of what people typically spend. Also, the component sets I chose all have a very neutral sound to them.

Please keep in mind that sound is completely subjective and I recommend trying to listen to as many different component sets as possible to find out what sounds good to you.

 

Wow thanks for the write up. The pimp setup is a little more then what I'm really looking for. I like the Moderate setup though.

There might be a problem with my cage and where is goes through the floor right next to wear the pods would be. Are the pods a must with running any of the components?

So with these setups, I should have a overall better sounding system, even with the rear speakers disconnected, correct?

Edit: Picture of where the cage goes through the floor (Looks like it would be a problem)


T

 

My Pick:

$200 Range

Diamond Audio 661s

those will sound great at a good price

edit.. had sad 600s by mistake

 

The cage should clear the Zenclosures pods. I'll take a pic on my lunch hour with the door shut so you can judge for yourself. The pods are recommended for improved staging and sound. You could have Bing make you some kick panels if you don't mind losing your dead pedal. With any aftermarket setup, if it's installed and tuned right you will not miss the rears. But like I said you can always add them into the mix later if you feel you are missing something. A decent pair of coaxials will run you maybe $100.....possibly even less.

 

Hey, those are my speakers!

I have those Diamond D661s components run by an Eclipse XA2000 http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=4618

Great moderate setup in my opinion.

 

oh yeah.. i'm sorry.. they are 661s .. i said 600s .. my mistake

 

?
i have not seen Zen Pods
got link or pics

i went to ebay zen store found zero

 

I will take the pics on lunch of my Zenclosure pods and post them in this thread. There was a thread by Mike when he first made his pods from earlier in 2007 I think with lots of pics and prices.

 

Those 661s look nice, so I take it they sound pretty descent?

No is there a big difference in brands of amps? Other then different power ratings. Would that eclipse amp be better then JL amp you posted up earlier?

Again thanks for the help

T

 

I have a feeling it would be close, but after looking at both the Nazar and zenclosures pods I definitely would go with the zenclosures. Looks much more OEM then the Nazar pods.

Ditching the dead petal would be a option but I would worry about kicking it. I tend to stretch my legs out a lot while driving.

If you can hook it up with a shut door picture maybe shooting strait down at the floor that would definitely give me a good idea if there is enough room.

Thanks

T

 

thank you will keep my eyes peeled

you gonna add pics to this thread or start a new

thanks
Travis
350zspl