Only upgrading the speakers??
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From: VANCOVUER
Only upgrading the speakers??
i have the non-bose system, and I decide to upgrade the speakers , and the one I am considering is Alpine 6.5" Speakers (SPS-600). Would this give me a noticeable difference over the stock speakers? Is it worth to just upgrade the speakers? Please recommend some speakers to me!!!
The stock setup doesn't have enough power to adequately power aftermarket speakers. Sure it will work, but it won't sound any different. If anything, you'll just hear the tweeters more.
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Originally Posted by tianyu82
I'm glad that i posted this thread. i almost trusted the salesman and about to install the speakers. now i can say all the salesman are full of BS. thanks for the input!!
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From: Edina, Minnesota
Originally Posted by tianyu82
i have the non-bose system, and I decide to upgrade the speakers , and the one I am considering is Alpine 6.5" Speakers (SPS-600). Would this give me a noticeable difference over the stock speakers? Is it worth to just upgrade the speakers? Please recommend some speakers to me!!!
The stock OEM CES in a Z is an inexpensive Clarion system. There is an OEM upgrade (Bose) that isn’t worth the extra cost (but that’s another discussion).
The stock OEM Clarion was only meant to provide a minimal audio experience so that the car is equipped with a “radio,” and it begs for replacement.
Nissan designed the 350z for a wide range of buyers (all the way from serious track implementations to grand touring.). With this in mind, Nissan wisely provides an inexpensive OEM CES that is easily replaced with better components. You have lots of cubbies to hold lots of AV stuff. In fact there is plenty of room to install a CarPC, aftermarket SubW’s, or just about anything you want.
Back to your question… You probably won’t get a great result by simply swapping out the stock Clarion front component speakers with the Alpine speakers you ask about. The stock Clarion HU is pretty weak, but matched well to the flimsy Clarion front component speakers. Here is a picture of the Clarion front midranges.
Notice that these speakers cannot handle much power. The OEM Clarion HU is a good match for these flimsy speakers. So you can see that adding decent speakers won’t improve the sound since the stock HU’s little internal amplifier is meant to match-up with a small output unit and cannot adequately drive decent aftermarket speakers.
If you want better sound, you will need to add and external amplifier with your better speakers (either coaxial or components). This will provide somewhat better sound even with the OEM Clarion HU. But, to get much better sound, you need to replace the OEM Clarion HU. You do not need to spend a lot of $$ on your replacement HU. An inexpensive single-din H/U with controls for an external amplifier will significantly outperform the stock HU.
In summary (to get decent sound on a budget):
- Replace the OEM DD Clarion HU with a decent single-din radio/receiver, and mount this with a Metra kit (SD mount overhead and lower “shelf”). You do not need to spend a lot for your single-din radio/receiver, but the replacement receiver should have the capability to control an external amplifier.
- Add an external amplifier. You can mount this in any of the rear cubby compartments.
- Replace the cheap front Clarion component speakers with either a coaxial or a component speaker front set.
- Disconnect the cheap rear OEM Clarion coaxial speakers since they only “pollute” the sound. And, you don’t need rear speakers in the Z.
--Spike
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Edina, Minnesota
Originally Posted by mikie92102
ok well I put my D3 in and I get this crazy hissinnnnng sound, ahhhhh does this mean I need to replace the dam speakers now!?
--Spike
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From: VANCOVUER
Originally Posted by Spike100
.............................
In summary (to get decent sound on a budget):
--Spike
In summary (to get decent sound on a budget):
- Replace the OEM DD Clarion HU with a decent single-din radio/receiver, and mount this with a Metra kit (SD mount overhead and lower “shelf”). You do not need to spend a lot for your single-din radio/receiver, but the replacement receiver should have the capability to control an external amplifier.
- Add an external amplifier. You can mount this in any of the rear cubby compartments.
- Replace the cheap front Clarion component speakers with either a coaxial or a component speaker front set.
- Disconnect the cheap rear OEM Clarion coaxial speakers since they only “pollute” the sound. And, you don’t need rear speakers in the Z.
--Spike
A question about the external amplifier that you talked about. Should it be a 2-channel amplifier? And if i want to add a sub woofer, do i need to get a Mono amplifier separately? is there such a thing that combines them into one amplifier ?For the H/U, would something like the Alpine iDA-X300
Digital Media Receiver work fine?
excuse me for asking dumb questions. None of the professors taught me anything about car audio at university LOL
[*] H/U
Originally Posted by Spike100
I read your question and would like to offer some comments.
The stock OEM CES in a Z is an inexpensive Clarion system. There is an OEM upgrade (Bose) that isn’t worth the extra cost (but that’s another discussion).
The stock OEM Clarion was only meant to provide a minimal audio experience so that the car is equipped with a “radio,” and it begs for replacement.
Nissan designed the 350z for a wide range of buyers (all the way from serious track implementations to grand touring.). With this in mind, Nissan wisely provides an inexpensive OEM CES that is easily replaced with better components. You have lots of cubbies to hold lots of AV stuff. In fact there is plenty of room to install a CarPC, aftermarket SubW’s, or just about anything you want.
Back to your question… You probably won’t get a great result by simply swapping out the stock Clarion front component speakers with the Alpine speakers you ask about. The stock Clarion HU is pretty weak, but matched well to the flimsy Clarion front component speakers. Here is a picture of the Clarion front midranges.
Notice that these speakers cannot handle much power. The OEM Clarion HU is a good match for these flimsy speakers. So you can see that adding decent speakers won’t improve the sound since the stock HU’s little internal amplifier is meant to match-up with a small output unit and cannot adequately drive decent aftermarket speakers.
If you want better sound, you will need to add and external amplifier with your better speakers (either coaxial or components). This will provide somewhat better sound even with the OEM Clarion HU. But, to get much better sound, you need to replace the OEM Clarion HU. You do not need to spend a lot of $$ on your replacement HU. An inexpensive single-din H/U with controls for an external amplifier will significantly outperform the stock HU.
In summary (to get decent sound on a budget):
--Spike
The stock OEM CES in a Z is an inexpensive Clarion system. There is an OEM upgrade (Bose) that isn’t worth the extra cost (but that’s another discussion).
The stock OEM Clarion was only meant to provide a minimal audio experience so that the car is equipped with a “radio,” and it begs for replacement.
Nissan designed the 350z for a wide range of buyers (all the way from serious track implementations to grand touring.). With this in mind, Nissan wisely provides an inexpensive OEM CES that is easily replaced with better components. You have lots of cubbies to hold lots of AV stuff. In fact there is plenty of room to install a CarPC, aftermarket SubW’s, or just about anything you want.
Back to your question… You probably won’t get a great result by simply swapping out the stock Clarion front component speakers with the Alpine speakers you ask about. The stock Clarion HU is pretty weak, but matched well to the flimsy Clarion front component speakers. Here is a picture of the Clarion front midranges.
Notice that these speakers cannot handle much power. The OEM Clarion HU is a good match for these flimsy speakers. So you can see that adding decent speakers won’t improve the sound since the stock HU’s little internal amplifier is meant to match-up with a small output unit and cannot adequately drive decent aftermarket speakers.
If you want better sound, you will need to add and external amplifier with your better speakers (either coaxial or components). This will provide somewhat better sound even with the OEM Clarion HU. But, to get much better sound, you need to replace the OEM Clarion HU. You do not need to spend a lot of $$ on your replacement HU. An inexpensive single-din H/U with controls for an external amplifier will significantly outperform the stock HU.
In summary (to get decent sound on a budget):
- Replace the OEM DD Clarion HU with a decent single-din radio/receiver, and mount this with a Metra kit (SD mount overhead and lower “shelf”). You do not need to spend a lot for your single-din radio/receiver, but the replacement receiver should have the capability to control an external amplifier.
- Add an external amplifier. You can mount this in any of the rear cubby compartments.
- Replace the cheap front Clarion component speakers with either a coaxial or a component speaker front set.
- Disconnect the cheap rear OEM Clarion coaxial speakers since they only “pollute” the sound. And, you don’t need rear speakers in the Z.
--Spike
Originally Posted by Spike100
I read your question and would like to offer some comments.
The stock OEM CES in a Z is an inexpensive Clarion system. There is an OEM upgrade (Bose) that isn’t worth the extra cost (but that’s another discussion).
The stock OEM Clarion was only meant to provide a minimal audio experience so that the car is equipped with a “radio,” and it begs for replacement.
Nissan designed the 350z for a wide range of buyers (all the way from serious track implementations to grand touring.). With this in mind, Nissan wisely provides an inexpensive OEM CES that is easily replaced with better components. You have lots of cubbies to hold lots of AV stuff. In fact there is plenty of room to install a CarPC, aftermarket SubW’s, or just about anything you want.
Back to your question… You probably won’t get a great result by simply swapping out the stock Clarion front component speakers with the Alpine speakers you ask about. The stock Clarion HU is pretty weak, but matched well to the flimsy Clarion front component speakers. Here is a picture of the Clarion front midranges.
Notice that these speakers cannot handle much power. The OEM Clarion HU is a good match for these flimsy speakers. So you can see that adding decent speakers won’t improve the sound since the stock HU’s little internal amplifier is meant to match-up with a small output unit and cannot adequately drive decent aftermarket speakers.
If you want better sound, you will need to add and external amplifier with your better speakers (either coaxial or components). This will provide somewhat better sound even with the OEM Clarion HU. But, to get much better sound, you need to replace the OEM Clarion HU. You do not need to spend a lot of $$ on your replacement HU. An inexpensive single-din H/U with controls for an external amplifier will significantly outperform the stock HU.
In summary (to get decent sound on a budget):
--Spike
The stock OEM CES in a Z is an inexpensive Clarion system. There is an OEM upgrade (Bose) that isn’t worth the extra cost (but that’s another discussion).
The stock OEM Clarion was only meant to provide a minimal audio experience so that the car is equipped with a “radio,” and it begs for replacement.
Nissan designed the 350z for a wide range of buyers (all the way from serious track implementations to grand touring.). With this in mind, Nissan wisely provides an inexpensive OEM CES that is easily replaced with better components. You have lots of cubbies to hold lots of AV stuff. In fact there is plenty of room to install a CarPC, aftermarket SubW’s, or just about anything you want.
Back to your question… You probably won’t get a great result by simply swapping out the stock Clarion front component speakers with the Alpine speakers you ask about. The stock Clarion HU is pretty weak, but matched well to the flimsy Clarion front component speakers. Here is a picture of the Clarion front midranges.
Notice that these speakers cannot handle much power. The OEM Clarion HU is a good match for these flimsy speakers. So you can see that adding decent speakers won’t improve the sound since the stock HU’s little internal amplifier is meant to match-up with a small output unit and cannot adequately drive decent aftermarket speakers.
If you want better sound, you will need to add and external amplifier with your better speakers (either coaxial or components). This will provide somewhat better sound even with the OEM Clarion HU. But, to get much better sound, you need to replace the OEM Clarion HU. You do not need to spend a lot of $$ on your replacement HU. An inexpensive single-din H/U with controls for an external amplifier will significantly outperform the stock HU.
In summary (to get decent sound on a budget):
- Replace the OEM DD Clarion HU with a decent single-din radio/receiver, and mount this with a Metra kit (SD mount overhead and lower “shelf”). You do not need to spend a lot for your single-din radio/receiver, but the replacement receiver should have the capability to control an external amplifier.
- Add an external amplifier. You can mount this in any of the rear cubby compartments.
- Replace the cheap front Clarion component speakers with either a coaxial or a component speaker front set.
- Disconnect the cheap rear OEM Clarion coaxial speakers since they only “pollute” the sound. And, you don’t need rear speakers in the Z.
--Spike
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...T820IP&tp=5684
New Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,337
Likes: 204
From: Edina, Minnesota
Originally Posted by tianyu82
…A question about the external amplifier that you talked about. Should it be a 2-channel amplifier? And if i want to add a sub woofer, do i need to get a Mono amplifier separately? is there such a thing that combines them into one amplifier ?
For the H/U, would something like the Alpine iDA-X300
Digital Media Receiver work fine?
…[*] H/U
For the H/U, would something like the Alpine iDA-X300
Digital Media Receiver work fine?
…[*] H/U
About the Alpine unit you ask about: I hesitate to offer advice on a specific product because another reader will likely have a different opinion (starting one of those useless debates). Add to this it is difficult to know what someone wants in their CES (economy, great sound, etc.), you see that it’s an endless debate. I do feel comfortable saying that Alpine products are excellent.
Originally Posted by jmark
Spike, I am looking at using this for my single din radio/receiver. Sony CDX-GT820IP What do you think? Any front speaker recommendations?
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...T820IP&tp=5684
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...T820IP&tp=5684
Originally Posted by StreetOC192
Yet another thorough explanation by Spike!!!
.--Spike
