Okay, So I took my Z into this place called All Pro Audio in Santa Clara, CA Since it had such good ratings on Yelp. I went in and told the guy I was on a budget of like 800 dollars, and that I also wanted to get something I could plug my ipod into because I dislike mainstream and he told me....

The speakers in a 350z are just fine, what you should do is just get an amp and a sub. Also, an iPod adaptor for 180. I suggested a dash, which makes much more sense to me.

The speakers I have (non-bose factory) sound really bad to me and this is my invoice...

Stinger SQ1200XS ampkit - 75
JL Audio CS110RGW3v3 - 275
JL Audio JX500 / 1 - 200
Harness 20
Antenna Adapter 20
Dash kit - 33.79
Pioneer DEHP-6200BT - 200
+ tax
Total = 900

+ Free labor. Which he estimated to be around 180.

Do you guys think this is worth doing? Does just adding a sub really help the sound? Am I getting ripped off?!

 

You should probably have posted this in the audio/video section....

Have you shopped around, compared prices, decided on what set-up best suits your needs???

Sounds to me like you should figure out exactly what it is you're trying to accomplish, then shop around for the best prices... I'm so shocked I'm actually second guessing myself as I type.

Good luck, I guess.

 

Yeah, sorry about posting this in the wrong section but the audio/video one had like 3 threads, and I didn't really think my questions was going to get answered... Sorry again!

I have actually shopped around, and what I'm looking for is just an improvement on the factory sound. The speakers are actually ear piercing and hurt my ears when I turn them up high. The guy at the shop seemed really knowledgeable, and knew about it etc. but I guess I'm just not convinced that a sub could increase the speaker system as a whole, and that my whole system would sound better by just adding a 10 inch sub/amp.

 

Well first of all, you can get that amp kit online for like $30-40 bucks tops!
As for the sub and amp, they seem to be priced right, just make sure they are NOT refurbished... Also, make sure they are an authorized JL audio dealer.
Our cars don't use antenna adapters.
The dash kit is very pricey look online for a cheaper price, they usually go for $10-15 bucks.
The deck seems to be priced right.

 

I got the dash kit and harness from ebay for around $30. and it was metra brand also.

 

Okay, so the prices aren't so bad....
But, will only adding a sub really improve my whole sound system remarkably?

 

Ur getting bent over on that sub...... Why don't u just GOOGLE everything u listed and then compare..... I don't want to be an A$$ but don't expect us to spoon feed you... C'mon bro it's not hard to look uP and compare prices.....

 

Sorry I forgot to answer ur other question....lol

Adding a sub WILL improve ur sound system as a WHOLE..... Bc it will enhance the effect of the bass.... But bass only.... Ur highs will still sound like crap....

Santa Clara sounds pretty far from me.... But if u were near I would give u a shop to go too.....

Gl and don't forget to search.... This forum is getting soft...lol I remember being scared to post bc I didn't want to get bombed bc that question has been asked 100 times...gl

 

Yeah haha, I googled all the prices and they seemed fair,
but my real question was actually about that improvement of the subs.

Well I'm going to be in San Diego, do you have a better shop to go to?

 

i live in sd and i visited audio heaven and streetnoyz if you're hurting over $900 try $3400 fo rimage dynamics idq v3 and some focals with image dynamics amps. Don't spend the precious $900 or most likely you'll regret it, honestly save up some more and listen to as many subs and speakers as you can, ask forum members near you for ride alongs. Not being an a$$ either just being honest and using common sense you have every resource(stereo shops, google, this forum) so use it BUT most likely i can't stress the fact that you will be sorry if you buy that unless you don't care about sound quality and you like to hear your car rattle.

 

^ thank you. haha, thing is i'm in college and working for 10 dollars an hour - 20 hours a week... plus i gotta pay rent + books/college@ucsd/expenses so 3400 is going to take me a VERY long time. I'm just trying to get the best thing i can for under 1000,(simply cannot stand the factory speakers) and i was going to start saving for some wheels afterward.

 

Where are you getting ripped-off? You have a itemised list with prices.

 

I think I titled it incorrectly haha. I'm not really concerned that I'm getting ripped off as these people are quite honest, but if it's worth it to do the upgrade. He said it'd drastically improve my sound and even make my speakers sound less hollow if I just added an amp and sub and I find that a little hard to believe so I asked you guys! Sorry for the confusion!

 

OMG sorry bro but if u think that's a fair price for that sub... And u say u searched .... *nods head in shame* type in 10w3v3 and go to shopping.... Remember u get what u pay for... And I read my post in the top... It will help ur system what the shop is saying is that It will muffle all the distortion

 

But if I type in "CS110RGW3v3" and go to shopping it's from 250+ shipping to 300 + shipping so fair enough I guess, since the amp is cheaper than it's normal price. Thanks for clearing up that it'll just muffle the distortion though! And sorry that I'm such a noob haha, don't really know much about sound systems.

 

"Good" is subjective. I like OEM speakers. Just wish the OEM system had more power.

 

Did you ask them if they price match? The place I go to in ATL price matches so you can bet your *** I get online and google prices for whatever I'm buying from them. I don't think they're trying to take advantage of me because the second I find the same item lower, the honor the price.

 

You could always check the NorCal forum section to see about an audio shop...

 

I look through this thread and is saddens me.

Shops do need to make some money on product. Some products can be found online for cheaper because they are refurb'ed, grey market or B-stock items. Some bigbox stores buy a million of one item which makes the price drop too. Your local stereo shop needs to charge a margin to stay in business. So what do you get?

You get their service, their advice, their professional install, their sales time and their years an years of experience. Sometimes, this comes at a bit of a premium and I do understand that all of you are on a budget. Unfortunately if all you care about is the bottom line, then the independant stereo shop will dissapear (which sadly, it is). This will leave you with Best Buy being at the top of the car audio knowledge base. Thats $10 an hour high school students working on your car and helping you make big stereo decisions. Pretty scary.

Anyways, in answer to your question, $900 to bring bass to your head, a decent bluetooth deck that will sound much better than your factory head unit and will play Ipod and flash drives....yeah, thats not too bad really. You will be happy for that amount and you can always upgrade down the road when you get that raise!

 

If price is an issue, perhaps go with a cheaper sub/amp combo. Another option would be to forget the sub altogether and swap out the 6.5s and tweeters with better quality speakers. Not saying they'd sound like subs, but some 6.5s can produce a bit of bass.