Hi...I want to buy my son an amp and audio system for Christmas for his car. He has a 2003 Z. He has a subwofer (one 12") but wants to add a 10" to it and wants an amp and new stereo. Can you provide any guidance to a mom who's struggling with what is "cool" in car audio now? I hope you guys go easy on me and that I don't say anything stupid. Trying to get him at least a part of the system he wants. Brands? types? watt? anything is appreciated. BTW...he's 17
Marlene~

 

Marlene- you sound like a good Z mom who's trying to get a good Christmas gift. Car audio setups are a very personal choice and while I might suggest MB Quart or another company as my choice in components, the truth is your son may like something else. Perhaps a gift certificate to a reputable specialist like Crutchfields.com might be the best.

And while I'm sure your son is a good and trusted driver, let me offer a suggestion for a professional driving school like Skip Barber, Bob Bondurant or others as a gift. The Z is a serious RWD sportscar and even a "good" driver needs skills well beyond what most driving schools teach. It could be a gift that continues giving well beyond his 17 years...

 

Has a 12" but wants to add a 10"?

Where is the 12" sub located? Does he still have the factory radio? Does the 12" have an aftermarket amp powering it?

I'm also assuming he just wants to be louder correct?

I have a single 12" sub in my Z and I can flex the windshield.

 

Now thats a nice mom. Not only to buy it,but signing up to a forum to get advice, good for you.

If you want to stay main stream and go to Best Buy, I would look at the Alpine lline. Tell them you want some thing that good for about 500 watts at 4 ohms. This should be sufficient for his set up.

 

Ok great help everyone. I've gone to CarToys and they just made me mad.
He has a 12" in a box in the back that kinds slides around a little so he said he wants a custom box for a 10" and 12". He's 17 so he likes it loud and I do too but don't want it to sound like crap. It can kind of crackle right now when he cranks it up....The stereo he has now is aftermarket but it's a cheap $100 one. He wanted one a little nicer. He has an amp for the car speakers behind his headrest in that glove compartment area. I don't know where another amp would go? Under the seat? I'm really thankful for all the advice and suggestions. I know I can't afford the whole system but I want to give him at least some part of it. thanks everyone! you guys are awesome to help me.
He actually paid for more than half of the car himself so he's very proud of it.

 

Running 2 different size drivers will require separate enclosures. They can be in the same physical box but it will have to be divided in 2. The 12 will destroy the 10 over time.

A pair of 10"s would be the better bet, or an upgraded 12.


There really isn't room for an amp under the seat. If you get creative you can probably cram 2 amps in the open area behind the driver seat where the factory sub is supposed to go. I put mine on a rack in front of the strut bar.

9 times out of 10 local audio shops are hopeless and full of misinformation. And audio is not cheap at all if you want decent quality.

 

There you can see the glove box and the open area behind the driver seat. Just gotta be careful because amps can get hot in there.

If you're upgrading the door speakers you will either need the adapters that I didn't know about or some 1" speaker rings. This shows the clearance between the ring and the door panel.



This is a plate I made to mount my accessories on to go in the cubby behind the driver seat.




A shot of my sealed 12" sub and box.



And an old picture of my amp rack. I can't find any new pics of it with the battery moved underneath it and a bigger amp put on it.



Just some ideas.

 

I would recomend getting a gift certificate for SconicElectronix.com, or Woofersect.com, or Chrutchfield.com. they all sell very good equipment. Good equipment can be expensive it all depends on what he likes to listen to and what he's going for (SPL) or (SQL).

 

WOW!!! I'm so impressed. that's badass! My son would die for that! I'm gonna have to show him. SO the sealed 12" is sufficient? I have no clue why he wants a 10" and a 12"...who the heck knows but this looks so good.
This will need to be project he can work on over time. I can't afford everything all at once. So, it is better to get him started with an upgraded 12" subwoofer and amp? and let me pick the stereo? He said he "trusts" my taste. haha!!

 

I would suggest staying away from mixing sizes. And for me yes the single sealed 12" is enough. It's a custom made sub and I'm running 1000w to it.

For him it would probably be too quiet, but on the right notes my whole steering column will shake up and down, the visors will move, the outside mirrors will bounce up and down and I can see the windshield/ wipers moving.

I would start out with a good head unit. Pioneer, Alpine, Eclipse and Kenwood pretty much run the market when it comes to head units. Without a good source you will never get a good output.

 

Here is a cell phone video of the Z. There is more flexing than what the camera can pick up.

 

Great! thank you so much for the help! you are awesome to take the time to share with me. Much appreciated. I'll do a good head unit and add some money to it and he can get the rest on his own. The idiots at CarToys weren't helpful at all. SMDH...
Anyway, thanks again for helping me out and sharing your photos! Merry Christmas!

 

I'm sick and stuck at work so I'm doing everything I can to not work.

If you need any more help feel free to ask us. There is also a website called caraudioclassifieds.org that I'm a moderator on there and they will have much more knowledge on audio. Could also find some good used equipment to save some money.

 

Oh I will check that out! thanks again.

 

After reading the initial post, I was inspired to ask my mother to at least get me a deck, im 19 in a couple of weeks, she lost it and told me she would be getting me a jacket. Oh wells, worth a shot. Your getting your son a good present.

 

I'm 23 and have been in audio since I was 16. My mom never had any part in it. She hates it.

 

My mother actually blew one of my speakers last week when I let her use my car -_-

 

And that is why nobody is allowed to drive my precious.

 

Hmmm… Marlene… Are you for REAL?

- Join date is DEC 2013 (Now)

- You use urban dictionary “speak” as well as teenage acronyms.

- You start out as innocent and claim ignorance, and then become savvy in later posts.

- You know more about A/V than any female I know who suggests she is an amateur and a Mom.

- Moms are typically way too busy to pay the amount of attention you do to your son’s mobile A/V setup.

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