Hey guys..

I have another post with the MB Quarts I have from my 300ZX I have stored in my closet. They run 70watts RMS.. (Take a lot of power) -- but they are 2 and 3/4" deep (From edge of speaker to back of magnet) -- so I don't think they'd fit in the very shallow 350z (2008) doors.

Considering many audio shops around here will install anything you buy for free.. I've thought of just going to a shop and picking 2 door speakers out, and some sort of sub that will go in factory location or otherwise not be in the way..

It's a Base 2008 350z -- But has this Pioneer Head unit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/111739693@N04/11445964826/http://www.flickr.com/photos/111739693@N04/11445964826/]Pioneer-DoubleDIN-Touchscreen-CD-DVD-MP3-Headunit-350z[/url
It's a double-din headunit.. touchscreen.. dvd player, cd, mp3, Ipod port and USB port.. so definitely don't need a head-unit.

Oh,.. and I have a nice set of MB Quart mids.. 6.5" Coaxial with Tweeter built onto them. Shown here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/111739693@N04/11445848745/

From bottom of the lip where you screw them in.. they measure 2.5" to magnet bottom. Will they fit? I know with a spacer they would. So with headunit and fronts.. I'm 2/3rds of the way there.. Just need the sub. What about a JL w0.

I'm clueless on amps! -- The MB Quarts need 70-75watts RMS x 2,.. and the Sub would need? -- What would be a good priced, and right amp for that 3 speaker setup?


I know this is commonly asked,.. but I'm working as cheap as possible.

The factory speakers on this base model just sound terrible -- So I'm going to have to upgrade them.

But,.. my needs are not great. I don't need hatchback rattling bass.. nor am I entering any competitions. Given the 350z is a 2 seater.. a good set of 6.5 speakers with tweeters and a sub will cover the whole cabin. (The car is VERY similar accoustically to my 1991 300ZX.. and I ran a pair of MB Quart 6.5" coaxials, and a 12" sub.. and it was WAAAY more than I needed.)

It's hard to put into words what I need/expect -- But basically if you've ever sat in a Pontiac solstice with the factory "upgrade" Monsoon system which is just decent mids/highs and a factory 8" sub put behind the passenger seat -- that is all the sound quality I need.

I realize anything I buy is going to to be better than that.. (If I'm buying quality brand speakers.. ie: JL , MB Quart, Polk,.. etc..) but I really don't want the bass to be over-powering where it can be heard a mile down the road.. I want that punch in there.. for a full CLEAN sound.. with crisp highs.. and honestly an 8" sub would be more than enough on the bass side.

My budget is around $350.

You guys have any recommendations on what you would do in my shoes,.. if your needs were just a good clean sound with something like an 8" sub worth of bass.. nothing overpowering?

I figure.. if I go to an audio shop around here.. I'll probably end up spending like 400-500$.. but they will install free. I figure I would end up buying some door speakers with the tweeters to go in the factory tweeter location - and an 8" or 10" sub + amp - whatever they recommend and is cheaper to be mounted behind the seat in the car.

I've searched, and read many system setups in this forum and others.. but most are more than what I need or want. Back in highschool I ran 2 JL audio 12" subs.. and I just don't want that kind of bass anymore.

Think of my needs/wants of sound like a premium upgraded sound system in any car you buy that has an 8" factory sub in it. Be it a Lexus LS400, the Solstice I mentioned (cause I previously had that car).. etc.


Thanks you guys..

 

Seems to me like you answered all your questions in your original post.

 

Hehe.. No not really.

I'm looking for some input/feedback.

My original thread was about using the MB-Quart 6.5's I have that are 15+ years old. They are too deep to fit in the 350z doors stock.

With this I am asking what would you guys recommend in my budget range?

I possess the headunit already.. everything else will be bought.

An example answer would be like:

"Ok, well you can't expect much from a $350ish budget, but you can get a JL W0 10" sub for $90 bucks here.. and it's freeair... so it will fit in the stock location. For your mids and highs, I would go with this (insert brand) pair of speakers which have 6.5" mids that mount in the door and are slim design magnet so fit the 350z, and have separate tweeters that fit in the factory tweeter slots by the windows/mirrors."

Get what I'm saying?

I'm just after like a "good" factory sounding system that comes with an 8" sub type of sound -- Which is why the budget is so low at around $350.

I also asked .. should I just go into an audio shop locally and get them to recommend me some speakers and amp(s) and go that route, even though the markup is substantial?

Basically -- I'll need to buy:

1 sub (8" or 10")

1 amp (to run the two front speakers, and the one sub).

Front speakers (mids + highs).

That's it.

I don't see any reason I need to run 4 or 6 speakers like the factory has in it. I think two good 6.5" mids in the doors, and separate tweeters that come with them in the factory tweeter slots + small sub would fill the cabin just fine.

That make my question any more clear?

 

You're right, many Z owners don't replace the rear speakers because there really is no need to.

This will solve your "lack of space" problem in the front doors: http://www.zenclosures.com/Nissan-In...infinitisp.htm

I made some myself using the stock speaker as a guide but that's a simple solution.


For the optimal audio setup, I would contact Toby Broadfield. He has been a long supporter/sponsor on Zilvia.net (http://zilvia.net/f/off-topic-chat/4...roadfield.html) and although he specialized in custom gauge clusters his other passion is car audio.

Here are his two sites:

http://broadfield.wordpress.com/car-audio/

http://www.broadfieldcustoms.com/

Toby is amiable, helpful, and professional. I think e-mailing or calling him would be the best option to get the most bang for your buck.

 

Thanks for the link.

I can up the budget to $500. That gives us more headroom to work with.

Remember.. I have Headunit already installed.

I only want a single sub,.. and some front speakers. So 3 speakers, and an amp essentially.

Purpose: Clean sounding music, with sub to blend in for good bass note, but not to impress the cars next to me.. or to be heard a mile away.

So 8" JL audio sub or 10" JL audio sub is fine. Nothing bigger, I want to keep the response time and punch of the smaller sub.

Remember I DO have a set of MB Quart $400-500 coaxial 6.5" speakers (tweeter on top of the Mid)...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/111739693@N04/11445848745/

I measured them in a different way, from the BACK of the plastic edge that you screw in.. to the bottom of magnet.. and it measured 2.5 inches. Will that fit? (I see the spacer link.. but I heard 2.5" fit in the Z (but that is maximum)..

If those fit.. and they will with the spacer.

Then all I need is an Amp, Sub and some sort of enclosure for the Sub.

List is getting shorter.

Surely $500 or less can do that?

I'm not game for installing myself,.. but if it comes down to it and no one can install 3 speakers for a hundred or so .. I'll just have to start experimenting and ripping apart the inside of the car to install..

Let me make it easy:

Sub -- let's just say I want JL audio for sub.. Which one would you recommend for the cheapest money but still is decent quality? I don't think JL makes anything that is crap do they?

The MB-Quarts need minimum 70watts RMS per speaker -- so a 75w x 2 would need to be on them. I'd like a single amp to run the sub and two fronts.. but two amps is fine if it's cheaper.

So let's pretend the MB Quart fronts fit, and I"m locked onto JL for sub. That just leaves what brand of amp.. and what exact AMP of that brand to buy?

That can't be too hard.. fairly specific.

I'll Probably go with a JL 10" sub.. because the box options for them are SO much broader. So let's say this sub:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_13610W0...5746505&awdv=c

JL 10" W0 model. Uses 75-300watts RMS.

+

The MQ Quart Coaxials I have already that need basically 70-75watts RMS per speaker.

What amp could run those three speakers properly.. and for the right price?

We'll start there..

Thanks!