Dream2Reality

iTrader: (1)

Well, it's been over a year in the making and a large part is done. All credit and accolades for the setup and install go to Jason Barreca ("Slick"). He fit me into his INSANE schedule, and put up with my insane amount of emailing for the past 16 months or so. He's been extremely patient, and very helpful in planning this car, both visually and sonically.

Now on to the show (note: Car looks even BETTER in person)

The car:
http://users.drew.edu/fchiarel/350.jpg

HU Shots:
http://users.drew.edu/fchiarel/350zdash.jpg
http://users.drew.edu/fchiarel/350zdashsmall.jpg
http://users.drew.edu/fchiarel/350zhu1.jpg
http://users.drew.edu/fchiarel/350zhuside.jpg

Kickpanels (note that NO foot space was lost):
http://users.drew.edu/fchiarel/350zkickpanels.jpg
http://users.drew.edu/fchiarel/350zkick2.jpg

X-over:
http://users.drew.edu/fchiarel/350zxover.jpg

EQ's:
http://users.drew.edu/fchiarel/350zfalse.jpg
http://users.drew.edu/fchiarel/350zeq.jpg
http://users.drew.edu/fchiarel/350zxovereq.jpg

Amps:
No pics yet, but they're nothing TOO special yet. Will post soon.

<B>The sound:</B>

Imaging:

Height:
First thing I said when I heard the car was that I can't believe the height from kicks. I never truly heard kicks that didn't sound like speakers in the front corners. But I swear (and so does everyone who has heard them) that they're above the dash, and can go as high as 1/2 way up the a-pillars if you tilt your head back a bit.

Width/left & right seperation:
Truly the entire width of the dash. There is always a clear left and right channel, which runs aaaaaaall the way to the left and the right. On a few Jazz CD's I have you can clearly hear that only the sax/piano are to the left, and the bass/drums are to the right. There is even a bit of imaging from the passenger seat, withOUT any time alignment whatsoever. J spent some time with the phasing, and I could not be happier. Again, I am amazed.

Center image:
Very, very very good, especially given that there is no time alighnment. You don't get the idea that the music is just coming from the doors; on most tracks, the focal instrument/voice is in the middle, with instruments around it. Could be better on some tracks, but hard to tell if it's just the recording, and damned if I can really expect more without getting into dash pads, T/A, etc.

Clarity:
NO distortion, NO hissing, NO complaints, period. Definetly a credit to the strong installation and very good equipment. Could not be better.

Tonality:
Some tuning to do in the mid-range, but overall extremely good for coming out of the box. One thing I must say...I was planning to use 8's, but J could not fit them (with my budget at least), so I went with the ir6. I never...NEVER...heard drums sound so good. That midbass is simply amazing to me. Not too heavy in the low end, and blends seemlessly with the midrange. I've got some tuning, and an unexpected resonance on the grill of the ir3, but I'm very very happy. They also only have about 12 hours of use, so as they break in I'm sure I'll be happier and happier.

So that's stage one. Stage 2 will be a fancy install and the Max'es in a 'glassed enclosure like you have never seen in a 350z. But all that's a few months away. Until then, stay tuned ladies and gentlemen