MSGarrett1

OK, so I got my Z back from the audio installers a couple of days ago. My audio goals were to produce a "from the factory" looking installation w/ excellent sound quality and imaging for under $5,000.00. To accomplish this goal, I purchased all the audio components from Nazar or off the internet. Then, I had a professional car audio store do the installation. I couldn't find any retail car audio outlet w/ better prices than Nazar, and for the components Nazar didn't carry, I found great prices on the internet.

OK so here were my audio equipment choices: Alpine DVA-7996 (DVD, CD, MP3), Alpine TME-M760 screen, Metra dash kit (computer color-matched painted to match the dash surround--PERFECTLY), JL 500/5 amp, Diamond audio S600s up front installed in the factory locations w/ minor mods, Diamond audio M361Is in the rear, 2 JL 8W3v2's in the Nazar fiberglass enclosure, and finally Dynamat underneath it all.

Here are my initial impressions: Very Good, but not PERFECT. I am very PICKY about how music should sound, and the midrange/midbass is not what it needs to be. Of couse I haven't yet programmed the digital-time delay feature, or done any EQ'ing w/ the amp and headunit. Still, I'm pretty sure I will have to have custom "Q-form like" speaker pods built in the current front door speaker grill location to bring the 6" midrange out from behind that door panel. I think that door panel is killing the imaging and the midbass. I'll let yall know.

OK so on w/ the pics:

MSGarrett1

Here's the silk tweeters in the stock location--very nice sounding. Almost too bright.

MSGarrett1

Here's a close up of the headunit. It's the metra kit, computer-color matched painted to match the surround dash. The picture does not do it justice. It looks PERFECT--from the factory. This is the Double-din trim piece--not the one with the pocket underneath. This trim piece allows a truely flush installation of the headunit. Underneath is darkened plexiglass, where a Z logo is going to GO.

MSGarrett1

Here's the stock looking area behind the seats.

MSGarrett1

Here's what's behind the driver's side panel:

MSGarrett1

Here's the stock looking "glove compartment" behind the passenger's seat":

MSGarrett1

Here's what's underneath the "false-floor":

MSGarrett1

Here's the CD changer in one of the bins. And yes, for those of you who were still wondering, it IS possible to fit a CD changer in this location and still have the factory bin close with the normal factory mechanism. But it's a tight fit.

MSGarrett1

Here's some of the Dynamat underneath it all: "you want to love me underneath it all" Sorry I had a No Doubt moment.

MSGarrett1

Here's the subwoofer enclosure built by Nazar with the grill on. You can't see the subs behind the grill in real life, but the flash allows you to see them in the picture:

MSGarrett1

Here's the subs with the grill off:

MSGarrett1

Here's the back of the sub enclosure. It really fits flush. And the vinyl color matches the plastic of the rear-strut brace very, very well. Good job, Nazar.

MSGarrett1

Here's the battery compartment w/ the RF fuse

bbixby

Sweet install! I love the clean look of the head unit. Did you have Metra kit painted or did it come that color? If painted, please tell us how it was done - also about the smoked plexiglass. That is the kit I want.
Enjoy!

03_ppw350z

iTrader: (4)

hey nice install i saqw the car in person at custom sounds and it look good.

Apexi350z

iTrader: (3)

did the Dynamat help that much? did they Dynamat the side as wel or just the bottom spare tire area? Thanks!

JZC

Nice setup!

Stone Z

I'm a little confused about this? I really like the flush look of the Alpine H/U in this setup w/the double-din piece. Using the metra kit, is this possible without having to add the plexiglass piece underneath? If the plexiglass wasn't there, would there just be a hole?

MSGarrett1

Sorry . . . . I've been away from a computer for a while. This is the Metra kit. The kit comes with two different face plates for the very front. One is a double-din face plate (designed for those with two single din unit installations), and other is designed for a single din unit w/ a pocket on the bottom. Even though I have a single din unit, I liked the look of the double din trim ring. It allowed my installer to truly flush the headunit, and to put that dark plexiglass on the bottom . . . it looks better than the pocket IMHO.

The kit comes black ABS plastic. It was painted to match the interior. I know the installers took the center dash piece, after they disassembled the interior, to a paint store where they computer scanned/took a picture of this center piece, and then the computer made a paint mixture to match this color. The final color worked PERFECTLY. I know they do this at places like HOME DEPOT, but if you like I can ask my installers exactly where they took it to match the paint, if you like. The plexiglass is available at many places, all you have to do is measure and cut it to fit the single din opening, plus 1/18" all the way around to have room to glue it to the back of the Metra trim ring.

MSGarrett1

Thanks man. Overall, I'm very happy with the work they did at custom sounds. I kinda left the store a little pissed when I picked it up, b/c they skipped one step I had asked be done. But overall, I must say they did quality work.