Very nice install! You can't go wrong with Zapco and Dynaudio... good choices!

But aren't you running an EQ of any sort? Might be worth looking into if not and you don't find the response to be perfectly to your liking. The frequency response of any car stereo is almost never flat without some sort of EQ work being done. Car interiors are just so oddly shaped, it's hard to get all those waves bouncing just right.

Did your shop test the system with an RTA to see what sort of response it's getting? Might be interesting to see, especially if you aren't EQing the system. Zapco and Dynaudio are truly awesome components (I use them to!), but as great as they are, a car's interior is such a hard soundspace to work with that you still might want to consider some EQ. Of course perfectly flat response isn't necessarily the *best* response for any given person, but it's a good place to start and then tweak it to your own tastes.

Check out the signal processing section of this system a friend of mine installed in his car:
http://www.spintronic.com/images/aud...processing.jpg
He used actual rack-mount studio stuff. Very cool.

 

nice

 

I'll have to ask them about that. An EQ will definitely be the next step if I can't get it to sound "just right" after speaker break-in. I was trying to avoid one mainly for the $$. Right now, if I turn the sub down a little, then boost the bass just on the head unit, I find the sound is really good - it gives just a little midbass punch which helps mix stuff together.

But, I'm actually just running everything flat right now for a week or so, so that I can get a feel for the basic response of the car. After that I'll tweak it.

What brand EQ is that? I can't quite make it out and don't recognize it.

 

nate-
It looks incredible. I'm glad that it was worth it - sound/looks/pimp factor...

 

Hey, the amp says "350" too. You planned that didn't you?

 

Where did you get those kickpanels? Are they completely custom, or did you start with the stock panels and add the area for the speakers? How did you get the texture etc, to match? They really look stock as you said, sweet.

 

They custom fabricated them. If you look thru the pics, you'll see two of them framing the panels with MDF, and then using fiberglass + bondo to mold the shape.

The installer, Chad, went out and searched for vinyl that matched the color and texture of the interior plastic, and then used that to finish the panels.

They charged me $500 to make the panels, which I think was an awesome deal given how well they match everything.

 

The install looks great. Not to be picky, but in the first pic, the amp doesn't look centered... maybe it's the camera angle, but it looks a little off... The kicks looked like they were the factory pieces built out. Do you ever accidentally kick the driver's one when shifting?

 

Wow. I must say from the pictures a VERY impressive install. I should put these guys on my list of good SD installers.

Congrats Nate, can't wait to hear it in person!

Is this a unique install? i.e. do they plant to use the same install design + cost on other Z's if requested? Or was your a special deal ( I think 5 grand was super reasonable for the amount of work and care they put the project ).

 

I believe that stuff is USD... which is made by Rane, isn't it? Not sure. The bottom two units are each 1/3 octave EQ units (they are one channel units, so you have to have one each for the left and right channels), and the top unit is his *extremely* adjustable crossover unit.

For a more reasonable approach (and for stuff that's actually made to go into a car), check out AudioControl stuff. Very high quality stuff, and not super expensive.
http://www.audiocontrol.com

 

Yeah, it's just the camera angle. Everything's centered nicely.

You're right, they're based on the factory trim panels. So, far no problems kicking them. They're about as unobtrusive as you can get. The only thing they block is the dead pedal somewhat, but you can still get to it. Even though the back looks pimp, probably the thing I'm happiest with is the kicks - they really came out great and the imaging is awesome!

 

Thanks. So far it sounds really good - at the next Z meet in SD I'll make sure to show up and you can hear it!

Yeah, this was all custom. I'm sure they'd be willing to do something similar for others, but it's not like they have a template to cut-and-paste from or anything. It was all the installer Chad's brainchild, so he gets all the credit.

Since the cost varies depending on the components you get, etc, it's hard to say how much they'd charge others. It worked out to about $2000 for parts and $3000 for labor. That's a really exceptional deal on the Dynaudios + Zapco + IDMAX + wiring, so your best is just talk to Skip (one of the owners) and see what he'll do. They have everything: Focal, McIntosh, Eclipse, Alpine, etc, etc....

 

Hey i didnt catch what state you're in. I'm in FL, too bad I have a feeling youre not. Anyone know any really really good installers in FL (tampa/gainesville?)

 

nizl.... your install is awesome. i'm planning something similar, and if you don't mind, i'd like to ask you about the stock headunit. the guys that are doing my install seem very experienced- it's an independent shop in Hoover, AL, however they say they're a little skiddish about using the bose HU because of the extremely low output signal common to all bose HU's. they said they'd be more than happy to try a few options, but quality may not be so great. to get to the point, how did the guys tap off your HU? You said with RCA jacks.... is that all? Apparently no problem with sound quality according to your post. any info would be greatly appreciated....

hoss

 

Hey Nizl . . . could you please post the manufacturer and color name for the vinyl that was used in your install so that we may benefit from the research time/expertise of your installers? Thank you in advance. Sweet install. Excellent taste in components. It must absolutely rock!

 

Nate,

In the immortal words of the late, great "Butthead".............

"That is the greatest thing I have ever seen"


Dude, that system is the ****! After all the time and research you put into it, you actually spent more time than your installer and you deserve just as much credit to the creative process. I hearby pronounce this system design as the "Pimpified-Nizl" system setup

 

USD EQ's, they are seperate 30 band EQ's (1 per side), the company is based out of Cali, and has made hugh end car audio stuff for a long time, they made the first set of horns like what ID sells. The EQ's are based on studio EQ's, but for the car, similar to Rane or something like that.... This is what I know, I have not kept up with car audio for 5 years (got into home stuff), so someone correct me if I am wrong....

 

Actually, they wound up having to use line converters. I forgot to question him about what the reason was, but they tapped into the high-level outs and then just stuck them thru the converters.

Sound is good, the only thing I've noticed is there is background hiss at the start of tracks. However, to be honest this could just be the speakers recreating the tape hiss from the recordings, as it varies in loudness from CD to CD. I'm going to listen to it for a few months and then decide if I need to replace the HU (but really like the stock look)....

Here are the line converters, installed behind the HU:

 

Ooooo - good question! I will have to follow up on this. I'll ask him and get back to you. In direct sunlight it's slightly too light. In normal light it's a really good match. So, you may want to go a shade darker. The texture is great, though.

Thanks for the compliments,yeah, it sounds pretty good.

 

thanks a million for the info... big help. i know what you mean about the appearance of the stock HU. it will have to sound pretty bad to get me to dystroy the clean look...

hoss