Stereo & Navigation

From Zwiki

Intro

Welcome to the Nissan 350Z and Infiniti G35 Stereo portal. This page is mean to help you find everything you need to know about the stereo and potential upgrades. We have chosen not to include specific information regarding aftermarket components, and have designed this page to only include Z/G related information.

Learn about the Bose Sound System.

Upgrade Suggestions

How do I get the best audio system for my Z?

The Z is obviously a small platform therefore great care must be used when planning out your audio system. First look around the boards and see what has been done before. This will allow you the benefit of others experience and comfort with the fact that the system does work together. The best way to design a system is a rather straight forward approach. There are plenty of threads in the Car Audio forum to keep you busy for awhile.

Define Your Goal
It is important to decide what you want to achieve. There are generally two approaches to car audio:

SPL -Sound pressure level means LOUD. This is best reserved to competition uses and/or show. Daily audio sound quality will be inferior as this approach is designed strictly for loudness.
SQ -Sound quality is ideal for a daily driver and if done correctly, can be very loud and clear.

These two approaches are not mutually exclusive there are many loud SQ cars and many great sounding SPL cars but most people will have a priority of one over the other.

Budget
This should be self explanatory but realize that the costs of installing a system can be 40% of component prices or more. For example 2 gauge wire for amp leads can run $4 a foot (approx. $48 in the Z) not mention Sound Deadening ($90 bucks for a door kit), power distribution blocks ($25 per unit), installation kits, etc..... Predefining your budget will go along ways towards keeping wasteful or redundant spending to a minimal, plus you can avoid the error of running $40 speakers on a $800 amplifier.

Installation
Third Determine if this will be a self install or a "Professional" install. Working on your Z can be very rewarding and with regards to audio a basic tool set combined with patience and research will allow you to install just about anything yourself. The benefit of a professional install is primarily liability (the installer has to replace the dash when he destroys it) and experience. If you are unsure as to the difficulty of an install ask around on the boards , there are numerous people who would be glad to help you out.

Space Concerns
Determine how much space you are willing to give up and where. Lots of people have installed subs under the rear crossbar or used the spare tire well as a sub enclosure. This may work for you but realize that the Z is very tight on storage and if you have a Roadster it is doubly so. Creativity and money can overcome numerous space issues but at the end of the day a subwoofer still requires a certain amount of volume to play to it's full capability.

Discuss
I would suggest that anyone planning an install write down your ideas and post them on the board. While seemingly simple you would be amazed at the amount of information out there and the experiences of others may save you time and money in the long run.

Shopping
Sixth Shop around while your local A/V retailer may have the best price but you will not know that until you look. Several online retailer run specials on equipment and generally have good selections. The catch phrase with any internet purchase is Buyer Beware. While most retailers are respectable business people who have great intentions there are still numerous people who do not. Ask other if there experiences have been good look at their ratings and if all else fails err on the side of caution.

Following these steps will not guarantee you the best system in the world but not following them will guarantee the process to be more difficult than it has to. Remember there is no replacement for education reading and asking questions is the single most important step you can make.

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