From Nissan 350Z & 370Z Wiki
Upgrade Suggestions
How do I get the best audio system for my 350Z?
The 350Z 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 350Z) 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 350Z 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 350Z 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.
