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Do i need a change head unit for better sound quality?

Hey everyone, its my first time buying a sound system for my car, im totally confused, i usually research every topic before doing any mod on a car, but this

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Old 09-27-2015, 12:47 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Do i need a change head unit for better sound quality?

Hey everyone, its my first time buying a sound system for my car, im totally confused, i usually research every topic before doing any mod on a car, but this topic is just so broad

So i went to avenue sound in ny, and he said he would replace my 4 speakers with hertz speakers add an amp and a subwoofer for 1200 plus labor, is that a reasonable price?

And the other question was, since i mounted my ipad mini in the area on top of the head unit, i never use the It(radio) no more , instead i use aux with the ipad so does changing the head unit from stock to something after market make a diffrence in the sound quality? Even though the sound is coming from the ipad from aux,
Do you guys think i should change the head unit at all?
I only want to change it if there is a great diffrence in sound quality

Thanks
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Old 09-27-2015, 09:31 AM   #2 (permalink)
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Is it a fair deal? Maybe. Need more info. You basically said I'm buying a Ford truck for 35k. Is it a good deal?

As for the head unit, from what I know, yes decent aftermarket unit will give better sound as its processors with be better even if the source of music did not originate from the head unit itself. To reference, think of your home entertainment system. If you have a decent sound system, it will play decent music no matter if the source of sound came from the TV, DVD, or blue ray.

However, how much better the sound quality will improve will depend on all of the equipment. You can have a pair of 1000$ focal and play on OEM unit and will probably only get marginally better sound. Add a good head unit and it will get even better but not great. Add an amp and you get god sound! Each piece piggyback on the other. Imo most important is speakers, then amp, then head unit.


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Old 09-27-2015, 10:08 AM   #3 (permalink)
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I'm sure spending a lot of money and installing complicated electronics is a fun hobby, but if ti's sound quality you're after, your money will be FAR better spent by starting on sound proofing. I have always been completely baffled by the amount of money people will spend and insstallation headaches they will endure on a new head unit, speakers, and speaker/subwoofer systems and put the stuff in a car like the 370Z with an amount of road noise that makes concerns about the stereo's total harmonic distortion pointless.
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Old 09-27-2015, 10:28 AM   #4 (permalink)
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I second MA Cool to a degree. Isolating good sound and bad sound is well with the effort.

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Old 09-27-2015, 10:39 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Agreed. Soundproofing is a must if your after SQ. Road noise aside, just killing resonations from various sources improves your sq, even if the car is sitting still. There's a reason why that stuff isn't cheap........And to the O.p, yes, change the HU.
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Old 09-27-2015, 12:23 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Speakers (including the enclosures) will make the greatest difference in how any system sounds. I'd see how I liked the sound after the speaker upgrade and additional amp before deciding whether or not to change the HU.

I agree with those above that say some sound-deadening will help a lot. The Z is a noisy car.
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Old 10-01-2015, 01:58 PM   #7 (permalink)
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