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Budget building with room for upgrades

I've been reading and researching my options to upgrade the stock sound system in my '15 Nismo for a few weeks and came up with the following plan. The idea

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Old 04-18-2016, 05:36 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Budget building with room for upgrades

I've been reading and researching my options to upgrade the stock sound system in my '15 Nismo for a few weeks and came up with the following plan. The idea is to come at it with decent quality a step at a time, leaving room to expand to accommodate a different HU + backup cam, maybe some new tweeters or a set of components.

-Cerwin Vega 104 - 10" 300w RMS sub (had this already)
-Smallish truck box to fit below the support bar
-Lanzar OPTI6PM set, already installed
-Precision Power P900.4 amp under the seat
-PAC LOC

Since I am not so sure I could push those stock tweeters very hard with the amp, I am thinking of throwing those on the HU front channel. Then use the LOC to the AMP off the rears with the Lanzars on the first 2 channels using the other 2 bridged for the sub tuned down appropriately so I'm not over powering the 300w RMS sub with 450w RMS. Does this sound decent? I thought of returning the Lanzars and going for a set of components right out of the gate, but they're already installed as I didn't really think I could find a decent 4ch amp for under $200.
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Old 04-18-2016, 06:19 PM   #2 (permalink)
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sounds reasonable enough
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Old 04-20-2016, 12:47 PM   #3 (permalink)
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After checking out the wiring diagram for the head unit, it doesn't look like the rears are connected to any pins. Might just splice in the LOC to the fronts and just have a powered sub until I pick up a new head unit unless anyone has any better idea!

Edit:
I could run the amp in stereo mode and run the fronts off out of channel 1/2, but adjusting the level becomes an amp task which isn't necessarily a bad thing. What does anyone think?

Last edited by brewops; 04-20-2016 at 12:54 PM.
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Old 04-20-2016, 11:59 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Update.

Mostly done. Decided to not drill through the molex and instead use the grommet that's kinda behind it for the door speakers. Unfortunately in my infinite wisdom I tried poking a hole in the passenger side one and instead it (obviously) dropped into the frame space along with the nail I was trying to use...Guess I'll be getting some magnetic retrievers and pickup tools tomorrow. Learned my lesson and removed the grommet on the driver side, then poked the hole and fed it all through which was easy. Audio feeds go down the center console to the rear, sub in the trunk feed coming from under the carpet mat.

Power feed goes through behind the battery and along the passenger running boards. Amp is going behind the passenger seat for now. Seems to fit decently but with the Recaro seats there isn't much room above the amp so it might need to move depending on heat.

Ofcourse when trying it out, it looks like I might have a bad RCA cable. Such is life.
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Old 04-22-2016, 08:37 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Got everything back together last night, but wasn't able to get the nail or grommet out. Oh well I guess, I don't hear them when driving around so it's nbd. The sound though is going to take some more tuning. Those Lanzars sure can blast and the stock headunit is no help when trying to EQ those + the sub. Hard not to get everything sounding washed out unless I push full spectrum to the Lanzars and turn everything waaaay down. Then I loose lots of the bass those can put out so I'm in a tight spot sound wise. Stock tweeters are real POS, so now I'm kinda wishing I went full components on these.

Anyone have ideas for a set of tweeters that might sound good with these Lanzars or should I give up hope, bail and buy a set of components?
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Old 04-22-2016, 09:48 AM   #6 (permalink)
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Any low end tweeter should due until you buy a new set.
I would go with something cheap like this.
Pyle PLST6 1/2" Neodymium Tweeter Pair
They may not sound awesome. But will be better then no tweeter.
I have installed low end tweeters like this. Most times they are loud and harsh.
What I have done in the past is to buy 2 sets and run them at 8 ohms. Or you can build a custom crossover.
You can also point the tweeter away from your ear.
Most times you can make them sound ok
I have never used the tweeters I linked, just for reference.
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Old 04-26-2016, 06:43 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elaras View Post
Any low end tweeter should due until you buy a new set.
I would go with something cheap like this.
Pyle PLST6 1/2" Neodymium Tweeter Pair
They may not sound awesome. But will be better then no tweeter.
I have installed low end tweeters like this. Most times they are loud and harsh.
What I have done in the past is to buy 2 sets and run them at 8 ohms. Or you can build a custom crossover.
You can also point the tweeter away from your ear.
Most times you can make them sound ok
I have never used the tweeters I linked, just for reference.
Thinking I might be better off returning the Lanzars and going with something like the Polk DB6501 components or something else $200ish or less. Return will cost $15 in shipping so I'll get $75 back out of the $90 that I could apply to these. Anyone have thoughts? Amp runs 145w rms, but I can tune that down with a DMM so I don't blow anything I bet (roughly) but I'd like to end up with some better sound here. Really I bet I need a new HU but I'd like to jump in with an android auto unit w/ backup cam so thats $800ish right there retail.

Last edited by brewops; 04-26-2016 at 08:01 PM.
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Old 04-28-2016, 06:48 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Cross posted to caraudio.com asking about components, but I've seen lots of rave reviews for Image Dynamics CTX65cs. A vendor over there said they are going to replace them soon so I can get in at $150 shipped. Other recommendations have been:

JBL ms62
Focal 165VB
JBL P660C
Incriminator Audio I65c
Polk MM's

I'd like to keep the components around $200 ish I suppose. Any opinions at all? Might just pull the trigger on the CTX65cs since I have to decide soonish but I don't want to make a poor choice and hate myself later...
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Old 04-29-2016, 07:18 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Go with the Focals, glad to hear you're upgrading your speakers. The ID's I would hands down recommend over and over though for their price point.
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Old 04-29-2016, 10:48 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Damn, only finding those Focals at $279 ish now...
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Old 04-29-2016, 12:01 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brewops View Post
I have to decide soonish but I don't want to make a poor choice and hate myself later...

The only way to make sure you get what you want. Is to go listen to them.
Everyone likes something different.
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Old 05-28-2016, 02:02 AM   #12 (permalink)
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For the Lanzar OPTI6PM, what kind of spacer did you use? I was thinking of getting 1 from zenclosure but I can't find the mounting hole diameter for these speakers.
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Old 05-28-2016, 02:37 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gibzki View Post
For the Lanzar OPTI6PM, what kind of spacer did you use? I was thinking of getting 1 from zenclosure but I can't find the mounting hole diameter for these speakers.
Just built one quick from 3/4 MDF. Took the stock speaker out and traced it for a fit. Pretty easy to do unless you want to buy plastic ones.

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