Audio help for a beginner?

StanceZ37

Hello everyone.. lets start off with the stats i guess you could call it.
I have a 370z 40th aniv with bose, no nav.
First i would like to say the bose is OK would like some better sound though..
what would you guys recommend doing changing? (speakers, amp, sub, tweeters, in dash dd, true gauge wire? etc) what should i change for better sound/bass overall? im not familiar with audio so i need as much help as i can get..
i would put a budget but this thread could also be useful to some other people.

RonRizz

All of the above, if budget allows, but I would start with line out converter, Amp and speakers. unless you're going balls to the wall, then trade L.O.C for processor.

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StanceZ37

so swap out the bose amp and bose speakers?? leave the sub? also what brands and what converter, amp and speakers would you recommend?

axmea?

^ What he said! Our bose system is a basic set up. Anything you swap out is an upgrade. I like Strada, Dynaudio, and Focal for speakers. Audison, Mmats, McIntosh, Zapco for amps (if you can find a pristine condition Art series PPI, Phoenix Golds, 1st gen Xtant, or HCCA Orions go for it). Choosing components is the easy part. Killing noise is the hardest.

Don't forget to add good cables to your budget.

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StanceZ37

i was thinking about the cables aswell. they probably arnt all that great maybe what 16awg?

SouthArk370Z

For finding the best speakers, you usually have to rely on recommendations from other people - unless you can afford to buy and swap out a bunch of drivers/enclosures until you find the "right" ones. RonRizz and the other audio gurus should be able to point you in the right direction.

For speaker wiring, there is no need for high-dollar "boutique" wire. A good-quality, multi-strand wire works great for car audio and all but the most demanding home systems. You can find charts that tell what size wire to use for a certain power level. From an electrical standpoint, the bigger the wire (the less resistance) the better but you run into problems routing the wire if you go too big.

You're never going to get true high-fidelity in a car so get whatever sounds good to your ears.

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StanceZ37

thank you =) like i said im a complete stranger to car audio so i need as much help as i can get.

Ronin06

To add to SouthArk370Z.

For a 10 foot run of wire.

W = VI

Using 12v as a baseline...

18 gauge is 0.064 ohms, max 16 amps, 192watts (factory)
16 gauge is 0.04 ohms, max 22 amps, 264 watts
14 gauge is 0.025 ohms, max 32 amps, 384 watts
12 gauge is 0.016 ohms, max 41 amps, 492 watts

What are your speakers rated for?

kenchan

I would start by changing the HU with something that has better EQ.

Like my pioneer sounds decent even with the base speakers.

Tadpole

Bose subs cannot handle any power so if you plan on upgrading remove the Bose system entirely. Get a good H/U and put some good components in. Hertz, Focal, Alpine, Pioneer. Get a decent size amp, 4 channel with a minimum of 50 watts RMS and a good sub. Also replace your 3-1/2's with better ones as well. You can rock out and not spend a ton of money in the process unless you want to.

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StanceZ37

so a complete overhaul. i figured it would have to happen from what people say about bose. If its ok me asking could you make a list of everything you would recommend getting. type of speakers, amp, sub, hu, tweets,?? brand name and type aswell that way i get an idea of what would be a good system to put in?

Tadpole

Our ears and tastes will be different therefore go to a audio shop and start listening and pick what you like. Get the best you can afford

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SouthArk370Z

The main problem you will have if you keep the Bose is that it uses a lot of non-standard parts - it's designed as a complete system, not mix-and-match parts. This can cause problems (eg, impedance mismatches) when you start adding in more conventional amps, speakers, eq, &c.

As far as specific brand/model recommendations, if you stick with the major brands, it's hard to go wrong. I like Tadpole's advice - let your ears be your guide. Keep in mind that it will not sound the same if you are not listening in a Z, but you should be able to get a good idea of which components sound best to your ears. Nowadays you can get good sound in a car without spending big bucks.

__________________
Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub
Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

StanceZ37

yea i understand and i thank you all for the great advice. i would just like to know what you guys recommend doing and what route i should take.. if you guys recommend a certain product then i can look into that and see if its something that i would like. that way im not walking into a store completely blind..

Nillaz

Head units are relatively easy to demo as they are widely available for you to walk into an audio shop and play with. I would recommend looking at Kenwood and Pioneer first.

Speakers can be a much more involved process as sound quality is so subjective and no shop could possibly carry or have available to demo all of your options. My personal preference is for Hertz but good luck finding a local dealer that doesn't have to special order them for you.

Before you even choose a sub you will have to sit down and think about what you want to achieve. Are you looking for the biggest boom you could get, or perhaps you want something a little more subtle? Are you prepared to trade trunk space for a sub box, or do need something more discreet? You will have to give the logistics of this some thought. Start your search with well known brands like JL and expand from there. Sometimes there are lesser known brands that can give you just as high a level of performance (or higher!) for less money.

Your selection of amps will be in part determined by the speakers that you choose since you will want to find one that will drive your speakers appropriately.

Hope this gives you some starting points to work with. Best of luck!