I'm going to be buying a third generation Maxima in the next week or so. I do not know whether it will have the Bose system or not. Here's what I need to install regardless: Nakamichi CD-45z head unit, Focal 165 V3 component speakers (one 6.5", one 4", one 1.75") in the front, and probably some 6.5" coaxial speakers in the rear deck.
My questions are:
A) What is the best way to mount the Focal drivers up front?
B) How much should an installer charge for doing the mods?
C) What complications would the Bose system introduce?
D) Anything else I should know?

Nakamichi CD-45z: http://www.nakamichi.com/auto/cdplayers/cd_45.htm

Focal 165 V3:http://www.focal-america.com/catalog...lass/165v3.htm

 

your best best to install that speaker system is to put the 6.5 in the doors. Make sure the doors are completely sound deadened and the speaker is mounted on an mdf baffle. The rest should go into a custom kick panel. Head unit is also an excellent choice but keep in mind if you like to play a lot of cd-r's it might not be the best choice for you. That unit is famous for rejecting low quality and slightly scratched cd-r's. Also, you will need a separate amp or two to power those speakers as the radio will give you enough power to hear music, but nowhere near enough power to reach those speakers full potential. Also, whether you have a bose or non-bose system, it will have to be entirely removed in order to install those speakers.

Good luck.
What are you sub choices?

 

Sweetsound is correct in that you have to mount the drivers in the front door. There may be some cutting involved because the stock openings on the Active Speaker System (non-Bose) are 4x6 and the Bose are 4".

Like you, I am planning to upgrade my sound system in my 3rd Gen. Also like you, I am going to be running Focals for the front drivers. But instead of 6.5" drivers, I am going to run the 5.25" drivers and leave a lot of the mid bass chores to the JL Audio 6x9s (VR 690). The reason I chose the 5.25" drivers is that there will be no cutting involved in their installation. I am having kickpods installed to house the tweeters.

What kind of amp are you going to run with this setup? Originally, I was planning to run an a/d/s 640.2. But since a/d/s discontinued that amp, I found a better alternative in the JL Audio 300.4.

 

For amps, I've been looking to see if any local shops, or mail order/online places carry the McIntosh line... after I admit that I can't afford one of those, I'm likely to get one of Nakamichi's. Does anyone else have a strong recommendation for an audiophile-grade amplifier?
I'm not making a decision on subs until I hear how the car sounds without them... I'm after accurate reproduction, not loud bass, so I'm probably going to go with a pair 8" or 10" drivers. It'll probably be JL Audio, Kicker, Orion or Rockford Fosgate.
The Nakamichi is a must, it's got a 20-bit D/A converter... I've heard it's very sensitive too, which is probably due to the 8x oversampling. If anyone knows of any other head units with comparable quality (read: 20-bit D/A and above), I'd be interested in knowing.
I'd still like to know how much an installer will charge to have to do the mod for the 6.5" driver and the kick panels for the other drivers.

Thanks for all of your help.

 

I have a Sony CDX-C910 deck available for sale. It has dual 20 bit Burr Brown processors, controls Sony DSP units and changers, has a digital output, Motorized face etc.

I rank this deck right up there with the new Sony CDX-C90, the Nak CD-45Z, the older Clarion DRX-9255 and my favorite the Denon DCT-1000R.

Installing the door speakers would be about 1 hour labor, the kickapanels would cost you about $200-$300 for carpeted MDF panels or up to $500-$700 for fancier finishes like vinyl matching to your interior.

BTW take a look at the kicks I made for my 3rd gen Max recently. www.geocities.com/canuckamp/kicksetc.html