I've finally gotten finished replacing the Bose. I picked the car up from the audio shop last night.

I'm now bumping with a:
Kenwood KDC-MPV7019 HU (MP3s, CD/RWs, Sirius controller)
Kenwood Sirius Satellite Radio
Kenwood KDC-C717 10 Disc CD Changer
Infinity 605cs 6.5" Component Speakers (Front)
Infinity 505s 5.25" Speakers (Rear)
Pioneer TS-W3041DVC 12" Dual Voice Coil Subs
Rockford Fosgate 550X 4 Channel x 62.5w amp (For speakers)
Rockford Fosgate 700S 2 Chnanel x 350w amp (For subs)
Monster Power 1 Farad Cap (For subs)
Lightning Audio 4 Guage Power Wire
Lightning Audio 2 Line Power Distribution Box
Lightning Audio 8 Guage Power Wire
Lightning Audio 20' RCAs (A total of 3 sets)
Custom Designed Subwoofer Box (includes mirrors, plexiglass, and spare tire access)

And the following items are still on their way:
Kenwood KGC-9044 Equalizer
Nissan Nav Trim

Current pictures are available at:

http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/audioinstall.html

Comments/Questions are welcome. Rate my car and my new system at:

http://www.cardomain.com/id/studman

 

Very Sweet/clean install.

 

Looks nice... Me 2 coming sooon !!!

 

clean and very tight

 

Looks tight

 

Forget the install, Look at his stable of Nissans !

 

sweet

 

Where?

Anyhow, the stereo looks AWESOME!

 

studman, have you seen MY350Z.com?

http://www.my350z.com

 

His sig.

That install is one of the best I've ever seen... you kept the spare and a good amount of trunk space and it still looks awesome and I'm sure it sounds even better. Congrats!

 

hey, i jus' signed your guestbook. this is a great install, very clean! will be pickin' mine up on monday. peace!

n1cK!

 

Are you running that system with a Definitive Motorsports UDP? If so, any problems?

 

OKay, so are the rear speakers (5th gen) 5.25" or 6.5"?

 

Very clean install!

 

Thanks everyone for the comments.

VQracer: Yes. I am studman there as well. I don't frequent it as much because the Z is staying stock for now. The 02 Max is my primary mod car. But in due time, the other 2 will come along.

TRuFLiPpeR: Thanks. Glad to hear that you're finally getting yours too!

03BlkSETE: Yes, I am using the Definitive UDP. So far, I haven't noticed any problems, but I do have a 1 Farad Cap helping the sub amp out.

Maximum Velocity: The rears are definitely 5 1/4" speakers.

Maximamaybe: The subs are forward facing because I wanted them that way. I didn't choose to go for the SPL route. I chose to go overall sound quality. As when most people put in their system, they want volume. I like volume, but I also like to protect my ears too. I'm an audio engineer, so quality is always better than volume. However, if I want SPL, all I have to do is lower the back seat down. But with it up, it's comfortably balanced throughout the car... even better than the Bose was. That's the main reason that I didn't want them firing into the trunk.

 

They are 5.25" in my 2003...but I made a braket to fit my 6.5"s in there. Just 2 pieces of MDF glued & screwed and cut the shape of the factory space.

Studman - install looks awesome! What was the final cost anyway?

 

Now I know that I got ripped in some places, but I did it for certain reasons. For instance, the speakers will be removed and returned when the new models come out. So I paid more for a warranty with the speakers than if I had bought them on the internet. But I also get new speakers next year too!!!

What I Paid For (Over Time):
Rockford 700S (4 year warranty) - $500
Rockford 550X (4 year warranty) - $260
Rockford PunchLink - $26
Monster Cap - $150
Pioneer Sub #1 - $110
Pioneer Sub #2 - $110
Infinity 6.5" Components (2 year warranty) - $162
Infinity 5.25" Speakers (2 year warranty) - $49
Kenwood HU - $194
Kenwood CD Changer - $135
Kenwood Satellite Radio - Free (thanks .org)
PAC SWI-X - $59
Monster RCA cable - $49
Dash Kit - $20
Total For This Category: $1798.00 (rough guess)

What I Paid Them For:
Custom Sub Enclosure
Lightning Audio 4 Guage Amp Wiring Kit
Stinger 120 Amp Fuse And Holder
Stinger 4 Guage 2 Way Power Distribution Box
36" Amp Rack
Neon Tube #1
Neon Tube #2
Relay
Install Of All Door Speakers
Setup Neons to Only Activate When Trunk Is Open And Amps Are On
Install Cap
Tune System
Lifetime Warranty
Total For This Category: $800 (including tax)

What I Had Used Before This Install That Is No Longer Needed:
Monster 8 Guage Amp Power Kit - $50
R/T Box with Old Subs and MTX Mono Amp - $300
PAC AOEM-NIS2 - $80
PAC ROEM-NIS2 (Wires Only) - $15
Total For This Category: $445

What is on order to finish the overall system (for now):
Kenwood KGC-9044 Equalizer - $219
Nissan Nav Trim - $85
Total For This Category: $304

Total overall cost of the for system: $3,373.00 (+/- $50)
Money I'd have saved if I had done it all at once: $445.00
Total cost if I had done it all at once: $2,928.00 (+/- $50)

This seems like alot, but also understand that I did it over time. I couldn't stand to fork out that all at once. I'm still looking into getting an EQ, as well as changing the HU over to a DVD HU, but that'll still be a while. Because then I'll have to do TVs in the headrests, etc.

Also, the difference is that I designed the system for audio clarity, not volume. So some of the components were chosen not because they are the best (or the loudest), but because they complimented the rest of the system.

Edit: I forgot the PunchLink that cost $26. I added it in and updated the totals.

Edit 2: I'm including the prices for the rest of the stuff I've ordered. It's basically just finishing off the dash portion of the install. I'll post those pictures when I've got it all installed. I also updated the "stuff I don't use anymore" section to include the original purchases.

 

That doesn't seem like all that much. I paid about $2,000 for my system and I installed it myself. I don't have the custom box like you do in the trunk but it turned out nice. The great thing about stereo equipment is it lasts a while. You can throw most of the stuff in your next car. I'm tempted to do a false floor for the trunk but it took me months to get the system in as is...I really want to just enjoy it now!

But one question, what the hell do you do for a living to have 3 brand new cars and a kick a$$ system ....keep it up

 

I was thinking about doing that, but how does facing your subs inside the cabin sound as opposed to rear facing..

I have infinity's in my and SPLS are already intense... I don't want to lose the lows (since my subs hit 18HZ with ease)..

But i have absoluately no trunk space!

ED

 

Facing inward, they aren't as loud. However, the sound is direct, rather than a reflection off the back of the trunk. So the quality is nicer and cleaner, but the bass doesn't hit as loud (it hits just as hard) as it would if it were rear facing.

This is basically because when they are rear-facing, the trunk acts as another box, therefore increasing the loudness of the subs (continous reflections in the trunk help magnify the already-existing sound waves). But as with any box, you also lose fidelity. So when you've got your subs tuned to 24 Hz, and you face them forward, they hit at 24 Hz. But when you've got them tuned at 24 Hz, and you face them towards the rear, they hit at 20 Hz. This is because the trunk acts as another enclosure.

DISCLAIMER: These numbers are FOR EXAMPLE ONLY. You WILL NOT get 4 Hz lower bass by facing your subs to the rear of the car. Actual numbers WILL VARY.

 

Did you have to use a size adapter? If so, did you use the Bose adapter?

 

excellent job

 

That is nice!

 

No I didn't. The 5 1/4" speakers were direct replacements and fit nicely into the doors. As for the fronts, they were a little small, so I had to use a size adapter. As far as I know, there's not one specific for the Bose system. I just used a generic 6 3/4" to 6 1/2" adapter for the fronts.

 

<--- Profile says I'm a Network Engineer. But I'm also a government contractor, as well as an Audio Engineer. So I've got my hands into a little bit of everything. Oh, and I own my own Networking business too. That helps it a little. The 2004 was actually bought for business. The 2002 is my daily driver. The 350Z is for fun. I got good deals on them all, so I went for it.

 

Glad to see that someone is staying on top in this economy. It had me down for a little while, but I am back now.

 

Yea, I got beat up in the fall but doing much better now.

 

I had to take a job working for the POS company and hated every minute of it. I also made way less for a while then I thought I would ever have to make again. Finally got a contract job that pays me more like the old days when I could basically name my price. I hope things are coming back.

 

That system is hot!!!!! I like what you do with the amps!!!

 

Oh my god....that is one sick system. Looks like a lot of work went into it, but it was definately worth it. I'm definately lovin' it.

 

that is one clean install. i like it alot. but might i suggest that u relocate your cd changer. it kinda obstructs the view of your purdy trunk

 

Well, I'd move the changer if I had a place to move it to. It's just that the Greddy E-Manage is under my passenger's seat, it won't fit under the driver's seat or the glove box, and there's nowhere else in the trunk to put it. It was there before the box was built, so it'll stay there until I can find another home for it. I did hide the Sirius satellite radio tuner on the right side of the trunk behind the factory carpet trim, and the antenna is inside the car for a stealth look. The reception cuts out from time to time when I'm under trees, etc, but it's not that much of an annoyance to me.

I was thinking about asking the shop to make the rear wall have a door on it and hide the changer behind the door. I'll have to see what they say.

 

Nice taste in music too. Eric Clapton is the man!

 

are you talkin' about the wall where the jack would go if you were to have a second one? (driver's side) i was thinking that too, you could mount the changer vertically and just build a paffle around it and have an opening on a top so it'll look like a one step stair case. i'm not sure if u understand what i mean.

 

great trunk studman, i'm about to domy trunk very similar to yours, have a sub floor and an amp in the middle with my subs in the back w/ plex and mirrors. Plan on doin it over summer. Also, how much of the box has mirrors? all the sides or just top and bottom? thanks

 

Just the bottom has mirrors. The rest is spray painted blue. I don't know what it would look like if it was completely filled with mirrors, but it sounds interesting as well as a bit too much at the same time.