This is probably a little similar to the iPod/Car Stereo thread, but figured I'd do a new one up since I'm looking for some suggestions. Yes, I am asking you dorks (don't worry, I am by far the biggest dork) for your expertise. I've decided which car I want to get at the end of December. I know that's a ways away but this was a big decision to me since I will want to keep the car for quite a while. It was between the new Lancer Evo, Impreza STi, RX-8, G35 Coupe and 350Z. I have decided on the 350Z track. The others, especially the Evo were very good cars but something about the Z was just more - me. Here is the funky part. Alex_1 = part "rice-boy". Not necessarily performance wise - I definitely can't talk the talk like some of you guys (OGHT, Foos). All I really want to do is put in a kickin' custom sound system. I'm probably gonna put some real dough into it - well over a couple grand. The Track comes with a standard little stereo, which is fine. I want to have an iPod easily accessible to it, and some good speakers, amplifier, etc. without it being the sort of obnoxious noise machine that the wiggaz cruise around with. Any of you guys do this stuff? What sort of system, names, etc. should I look for for this type of car? If it helps, I'm like a Jekyll and Hyde with my music tastes. I love smooth jazz, bossa nova, and pure Italian bossa. But on the wild nights, I listen to loads of House and trance and nothing wrong with some alternative. Lookin' for something that can be clear with the live musicians, and thumpin' with the pumped up tunes. Thanks!
Finally, we agree! But unfortunately I am not a dork and I can't help you here. Sorry, maybe another time.
I have a friend who does this for a living. He basically flies around the world, sits in luxury cars, and develops and tunes high end car stereo systems for factory installation in luxury cars. Theoritically, high-end factory installed sytems should be what you want, because they are customized and optimized for that model of car. Someone like my friend, probably also with a graduate degree in electrical engineering, used some very expensive equipment and a lot of man hours to tune it. I took a quick look at the 350Z- the touring model comes with a 7 speaker Bose system. Unless you want window rattling bass, it should be good enough. That Bose system is possibly better equipment than your home system; it's certainly setup better than your home system.
You're friend has an awesome job! That's what I was thinking - but I don't think the Bose system is in the Track model... I'm sure there might be a way to request it. 7 speakers in that car though has to be pretty potent since it's just a 2 seater anyway. I wonder though what the wattage would be, and if I'm on the highway with the windows down, how it would hold up. I was worried about that part too - if I add a non factory stereo and the quality of it - I figured that it would have to be professionally (ie much $$$$) done to have it sound right. I don't really want extreme rim rattling bass, just very clear with a boost in case I do listen to something like house or trance. What I was also worried about was integrating the iPod in it and how that would work since I didn't buy the iPod yet - I saw in the other thread the person had to use one of those cd to tape things to have it placed. I wouldn't really want that - hopefully it could be a compatible stereo where I would just plug it in and the sound would work right.