Not Happy with your Radio - Write This Guy

bluesun · 05-20-2004, 04:36 PM

Mark C. McNabb
Vice President
General Manager, Nissan Division

Po Box 4900
Fenton, MO
63026-9908

Why? Why not? A stamp won't kill you, and maybe it will do some good. Plus he is sending out marketing material on how great the thing is. Apparently they forgot how much power the internet has....

JetTech · 05-20-2004, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluesun

Mark C. McNabb
Vice President
General Manager, Nissan Division

Po Box 4900
Fenton, MO
63026-9908

Why? Why not? A stamp won't kill you, and maybe it will do some good. Plus he is sending out marketing material on how great the thing is. Apparently they forgot how much power the internet has....

how can he be a VP AND a GM? I've heard of playing multiple roles but it sounds like he's got an identity crisis...

Geoff · 05-20-2004, 04:55 PM

First post here...

I have followed the radio information with interest and because of the issues decide to get a SE with the popular package (non-RF) and do an aftermarket nav/DVD system rather than an LE with DVD and Nav as I can get a kick butt aftermarket system installed for the increase in cost.

My crew cab is at the audio shop now and things are going really well. Some comments on what I have seen...

- The XE base bezel does work very well to provide a nice 2 DIN opening.
- The factory speakers (again, popular with CD changer, non-RF) are utter crap. Paper cones, fabric/paper surrounds, weak magnets, "wizzer" cones on the mid ranges, etc. for all the speakers. While I did not expect much this was pretty low end (panasonic label with 20w of power handling).
- The install is pretty straight forward depending on how much you want to do yourself, lots of room in most locations for head unit, amps and speakers. The shop is using the factory locations all around to keep the stock look, but adding amps, a 8" sub box (under the 40 part of the rear seat) and converting the front 6x9s to 6'5" round openings as there are much better quality 6.5" speakers available than 6x9.
- I have looked at the radio box, but have no comments on the FM issue other than it sounded like crap for the bit I have driven it so far.

I should have pictures once it is done, including shots of the stock equipment.

Bottom line for me was that I kind of expected low end factory audio in all vehicles. I am a bit sad that I do and I wish that someone would do a real premium audio system OEM, rather than hide low cost or low quality components behind higher end names and badging.

BTW, I LOVE the truck.

So, if you are updating your audio, most definitely look to the speakers as part of the job (I am also not sure if the RF system updates the speakers).

If you have questions about my install, please ask.

My 2 cents,
Geoff

bestatchess · 05-20-2004, 05:01 PM

"(I am also not sure if the RF system updates the speakers)."

I am wondering about that also. Has anybody looked at the speakers on the RF system?

Also, I would be very interested in all of the details of your installation. I saw somebody else had mounted some amps in the space behind the rear seat. I thought that was a good idea. What do you think about that?

Geoff · 05-20-2004, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

Also, I would be very interested in all of the details of your installation. I saw somebody else had mounted some amps in the space behind the rear seat. I thought that was a good idea. What do you think about that?

I am also doing the amps behind the seat, lots of space and enough air flow. The nav unit is under one of the front seats but one could easily put a changer (I will be using my ipod) or amp there. They are building an amp box and putting in two alpine amps...

MRV-F540 powering all four component speakers
MRD-M300 single channel for the sub

The head unit is the Alpine IVA-D300 hooked to the Alpine NVE-N852A nav system

The speakers are all SPX-177A 6.5" component speakers to match front and rear.

Other than the custom sub box (simple), custom amp rack (also pretty simple to build) and front door mounts (MDF to close in the 6x9 hole to 6.5 with dynamat surrounding it) everything should be bolt in.

The techs were pretty impressed with the sturdiness of the titan (like the fairly solid inside of the door) and the straightforwardness (if that is a word) it was/is to work on it. They are taking is slowly as this is only the second one they have worked on though.

Should be done tomorrow. Really looking forward to it. =)

Geoff

VShortt · 05-20-2004, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff

I am also doing the amps behind the seat, lots of space and enough air flow. The nav unit is under one of the front seats but one could easily put a changer (I will be using my ipod) or amp there. They are building an amp box and putting in two alpine amps...

MRV-F540 powering all four component speakers
MRD-M300 single channel for the sub

The head unit is the Alpine IVA-D300 hooked to the Alpine NVE-N852A nav system

The speakers are all SPX-177A 6.5" component speakers to match front and rear.

Other than the custom sub box (simple), custom amp rack (also pretty simple to build) and front door mounts (MDF to close in the 6x9 hole to 6.5 with dynamat surrounding it) everything should be bolt in.

The techs were pretty impressed with the sturdiness of the titan (like the fairly solid inside of the door) and the straightforwardness (if that is a word) it was/is to work on it. They are taking is slowly as this is only the second one they have worked on though.

Should be done tomorrow. Really looking forward to it. =)

Geoff

I have several questions for you. I would like to install all of my equipment that I pulled out of my last truck, however several concerns have kept me from doing so. Maybe you can help. First of all, you said that the XE bezel does not do well with a double din size head unit. How about a single din and what is the problem with the double din. Second, it sounds as though you are actually putting speaker separates and not a two-way or three-way 6 1/2" speaker in the door. If this is the case (doing speaker separates that is) then are you having some sort of plate manufactured that will allow the tweets to face more in your direction in the stock location? Next, does your new head unit have independent controls for a center channel speaker? Just my two cents but if it doesn't I would omit power to this speaker entirely. Lastly, you mentioned an area to mount your amps. Were you talking about on the wall at the very back of the cab behind the rear seats?? Thanks in advance for answering all of my questions.

VShortt · 05-20-2004, 06:10 PM

I just re-read your post and it says that the bezel IS a good compliment to the double din head unit. Sorry.

bestatchess · 05-20-2004, 06:16 PM

"Lastly, you mentioned an area to mount your amps. Were you talking about on the wall at the very back of the cab behind the rear seats??"

Here is a pic showing amps behind seat:

http://kicker.com/HUShow.cfm?ID=55284

VShortt · 05-20-2004, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

"Lastly, you mentioned an area to mount your amps. Were you talking about on the wall at the very back of the cab behind the rear seats??"

Here is a pic showing amps behind seat:

http://kicker.com/HUShow.cfm?ID=55284

thanks bestatchess. I have seen that picture on this forum before but I did not realize what I was looking at.

Geoff · 05-20-2004, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VShortt

I have several questions for you. I would like to install all of my equipment that I pulled out of my last truck, however several concerns have kept me from doing so. Maybe you can help. First of all, you said that the XE bezel does not do well with a double din size head unit. How about a single din and what is the problem with the double din. Second, it sounds as though you are actually putting speaker separates and not a two-way or three-way 6 1/2" speaker in the door. If this is the case (doing speaker separates that is) then are you having some sort of plate manufactured that will allow the tweets to face more in your direction in the stock location? Next, does your new head unit have independent controls for a center channel speaker? Just my two cents but if it doesn't I would omit power to this speaker entirely. Lastly, you mentioned an area to mount your amps. Were you talking about on the wall at the very back of the cab behind the rear seats?? Thanks in advance for answering all of my questions.

I should have written the XE bezel DOES do well as a double DIN bezel (though I am only using one slot so check that it truly is a double DIN vice a 1.5 DIN). The part number originally listed in the other seemed wrong (after the nissan parts guy went to get the number off an XE he ordered the 000 part instead of the 200 part, last three digits that is).

The shop is using stock locations all around. We looked at mounting the tweets in the doors but the contour is not best for that unless you surface mount near your mids. We will knock the tweets down a few db in the cross over to account for brightness of the in the dash mounting. Another spot is in the large A pillar but we did not investigate this too much and decided to use the stock locations.

I never got the DVD from Nissan thus do not have a center channel and decided to only put a four channel system in as surround sound processing and the extra speaker were costly and not a priority for me.

Yes, the amps are being mounted on the back wall of the cab.

I will get some pictures posted tomorrow most likely so folks can see the install what the stock components look like.

For me I wanted to go for a very stock look and continue to keep functionality. Thus the stock speaker locations and the small sub under the left rear seat. One could go much bigger if they wanted to, as there is room in the doors and in the dash. Amps could go under seats and the sub box could be much bigger if you did not mind losing floor/seat room.

Geoff

Geoff · 05-20-2004, 08:04 PM

I do plan to write the Nissan GM as I was pretty disappointed in the overall quality of the radio and speakers. Sure 6 discs are great but I would rather pay for a better radio and speakers then fork over a bit more if I wanted to for the changer.

Just my two cents.
Geoff

VShortt · 05-20-2004, 08:08 PM

thanks for answering all of my questions. Sorry about the center channel thing. I do that every time I have a question and post it to the forum, that is assume that all of the trucks are outfitted exactly the same as mine. Clearly a horrible habit. Anyway, I can't wait to see what your install looks like. I too am a fan of the factory "look" upon installation completion. Mostly because of issues with theft. Are you having any sort of aftermarket alarm system installed as well?

Geoff · 05-20-2004, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VShortt

Are you having any sort of aftermarket alarm system installed as well?

No alarm here, but that is a good thought. I suspect the good theives would get in any way and laugh at the alarm but the casual guy might go to the next vehicle. =)

BTW, the head unit will obviously not look stock but the rest of the cab should with the exception of the sub box and a mount for my ipod.

Thanks for the questions.

VShortt · 05-20-2004, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff

No alarm here, but that is a good thought. I suspect the good theives would get in any way and laugh at the alarm but the casual guy might go to the next vehicle. =)

BTW, the head unit will obviously not look stock but the rest of the cab should with the exception of the sub box and a mount for my ipod.

Thanks for the questions.

The sub box should be obscured from view and the head unit does not necessarily suggest that the rest of the truck is loaded with premium equipment. I see people all the time that have expensive head units mated to the factory speakers because the head unit had the numbers (60 x 4) splattered all over the face of it. A marketing ploy that works well. Plenty of people bite. About the casual thief, the alarm means that that is one more person that you will not have to worry about taking your truck. BTW, what do you have for...head unit, sub, amps, speakers separates. You mentioned their locations, but no brands.

Geoff · 05-20-2004, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VShortt

BTW, what do you have for...head unit, sub, amps, speakers separates. You mentioned their locations, but no brands.

All Alpine (like their stuff and have had good luck with them in the past)...

Amps:
MRV-F540 powering all four component speakers
MRD-M300 single channel for the sub

Head unit: IVA-D300

Nav: NVE-N852A

Component Speakers: SPX-177A 6.5" front and rear

Custom sub box (under rear seat), amp rack (behind rear sear) and iPod mount (upper center dash).