Speakers

Dave & Judy Kerr · Post by **Dave & Judy Kerr** » Sun Oct 13, 2002 12:47 am

Hello does anyone know where I can get some speakers from to fit into the
existing mounting areas on the doors.

Dave.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Sun Oct 13, 2002 7:25 am

Just about any approximately 165mm speakers will fit, although most have 4
mounting holes and the car has 3. I bought mine from Repco as they were open
on a Sunday and I thought they were better than similarly priced oned from the
warehouse. I paid about $70.00 for the pair. Obviously much better ones
available at greaer price, but they are good enough for me. I lined the
speaker up with one of the mountng holes in the car, then marked the position
of the remaining 3 holes. Removed the speaker and drilled the holes. I used
the largest self tapping screws that would go through the speaker holes. They
fit well, and the door covers fit as well. It would pay to check you can fit
the covers back on as some speakers with tweeters etc fitted will be too proud
of the door trim to allow the speaker grills to pop back on. The original
wiring connectors fitted too, so didn't have to re-do that.
Plenty of suppliers of speakers are out there such as Dick Smith, Repco, The
Warehouse, Jaycar etc Betta Electrical, Auto Electricians etc. Even in here
Blenheim I had no problem getting some. If you want good quality ones then try
a car audio specialist.
Some speakers have multiple mounting holes and will fit the 3 in the car, but
I couldn't find any in my (reasonably cheap) price range.

Grant in Sunny Blenheim.

Fletch · Post by **Fletch** » Sun Oct 13, 2002 9:15 am

The speakers from Jaycar have a zillion mounting holes to accommodate =
many different screw patterns.

They have some reasonable speakers that are about $65 for the pair, and =
some really nice ones that are $90 each... The more expensive ones have =
polymer cones, titanium dome tweeters, and sound as good as some =
name-brand speakers costing twice as much... (in my opinion)

Fletch.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Sun Oct 13, 2002 12:03 pm

I've got some pioneer 6" components that fit in perfectly as well. Paid
a little more than 70 buck tho

Scott.

Post by **zorruno** » Sun Oct 13, 2002 5:29 pm

Hi Dave

Not sure where you are, but Jaycar in Auckland cnr Boston Rd & Khyber Pass
always gets my vote for decent & well priced audio gear. (search for Jaycar
in the archives, and see how many times I've mentioned them!)

If you wanted to get into more expensive name branded speakers, I always
recommend Rapid Radio in Auckland.

h&c&z

Phil McArthur · Post by **Phil McArthur** » Sun Oct 13, 2002 6:44 pm

Clearly there are plenty of options for you! I was impressed by Paul Money
Stereos in Mt Eden if you are an Aucklander- the guy was most helpful and had
owned an MX himself. Recommended a pioneer speaker which fit the hole without
any extra drilling and was around the $70 mark once again.

Hello does anyone know where I can get some speakers from to fit into the
existing mounting areas on the doors.

Dave.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 3:39 pm

Not just in your opinion Fletcher, several nz/aus car audio magazines
have done comparisons with the jaycar brand of speakers and subs and
value for money they were leaps and bounds ahead of the rest and
mid-range for quality (that's compared with pioneer, kenwood etc).

Scott.

Aaron Hart · Post by **Aaron Hart** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 7:31 pm

Hmm just thought that I would drop this in for good measure and to say " Did you know" the speakers in the head sets of your mazda are shit (Actually im sure you all know that), BUT should you want to replace them here is a cheap and umm worth while way of doing it. The speakers that come in the mazda head sets are really only worth about $15.00 each, there is nothing special about them apart from their shape. I have since replaced mine with my external computer speakers and have to say they are much better sounding and hmm about 1/99 the price. I think mazda are charging about $400.00 a pair... Hmm these obviously must be the Gold set !!!

Aaron.

Charles & Morven Lynch · Post by **Charles & Morven Lynch** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 7:59 pm

We put Jaycar speakers in Morven's MX5 and Panasonic speakers in mine.
The Jaycar ones are getting ditched as soon as our order for more
Panasonic ones comes in.
JMHO
Cheers
Chic
--
Charles & Morven Lynch, chicnmo@ihug.co.nz on 14/10/2002

On Mon, 14 Oct 2002 15:39:31 +1300, Scott wrote:
[...]

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 9:23 am

What computer speakers did you use, Aaron? I have a number of different
types here (I run a computer service business from home), but before I start
removing speakers from their boxes to test, it's easier to ask someone who's
done it.

Grant.

Aaron Hart · Post by **Aaron Hart** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 10:00 am

Yesh ripped mine out of my nasty sound blaster 16 speaker cases, but im sure there are even better ones than thoes about

Aaron

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 10:30 am

Fairly small round ones I presume. I have some here in some new ones that
are about 75mm diameter with quite surprising bass response for such small
cheap speakers. I'll try them. Part of the problem with the original head
rest speakers is that they are in those plastic boxes that rather limit the
bass response. Probably would improve the sound by removing the boxes or at
least cutting large holes in them! They look like the same speakers in a
$15.00 pair of mains powered speakers I have on the shelf here. Real cheap!
The ones I will try cost all of $30.00 the pair.

Grant.

Aaron Hart · Post by **Aaron Hart** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 10:46 am

yeah I dumped the rectangle cases and used round speakaers and boxed them in the rectangle cases, work bloody well and CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP

I like that.

Aaron

Gary Morrison · Post by **Gary Morrison** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 3:37 pm

Grant,

Its unlikely that they were intended to produce bass, a drive unit small
enough to fit into a headrest (or in this case small enough to be part of a
pair in the headrest) is never going to be a bass transducer. The plastic
cups they are in are probably correct for the intended purpose - an adjunct
to the sound delivered by the door speakers. I think there is more to be
gained by ensuring that the headrest speakers are in phase in each seat, and
in phase seat to seat, as an out of phase connection will cancel any
"headrest bass" in a big way. Better then to spend money on the door
speakers as they will provide the foundation to the sound you get.

Gary

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 11:04 pm

Quite right. They would have been intended to improve intelligibility of
speech etc. I would assume. Limiting the bass performance with the small
plastic enclosures would probably allow them to better handle the higher
power levels than they would normally have to accept. Unfortunately the
small enclosure seems to cause a lot of harmonic distortion of the lower
frequencies so the result is hardly pleasant. Also, the high frequency
performance is rather mediocre. I'm hoping to produce a smoother response
with clearer highs than the factory speakers provide. They won't need to
produce high sound levels, the door speakers can do that.
Correcting the messed up phasing of the headrest speakers produced a
dramatic improvement. It was possible to hear the speakers after correcting
the phasing!
An interesting experiment for the weekend if I get the time.

Grant.

lou Girardin · Post by **lou Girardin** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 8:33 am

FWIW, short of a sub, I got best bass response with a pair of 6" component
speakers. Still not great though, I don't think a convertible will ever have
good sound.
Lou

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 9:10 am

The main problem with bass in a Roadster is the noise. Any road / wind /
engine / exhaust noise by its very nature will mask the bass. This is why I
would like to quieten the road noise if possible. Only worried about this when
the roof is up. With the roof down, the stereo becomes secondary!
I'm not interested in a sub either.
I would like to improve the clarity of the stereo by improving the mid to high
frequencies from the headrest speakers, hence the forthcoming experiments with
other speakers. My car has the Sony tweeters in the top of the doors that help
with the front speakers.

Grant in not so sunny Blenheim today.

Sean Craig · Post by **Sean Craig** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 10:42 am

i have a good sound in my mx.
i have two 6inch and a 4inch driver in each door while the tweeters are
in the air vents on top of the dash.
plenty of bass and with the wind shield in place and windows up the
sound is great while blasting down the motorway.
alais this is NOT a cheap way to do things ha ha ha ha

Sean

p.s. if anyone wants to here it in the Auckland area i'll be happy to
show you

On Wednesday, October 16, 2002, at 08:33 , lou Girardin wrote:

[...]

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 4:47 pm

Not true! If you're willing to give up the parcel tray space you can
install a set of 6x9's. I've got a semi-alright looking box in the back
at the moment but am going to get into some serious box/fiberglassing
over the Christmas holidays and make a much more aesthetically pleasing
box that sill allows you to unzip the window and have the top fully
folded down.
There's also plenty of room in the boot for a sub, despite what people
say. Once my sub box has been finished I'll post some pics. Similar
setup as some other people in the club with it utilizing the space
behind the drivers seat, the extension of the boot that runs along side
the petrol tank.

Scott.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Sat Oct 19, 2002 4:20 pm

I happened to be in The Warehouse today and they had a pair of 4" car speakers
for $30.00. I've just replced the factory ones with these in the headrest and
there is a great improvement in the clarity of the sound. The bass is improved
but limited by the small area in the headrest. The mid range and highs are
much smoother. No where near as much distortion from the bass overdriving
those poor limited originals.
I removed the originals with their plastic cups, connected the cabling using
the original push on connectors (perfect fit), then pushed and squirmed the
speakers in to place. The headrest cover then zipped tightly over the front
ok. Quite tight, but didn't have to carve up the foam or anything. A simple
baffle to isolate the rear from the front of the speaker should help a little
with the bass end.
I'll go get another pair now for the passenger seat.
I'll post some photos as soon as I get around to it, along with the
windblocker I have had made locally.
Won't have time this weekend as working in Collingwood tomorrow. Pity I have
to take the Isuzu Bighorn with all those lovely windy roads such as the
Whangamoa Hill between here and Nelson, then the great Takaka Hill (Marble
Mountain) between Motueka and Takaka. I don't think the MX5 would get me up to
the top of the hill I have to work on. The Isuzu didn't have enough ground
clearance last time, and its a 3 door short wheelbaase!

Grant in sunny Blenheim.

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