Probably going to get flamed as a nOOb, but here goes. My dad just passed down his 82 RX-7 to me, don't remember the model as it is still at his place, but it has a stock radio/cassette deck in it. I have spent the day searching this forum about stereo upgrades, but have not found any for that specific year. Has anybody here upgraded from the stock stereo and done a write up?

 

First off, grats on getting a 7. They're a blast as long as you treat them right. And being flamed for being a noob, not likely in 1st gen, just make sure you read through the FAQ, even if you ask something in there it's usually a polite nudge over to that thread.

As far upgrading the stereo, I have no idea. I can't imagine it being much different than any other car though, some places will sell a kit for it but you'll probably end up having to find the hot wires and connecting them yourself.

Somebody on here should know where one is or be able to write one, I need to get around to mine also, the tape deck is shot so I can't use a tape adapter to listen to my Zen.

 

I think you'll need a different panel or to do a little cutting... IIRC the 83 and earlier cars had a double **** stereo.

Maybe Fibremaz or another vendor on here makes a panel to install a standard DIN stereo in the S2's.

 

Can't remember if it is a DIN or a dual **** radio. My understanding is that the DIN will require cutting as will the dual ****.

 

Unless you have a lot of eperience with installing stereos, I suggest you let the actual installation to a professional. With all the craziness thats involved w/rx stereos, (seperate head unit, amplifier in the storage bin, plugs look like something off a seismograph rather than a stereo) its easy to **** up. If the stereo works though, just get an adapter for an ipod or cassette wire. The stereos, when working are pretty nice, if its the same as I had. Throw in some new speakers and it should be good to go.
Before you do any of that, though, change your fluids, it needs that more than a new stereo.

 

Installing a stereo is a piece of cake. Go to www.crutchfield.com. They ship everything you'll need (DIN plate, wire harness and then some). I always swear by them because I've always purchased my stereo upgrades from them and have never been disappointed. And, their tech support will stay on the line with you as long as you need them. <--- Evidence from when I first got my 7 and learned about the amps in the back and how to by pass them and the equilizer **** in the center console armrest.

 

Just make sure that if you get a new HU installed, you might as well get new speakers. The stock speakers and wiring suck. When/if you replace the speakers, make sure to get new wiring as well.

EDIT" Mine is an 82 as well.

 

Jeezus,
How much did you have to cut to get that deck in?

I have installed lots of stereos, it has been a long time though since I have had to deal with a non-DIN deck. I installed stereos into a 77 Celica and a 79 Toy P/U. I would stay with the stock deck but it is pretty shot.


I plan on replacing the speakers and wiring at the same time, plus I will look to see if it has the infamous amps. I do not remember it having a joystick controller or an EQ.

I currently plan on shipping it to where I live or I might drive up and trailer it down to where I live. My dad has not driven it much the past couple of years, and I was usually the one to drive it.

Plan on upgrading the headlights with heavier wiring and Euro spec Hellas. I am figuring that the carb will need to be worked on for use at altitude. Pretty sure this car will never be below 5000'.

 

I did the same thing (ill take a pic later) i had to use a rotary cutting tool to shave some material off. Its not hard to do but will take at least an afternoon. The biggest pain in the *** is the wiring of new speaker wire. I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUIGH...USE ALL NEW WIRING FRO MTHE HEAD UNIT TO YOUR NEW SPEAKERS!!! You will be happy you did

 

Using new wiring seemed to be the theme of all the threads I was reading. I forgot how much fun it used to be to wire in a new deck.

 

I did some comparisons about 10 years ago on my '84 with the stock head unit, and here's what I found:

Rear: In the original location, you can't beat the original speakers. I tried two different high quality aftermarket speakers with larger magnets, polypro cones, butyl surrounds, and the orignals sounded better. I verified this by mounting OEM on one side and aftermarket on the other, then using the balance **** to switch A to B. I even switched sides and ran the test again. The stereo shop salesman was dumbfounded. He was the one that supplied the second set of aftermarket speakers, which were supposedly "better", and sounded even worse. There's a lot of science that goes into matching speakers to their enclosures, and this is a weird enclosure, which Mazda got right.

Front: If you have electric windows (don't know about manuals), you can mount 6.5" speakers in the doors, and they sound better. I used JBLs.

 

Just took a dremel, ruler, and a sharpie. Measured the headunit box, and sharpied/cut from the back of the stereo. If I would change one thing, is to give it about a mm or 2 extra wiggle room. I cut it a wee bit bigger than the HU, and sliding it in was a little rough but a tight fit. Around turns you can kinda hear it creak (very quiet, but its one of those things only you notice and it drives you crazy).

 

When i installed my after market radio i just used a mounting kit (i'll post the link if i find, i got it order through an audio shop for like $15) and i took out my stock amps and replaced them for aftermarket amps. I rewired everything, it took forever but it wasn't that hard. It's worth it. I've mounted a 10in sub in one of my storage bins.

 

That's not because they are "better" speakers. It's beacause they are balanced with the stock amplifier. They sized appropriately for the peak and RMS power of the factory AMP.

The "New" speaker is very likely designed to handle more power. If it's not receiving more power, then the sound suffers. Speakers can sound distorted from too much OR too little power.

The key is to get the AMPs and the Speakers to match RMS output.. Never just "Peak".

 

The "New" speaker is very likely designed to handle more power. If it's not receiving more power, then the sound suffers. Speakers can sound distorted from too much OR too little power.

The key is to get the AMPs and the Speakers to match RMS output.. Never just "Peak".[/QUOTE]

+1
you know your stuff

 

I agree that the OEM speakers were matched to the amp power.

But -- The OEM speakers sounded better because they had much deeper and fuller bass. You could chalk this up to efficiency (and they are more efficient), except we played with the volume levels to nullify that, too, and the OEM speakers still sounded better. Not just a little, but a lot better. I think the fact that they were designed for the enclosure was a bigger factor.

At any rate, talk is cheap. Don't believe me? -- try it for yourself. If you can honestly tell me you found a better sounding speaker at the OEM volume level, in the OEM mounting, with any amplifier, I'll PayPal you 50 forum bucks .

 

The soundstage is supposed to come from the front; not the rear.

7's have small 4" speakers up front, and big 6.5" speakers in the rear. This is the opposite of what it should be.

I'm considering the JL Audio 3-way components. 4" driver in stock location, 6.5" midbass in door, and tweeter down there somewhere. Crossovers hidden under the seat or under the dash or something.

 

papo, i got 1300 in music in my first gen. put the amps INSIDE the storage bins. not outside you could also mount the cross over in there too. so there is the appearance of no system

 

did my install a while back took about a day to do. the best thing i suggest is start with all new wires . power wire, ground wire, speaker wires etc. much cleaner sound and no wierd feed back noises.

im running a kenwood single din dvd player and to old school hi fonics amps. nothing really loud just sounds clear.

ill post some pics of my amps and speakers tomorrow