sykminded

You know, I've searched. I've searched and searched. Only to find people asking the same damn question.

Headrest speakers in the convertible. I've taken my headrest off and tried to open it up, and I see it'll be a pain in the *** to take it apart. But does anyone know what size speakers they are?

AUGieDogie

iTrader: (4)

yes they are like 2 1/2 by 3. or very close to it. the headrest isn't to hard to pull off. The zippers are tucked way up. Long story short. THERE ARE NO AFTERMARKET SPEAKERS THAT FIT. They are in little boxes that attach to the frame of the headrest. After I get everything else sorted out with my vert, I was going to try and have a good custom shop get some 31/2 or 4 inch speakers in their own little boxes and attach them in there.

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

This seems to be a topic that comes up with some degree of frequency. I have done this in my vert and the difference is unbelieveable. I completed the project while replacing the leather on my seats. I was going to make a how-to thread last winter, but did not get it done.

I will try this once for each of you if you are interested:
I will replace your headrest speakers with upgraded coaxial speakers for $100, you pay shipping both ways. I will use a locally available coaxial speaker that sounds great.

This includes removing the cover, replacing all four (4) speakers in the headrest, rewiring, testing, replacing the cover. testing. You will pay the return shipping.

If you want to spec and supply your own speakers, deduct $25 and ship the 4 speakers along with your headrests.

PM me and we can set it up.

spiderx7

my advice is to replace them with the q tweeters that are 50 watt rms .these can be had on ebay for a few bucks i've seen them for 99 cents. they are bulletproof and sound sweet.my friend works in a high end audio shop and many times they are recommened when high end tweeters fail.trust me on this one i wanted to replace them with better aftermarket speakers of the same size or a little bigger.my fiend said he would throw them in for free and i would not be disappointed .guess what he was right i can actually hear the treble nice and clear top up/down.money saved was used on other things for my vert.also when i had my leather replace the shop was stumped on making the speakers holes on the hearest look like factory.after asking around bam i had an idea shoemaker.i took the leather to a shoe repair shop 6 bucks later factory type holes.

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

Great Idea on the shoemaker.

sykminded

I'll keep that in mind.


Honestly I was hoping I could fit some 3" or 4" regular speakers. considering a certain degree of fabrication, is there room?

sykminded

To be honest with you I'd rather try and tackle this task on my own, but should I decide that it really is too 'daunting' of a task, I'll be sure to contact you.

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

There are some 2x3" speakers available that fit the FC boxes, but I did a lot of research and the unanamous consensus was that they sucked worse than the oem. Clearwater makes some for the Miata. They are pricey, around $140 for the speakers shipped. they don't fit the boxes and Clearwater refuses to recommend them for the FC. I have asked them a couple of different ways. The best they would do is committ to allow me to return them for a refund, with the shipping paid by me.

Its not rocket science, its just a lot of work, especially the first time.

Good luck.

sykminded

q tweeters?

BigPimpin'

iTrader: (5)

Her ya go!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Q-POWER-TWEETER-...QQcmdZViewItem

AUGieDogie

iTrader: (4)

I think that the 3 1/2s or 4s should physically fit in there. Its just that little box that its holding the oem speakers. I was trying to figure out some way of replacing that first, then fiting the speakers. It just has to be wide enough for the cones and deep enough for the magnets. I cant remember off hand how the box is fastened to the rail that is kinda the sticking point for a box to fit in there.

Jackhild59 what size speakers do you have in there? do you use a box to mount them or just a baffle plate?

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

Your good custom shop will charge alot more that I am proposing. Ask them how to do it.


Not trying to be difficult here, but you can put in whatever will fit.

I am not really ‘trying to make money’, I am trying to do favor to members who don’t have the tech skills or drive to figure it out. It is not complicated, but it is difficult. I am not really that interested in the service anyway. That is why I proposed doing two only then re-evaluating.

I still need time to solve that shifter rattle on my vert anyway…

If you want to discuss more, lets go to PM.

Good luck!

sykminded

well



This is where I'm at. I can poke around, and I see where everything is, but I can't access it. Do I have to rip the seems on the leather and have it reupholstered, or is there a way around this?

sykminded

300 watt max? for 14 bucks? As the sheep consumer that I am, I have to say, "damn"

joe-electro

Altec makes a great 4.1 system intended for use with desktop computers that sells for about 80 bucks. The satellite speakers look like they might fit. I imagine other manufacturers might make similar systems that might be good possibilities for donors. While the Q tweets sound like a good idea (pun intended) I want a little fuller range speaker in the headrests if possible. Anyone ever tried something like this?

spiderx7

use liquid dish washinig soap and you can remove with out tearing the seams.it will help you slide off the leather and wont damage anything.just curious what other speakers are you using on your system and are you installing speakers in stock locations only.i wanted more rear fill so i installed a pair of 6x9's on the part you lift up to reach the spare.muchnicer sound.here's my orignal set up sony xplod amp(800) watt powering 3 pair of inffinty kappas ,plus 3pair of q -tweetersi had to install a pair on the lil window vent the others in the headrest.in the trunk dynamat / 2 10inch bazooka tubes with the chrome rings to hold the down added mazdatrix decal to tubes it looked nice.soundedincredible top up/down ohh pushing the the tubes is a phoenixgold amp360.irecently blew one of the tube and change the bas for 2 rocksford fosgate 12 inch in a custom box .now it hits alot harder..

sykminded

I'm religious with Alpine, for some reason. If asked why I wouldn't even know what to say, other than how I like the way they're really bassy. Almost all the music I listen to has synthetic beats, and I liked the result of the all alpine set-up I did in my truck. But I intend to simply use stock sizes and location. I won't go all out, just use the two-in-one component speakers, probably s-type. Although, the 5-1/4" door size will accomodate a 6", won't it? I figured I'd hook up the dash and doors to the front channel, run the rear channel to the headrests, and hook up a 600 watt amp to my type-R 12" sub. (everything is prospective right now, all I have on hand at the moment is the sub)

I had the thought of putting 6x9s in the back, that's what I did in my toyota truck, and I liked the results - though there's something about cutting the stock int. parts in the car that I would feel nervous about.

sykminded

I'll keep this in mind and look around. I too would like a 'fuller range' sound comeing out of the headrests. No on needs loud-*** bass coming out right next to their ears, but I don't like the treble-only sound on the stock speakers.

sykminded

Well, I finally slipped the cover off my head-rest. Now I see what everybody was talking about. Crazy dude.

I'm thinking regular full-range 3" or 4" just might fit. I'll have to cut out some of the filler-foam. I work at a place that fabricates light-fixtures from scratch, it won't be hard to cut, bend and weld little aluminum boxes to fit the space. Some drilling - and it should be good. I'll update the progress as it goes, for those few who might be interested.

AUGieDogie

iTrader: (4)

Cool, keep us posted and GL

jonesfromindia

i didnt feel like reading all the pages but it made me mad seeing all these people trying to tell you to put that bull **** in your car. no offense to anyone, but if you have ever heard a great set of mid range speakers you will know how crisp it can get and how great the sound quality is if you spend a little. 15 dollar speakers on ebay isnt the way to go. do it right the first time. atleast get some alpines.

check out this company. pricey but you will see why its worth it.

http://www.cdtaudio.com/vince.htm

boston acoustic is another.

jackhild59

iTrader: (7)

Thanks for being a ***** then claiming no offence, but your link to a reviewer that is totally into the appearance (OOO, that's the stuff... wire mesh over the crossovers... for airventing!!!..powder coated baskets!) and he cannot even wire the product without shorting the wires. *That* is total bullshit. Take your 'great midrange speakers' and stuff the face full of foam, then cover it with a perforated leather cover. This is the application we were discussing. You have a coupe, we were discussing headrest speakers, an application that doesn't apply to your situation. Maybe you didn't realize that since you admit you are too lazy to read the posts and then you got mad and linked to inarticulate reviewers for us.

I have had everything in a car from clarion (when they were an oem no name low line company, circa 1980) to MB Quartz and once you spend *enough* money, all the rest you spend is just to make your pekker seem larger.

No offense.

Especially in a noisy, open top 15-20 year old car, what you need is enough power-handling and amplifier to be heard over the wind, tires and exhaust. At that point, additional fidelity from a highend system is effectively masked. Now, could my system be better? Yes. I could use a little better amplification and will get to it this winter. Is it good enough for now? Yes. Every speaker in my car is a Blaupunkt component, (not the lowest end). The headrest speakers are not, but they have a coneful of FOAM> That is good enough to reproduce the sound quality of my 1990 oem system. I won't put a better system in the dash because I don't want to lock my car and get the fabric of the top cut open. No one wants to steal my oem in-dash unit, so they don't break in.

joe-electro

I agree that price does not equal fidelity. I see it all the time in the pro and consumer audio markets. Some of the best sounding car speakers I ever heard were Majestics - just cheap little 5-1/4" speakers with whizzer cones - but they sounded great. Let your ears be your guide. Plus, I get off on getting great sound for not much money - it's part of the fun.

sykminded

After having taken everything apart, I'm still certain that with some alteration, and fabrication, I can fit atleast 3-1/2" speakers in there - I'm hoping to squeeze 4 inchers in there, we'll see.

I'll admit, I do understand what some of you mean by over-priced. The system in my truck is really nice, but that was $1000 later. I already bought some no-name 50 watt max speakers for my old seven, I'll just use those in the doors and dash, hook 'm up to the 50x4 alpine head unit I've used in three cars now. I already have a 12" r-type (said it was an s-type earlier, I was wrong) which will supply me with all the bass I'll want. I intend to find decent amp and fabricate a box and squeeze it behind the driver seat, under the top.

With the top down, most of the sound is washed out. The headrest speakers are what back the sound up. I really believe if I use "normal" speakers, I'll like it much more. Tweeters will be cheap, but I'll go with "high-mid-range."

If I go with 3-1/2", I'll probably just grab the blupunkt's - or maybe the infinities (for a price! lol)
If I go with 4" I'll probably be a sucker and pay up for the alpines.

Honestly, I think the price reflects materials used, and durability. (I mean, yes, I know that some brands make you pay for the name, but...) Those cheaper speakers will arguably sound just as fine as the pricey ones, but I do like to blast my music - and my experience with cheaper speakers, is that they like to stop sounding so great after only like a year or so. In my old honda I had put the cheapest speakers I could find (at Circuit City), 50 watt stock-size replacement, on the same alpine deck mentioned above. Two years later, one door and one rear speaker are blown. The alpine system in my truck seems to take the volume I beat it with just fine, and doesn't seam to degrade, but I don't know yet for sure how much their 'durability' claims will actually hold up, I've only had it for several months... haha! only time will tell.

We'll see... we'll see... I suppose the size of my wallet will really be the decision maker.

sykminded

You know it's real funny. I do, I go into stores and play with buttons at the display. But what the real kicker is.... you don't really know what it'll sound like in your car. You know what it'll sound like on a particle-board wall in a frikkin store warehouse!!! haha.....