Rear speaker wiring and upgrading front speakers.
11-08-07, 03:00 PM
#1
Rear speaker wiring and upgrading front speakers.
Hey guys, tried this in the proper audio section but no one felt the need to reply!
Here it goes again... I bought rear speaker brackets for my 1994 touring edition that has the bose system factory. I'm terribly handicap with audio systems and have searched to either not find what I was looking for or was completely confused by various contradictions that I cannot make sense of.
In the process of adding in the 6X8's in the rear; I would like to upgrade the stock front speakers as they are breaking up a little bit. I don't want a bad *** bumpin system! I like to listen to my music and not feel it.
What I need basically is someone to be able to tell me how to wire the rear 6X8's (installation is straightforward), and what speakers to buy for the front with the easiest modification to the housings (as I read you need to keep the factory amp's for the front). Please lead me in the right direction, as I'm just a noob ha...
Here it goes again... I bought rear speaker brackets for my 1994 touring edition that has the bose system factory. I'm terribly handicap with audio systems and have searched to either not find what I was looking for or was completely confused by various contradictions that I cannot make sense of.
In the process of adding in the 6X8's in the rear; I would like to upgrade the stock front speakers as they are breaking up a little bit. I don't want a bad *** bumpin system! I like to listen to my music and not feel it.
What I need basically is someone to be able to tell me how to wire the rear 6X8's (installation is straightforward), and what speakers to buy for the front with the easiest modification to the housings (as I read you need to keep the factory amp's for the front). Please lead me in the right direction, as I'm just a noob ha...
11-08-07, 04:08 PM
#2
93 Touring
I've read several posts from DANE who actually works on the Bose systems.
He'd be the one to ask if he's still posting. Check this out for a sense of his approach to Bose issues.
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...94#post2560994
He'd be the one to ask if he's still posting. Check this out for a sense of his approach to Bose issues.
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...94#post2560994
11-08-07, 06:34 PM
#3
I would highly recommend getting a new head unit. If you keep the Bose head unit, you will need to buy a Scosche adapter from Crutchfield.
Here is how I did it with a new head unit:
You will need a wiring adapter kit and an antenna adapter. Most audio stores carry these or you can find them on E-Bay. It will allow you to make connections without having to cut up the stock harness. To remove the Bose head unit disable the security/theft function(search for the code, I just tossed my HU in the trash). Then disconnect the negative cable from the battery. You will need DIN keys that insert in to the sides of the HU after you pop off the covers. Push the keys in, pull to the side, then out. If the HU is stuck, the rubber support in the back of the HU is caught on the metal support. Just pull hard and try not to scratch anything. Disconnect the radio. Crimp the wiring adapter to the HU harness, except leave the rear speaker wires disconnected for now until you run the wiring.
Now remove the door panels. You can find a write up for it at www.clubrx.org , but the website is down right now. There are plenty of threads that explain how to remove them also. For the front speakers I installed a pair of 4" Pioneers. I had to increase the diameter of the Bose enclosure with a dremel and then drilled 4 screw holes to mount the speaker. I tapped into the stock wiring, bypassing the amps, which is much easier than running new wires. On the left side the blue wire is negative, and the green is positive. On the right side, white is negative, red is positive.
For the rear speakers, I ran new wires through the center console to the rear bins and then over to the speakers. Here is a link on how to remove the rear panels and install speakers. Connect the wiring to the HU harness. http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/...ers/index.html
Before you install the HU, connect the antenna adapter. You may also want to pull the old ground plug off the old HU to create a quick disconnect for the new harness. Once everything is connected, slide the HU in and make sure it is secure. Then connect the negative back to the battery.
I was a little vague in some areas. Let me know if you have any more questions. It's much easier to just rip the Bose crap out. With a combination of Bose and aftermarket you run into issues with speaker impedance and clarity.
Here is how I did it with a new head unit:
You will need a wiring adapter kit and an antenna adapter. Most audio stores carry these or you can find them on E-Bay. It will allow you to make connections without having to cut up the stock harness. To remove the Bose head unit disable the security/theft function(search for the code, I just tossed my HU in the trash). Then disconnect the negative cable from the battery. You will need DIN keys that insert in to the sides of the HU after you pop off the covers. Push the keys in, pull to the side, then out. If the HU is stuck, the rubber support in the back of the HU is caught on the metal support. Just pull hard and try not to scratch anything. Disconnect the radio. Crimp the wiring adapter to the HU harness, except leave the rear speaker wires disconnected for now until you run the wiring.
Now remove the door panels. You can find a write up for it at www.clubrx.org , but the website is down right now. There are plenty of threads that explain how to remove them also. For the front speakers I installed a pair of 4" Pioneers. I had to increase the diameter of the Bose enclosure with a dremel and then drilled 4 screw holes to mount the speaker. I tapped into the stock wiring, bypassing the amps, which is much easier than running new wires. On the left side the blue wire is negative, and the green is positive. On the right side, white is negative, red is positive.
For the rear speakers, I ran new wires through the center console to the rear bins and then over to the speakers. Here is a link on how to remove the rear panels and install speakers. Connect the wiring to the HU harness. http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/...ers/index.html
Before you install the HU, connect the antenna adapter. You may also want to pull the old ground plug off the old HU to create a quick disconnect for the new harness. Once everything is connected, slide the HU in and make sure it is secure. Then connect the negative back to the battery.
I was a little vague in some areas. Let me know if you have any more questions. It's much easier to just rip the Bose crap out. With a combination of Bose and aftermarket you run into issues with speaker impedance and clarity.
Last edited by ObliqueFD; 11-08-07 at 06:45 PM.
11-08-07, 07:44 PM
#4
After looking at couple threads.... It looks like I'm going to get a 05 Miata head unit. Does this eliminate my problems with inline amps to the front? Can I now just run new speakers to the doors and my 6X8's from the rear simply?
11-10-07, 05:13 PM
#6
There are a couple of Miata head units on E-Bay right now. When I was looking for head units I thought about the Miata for the OEM look. The problem I ran in to was the wiring harness. To plug the the head unit in, you would need part of the Miata dash harness. I could be wrong.
11-11-07, 05:29 PM
#8
93 Touring
I wanted the OEM look too, so I've gotten hold of a Bose from a 626. It measures the same as the miata so I'm hoping it will work. Since its Bose, I can use the existing speakers/amps.
The DarklikePoe posts give some good insight into these installs
The DarklikePoe posts give some good insight into these installs
11-28-07, 07:12 AM
#10
93 Touring
Finished the OEM install in our 93 touring. Bose headunit from a 626 which is the same size as the Miata.
Much better unit than original. CD performance significantly better.
Much better unit than original. CD performance significantly better.
11-28-07, 10:18 AM
#11
What's your point ?
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If the Miata unit is a factory bose unit you will need to keep the in line amp's and speakers. Since your installing the 6X8's in the rear you may as well go with an after market head unit ditch the bose in line amps/speakers in the fron and wire it in a normal configuration (no in line amps, no scosche adapter) the scoche adapter is if you use an aftermarket head unit and keep the bose inline amps and speakers (this adapter limits the amount of power the head unit puts to the inline amps and speakers) Since you currently have two different configurations (amp powered front, standard rear) there's no easy installation.
11-28-07, 04:02 PM
#12
If the Miata unit is a factory bose unit you will need to keep the in line amp's and speakers. Since your installing the 6X8's in the rear you may as well go with an after market head unit ditch the bose in line amps/speakers in the fron and wire it in a normal configuration (no in line amps, no scosche adapter) the scoche adapter is if you use an aftermarket head unit and keep the bose inline amps and speakers (this adapter limits the amount of power the head unit puts to the inline amps and speakers) Since you currently have two different configurations (amp powered front, standard rear) there's no easy installation.
11-28-07, 07:10 PM
#13
What's your point ?
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If your going to stay with the factory bose head unit just add some form of amplifier to run the rear speakers, the front ones will take care of them selves. You should also be able to find a factory head unit that's non bose then all you have to do is ddump the bose front speakers and wire in as a normal system. Just get a power harness that will plug into the factory harness for the 7 and you can just work between the adapter harness and the new head unit without cuttin up the main harness in the car.
11-28-07, 11:20 PM
#14
Funny how varied our preferences are on everything...I think the stock units of both the FD and the Miata look exceptionally cheesy. There are some good head units out there...I'm very happy with the Alpine I just bought. I guess I'm lucky the R1 didn't come with the Bose, the guys at the Specialists said the preinstalled units like the Bose are a pain in the ***. From what I have read on this thread it seems they are right. Good luck in your endeavor to upgrade your FD to your personal liking.
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