I'd like to replace the factory radio / cassette setup in my 88 convertible, but I'm a little worried about how it'll look when finished. I've done a lot of stereos in other cars, but the weird opening size in the 2nd gen looks like it could be a challenge. I found out that Metra makes a kit, but it looks like it's universal for all Mazdas. What I'd like to end up with is as clean a looking install as possible and leaving the factory pocket in place if that can be done. Does anyone have any pics of their installs or maybe point me to a website?

Thanks

 

It's called a double din sized hole. just buy a double din deck if your that worried.

 

I wish i had a digital camera... But i bought an installation kit from Visions (canada) forget the name brand of the company, sorry but the installation went very smoothly and looks very clean. The kit cost about 25 dollars. Defintaly worth it.

 

check my website for pictures of my install in my '88 convertible. Email me if you have any questions.

 

Here is my install :

 

Bigmike,

That's a nice looking install. Was the kit a Metra by any chance? That's the only one I've found so far.

Richard,

I took you up on your offer and sent an email. Your website seems to be down and I'd really like to see those pics.

Thanks guys.

 

Yup it was metra. Didn't look like it would turn out when i looked at all the pieces in the kit, but in the end it worked.

 

BigMike,

Any more pics?

I posted this under the 2nd gen forum as well. Here's the link:

https://www.rx7club.com/vforums/show...threadid=15551

 

If you really want to make the system look close to stock setup, buy a Kenwood combo. The new graphic eq they got out this year is sweet and any deck will easily match up. Both units will be single din, (eq - single din, cd/cassette player - single din) but together they will fill that double din spot easily.

Here is the graphic eq:

Kenwood KGC-9044

Here is the main page to look through the cd/cassette players:

Main page

 

BigMike,

Any further contact info you have for Visions? I am also in the process of getting an aftermarket head unit and would like to see what they have.

Any help is appreciated!

Dave

 

I have to disagree. Kenwood's are good but I really think that the best looking decks that aren't really heard of all that often are Clarions. I just picked up this one...



They also have a combo where you can have the eq but they have pretty good eq's built in. I don't know about anyone else but I REALLY like the fact that they have 6 rca's out. Not 4 like all of the other limiting decks. So you can get the combo front, rear and sub. I haven't really been able to find this in any other decks.

Good Luck!

 

I agree that the Clarion shown above is a nice unit (and you pay for it, if I remember correctly). I was considering purchasing that same radio but wanted the option of driving my headrest speakers (convertible) with the internal amp of the head unit. If I remember correctly, this radio has no internal amps - good for sound quality, bad for my purposes. Perhaps this is also the reason for the 6 pre-outs.

 

OK here is the thing! I work for best buy and have worked in car stereo's for the past 3 yrs. Yes metra is the one who makes the kits for 2nd gens. But depending on how much skill you have with a jig saw and some thin plexi you can make a sweet kit out of your own materials. A buddie of mine who has a 89TII we made a custom kit and painted the back of it black to give a nice smooth glass like look. You have to use the factory brackets off of the side of your factory radio. If you do it right it looks awesome you can even scribe in some comapny names if you have any mods and but a small neon light behind it to shine though. Anyway if you have anymore questions you can pm me. As far as decks go clarion makes some AWESOME stuff! Otherwise if you want a sweet deck buy the pioneer dehp9300 it is the badest deck that i have had my hands on, and you can download your own 20 sec clips to it!! SO........ you can take out the video cam or digital cam and get some footage of your car and make it your new screen saver. Anways check out your local best buy and check out that deck. oh and buy the way we are not on commission

 

In my opinion it looks good. Last month I got 3 MTX thunder 6000 10's in the tribox installed with the thunder 8000 amp and my best friend says that when he drives towards my car all he sees is a wall of speakers. Pics will be posted soon

 

As far as head units go, I am wanting to purchase the Blaupunkt dvd/navigation head unit. Blaupunkt makes the most functional head units.

 

i would have to disagree with the blaupunkt statement, i think alpine or kenwood xcelon series are the most functional radios. great for sound quality without all the "don't need graphics".

 

i'm bored so i will post a pic


i personally like my alpine head unit, i paid alot for it when i got it but i have had 0 problems and matches the amber color. if i get another head unit either gonna be a sony (non xplod) ,alpine, or kenwood.

 

My deck is JVC .. was only 130$ on sale, haven't had any problems for 8 months now, works fine and barely skips. Although they ain't the greatest looking , they diffenently make up in quality

 

heres a picture of my install that i did, i have a jvc double den with a cd/tape player, and i got 3 pieces of plexi and made a custom kit going around it, to the left with the 2 ***** on the side. thats for the crossover, its a remote control to control the bass/gain that i put in there.

 

you guys can see my Sony CDX c90 competition head unit

 

what kit was that, that you used to install your head unit vosko
?????????

 

what kit was that, that you used to install your head unit vosko
?????????

 

Here is a pic of the install I had in my convertible before I sold it. The piece below the head unit was a perfect place to house the light for the alarm I had on the car as well.

 

Touring FD3S what install kit did you use on that?

 

Hehe, the Circuit City install kit. I unfortunately at the time did not know too much about car stereo, so I paid CC to do it for me. I have seen a few other installs from them, and all of them with double din used that kit. So I am sure if you contacted CC, they could tell you.