Interior / Exterior / Audio Talk about interior and exterior mods including audio.

Dumb question of the week:adding speakers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-11-12, 10:57 PM
  #1  
Why am I doing this?

Thread Starter
 
83Limited's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: GA
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Dumb question of the week:adding speakers

Ok, I turn wrenches, and dont do electronics as a rule, so some of you cut me some slack here....I have a question about adding speakers....situation is an 83 RX7 with factory clarion system, the one with the eq, joystick balancer, and 2 amps (one front and one rear)....anyways....what i want to do is add 2 speakers to the rear....I have the 2 stock speakers in their place, but want to add 2 6x9's I have in boxes....is there a way to do it that wont fry my amp???
Old 01-11-12, 11:20 PM
  #2  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
schaft's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: ohio
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If its all stock you would have to add an amp to run the new speakers,, because chances are if you don't fry the amp the power will be cut so low it cant power all the speaker. Easy way would be put a new head unit in and run an amp. Now if for instance your not running a speaker they make a box that converts normal speaker wire signals into a rca cable to run an amp.
Old 01-12-12, 07:11 AM
  #3  
Why am I doing this?

Thread Starter
 
83Limited's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: GA
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by schaft
If its all stock you would have to add an amp to run the new speakers,, because chances are if you don't fry the amp the power will be cut so low it cant power all the speaker. Easy way would be put a new head unit in and run an amp. Now if for instance your not running a speaker they make a box that converts normal speaker wire signals into a rca cable to run an amp.
Thats what i was thinking...have to add an amp....problem is, I cant figure out how to do it....this is the factory radio, and i just reinstalled it, so i am not going to change the head unit...mazda has everything wired with DIN plugs between the head unit and amps/etc, so the best i could do to get signal would be pick it up from a rear speaker wire AFTER the factory rear amp...there are no speaker wires/rca outs/etc off the head unit to do anything with...any ideas if i can make this work ???? Thanks....
Old 01-12-12, 08:53 AM
  #4  
Why am I doing this?

Thread Starter
 
83Limited's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: GA
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by 83Limited
Thats what i was thinking...have to add an amp....problem is, I cant figure out how to do it....this is the factory radio, and i just reinstalled it, so i am not going to change the head unit...mazda has everything wired with DIN plugs between the head unit and amps/etc, so the best i could do to get signal would be pick it up from a rear speaker wire AFTER the factory rear amp...there are no speaker wires/rca outs/etc off the head unit to do anything with...any ideas if i can make this work ???? Thanks....
Figured it out...step down converter off the rear speakers running another amp to power the extra speakers....gonna wire it all up and cross fingers...fingers
Old 01-12-12, 09:04 AM
  #5  
Eskimo

iTrader: (2)
 
pheoxs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Edmonton, Canada
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My advice: Buy a 4 channel amp with high level inputs (as opposed to only RCA inputs, most good amps will have both)

Run your rear speaker wires into the high level input, then power the 2 rears + 2 new speakers all off the 4 channel amp. Power it and run a remote on wire and you're done!
Old 01-12-12, 09:26 AM
  #6  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
schaft's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: ohio
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Running the signal after the amp will still cut your power in half, pheoxs ideal will work. Either way you need to take on speaker line off and run it to an amp, either with a rca converter or a high level amp. But almost all of the amps you find will over power your stock rear speakers. So you may have to find a cheap set to replace them for.them to work properly off the added amp.
Old 01-12-12, 10:17 AM
  #7  
Why am I doing this?

Thread Starter
 
83Limited's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: GA
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by schaft
Running the signal after the amp will still cut your power in half, pheoxs ideal will work. Either way you need to take on speaker line off and run it to an amp, either with a rca converter or a high level amp. But almost all of the amps you find will over power your stock rear speakers. So you may have to find a cheap set to replace them for.them to work properly off the added amp.
Ok, heres what i am planning, tell me what you think....

With the factory wiring, i can only get signal from the speaker wires AFTER the factory amp. I am going to use the factory wires and amp to power the 2 stock 5 1/4" speakers. I am going to split off the 2 sets of rear speaker wire and run it to an existing (older) Sony amp already in the car. I know its a 4 channel, think its 50 watts per channel, its what was running the 6x9's with the aftermarket stereo that was in the car, so its plenty of power for what i want (I am old, dont need boom, lol)......do you see any reason this wouldnt work? I am aware i will probably get some distortion from the after amp connection, but this is the only way i can see all this work (with existing parts, I dont want to buy an amp or new speakers, just incorporate what i have) Thanks for the advise!
Old 01-12-12, 10:27 AM
  #8  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
schaft's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: ohio
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That should work out fine. And the only distortion you will get will be very slight, and that will only be on the speaker you tap the signal from, which probly will not even be noticable.
Old 01-12-12, 10:49 AM
  #9  
Why am I doing this?

Thread Starter
 
83Limited's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: GA
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by schaft
That should work out fine. And the only distortion you will get will be very slight, and that will only be on the speaker you tap the signal from, which probly will not even be noticable.
Thanks! Gonna wire it up and see what happens.....
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
DerpyToast
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
13
09-07-15 12:20 AM



Quick Reply: Dumb question of the week:adding speakers



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:57 AM.