dag

Hey, I'm starting to look into a replacement stereo for my FC, the current setup is entirely stock (and shot for that matter) so it needs to be gutted and replaced. Now more to the point, Im way more interested in a high fidelty system, rather than an ultra loud and bassy system (Don't get me wrong, I'm really into hearing/feeling the bass, but I don't like the way subs sound). I was thinking of just going with some Infinty woofers in the shock towers, tweeters mounted up front somewhere, possibly where the dash speakers are, and then mids for the doors. I'm a total novice when it comes to building a car stereo, so all help would be appreciated, thanks.

-David Guy
Andern Research Labs, LLC.

natedogg

I like the woofers in the rear shock towers idea. Maybe you should get a good coaxial 4" speaker set to go in the front. If you want separates then put the woofer in the factory location and put the tweeter someplace low but near the dash speaker. Do not place the tweeter any more than 4" away from the dash woofer. But that doesn't leave you a lot of options on locations for the tweeter so you're better off just buying a coaxial speaker.

About the head units. If you have tapes then you can buy a tape deck with CD changer combo package for a good price at most stereo shops. If you just have CDs then go with a good in-dash CD player with at least front and rear pre-outs because you will more than likely want to upgrade your system with an amplifier later in the future. Nothing will bring out good sound better than a 4-channel amp pumping out 50 to 100 watts per channel.

As far as brands go, it's all personal opinion and preference. I like Eclipse products (CD player and amplifier) with MB Quart speakers personally. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with Infiniti!

Good luck and give me a personal message soon if you have any more questions. I have put several different systems in several different rex's!

I used to sell car audio equipment.

crosbo

So Nate, I have an '88 Vert and recently picked up a pair of 4" and 6" JBL's, can I put these in the dash and the door without modifications to the door or the having to change out the amps at this time?

My plans are to replace the stock "best" stereo with the top-of-the-line Kenwood Cassette and the Kenwood CD player/Spectrum Analyzer, next spring. If I can hold out that long.

Thanx for your wisdom.

NJDave

dag -

I too am not fond of dominating bass. However, in my 89 vert I have a 10" Rockford Fosgate HE2 sub and it adds just the right amount of fullness to the sound. Remember, if you install it right and get a head unit with subwoofer controls, then you can always turn the thing down as much as you want.

I replaced my entire system with the following:

Head Unit: Sony ES CDX-M770 (top of the line black panel)
Under Dash Speakers: MB Quart RKC-110 (4")
Door Speakers: MB Quart RKC-116 (6.5")
Amp: Phoenix Gold XS 6600 (6 channel)
Head Rest speakers: Stock
Head Rest speaker amp: Stock

Everything is totally stealth - except the head unit, of course. I used factory grills all the way around and put the amp and sub under the spare tire cover behind the seats. I use a separate channel on the PG amp for each of the four front speakers and bridged the remaining two channels to drive the sub. The sub sounds pretty nice for being covered like that. Also, I retained the use of the head rest speaker controls on the center console by connecting the head rest speaker amp directly to the head unit.

Good luck in your project - it can get pretty expensive pretty fast!

Dave

natedogg

I need to ask a few questions before I can answer yours.
Do you have the headrest speakers?
Do you have speakers in your door right now? (If not you will have to cut a hole in the interior panel)
Do you mean use the factory amps? (NOT recommended b/c it's too difficult to figure out Mazda's wires).

If you're going to use the factory amps then you can put in the 4" speakers in the dash but they will sound like crap. If you have the headrest speakers then they will be disabled when you install your new system. There's no easy way around that.

When you put in your tape deck and cd player, you're better off running new wires to your speaker locations. This will make installation easier at the location of your speakers and also it will enable you to put your old radio back when you decide to get rid of your car; let the next man worry about his tunes right? You invested good money into your stereo. I can't imagine why you would to get rid of your car though... can you ?

I'm not too familiar with Kenwood products but I've never heard anything bad about them! Let me know what's going on with the questions above and I can tell you what you need to know.

When you buy your new Kenwood system then ask the guy at the counter for an aftermarket harness that plugs directly into your factory radio harness. This speeds up installation very much. It also keeps the integrity of OEM very well.

Write back... I want to help!

NJDave

natedogg:

I assume, since he's talking about putting speakers in the shock towers, that he does not have a convertible with head rest speakers.

However, if he does have a convertible, it is actually very easy to keep your head rest speakers with an entire aftermarket system - I did (see my post above for a description of my system). And I kept the stock controls and the stock amp for the headrest speakers. All you have to do is run a speaker level signal to the headrest amp. Piece of cake. If you try to run a line level signal to the amp, the headrest speaker amp, it won't work.

But now, with two pair of MB Quarts up front and the headrest speakers in the back, I'm ready for any situation - top up or down .

Dave

crosbo

Nate & Dave --thanx for the info.

Nate, I do have the headrest speakers and they seem to work pretty well. The pass-side door speaker is hit and miss, popping in and out depending on the volume/bass level.

I was hoping to be able to replace the dash speakers and the door speakers by just replacing the speakers and possibly doing a little soldering; while initially retaining the use of the stock amps until I replace the head unit.

I agree with your recommendation of adding new wiring when I replace the electronics. I will probably want to try Dave's recommendation about how to retain the usefulness of the headrest speakers. Besides, at 75-85mph with the top down not a whole lot can be said for true sound quality; just volume.

Since my plans are for my best girl and I to take roads trips in our red rocket next spring, I don't want to lose the spare tire to a sub. We need the trunk for golf bags and clothes so I was thinking of that small subwoofer setup:

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/product/pr...&productId=742

from Kenwood which apparently is just perfert for fitting somewhere behind the seats?

Hey, thanx to all for your wisdom on the subject.

NJDave

oops - in my post above, I got crosbo and dag confused when I said crosbo did not have a convertible. Sorry!

NJDave

Crosbo -

It is very possible to fit both a 10" sub (or 2 10" subs) AND an amp under the cover, and still retain the spare tire. One person did so here (can't remember who). I'll post a picture later.

I chose not to retain the spare tire, because mine was stolen - it was already gone. Additionally, the amp I chose is HUGE - there is no way I could have fit the amp and a spare under the cover. But get a somewhat smaller amp and you're all set.

Dave

doklen

check out v8rx7.com , he added 2 10" woofers and kept his spare tire. I'm in the process of doing something similar, as i think his vert is an 88 or 89, cause the spare tire mount in my 91 is alot wider then his looks.

NJDave

That's the guy I was talking about - interesting set up. In my system, I actually used the spare tire mounting bracket to support a platform underneath which I attached a sub box. I mounted the amp on top of the platform. This allows a lot of room under the platform for the sub box and still leaves enough room under the spare tire cover to hide everything.

Dave

bcty

I have been fiddling with my stereo for some time and i fond what sounds best now.. i am sponsered by a audio shop around here and have all professional stuff in... i have sony 5 1.2 inch in the towers and 4.5 inch under the dash upfront (soon to be sonys in the door) i have the front tewwters mounted in the small triangle plastic pieces either side of the center consol. i have the rear one mounted on the towers facing the front.. i have 1000 watt clairon amp powering it all. i hit 130db at the audio store just playing around i still need to get the front speakers sealed.... cant put much bass to them.. ill just wait for the sonys... but this setup sounds killer!!!

crosbo

Okay great, but how will this system sound playing a violin concerto? Maybe a John Coltrane number, a little AC/DC, perhaps a good Johnny Cash tune, or maybe a little Harry Connick Jr?

I like a system that sounds as good playing all types of music from a great Rod Stewart ballad, a classic rock piece, a little Bonnie Raitt guitar to a nice Nelly Furtado tune. Point is, I like a system that makes it sound like I'm front and center of the stage.

Yeah, I know I am showing my age but boy u can't beat a good stereo that has the ability to make you feel like your actually at the concert!!

NJDave

crosbo -

You can keep the country stuff , but I listen to everything from classical to 80s to rock, etc. I am very happy with the everything I hear and, as I mentioned, I only have one 10" sub. If you like music, then you should get a good sub - it really adds to the music. The head unit I mention above has 7 or 8 different customizable equalization settings. These really help make everything I listen to sound good.

As I mentioned previously, if you really want a good soundstage (i.e., front and center), consider the MB Quart speakers. I'm sure there are better speakers out there (heck, I didn't even get the top of the Quart line). But the tweeter dispersion on the Quarts is awesome. I have coax speakers and the music sounds like it's coming from directly in front of me as I'm driving down the road. I am very impressed with the image.

Good luck,
Dave

crosbo

Dave,
Point well taken. I realize your absolutely correct about the need for a good sub, since I am on my 3rd sub for my 3rd home entertainment system, it only makes sense to have a good sub to provide the proper low end. I recall in the early 80's when a few of my friends had high-end systems but practically zero base...now I understand the cause of their grade point average...

I gotta apologize, I read large subwoofer...and my mind pictures the noisy honda/neon (same difference, the bigger the exhaust tip the faster...) that I have to share the stoplight with while the bass reverberations make their doors & hatches flop about and threat the structural integrity of my vehicle as well as the fillings in my teeth...

Maybe I'm just grumpy as hell , my Rocket hasn't left the garage in over two weeks because of the damn snow storms that are pelting us here in Idaho...God I miss Texas and the San Antonio area...

Hey, everyone have a good one. :p

NJDave

Sorry to hear about the weather - currently the third day of sun in the upper 60s. Top's down on my car and I can't believe it's December 6th! I have a feeling we're gonna pay for it in January .

And I agree with you concerning the big subs. My 10" RF won't put out anything like the cars I see going down the street. But it fills out the lows and I can always turn it down or off (but don't think I'll ever do that).

Dave

PaulC

I gutted mine and replaced it all, but I did fabricate custom speaker enclosers for the door panels.

Kenwood 116 head unit (yes I know its low end but it was free)
Kicker Impulse I6.2 components up front
Kicker Impulse I650 coax out back in the strut towers. (cut the stock mounting ring and siliconed the bottem for a tighter fit)
Kenwood KFC 748 4 channel amp for the mids and highs
Kenwood KFC 726 2 channel amp for the bass
Kenwood WS303 12" sub for bass
Kicker sub gain control to keep the bass in line.

And a DEI alarm to keep it all safe.