Head rest speakers

[Liz]

Does anyone have advice for installing aftermarket speakers in MX5
headrests, I recently installed a new system that promtly blew the small
headrest speakers to bits! Is it ok to cut the foam support in the head rest
to make room for the new speakers?

[Grant]

I put some cheap Warehouse 100mm speakers in my (NA) headrests to replace
the factory originals. The result was greatly improved sound. The speakers
fitted without having to hack at the foam. I did remove the original
speakers plastic mounting frame. Check the depth of the speakers as some of
the better quality ones will not fit without surgery on the foam. Many
others on the list have fitted better quality speakers from Sony etc. Don't
know how they compare, but the sound from such a small speaker without
proper baffles is not going to be great in the bass region.
If your head unit has separate outputs for rear speakers, use them so you
can balance the door speakers with the headrest ones.
When doing this, check the speaker wiring is correct. Many are wired
incorrectly ex factory making the sound very poor. Mine was.
The results are definitely worth the effort.
Grant.

[Liz]

Thanks Grant, will give it a try.
Craig

[Mikkels]

I did the headreast speaker swap this weekend with the 100mm
warehouse speakers. Rather expensive at $12 a pair.

Results were excellent. Lots more volume and clarity from
a very cheap upgrade. I needed to cut a quarter moon
section of foam from the inside edge of each headrest and
the top ouside lug from each speaker.

I just pushed them in to the headrest and zipped it up.
Cheap upgrade that even my wife noticed.

Don


[...]

[Liz]

Don

Thanks for the brilliant advice, the photo's on your webpage helped
tremendously. I already have a sony explod head unit & door speakers so I
guess I'll stick with sony for the head rests.

Craig

[RD5T3R]

Hi Guys
Great info and the pix helped too so having got over the surprise that the
speakers are actually in the head rest in the first place I will test them to
see if they are ok, but before I rag out the sound system and see what lies
behind has anyone got a website addy for the wiring diagram? They are not
connected at the moment so the odds are whoever fitted the new sounds has cut
the leads knowing my luck. I will find out what goes where thru trial and
error but a cct diag would sure help.
Cheers

Stu n Viv
RD5T3R

PS Would've loved to go Hunua-ing but already booked up
PPS Is this top down weather of what!! Could be why Viv is getting a tan
already...! That MX5 World record sun block is already in use...

[Grant]

It is also very common for the headrest speakers to be wired out of phase ex
factory. Mine were. Correcting this will improve the new speakers greatly as
well. The OEM speakers were rubbish anyway so should be replaced whatever.
Some models don't have the wiring within the seats but it is not difficult
to install.
Grant.

[EricW]

Hi Liz,

If you are in Auckland, check out the Sony factory shop in Nugent St off
Khyber Pass Rd, Xplod speakers are a lot cheaper than in the usual shops,
and you get a warranty.

Eric

[zorruno]

Stuart Gross wrote:

but before I rag out the sound system
and see what lies behind has anyone got a website addy for the wiring
diagram?

Ask and you shall have:

http://www.mx5club.org.nz/downloads/spe ... diag_2.gif

Cheers
H

[Mikkels]

Hi Craig

Love to take the credit for all the info but I was just adding to the
thread. I too looked at the web site and gained enough inspiration to do
the job.

A simple and worthwhile upgrade all made possible through the information
posted on the list.

Don