trying to upgrade the sound system

[DecoyOctopus]

nb (base model FTW)

so i was thinking about replacing the current speakers with bose ones. is it worth it or should i go with something aftermarket, im looking for a little more clarity and i want it to be louder so i can drown my thoughts while driving.

also the smaller speakers in the doors, are they any good or what? if i got them could i splice them on to the same wires as the larger door speakers or will that cause them to blow?

[mustangtomiata]

get aftermarket. My friends dad has a 10AE with the bose and it isn't much better

[DecoyOctopus]

get aftermarket. My friends dad has a 10AE with the bose and it isn't much better

yea. any recommendations?

[mustangtomiata]

Nope. haha that's about all I know about systems lol

[MoD_Scotty]

I picked up a pair of Sony speakers when Circuit City was goin broke....and with the Panasonic headunit I have (which has TONS of adjustability), the system sounds incredible.

The headunit I have:
panasonic cq-c7413u
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/caraudio/productdetail.aspx?productid=16841

I forgot the model of Sony speakers, but they were the exact size as stock. It was a really simple install.

Also, the headunit can adjust the color of the screen, to I have it exactly the same green as the rest of the dash.

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

It depends on how much you want to put into it. The cheap and cheerful speakers from Walmart (Kenwood's I think) sound louder and really aren't that bad. It's a convertible, so sound staging is never really going to work out so I don't see the point in dropping too much into it.

[oldgrayfrog]

Got to agree with mustangtomiata, Bose pretty well suck. They cause a terrible vibration in the doors with any amount of base. I'm gonna throw in the clearwater speaker upgrade, just because I want to keep the original, nobody wants to steal the thing head unit. If you raeally care about sound go for infinity or Boston acustics, but realize the sound is never going to be as good without a roof. You could buy a hard top and never take it off....

[LagunaRoadster]

aftermarket FTW :

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/SIDEWYS/IMG_0157.jpg

[ericsbestshot]

anyone know of a place to get an adapter for the 8" bose speaker

[scandmx5]

anyone know of a place to get an adapter for the 8" bose speaker

BOSE FTL ill sell my entire system lol im ready for Pioneer and Infinity goodies

[ericsbestshot]

i just want new speakers and i need an adapter to switch to 6.5" speakers

[JMarsh]

Hi. I am John, and I am a sound quality addict.


Decent, good, and even GREAT sound CAN be achieved within a Miata. It can. It has been done. Decent, good, and even great sound staging can be done.

However, you will not do it with a $150 total budget. And, you cannot do it with inferior crap products.

It can be done in relatively small, inexpensive steps. My suggestion is to figure out what your end goal is. Be realistic here....this is the foundation for the sonic future. Start with what you like LEAST about your system, and upgrade it, then then next least desirable aspect, and work your way up the list from there. You will hear BIG improvements at first, as you fix the biggest "problems" first....so you are getting the largest "bang" for your buck.

Head unit.
decent coax or components for the front (depending on your goal)
Amp for speakers
Sub (where to put it is a TOTALLY different topic)
Amp for sub
Sound damping
wire and cables

Thats the basic list in no particular order. Some can come before others, and some have to come at the same time; like an amp and sub.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/AllstarsEast/Miata/DSC00027a.jpg

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

That's a really cool looking enclosure, did you make it yourself?

[RotorNutFD3S]

John does some pretty damn cool stuff. Wait until he posts pics of his Miata.

[JMarsh]

Yes, I built that myself. Thank you.... :)

I have probably built 12-15 different sub enclosures for my Miata...ranging from 1 8" sub to 7 8" subs, 1 10" to 3 10s, and 2 12s....various configurations over the years.

A previous version:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/AllstarsEast/Miata/DSC_0032.jpg

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

Ok... that's enough teasing! You've got to do a Member's Journal so we can all drool over your car/work.

[rtrhead]

finally john chimes in from nowhere to educate the masses. did you decide about how you wanted to correct your rear fender flares?

[matredd]

Jmarsh - is that MDF or fiberglass in the trunk? Do you like that better than the rear shelf setup?

[JMarsh]

rtrhead: Flare fix will come later in the summer....

Matredd: I actually DO like the trunk setup a lot better. This was one of the first boxes I built for my car, but never got rid of it. It is NOT the loudest of all of them, but is the best SOUNDING. 500 (real) watts to a good 10" sub sealed.

Now, I have cut out quite a bit of the rear deck, and replaced it with metal mesh. This allows the bass to come into the cabin more. Also, I have a hardtop, which helps too.

The 3 8s on the rear deck took quite a bit of space to do...parts were fiberglassed down to the floor of the trunk where the spare would go.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/AllstarsEast/Miata/DSC_0112.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/AllstarsEast/Miata/DSC_0006-1.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c135/AllstarsEast/Miata/DSC_0010-3.jpg

The box, obviously, was ported....which was just something I wanted to do. Had to remove the softtop completely to get all the airspace necessary. I was trying to get 4 in there, but could only squeeze the airspace for 3. nearly 2 cubic feet with 3 ports each 3inches and 11 inches long. It rocked, but had to go to make space for the Har Dog Bar. RedLine Time Attack was calling my name.... :)

[matredd]

Very cool. I'll definitely have to check it out at some point. I would like to do a sealed enclosure similar to your trunk setup.

500 watts rms is a ton of power for a 10".

[JMarsh]

matredd: Im a pretty firm believer in having more power than necessary. You dont always have to use it, but its there if you need it. Its called "head-room" Some music is more DYNAMIC than others....Dynamics are not the same as "loud" or "volume"....

You think 500 watts rms on a sub is bad, you should see my other car... :eek: