Do you have the headrest speakers? Word on the street is they help a bunch. I don't think adding speakers to the rear is the best idea as most of it is too thin to be a good speaker mount.
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Nov. 8, 2010 10:12 p.m. thatsnowinnebago Dork
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Nov. 9, 2010 8:57 a.m. nderwater HalfDork
(Frack, I accidentally deleted my post!)
The subs and amp installed by the previous owner took up much of the trunk, so I eventually pulled them out of my NB. He also installed a custom speaker box between the seats, which is a terrific addition. The only picture I could find:
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Nov. 9, 2010 9:01 a.m. Sofa King Reader
Your Miata has a stereo? I'll have to go look and see if any of mine do!!!
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Nov. 9, 2010 9:04 a.m. failboat New Reader
In reply to thatsnowinnebago:
I think only the NA's seats have headrest speakers.
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Nov. 9, 2010 9:10 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork
I bought my '90 Miata used in '93. Being a base model, the first owner put in aftermarket. It has and still has an Eclipse headunit and a 12 disk changer in the trunk. The doors are Boston Acoustic and the headrests are Alpine. All tied to a 100 watt amp which is mounted to the trunk floor.
Tons of clean sound, top up or down. It is all about the headrest speakers being close to your ears because high frequencies do not travel far and driving the door speakers with more umph to get the bass out of them.I would add headrest speakers first and maybe switch to more of a compenent speaker system where the doors deliver just the mid and lows. All of this can be done with no modification and nothing looking out of place.
Edit: really, no headrest speaker placements in NB's?
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Nov. 9, 2010 9:24 a.m. nderwater HalfDork
Nope, NB seats leave a lot to be desired.
I just found an easy solution - another NB owner installed speakers right into his wind deflector: http://www.miata.net/garage/wbspeakers.html
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Nov. 9, 2010 10:53 a.m. mistanfo SuperDork
To get a decent level of sound, you will more or less NEED an amplifier, at least with the top down at speed. Been driving them since '00. Only put an amp in those that I will road trip, as otherwise I just enjoy the car sounds.
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Nov. 9, 2010 12:30 p.m. psteav Reader
Components in the doors, with a small amp driving them will do a good job as well. A lot of audiophiles sneer at the headrest speakers because they ruin yor sound stage...but if you're driving a Miata, you clearly are not that worried about pristine sound. Just being audible at speed with the top down is a big step.
Mine had a 2x50w RMS amp driving Infinity Reference 6 1/2" components in the doors, with the tweeter in the little bolster at the top just underneath the fake vent window. Sounded good, and audible at speed with the top down.
I think the NB's with the factory Bose system got 8" drivers in the doors with tweeters up high. IIRC, the factory speakers are no great shakes though. A set of those door panels with a nice set of components and an amp would probably solve your woes.
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Nov. 10, 2010 8:38 a.m. Keith SuperDork
Not really a car stereo guy myself - but 2004-05 Miatas got speakers in the wind blocker. Making them work is left as an exercise to the reader
Some people complain the headrest speakers screw up the imaging. I know that they do help you actually hear the music with the top down, and a set of okay door speakers help too. But I'm the sort of guy who still has the factory head unit in every vehicle but my Cadillac - and that's because I'm not that jazzed about AM!
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Nov. 10, 2010 6:36 p.m. Keith SuperDork
Yeah, the older CD players are going out. Mine's dead now. I haven't bothered to do anything about it yet.
The NB's pretty similar under the rear shelf, and I've seen a number of speaker installs back there.
