2007 Mazda 3 Audio Advice Needed!

[Blackout2402]

I just bought a 2007 Mazda 3 GX. I need someone to confirm that the stock speakers in it are indeed 5x7"'s and not 6x5"'s like my local future shop rep told me.

I currently have the following equipment from my old system:


Pioneer Car Deck CD/MP3/AAC (DEH-P78000MP)
Rockfort 900W Mono amp
Rockfort 10" dual voice coil sub
MTS Audio 2-channel 400W amp
1 pair of Infinity 6812cs 6x8" speakers

Here's what I am thinking of doing:

Sell old deck keep stock deck.
Sell 2-channel amp buy 4-channel amp
Sell 6"x8" pair of speakers , buy 2 pairs of 5x7" speakers (or 6x5" depending on what size fits my car at no extra cost?)
Purchase a special device that filters out the bass from stock decks ($150 - recommended to me...is this really needed?) that automatically limit bass output.
Use old mono amp to power old sub
Use new 4-channel amp to power new pairs' of speakers.

-Is this a good move? Can anyone think of cheaper options that leverage my existing equipment? I would keep the 6x8" speakers if they fit ( I would just buy an additional pair).

Thanks
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[zero6three]

My 2006 3i HAD four stock 6x8 speakers. I replaced them with Infinity. They were actually genuine 6x8s; not some other strange size.

 

[ecniemann]

Keep the 6x8's. They fit fine. Crutchfield states it fits 5x7/6x8, but 6x8's fit perfect in my car and they are Infinity's. Not sure if the 5x7's fit strictly due to bracket placement or if you need an adapter, but you already have 6x8's, so that is a moot point.

 

[tsunami]

my 04 had 5x7... its a ford size from what i recall... as others have done i just replaced them with 6x5 as i prefer the sound from a circle as opposed to an oval for my mids and highs... most manufacturers supply mounting plates to mount a 6x5 in whatever size hole your oem was. i wouldn't think you will have any issues.

 

[zero6three]

Oh crap, come to think of it, they were 5 X 7s in an adapter. But the 6 x 8 Infinities drop right in without any modification. If I were the audiophile that I used to be, I would have component speakers and would also use round 6.5 in used as a mid with a component tweeter and a separate woofer. Nowadays, I spend more on my bicycle than my car.

 

[ecniemann]

Oh crap, come to think of it, they were 5 X 7s in an adapter. But the 6 x 8 Infinities drop right in without any modification. If I were the audiophile that I used to be, I would have component speakers and would also use round 6.5 in used as a mid with a component tweeter and a separate woofer. Nowadays, I spend more on my bicycle than my car.

Yeah, I used Infinity components, but the 6x8 components. I'm not sure I believe the argument that round speakers are better than oval. Kicker makes square subwoofers! The 6x8 woofers dropped right in. The tweeters I needed to surface mount due to the shear diameter of the underside mounting bracket, it would have cut into the plastic pressure clips in the wing panels, but I'm sure other models would be able to be flush mounted.

 

[zero6three]

Crutchfield rocks!

 

[Mocoso]

If your keeping the deck on the M3 get yourself a good set of hi/lo converters for front and rear and save the $150 bass blocker (no need to spend that kind of cash on a bass blocker... whomever is trying to sell you that is high on crack)

You are better off putting the $150 into a nice 4 channel amp that allows you to shape the input channels (ie. block the bass right at the input to the amp) or at the output channel if need be (before it hits the speakers)

Using the old mono amp is a good idea...

Note if you are going to run 2 amps you will probably want to run a good sized hot wire to the amps directly from a fused line to the battery (if you do this yourself make sure you DO NOT run it behind downpipe - battery is on right and entry to firewall is on left... run it throught FRONT of car)

Bonehead installer did the behind downpipe on mine and melter the crap out of the hot wire... nothing like going back to installer with smoke coming out of hood....