Disclaimer: My car’s audio system is stock. All information listed below is from reading the posts on mazdas247.com.
To be continued...
Comments and suggestions are welcome!
Stage I
(Skill - Moderate; Tools - Basic; Price - <$500; Reversible - Fully)
Auxiliary kits
Positives: Plug directly into stock Head Unit (HU); retain full use of steering wheel controls and heads-up display; allow charging of device
Negatives: None
GTA Car Kit for Mazda3 2010+ (iPod, 3.5mm)
GROM USB Android iPod iPhone adapter for Mazda3 2010+ (iPod, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth)
Speakers
Positives: Better sound
Negatives: None
Front speakers: 6 x 8 component (<=150 watts for stock HU) with separate tweeters (tweeter replacement strongly recommended)
Rear speakers: 6 x 8 non-component (<=150 watts for stock HU); arguable gains from replacement of rear speakers - see post for more details
Speaker adaptors: available to accommodate speakers with the following sizes: 5, 5 1/4, 5x7, 6 1/2, & 6x9. Do your research! The adapter you need depends highly on the speakers you choose. Size is the obvious characteristic but do consider mounting depth (may need spacers with some speakers) and quality of adapter material (stronger speakers may disturb the bracket and distort the sound at higher volumes).
Stage II
(Skill - Advanced; Tools - Full toolbox + Power tools; Price - <$1,000; Reversible - For the most part)
Stage III
(Skill - Expert; Tools - Special tools; Price - Sky is the limit; Reversible - Probably not)
About me and my car:
I got my 2012 MAZDA3 i Touring 5-Door SKYACTIV-G non-BOSE (long name) in May 2012. The car has a few minor flaws that I can happily live with but one glaring shortcoming is the sound quality of its audio system.
The sound coming out of the stock speakers is inconsistent, unfocused, and lacks definition between highs, mids, and lows. I am by no means an audiophile and only occasionally listen to very loud music but still find the sound quality much below par.
My experience with car audio is from installing a few HUs, speakers, amps, and subs to my and my friends cars - not much but probably more than most.
To be continued...
Comments and suggestions are welcome!
Stage I
(Skill - Moderate; Tools - Basic; Price - <$500; Reversible - Fully)
Auxiliary kits
Positives: Plug directly into stock Head Unit (HU); retain full use of steering wheel controls and heads-up display; allow charging of device
Negatives: None
GTA Car Kit for Mazda3 2010+ (iPod, 3.5mm)
GROM USB Android iPod iPhone adapter for Mazda3 2010+ (iPod, 3.5mm, USB, Bluetooth)
Speakers
Positives: Better sound
Negatives: None
Front speakers: 6 x 8 component (<=150 watts for stock HU) with separate tweeters (tweeter replacement strongly recommended)
Rear speakers: 6 x 8 non-component (<=150 watts for stock HU); arguable gains from replacement of rear speakers - see post for more details
Speaker adaptors: available to accommodate speakers with the following sizes: 5, 5 1/4, 5x7, 6 1/2, & 6x9. Do your research! The adapter you need depends highly on the speakers you choose. Size is the obvious characteristic but do consider mounting depth (may need spacers with some speakers) and quality of adapter material (stronger speakers may disturb the bracket and distort the sound at higher volumes).
Stage II
(Skill - Advanced; Tools - Full toolbox + Power tools; Price - <$1,000; Reversible - For the most part)
Stage III
(Skill - Expert; Tools - Special tools; Price - Sky is the limit; Reversible - Probably not)
About me and my car:
I got my 2012 MAZDA3 i Touring 5-Door SKYACTIV-G non-BOSE (long name) in May 2012. The car has a few minor flaws that I can happily live with but one glaring shortcoming is the sound quality of its audio system.
The sound coming out of the stock speakers is inconsistent, unfocused, and lacks definition between highs, mids, and lows. I am by no means an audiophile and only occasionally listen to very loud music but still find the sound quality much below par.
My experience with car audio is from installing a few HUs, speakers, amps, and subs to my and my friends cars - not much but probably more than most.
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