New owner question: speaker replacement advice for '09 factory navigation HU?

[profmathers]

Hi all!

So we just took delivery of our second Mazda (like everybody else, the first was a Miata.) A 2009 '5 Grand Touring will be replacing my wife's beloved Solara.

We love the car, but coming from her Solara with the factory Nakamichi/JBL combo, my wife only had one negative thing to say about it...as you might imagine.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good speaker set that improves the overall sound without a sub (for now?) without overwhelming the stock head unit?

I'm leaning toward Infinity Reference components in front, and either JL, Kicker, or Infinity Reference in the rear. With baffles, Dynamat, and good gaskets, will this help?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[profmathers]

wow, nobody? anybody just wanna wing it and make something up?

 

[JovaBear]

I just purchased the Focal access 165 a1 components for the front and Focal access 570 ca1 for the rear. I just need to install it in the 5. Focal makes great speakers.

 

[Silentnoise713]

LOL. This isnt Miata.net (former NA owner) or some big forum like Civics and Corollas. There are only a handful of poster here and I dont think any of us are true audiophiles with enough experience on different speakers to give you any solid recommendations. You might want to check out a dedicated audio forum. I must say the Nakamichi/JBL combo you came from must have sounded pretty great. Nakamichis are one of the best kept and anti-thief proof units.

I am planning on upgrading the speakers too since I listen to music a lot. I dont see you mentioning anything about replacing the HU or adding an amp. I think one or the other is a must to go with new speakers for the Mz5. This car was built to the dollar so dont expect any OEM equipment to perform exceptionally well. I am leaning towards of 6.5 Infinity Reference or Boston Acoustics components up front, some really old but spanking new 6x9 4way JBL (10 years new in the garage) in the rear, and an Alpine MRP-F240 amp. Not looking for boom, just nice clear audio. I am a big MB Quarts fan too (when they were German made) but have not tried and have heard really bad stuff about their quality since they were bought by Maxxsonics (yuck). Like the Miata, if I can relocate the spare to under the trunk, then you have a perfect hidden space for a Hakuna install!

Search and youll find a member who did an amaze installed with a custom sub enclosure and dyno matting almost the whole car; guy in HI. A lot of pics too.

 

[profmathers]

LOL. This isnt Miata.net (former NA owner) or some big forum like Civics and Corollas. There are only a handful of poster here

Touch Guess I'd better write up my install when I get it figured out then, huh?

I dont see you mentioning anything about replacing the HU or adding an amp. I think one or the other is a must to go with new speakers for the Mz5. This car was built to the dollar so dont expect any OEM equipment to perform exceptionally well

Yeah, I'm looking for quick and dirty right now...but you're right. I'd feel better about doing it if I knew the wattage rating of the factory navigation HU.

Search and youll find a member who did an amaze installed with a custom sub enclosure and dyno matting almost the whole car; guy in HI. A lot of pics too.

Saw it...man what a lot of work, but that glass sub enclosure was pretty awesome.

Thanks for replying! It was getting lonely in here

 

[profmathers]

I just purchased the Focal access 165 a1 components for the front and Focal access 570 ca1 for the rear. I just need to install it in the 5. Focal makes great speakers.

Are you planning to drive them off the factory HU? The Focals I've seen have magnets the size of bowling balls...

 

[JovaBear]

No. I have an aftermarket HU in my 5. I have an Alpine ixa-w407 HU. I'm going to drive the speakers through the Alpine mrp-f300 4 channel amp, 50w rms X 4.

 

[Heat]

... I'm leaning toward Infinity Reference components in front, and either JL, Kicker, or Infinity Reference in the rear...

I've got the Infinity References in the rear, sound great. I have the Infinity Reference components for the front sitting in a box in my garage. I probably should install them.

I've got a JVC head unit, works well though I'm considering a 2-din head unit with navigation, something I can plug my kids iPod into.

 

[mazdadude]

Though I have never seen an actual spec on it, I don't think the factory head unit puts out more than 15 watts RMS.

 

[profmathers]

Though I have never seen an actual spec on it, I don't think the factory head unit puts out more than 15 watts RMS.

15? Seems light...but I don't have the spec. I thought most OEMs were at least 25...

 

[Rockin03mp5]

15 rms isnt bad. most aftermarkets are 50x4 max... which means more like 17-22 rms per channel.

if you are going to upgrade anything, it should be the head unit. new speakers without proper power aren't going to sound much better. plus, the factory headunit is known to mess up eventually. mine still decides to freeze every now and then. (the 5 is my wifes, and she doesn't like me messing with it much)

 

[profmathers]

I've got the factory nav unit...any better?

 

[Rockin03mp5]

Hmm... Haven't heard anything bad about the factory nav unit.

 

[Sounbwoy]

Quick question on components - specifically the tweeters..Has anyone replaced the tweeters but used the existing factory enclosure to maintain the stock appearance. Maybe it's me but all the ones I've looked at so far (haven't made exact measurements yet) seem to be somewhat bigger which would involve some some cutting or drilling... Or did they just use the factory tweeters..I've heard worse..

 

[was98strat]

How about the cost!!! for the price of the factory nav ($2000+ option on the 2006 model here in Canada) you can get a much much better unit after market and only spend 1/4 of that price!!

 

[profmathers]

Quick question on components - specifically the tweeters..Has anyone replaced the tweeters but used the existing factory enclosure to maintain the stock appearance. Maybe it's me but all the ones I've looked at so far (haven't made exact measurements yet) seem to be somewhat bigger which would involve some some cutting or drilling... Or did they just use the factory tweeters..I've heard worse..

How about the cost!!! for the price of the factory nav ($2000+ option on the 2006 model here in Canada) you can get a much much better unit after market and only spend 1/4 of that price!!

Sounbwoy: I did exactly as you describe, with the tweeters from my Infinity 6x8 Reference Components. The Infinity tweeter is very close to the right diameter, though it is deeper. I fabricated a gasket using some high-density mounting tape and then secured the whole thing to the stock mounting clips with a couple spots of epoxy. If I had it to do over again, I think it would be smarter to just get some non-tweeter sail panels from a junkyard and drill the damn holes...

was98strat: You're exactly right. The factory nav is stupid expensive. Which is why I'm glad the previous owner spent the money before I stole his car at wholesale from the dealer that bent him over on trade-in. I could sell it now for NADA black book wholesale and break even, including the Weathertech mats and the speaker upgrade. I'm just loathe to pull out a factory nav head to spend $800+ on a new one...