Replacing stock speakers - advice

[aceplotz]

I want to replace the seemingly lame stock speakers in my 2005 Mazda 3 sedan. I am keeping the factory head unit.

I am considering the Infinity Reference 5010cs for the front and the
Infinity Reference 6812cf for the rears.

Questions:

Should I replace the fronts first or the rears?
Should I go 6x8 in the front w/ no tweets or go component in the front?
Has anyone tried the above speakers? Do they work well? They have a high efficiency rating, so the fact that I am not "amping" them seems to be an advantage.

Thanks in advance...

 

[chuyler1]

ditch the rear speakers and get a 30x2 amp and a set of component speakers. You'll thank me afterwards.

 

[tsunami]

^^^yup i agree^^^ f-the rears...its just a hassle to make it sound nice for passengers... get some nice components and a small 2 channel amp... then save up for a decent 8-10 inch sub and a 200 or so rms amp and you will be good to go... oh if you are leaving the stock HU you will need either an amp that can take direct speaker wire in or a loc... (line out converter=loc) check out http://www.davidnavone.com/adaptor_products.htm

 

[rotwiler]

I put the Infinity 6x8's in the front and made a huge difference. I am not sure of the model #, but they were $99 a pair from a local shop. I was suprised how great they sound running off the sony deck with no extra amp.

 

[Getting2knowMaz]

Rotwiler: How many watts and did you just cut the wires and reattach them to the new ones?

 

[Don Lockwood]

sound from the rear door speakers get lost in the bucket seats.... replace front speakers and amp them up.... then replace rear speakers if you want your rear seating passengers to enjoy the music.

I just amplified my front door speakers and a 10" sub in the truck.... sat on the rear bench to get the feel the passengers will.... i was not happy back there, it s all bass and the rest of the music way up front. So i will be amplifying the rear door speakers as well, because i care about my passengers.... don't want them to ask me to turn off the music.

 

[rotwiler]

Rotwiler: How many watts and did you just cut the wires and reattach them to the new ones?

Yes, just cut the wires and tapped in the new speakers. Fit is perfect and seen the same speakers on ebay for under $60. Tweeter rotates to give a better image. Plus the sony stereo has the front image enhancer and really makes the Infinity's sound great. I also added a Obcom small 300watt amp and have a MTX 10 in a box. On ebay last week a guy was selling a custom fiberglass then carpeted box custom fit for the Mazda 3 sedan and comes with a JL audio 10w0. Said it was a first model and fit is near perfect, just fits a little tight, but for $80 I couldn't pass it up. Not sure on the handling capacity of the Infinity's, can look and get back to post here when I find out. I am pretty sure I am doing the same speakers in the back too since they sound so good and price is right. I still need to do the pac swi-x to retain the steering wheel controls. The Mazda 3 is basically what my wife drives, but I like it so much I use it to go back and forth to work also. My main driver is a 02 Camaro Z28 and I'm real picky about the sound system.

 

[tsunami]

My main driver is a 02 Camaro Z28 and I'm real picky about the sound system.

nice car btw... gotta love the power, but gotta love the 3 on the twisties.. if you are so picky bout the sound why sony...??? the infins are nice but the sony hu...???

 

[ZoomVT]

Yes, just cut the wires and tapped in the new speakers. Fit is perfect and seen the same speakers on ebay for under $60. Tweeter rotates to give a better image. Plus the sony stereo has the front image enhancer and really makes the Infinity's sound great. I also added a Obcom small 300watt amp and have a MTX 10 in a box. On ebay last week a guy was selling a custom fiberglass then carpeted box custom fit for the Mazda 3 sedan and comes with a JL audio 10w0. Said it was a first model and fit is near perfect, just fits a little tight, but for $80 I couldn't pass it up. Not sure on the handling capacity of the Infinity's, can look and get back to post here when I find out. I am pretty sure I am doing the same speakers in the back too since they sound so good and price is right. I still need to do the pac swi-x to retain the steering wheel controls. The Mazda 3 is basically what my wife drives, but I like it so much I use it to go back and forth to work also. My main driver is a 02 Camaro Z28 and I'm real picky about the sound system.

do you have a picture of the custom box? i would be interested in looking at it and maybe getting one. the price sounds actaully pretty good.

 

[rotwiler]

nice car btw... gotta love the power, but gotta love the 3 on the twisties.. if you are so picky bout the sound why sony...??? the infins are nice but the sony hu...???

I was saying I'm picky about the sound system in my z28. My wife had the Sony in her old car, so decided to put it in the m3. I was suprised on how good it sounds though(is a 04 model sony). I do like the overall feeling of the 3 and the twistys, makes it fun to drive.

 

[rotwiler]

do you have a picture of the custom box? i would be interested in looking at it and maybe getting one. the price sounds actaully pretty good.

It is still in the mail, it was a first trial one, so fit will be a little off, but for the price and comes with a JL audio 10w0 it was a deal. Not sure if anymore are being sold, is a 1 of a kind.

 

[tsunami]

I was saying I'm picky about the sound system in my z28. My wife had the Sony in her old car, so decided to put it in the m3. I was suprised on how good it sounds though(is a 04 model sony). I do like the overall feeling of the 3 and the twistys, makes it fun to drive.

gotcha... what are you running in your z28....??

 

[rotwiler]

gotcha... what are you running in your z28....??

I have a Kenwood 922 mask mp3/cd, 2 JL audio 10's running off a MTX 2150x old school amp running in 2.6ohms(love this amp)(reason for the 2.6 ohm load is, I had 2 8 ohm JL audio's and after 2 years 1 of the surrounds started to crack. Had a extended warranty and returned to curcuit city and they replaced the sub with a 4 ohm. I didn't figure this out for another year and since it had lasted over a year and sounded better than running them in a 4 ohm load I just kept it that way.) the the bass control knob and a 2 farad cap. In a subthump custom flip up T top box(easy to remove for racing). I left the stock monsoon front speakers and subs in back seat, used the kenwood to take away all the lower frequencies, so the stock amp doesn't work as hard and now the back speakers are mids and use the JL audio 10's for all the bass. Then I have 2 51/4 inch Pioneers in the hatch that are water resistant, running off the Kenwood. Really they are useless anyway since they sit so far back the fronts overshadow them.

 

[tsunami]

I have a Kenwood 922 mask mp3/cd, 2 JL audio 10's running off a MTX 2150x old school amp running in 2.6ohms(love this amp)(reason for the 2.6 ohm load is, I had 2 8 ohm JL audio's and after 2 years 1 of the surrounds started to crack. Had a extended warranty and returned to curcuit city and they replaced the sub with a 4 ohm. I didn't figure this out for another year and since it had lasted over a year and sounded better than running them in a 4 ohm load I just kept it that way.) the the bass control knob and a 2 farad cap. In a subthump custom flip up T top box(easy to remove for racing). I left the stock monsoon front speakers and subs in back seat, used the kenwood to take away all the lower frequencies, so the stock amp doesn't work as hard and now the back speakers are mids and use the JL audio 10's for all the bass. Then I have 2 51/4 inch Pioneers in the hatch that are water resistant, running off the Kenwood. Really they are useless anyway since they sit so far back the fronts overshadow them.

nothing wrong with having useless speakers... hahaha... sounds like quite the setup especially with the 2.6ohm load, i was like wtf.. how in the hell did he get that load... (wow)

 

[rotwiler]

nothing wrong with having useless speakers... hahaha... sounds like quite the setup especially with the 2.6ohm load, i was like wtf.. how in the hell did he get that load... (wow)

LOL, everyone says that, but the JL audio's really hit really hard with the 8 and 4 ohm in the same box and they point down. With the hatchback on the Z28 the bass really pounds. Everyone says that it isn't good to bridge in mono the 8 and 4ohm, but zero problems and I tend to turn it up all the time.

I bought a fiberglass custom box off ebay with 1 JL audio 10w0 in it and is made to fit in the pass side in the indent. Takes up really no space and sounds great. Was skeptical buying a custom Mazda 3 box someone made at home, but looks, fits and sounds great. I figured for the $85 I bought it for, the speaker was worth it alone. But very happy with the fit and finish. Finally installed it tonight and I should post some pics up. Was a deal!

 

[ZoomVT]

hmmm a custom box. do you have a link to ebay or the name of the seller?
do you have a sedan or an auto?

 

[tsunami]

LOL, everyone says that, but the JL audio's really hit really hard with the 8 and 4 ohm in the same box and they point down. With the hatchback on the Z28 the bass really pounds. Everyone says that it isn't good to bridge in mono the 8 and 4ohm, but zero problems and I tend to turn it up all the time.

I bought a fiberglass custom box off ebay with 1 JL audio 10w0 in it and is made to fit in the pass side in the indent. Takes up really no space and sounds great. Was skeptical buying a custom Mazda 3 box someone made at home, but looks, fits and sounds great. I figured for the $85 I bought it for, the speaker was worth it alone. But very happy with the fit and finish. Finally installed it tonight and I should post some pics up. Was a deal!

pics would be great... i am tryin to figure out if i want to put a speaker there or in the corner next to the rear seat.... glassin it in of course... this is the sub i am lookin at...