[Miata] Headrest speakers-advice anyone?

[John Freas]

Previously on Headrest speakers, Don Cooper <beavereng at gmail.com> said...

I had one of the speakers in my driver's seat fall apart.  I am
> considering getting a whole new set of speakers for the headrests.
> Does anyone have any advice on what I should get? My Miata is a 1993
> model.  I would rather not spend more than a $100 but if I was to get
> a huge jump in sound quality I would consider spending more.


I have had headrest speakers for years and wouldn't trade them for
anything.  Yes, if you invest in a *big* amp and some *big* speakers in the
doors, then you can have some decent, audible sound while driving (note that
unless specified otherwise all statements assume that the top is down where
it belongs), but since you don't want to spend more than about a hundred
bucks, that option is out.

My recommendation is to find a set of 3½" speakers that are well made and
can handle some power.  If you are like me, the sound from the door speakers
doesn't really fill in enough when you're driving and the headrests get a
good workout.  Make sure that they won't fall apart when you push them.  In
other words, no paper cones, no $10 speakers unless you want to keep
replacing them.  I can't recommend a brand at this point because it's been
so long since I bought HR speakers, but any of the better names will do
fine.  3½" speakers aren't all that expensive so you should be OK with your
budget target +/- $20.  You can get an idea of their sound range by doing
some online research if you want.  I usually go to Crutchfield.com to do my
comparison shopping, but if you have a store that will let you listen to the
speakers that is a very good way to go.

All that said, the best way to make sound is to push it with a good amp, so
even at modest levels you'll get better quality sound if the speakers are
receiving a clean signal from a strong amp rather than working with the
distorted signal that the head unit puts out when struggling at high volume
levels.  If you want the best sound you can get, that's what you will
ultimately need to do for both the doors and headrests.

The issue of incorrect polarity from the factory *is* a problem if your car
has the OEM stereo and wiring.  It is my understanding that *all* of the
headrest speakers on *all* of the cars that had them are wired with the
polarity wrong.  If this isn't corrected it will seriously compromise your
sound quality from the HR speakers regardless of what you buy.  Talk to
jeffanderson at miata.net to get it corrected.  He can also perform a mod on
the OEM head unit to improve the sound.

    -John
------------------------------
John Freas <%20john7690 at comcast.net>
1992 *YELLOW* "Sting<http://john.freas.home.comcast.net/pix/sting/sting.html>
"
1995 Black R Package
"Spike<http://www.geocities.com/clash_girl/Spike_Scrapbook.html>
"
Elizabethtown, Indiana
- Standard Disclaimer
<http://john.freas.home.comcast.net/disclaimer.html>Applies -
Team LS1,2, SP, the Gap...
I love my Miata
girl<http://www.geocities.com/clash_girl/Spike_Scrapbook.html>and my
Miata Baby
"I have no idea what those dimple things on the windshield frame are for."
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