SE Rear Speakers - USELESS???

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:58 pm

I have a stock 2004 SE and cannot hear the rear speakers at all unless I'm stopped, move the seat forward, and put my ear next to the speaker.

The manual does not describe how to alter the speaker balance at all so do and SE owners out there (or anyone) have any ideas on how to address this?

I'm considering ripping out the head unit and speakers and replacing them with a Sony CDX-GT680UI Ipod USB CD Player (gotta have an iPod interface - the standard 6-CD stacker is obsolete in this day and age) and JL Audio ZR650CSI 6 speakers (which I already have).

Has anyone with an SE replaced the head unit and speakers? If so, please post you details and your "lessons learned"/"wish list" to give me some ideas on what to do.

Thanks.

philz · Postby **philz** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:30 pm

Is this with top up or top down.

Top down, the whole system is pretty much useless for obvious reasons.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:58 pm

...with the top up, while sitting inside my closed garage and no engine on, I still cannot hear the rear speakers - the front speakers are all that I can hear. Am I so blind that I cannot find the stereo's speaker balance switch or does it not exist?

Fuzzlet · Postby **Fuzzlet** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:22 pm

From memory there is a way to adjust the front/rear balance, but its been so long since I ripped out my windblocker I can remember. I replaced my headunit with a Pioneer P6850 double din unit, and so far am running the stock speakers (as they sound good enough for now). Even if I didnt pull out the windblocker I wouldnt of used the speakers in it - they're too small to be of any benefit, and not enough room in the stock enclosure to upgrade to something decent

MINX · Postby **MINX** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:33 pm

There is a Front/Rear Balance adjustment.(Fade)
Push the left Knob about 4 times, then adjust.
But iirc they are quite small and quiet.
Get a decent exhaust note, then just drive hard and enjoy.
Dont worry about tunes

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:46 pm

I stuffed around with the headrest speakers in my NA for ages and tried a whole range of options. Eventually I just gave up as I couldn't find anything that sounded right. Check this thread for details.

I've toyed with the idea of a SE style setup a couple of times but I think it would suffer from the same problems.

Decent fronts and possibly even an amp should see you right.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 1:26 pm

MINX wrote:There is a Front/Rear Balance adjustment.(Fade)
Push the left Knob about 4 times, then adjust.
But iirc they are quite small and quiet.
Get a decent exhaust note, then just drive hard and enjoy.
Dont worry about tunes

Thanks for that - much better but less than desired :cry:

bootz · Postby **bootz** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:17 am

Lokiel wrote:
MINX wrote:There is a Front/Rear Balance adjustment.(Fade)
Push the left Knob about 4 times, then adjust.
But iirc they are quite small and quiet.
Get a decent exhaust note, then just drive hard and enjoy.
Dont worry about tunes

Thanks for that - much better but less than desired

Have you done anything to upgrade yet?

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:55 pm

Yeah, replaced the head unit with a Double-DIN Pioneer FH-P80BT unit, speakers with JL Audio ZR650CSI 6" component speakers (see viewtopic.php?f=55&t=38070&p=505615&hilit=saga#p505615), added a JVC KS-AX3002 amplifier (see viewtopic.php?f=55&t=40694&hilit=jvc) and left the rear speakers unconnected - didn't miss them.

Now that I have an MX5 Plus Twin Hoop Roll Bar, I had to remove the OEM wind blocker with integrated rear speakers - still don't miss them.

slimx · Postby **slimx** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 5:05 pm

hey just curious what size speakers does that oem windblocker thing take?

If its 6/6.5" anyone got 1 for sale

?

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:38 pm

4"? from memory

slimx · Postby **slimx** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:32 am

Worth having in your opinions guys?

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:45 am

Jeo wrote:I stuffed around with the headrest speakers in my NA for ages and tried a whole range of options. Eventually I just gave up as I couldn't find anything that sounded right. Check this thread for details.

I've toyed with the idea of a SE style setup a couple of times but I think it would suffer from the same problems.

Decent fronts and possibly even an amp should see you right.