Recommendation for headunit and speakers

Audio, Electronics and Lighting questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, zombie, Andrew, -alex, miata

tails
Driver
Posts: 98
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2015 4:16 pm
Vehicle: NA6

Recommendation for headunit and speakers

Postby tails » Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:59 pm

I'm wanting to upgrade my standard headunit, CD player and speakers in my NA6.

Does anybody have any recommendations? I'm not wanting to spend a lot (perhaps a few hundred). From the head unit I'd like digital radio and bluetooth if possible. Single din or double din, I'm not fussed however I'd like it to sit as flush to the tombstone as possible.

The reason for the upgrade is that the standard set up is too quiet, I can't hear it over the car's general noise. Would I need an amp as well? I'd prefer to avoid it and I'm not wanting a sub or anything in the boot.

Any ideas?

tails
Driver
Posts: 98
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2015 4:16 pm
Vehicle: NA6

Re: Recommendation for headunit and speakers

Postby tails » Mon Aug 01, 2016 3:11 pm

Apologies for the double post but I should mention quickly that my factory unit is double DIN.

luzinit
Fast Driver
Posts: 287
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:27 am
Vehicle: NB8A

Re: Recommendation for headunit and speakers

Postby luzinit » Mon Aug 01, 2016 9:08 pm

You will probably find most decent head units under $250 will be a major improvement over the stock NA6 headunit. If you get a single DIN, you can get a single DIN cubby holder to fill in the space as additional storage. I've had Alpine single DIN units in the last 2 cars and they have been great.

In terms of speakers, really depends on your total budget. A set of splits can be powered by a new headunit relatively well without requiring an amp.



Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

luzinit
Fast Driver
Posts: 287
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:27 am
Vehicle: NB8A

Re: Recommendation for headunit and speakers

Postby luzinit » Mon Aug 01, 2016 9:11 pm

I'm sure theres plenty of info on this site but here is a quick guide

http://ozmx5.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

tails
Driver
Posts: 98
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2015 4:16 pm
Vehicle: NA6

Re: Recommendation for headunit and speakers

Postby tails » Tue Aug 02, 2016 9:18 am

Thanks guys, that'll help.

ravingrichie
Learner Driver
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 10:44 am
Vehicle: NA6

Re: Recommendation for headunit and speakers

Postby ravingrichie » Thu Aug 04, 2016 7:04 am

Put in headrest speakers.
Done.

Sent from my SM-N915G using Tapatalk

BlackLeaf
Racing Driver
Posts: 774
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:38 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Sth. East Brisbane

Re: Recommendation for headunit and speakers

Postby BlackLeaf » Thu Aug 04, 2016 10:19 am

Agreed.
BlackLeaf
R.I.P. 90 Mariner Blue, 12/12/90 - 10/12/15
#321 89 Classic Red, 04/12/15 ->

rpost77
Fast Driver
Posts: 164
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:21 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Sydney

Re: Recommendation for headunit and speakers

Postby rpost77 » Tue Aug 09, 2016 1:03 am

Installed a Clarion CX609A in my 1990 (build) 1991 (compliance) NA6. Using some Sony (can't remember model) speaker with a set of Polks sitting in the box waiting to be installed.

The CX609A is a double din unit. Fitment is easy and neat (providing you have correct double din tombstone).

Sound is really good. I find even with top down and resultant wind noise at speed, just turn up the volume and all is good. No headrest speakers required.

I can recommend the CX609A. Regarding speakers - the Sony's I have are fine - I would suggest researching and be prepared to pay for decent speakers - after all the speakers are the bits that produce the actual sound so spending a bit extra on decent ones will be worth it.

Oh - and in my opinion the CX609A blends nicely (especially once you set the colours to the original green) and looks very OEM (to the point where people have commented that it looks like it came with the car).

BlackLeaf
Racing Driver
Posts: 774
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:38 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Sth. East Brisbane

Re: Recommendation for headunit and speakers

Postby BlackLeaf » Thu Aug 11, 2016 10:03 am

Audio quality in a roadster will always be compromised, but not to the point that it is so poor that it is not worth listening to. Having dríven with and without headrest speakers it is my experience that the HR speakers make a positive difference to the listening experience. So much so that the NA I currently have, which came with NB seats, had a frankenseatectomy... kept the NB seat bases and married them with NA backrests.

I would suggest maximising your spend on speakers over head unit, but with the HU try and get one that has at least two memory settings for your audio config. That way you can optimise and easily switch the sound stage for top-up and top-down driving.

Installing HR speakers is a fairly easy and satisfying project.
BlackLeaf
R.I.P. 90 Mariner Blue, 12/12/90 - 10/12/15
#321 89 Classic Red, 04/12/15 ->

User avatar
smy0003
Racing Driver
Posts: 1870
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:35 pm
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Melbourne

Re: Recommendation for headunit and speakers

Postby smy0003 » Thu Aug 11, 2016 2:32 pm

I have a fairly high end JVC 1din unit for sale in Melbourne.
Just in case you're looking to buy.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
[b]Then: Sunlight Silver NB8B
Now: Chaste White NA8


Return to “MX5 Audio, Electronics & Lighting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 116 guests