NA8 headunit

[lonesailor]

Can anybody tell me whether the radio/cassette head unit and the CD player are separate units or one piece? I am investigating replacing the CD player with a unit with bluetooth and USB input I'm happy enough with the radio and don't use the CD unit anyway. Ideally I would like to replace the CD with something which just inputs the bluetooth and the USB but realize that is unlikely and suppose I will have to replace it with a more modern CD player. Suggestions are also asked for a suitable unit without too garish a appearance or any other solution to the problem.

[hks_kansei]

I'm assuming the NA8 unit is the same unit as the NA and other Mazdas up to the mid 90s, being this one:



If that's what you have, then yes, the CD player component is a separate piece.


the back of the head unit (the tape/radio half) will have a small round plug hole on the back, this is basically the plug it uses to communicate with any of the accessory units Mazda had available at the time (single CD player, 6cd stacker, graphic equaliser and I believe a minidisc player for Japan)

To use the unit without any of these units Mazda would provide a small jumper plug, but without the proper plug you can also jsut as easily use some wire to jump two pins (essentially it bypasses the plug)



As far as getting USB and Bluetooth into it, there's the cheap and dirty way, and a more complex way.

The complex way is to try to find a usb/bluetooth unit that has the round plug on it ready to go, i've looked in the past, it's unlikely you'll find one. You could probably wire something up if you know enough about electronics and can find a pin diagram for the plug.


The easier way is to buy something like this
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ION-Bluetoo ... m570.l1313

no idea how well they work, havent used one.









as far as total replacement head units, Nakamichi still make fairly plain looking ones that are apparently fairly good.

[lonesailor]

Mine is somewhat different to that, but a similar concept.I assume they also are separate, I'll have to remove the tombstone to confirm. I'm not to keen on the cassette option, I hadn't realized untill yesterday that I had a cassette player. thanks for the info however.

[93_Clubman]

IIRC, the other optional factory CD player was also separate.

[Inksta]

as far as total replacement head units, Nakamichi still make fairly plain looking ones that are apparently fairly good.

Just my 2c: for my money, I would steer clear, having bought one of these a few years back. My motivation was the nice plain looks, and although I'd heard the build quality was not always great, I thought I'd take a gamble. The CD player stopped working within a few months, and the LCD has had a weird bleeding effect that has worsened over the years. I'm happy with the sound quality, and it's still mostly usable, but I wouldn't buy again.

[apsilon]

I have the same two piece headunit and plan on replacing it. I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to find info regarding this headunit and the separate door tweeters as used in the limited edition models. Car audio is definitely not my thing so i don't know if I'm searching for the wrong thing or if the info just isn't out there but I can't find any info on how the wiring differs if at all. I'll have to pull the door trims at some point and follow it but I'm hoping he tweeters either run to the main speakers or at least back to the headunit using the same plug. I don't want to cut up any wiring so I'm hoping I can find an adaptor to use. i know they're around for the MX5 but of course none of them mention the limited edition and it's split speaker set up.

I don't have much interest in music in the car though it can be good to have at times but my main reason for replacing the headunit will be to get phone compatibility for calls if I have (occasionally I'm on call for work) and mostly navigation. To that end I'll be looking at one of the double DIN touchscreen style units, like the OP hopefully something not too garish.

I may as well ask this while I'm at it, is the whole different versions of the tombstone and DIN sizes an issue on ours cars or was that a US thing only?

[hks_kansei]

With regard to the tweeter/woofer separates.

Generally there is still only two wires at the radio end (as part of the main plug) which are the same as when using "standard" speakers.

With separate tweeters etc, if they're good quality speakers, those two wires will run into a crossover box, and from there split into a pair of wires off to the tweeter, and another pair off to the woofer (a crossover separates the sounds so it sends low freq to the woofer, and high to the tweeter)


On cheaper speakers, which is likely what Mazda used, the two wires will just head to the woofer, and then go from woofer to tweeter. (that's how my NB is from memory)

Short answer, as far as the bits in the back of the head unit, it's just got 4 speaker outputs, Front L&R and Rear L&R (which go to headrest speakers if fitted)




With regard to the phone call bit, personally I'd just get either an FM transmitter bluetooth kit, or one of the tape deck ones like this: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Bluetooth-W ... 1865482665

(havent used on though, so have no idea how well they work, but the idea of having it fully hidden away seems great to me)

[93_Clubman]

is the whole different versions of the tombstone and DIN sizes an issue on ours cars or was that a US thing only?

Tombstone opening change was for the 1996-1997 NA8 'P5 revision' (see VIN), & my understanding is it applied to all, or at least most, markets.

[apsilon]

Haven't come across that before? Where can I find more info? Quick google search didn't turn up anything about a p5 revision.

Research I found seemed to indicate a change in the tombstone around 93-94 so with the move to NA8. Hard to find accurate info as so much of it is based around the US cars. They seem to refer to a JDM tombstone but I think they're really referring to a difference between RHD and LHD in this case. info i found indicated the change to the tombstone around 94 only applied to LHD. Not made any easier by most of the aftermarket not recognising a difference from 89 - 98

[93_Clubman]

Haven't come across that before? Where can I find more info? Quick google search didn't turn up anything about a p5 revision.

Accumulated knowledge - not seen it on inet, which is not to say it's not out there, but the 1996-1997 upgrades are referred to in Brian Long's MX5 book.

Research I found seemed to indicate a change in the tombstone around 93-94 so with the move to NA8.

It's possible the ADM 1989-1993 NA6 & ADM 1993-1995 NA8 tombstone openings were different (have never compared them side by side), but I always thought they were the same given they carried over the identical, or almost identical, Panasonic radio/cassette. That said, I do believe the JDM early NA8 tombstone may have been different to the JDM NA6 tombstone, which is why the former are keenly sought after by those upgrading audio. IIRC it's been posted about in detail with pics on here in the past, but may have been lost in one of the forum crashes.

[KevGoat]

Couple of images showing the difference between NA6 to NA8 tombstones ...

NA6 the HU etc sit proud of the panel...



NA8 they recess in and sit flush and looks much neater ...



Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[93_Clubman]

'Genuine Mazda radio surround panels (available for NA6 and NA8)
If you are installing an aftermarket radio in your MX5 we advise you purchase the NA8 late model tombstone as the hole at the bottom of the console is a true 'double din' size so you aren't left with any gaps (we also sell the 'cubby' pocket in our store)
Note: NA6 tombstone may still be installed on some 94-95 NA8 models please check your existing panel if you own either year.'
https://www.mx5mania.com.au/Radio-Surro ... -1989-1997
Pics here might help cast some light on some differences, but not the ones I was hoping for: https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/dash-kits-c-376_314_265.html

[apsilon]

Thanks all. Good info as always form everyone.

Accumulated knowledge - not seen it on inet, which is not to say it's not out there, but the 1996-1997 upgrades are referred to in Brian Long's MX5 book.

I've got that book, i should probably read it

[green_comet]

The NA8 tombstone went to double din in the 96/97 models, not the earlier NA8's (I've had both). The Mazda part number for the late NA8 double din tombstone is N041-55-210A00 (the earlier NA8 part number was NA01-55-210B00).

I recently just bought one as I'm restoring a 97 LE, installed a single din unit and pocket. Everything just clips straight in. I also looked far and wide for a headunit that looked stock, the best I could find were the VDO/Continental units, but they're only avaliable with blue and orange back lighting. I ended up just getting a Kenwood KMM-BT304 for the time being as it had the features I wanted, you can set back lighting colours and I didn't find it too ugly.

I have the same two piece headunit and plan on replacing it. I've been trying, unsuccessfully, to find info regarding this headunit and the separate door tweeters as used in the limited edition models. Car audio is definitely not my thing so i don't know if I'm searching for the wrong thing or if the info just isn't out there but I can't find any info on how the wiring differs if at all. I'll have to pull the door trims at some point and follow it but I'm hoping he tweeters either run to the main speakers or at least back to the headunit using the same plug. I don't want to cut up any wiring so I'm hoping I can find an adaptor to use. i know they're around for the MX5 but of course none of them mention the limited edition and it's split speaker set up.

I can confirm that there's no special wiring or crossovers involved with the tweeters in the doors, they're just wired in parallel to the main door speakers. I just upgraded the stock door speaker in my LE to a set of Rockford Fosgate R165x3's (which bolt straight into the stock mounting points), the tweeters in the doors I left alone as I didn't want to modify or cut up the tweeters/door cards. The stock tweeters plug back in and continue to work no worries if you swap the main door speakers over.

[apsilon]

Great info, thanks.

Can I ask where you got the tombstone from?