kad

hi
sooo i see you guys complaining about how bad the stock stereo is in the pro5. are you guys complaining that it won't go loud enough? or when it does the audio is distorted? hmm
i dunnno... i haven't really heard a car with a good stereo
so i can't compare

i have the stock 6cd changer, and i don't wanna waste my time selling it. so if i do upgrade anything it'll be changing the speakers and not the head unit.

soooo my point is how much difference well i hear between the stock speakers and aftermarket ones, and how much do you think an average set will cost. i'm thinking about not spending too much if i do choose to change the speakers.

ooh and how hard is it to change them? can i do it myself?
thanks for your time and help

onehawaiian

actually, the stock system is pretty efficient, and can actually get loud. but the sound quality is limited (and really midrangey if you ask me). not the greatest in the world, but really isn't too bad compared to not having anything at all (altho some might disagree there). but i suggest you upgrade the spkrs. you should definitely notice a difference from stock spkrs (esp if you are amping them). altho hu's help too, if you have already decided to keep the changer and deck then you should get some decent spkrs. shouldn't be too much, depending on what you want. and you could do it yourself. the hardest part is getting the door off. you should be able to do a direct swap on the spkrs.

kad

yea
i mean i could take that changer out
and try to sell it on here
but it'd be too much work
so i'll stick with stock

i'm really sorry
i know nothing about car audio
what do you mean amping them
adding an amplifier?
that'd be harder installing then right?
and cost more too?
and could you pllease give me a number to look for as for price?
maybe even some suggestions on brands or speakers

i'm sorrry for alla the questions
thanks a lot.

onehawaiian

yeah, some spkrs perform better when amped. you could get a cheap 2ch amp (or 4ch if you intend on swapping all the spkrs). it all depends on what you want to spend and what you want from your sounds.

since you are keeping your hu/changer, you may want to look into these brands:

-infinity
-jl audio
-jbl
-autotek/gs designs

all can be relatively inexpensive and offer really nice sound. how much are you looking to spend?

kad

as little as i have to spend to get decent improvement.

hihoslva

Then just swap speakers, and leave it at that. If you get a set of speakers that are rated to run at about 20-40 watts RMS (NOT peak), you'll do fine. Also, with this low power, look for for speakers that have a high "sensitivity rating" - this is usually expressed in "dB" - getting something with a 90 or above rating will be good for you, and shouldn't be hard to find or cost any extra money - basically, a 90dB sensitivity rating will be a little louder that an 85dB rating at the same power. The numbers mean a lot less with high powered amps and all, but with a relatively low-powered deck like the stock unit, the higher that number, the better.

Good deals can be had on Kenwood and Pioneer speakers, as well as a few other brands. I think if you set a budget of $200 total for both front and rear, you'll get some speakers that will perform MUCH better than stock, and you'll be quite pleased - wihout breaking the bank.

~HH

Dave Cameron

The guys are right- start with a cost effective speaker replacement. Unless you purchased the "high end" speakers from Mazda- they are two way Kenwoods- what you have right now are paper cones with wizzers and very small magnets.
Go to dealers around you, tell them all you want to do is replace the speakers, and NOTHING else at this time, and then audition speakers that will be drop in fits. The use of specifications SPL or sensitivity will help in finding speakers that will provide the most volume from the power of the stock headunit. Find some that that meet two basic critera- fit your budget, and you like the sound of. Buy them! Or check with good folks like Blue LEDz to see what they can get them for- or come back to the boards here, with all the folks here someone will probably know of someplace on the internet where you can get a good deal on the types you decide you like the sound of.
It would then be your choice of paying the dealer to install, or by using some of the Mazda Protege links to photos of how to install, and by getting any other answers you desire from boards like this one, invest the time and install them yourself. Get a friend and a six pack and make an afternoon of it, it can be fun, and you will know your car better at the end of the job.
Trying your hand at it will save a few bucks, give you more satisfaction in the job when you are done, and is the way most folks get the car audio bug, and the start to their knowledge of it!

hihoslva

Oh yes - definitely do your own install. The speakers are quite easy to replace - a little time, some patience, and some searching and advice from people here, and you will easily be able to DIY and save a few bucks. Plus - the satisfaction factor, and also knowing that you did things right - you'd be surprised what some shops will do, especially wih speakers where the shoddy work might never be seen.

Definitely DIY!

Dave Cameron

Sounds like at least three folks willing to help you via the net right here tonight Kad, and hihoslva and blue LEDz both have done some pretty sweet intalls in their proteges- you would be in excellent hands.
Also, the money you don't spend on an install cound be more money to go towards those speakers you find you really like but don't quite have enough cash to get....
But don't forget to hold back the money for a sixpack for install time!
hihoslva and blue LEDz are also right many chain shops and I am afraid to say some decent local shops do some awful installs. Because you own it, you will always do a better job than they will unless you are willing to shell out a fortune and keep an eye on them all of the time. Either way Kad you would be spending more bucks.
Give it try-

kad

thanks a lot for all the help!
hmm i have decided to install it myself
my uncle is a mechanic so he'll have any tools i'm missing
soo now it's a question of what speakers i should be getting I guess? and how much i'll have to spend. Under 200 for all 4 sounds good to me. Is that what the average set of speakers cost?

Dave Cameron

Kad tell us about the car, what year and what body, it will help out with the response to your question. I.E. 2001 ES or 2002 P5 or 2003 Mazdaspeed Turbo-
(I broke down and put my name of the list at the local dealer, first person if you can beleve it- for a turbo. I am already plotting the system now- premier,brax, and focal.)
Anyway- we all just need to know to help point you in directions=

kad

hehehe
i should make a signature
hmmm
too lazy

anyway i have a 02' Protege5.

Dave Cameron

http://www.astolfo.com/p5/p5.asp

Often quotes site, pretty useful reading to help out. According to it blue LEDz, they are 6&1/2 in the doors of the rear of the P5. I am sure if we are wrong here a pile of P5 owners will pile on us lowly sedan owners
It this is the case, then all the better for you kad- both the 6x8 and the 6&1/2 are manufactured by lots of folks, which means the competition will get you some decent prices.
Retail like best buy can be good for listening to speakers to decide which ones you like, but purchase elsewhere. The internet can provide excellent prices, and folks like blue LEDz can sell to you with little markup.
In turn my favorite market once I know what I want to buy is E-Bay my wife says I am addictted, and I would have to agree. You will find stuff there you might never get otherwise at sometimes decent prices. But purchase new in the box. I will occasionaly purchase speakers used but only from friends I trust, too easy to get a blown speaker that way.
So- now we know that you are looking for 6X8 and 6&1/2, I would imagine coax for under 100 for the set that will fit the depht and the stack height of the protege-
Suggestions fellow board members?

kad

ooh i read that wrong
hehehe
oookay
so 6x8 in the front and 6&1/2 in the back.
now i need reccommendations on speakers and brands!
also i'm reading that an amp would help a lot?


hehehe

sunbyrne

I just want to confirm what Dave said--the rears in the P5 are 6.5". And there are varying opinions on how to treat the rear speakers. Some people say it doesn't matter but I think it does. Certainly not as much as the fronts, but when the whizzers start to distort the treble at high volume, you'll wish you had replaced the rears, too.

The rears aren't really harder to install than the fronts, you just need an adapter bracket to fit Mazda's, uhh, unique drill pattern.

Oh, and get two-ways for the back, not three-ways. Three-ways stick up too far and can press on the door panel, which is bad.

Moderately-priced brands that will probably fill your bill are brands like Infinity, Polk, and JBL; but take Dave's advice--go listen first!