ToBeBackDoc

Will the MP3 kenwood head unit plug directly into the factory P5 harness? And is there more than one Kenwood offered in the MP3? What is the difference? And what about the speakers from the MP3...will they hook up directly?

hihoslva

Uh, oh - someone else saw that $400 auction on eBay for the entire Kenwood system from the MP3!! Right?

I would expect that either Kenwood or Mazda made a harness to go from the stock harness to the Kenwood. I can't be sure, but it wouldn't make sense for Kenwood to change their harnesses just to go into the MP3, even less sense for Mazda to change the car harness just to fit a Kenwood. The only logical solution is that a harness was made with a "Kenwood" side and a "Mazda" side.

If that's the auction you're looking at, try asking the seller if he is including the harnesses, assuming that I'm correct. as far as the speakers, it's very easy to hook wires up to the stock speaker harnesses and then run them to new speakers, unless harnesses were installed there, too - in the MP3s.

There were two Kenwoods installed in the MP3 - the Z828 and the Z919 - one was discontinued or something, so only some MP3s got one of them - the 919 was discontinued, I think. Check some MP3 boards for the differences. Either one is a sweet deck.

Best bet - ask the seller. Even if harnesses are not included, installation is easy enough anyway, and the MP3 system complete for $400 is a nice deal.

ToBeBackDoc

This was in reply to an ebay auction but not the complete system for $400. There are kenwood Z919's for sale on there for cheap and I was wanting to make sure it would'nt require tampering with the factory harness. Also aren't the door speakers different sizes? I would like to find the head unit a sub for a better price than $400. For that money I could almost replace the factory with a custom system.

hihoslva

This was a $400 auction for the whole MP3 system - the Z919, the door speakers, and the sub.

That's a HELL of a deal. $400 for the deck alone isn't that bad, but with the door speakers (which are the eXcelon line) and the sub - it's a steal.

Check it: MP3 audio system

ToBeBackDoc

The $400 deal is good if everything works. If you were to put that deck into a P5 would'nt you need the plate or bracket from the MP3? And what about the speaker sizes..are they the same? And the harness thing still leaves me wondering? I would love to hear that factory system to see what all the hype is about.

hihoslva

Everything is a direct fit - you don't need any type of install kit, other than maybe some amp wiring for the sub, and the wiring harness for the deck. You don't "need" a dash kit for the Pros, even though one is now available. The speakers are the same sizes, too.

For a system that came stock in a sub-$20,000 vehicle, the MP3 system kicks ***. It isn't gonna rattle the neighbors windows or anything, but the Kenwood deck alone is worth over $400 - that guy is auctioning the whole system.

If I were still in the market for a new system, I'd jump at this one, probably sell the subwoofer, and replace it with something more powerful. The deck and speakers are good stuff.

ToBeBackDoc

Thanks hihoslva, I hate to pay that kinda money for something that does'nt match up. I hate to tear the door panels and rear panles out of a brand new car to install a system but I guess it's all in the pursuit of sound. I have a couple more questions: what is it going to take to install the sub? Is it gonna be like installing a regular sub or is there any special setup aready there? How many panels will I have to remove? And how does this system sound during highway driving? I make a 1000 mile road trip about every couple months.

hihoslva

I can only tell you what I've heard - I have not witnessed this system myself, but I do know that it is a steal of a deal. If you are not looking for huge hump, the MP3 sub will be great for you - probably better than in the MP3, because it'll be in the hatch rather than an enclosed trunk.

The Kenwood Z828 alone goes for about $700 brand new. It is an excellent deck.

Installing a sub in the P5 is a snap. The only panels I had to remove were the door sills to run power and RCA cables - everything else is easy to thread.

It is a self-powered sub (built in amp) so I would assume it is similar to installing an amp itself - power, ground, RCAs, that's it.

Installations in the P5 are really fairly easy. I'd definitely go for this system if you are looking for great sound - not a competition setup or a window-rattler, but certainly very good.

You can also ask around at www.mazdamp3.com - many owners love the system and haven't replaced a thing.

good luck.

derrick1623

i haven't changed anything in my mp3, though i do want better wiring and another 10" sub. anyway...there is no rca pre outs on the z919. it is all speaker-type wires coming out of it.

azrakain

The 6x9 speakers that go in the rear of the MP3 will not fit in your P5's rear doors. It (PROTEGE 5's) uses 6½" speakers. Be advised that you will need to buy another set of speakers or don some extensive modification....sorry for posting information that has already been provided to you; if it has. kenwood sells a piece for their decks that adds rca's and also a second cd changer jack. you could then install DVD and have it play through the stock system. the part is like $70 i think. will find out the part number/name and will post it.

hihoslva

Well, I was thinking of 6x9s in the FRONT doors. I read of someone who did 6x8, and wonder if 6x9 will fit.

azrakain

According to http://www.astolfo.com/p5/p5install.asp the 6½s go in the rear doors, so the 6x9s would have to be squezed in there. there would definetly need to be some modifying done to get them to fit as the hole in the door is cut for a round speaker. there are some more pictures there. This is a pic of the rear door with alll the paneling removed. You can see the round cutout for the speaker at the bottom left.

hihoslva

I don't know if that "astolfo" site is wrong, or you read it wrong, but it really is common knowledge that the REAR doors are 6.5s stock, and the FRONTdoors are 5x7s stock (US models)

That pic is of the rear door, not the front.

Maz94Protege

yo, dood thats weird, ill have to come over and look at that ****. it should have 2 sets of preouts. all or most of em i know of do!

azrakain

The Z919 should have 3 sets of pre outs. from what I remember. Frontm rear and non-fading gold plated Pre outs from what I just read.
http://www.carstereo.com.au/new/z919.html