Notices
General Miata Chat A place to talk about anything Miata

Recommend a stereo for my '99

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 13, 2010 | 11:55 PM
  #1  
thirdgen's Avatar
Thread Starter
Slowest Progress Ever
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,029
Total Cats: 304
From: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
Default Recommend a stereo for my '99

I would like to get rid of my stock head unit and put something way better in there. I always liked pioneer, so I want to stick with Pioneer, and keep things cheap and simple. All I need a a cd player with an MP3 input. I also may want to replace my stock speakers. What are my options and what do you guys recommend that actually doesn't cost a million dollars and sounds really good?
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 12:15 AM
  #2  
chpmnsws6's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,712
Total Cats: 25
From: Springfield IL
Default

Ditch the head unit. Run an amp to the two front speakers and run an av to aux cable plugged into your phone, I-pod, or MP3 player. No HU really makes most thieves just move on.
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 01:05 AM
  #3  
thirdgen's Avatar
Thread Starter
Slowest Progress Ever
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,029
Total Cats: 304
From: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
Default

I don't have a theif problem where I live. People who know the car know better than to f with it. The others just think it's a gay miata and think that if they touch it they'll get **** stained ball juice on their hands.
In seriousness though, I want a headunit with a cd player, so what should I get?
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 01:31 AM
  #4  
turotufas's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,304
Total Cats: 7
From: Gainesville,Fl
Default

Originally Posted by chpmnsws6
Ditch the head unit. Run an amp to the two front speakers and run an av to aux cable plugged into your phone, I-pod, or MP3 player. No HU really makes most thieves just move on.
Thats what I'm doing.
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 01:40 AM
  #5  
chpmnsws6's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,712
Total Cats: 25
From: Springfield IL
Default

Then Best Buy sells some nice HU's in the 130 dollar range. They are MP3 compatible with AV outputs and AUX inputs.
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 02:01 AM
  #6  
thirdgen's Avatar
Thread Starter
Slowest Progress Ever
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,029
Total Cats: 304
From: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
Default

I was thinking about best buy, but what about door speakers?
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 06:54 AM
  #7  
r808's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 436
Total Cats: 0
From: Makakilo
Default

Originally Posted by chpmnsws6
Then Best Buy sells some nice HU's in the 130 dollar range. They are MP3 compatible with AV outputs and AUX inputs.
That's what I did. Sounds decent enough. It's such an off brand I don't even bother to detach the face. I do like the run an amp w/no head unit idea though.
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 07:22 AM
  #8  
NA6C-Guy's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,930
Total Cats: 44
From: Birmingham Alabama
Default

If I'm not mistaken, at least for NA's, the door speakers use 5.5'' stock, but can be upgraded to 6.5'' with a small amount of modifying. I'm running a high end Pioneer HU and love it. Green and white lighting matches the interior lighting, and the sound quality is good. I'm running 5.5'' Pioneer door speakers, but if I were to do it over again, which I might do, I would go with these in the doors:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882290056

Some of the best speakers for the price. Probably blow my 5.5'' Pioneer speakers out of the water. I'm also running larger headrest speakers. I think stock was 3.5'' but I crammed 4'' speakers in there just fine, for the extra "kick". They are also Pioneer. To me best bang for your buck in HU is Pioneer, and for speakers it would be Polk. If I were getting another HU, which I might do that as well, just for a change (and a chance to redo the wiring with an excuse to make it worth the trouble) I would go with:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882117326
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 08:30 AM
  #9  
jedduh01's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 321
Total Cats: 1
From: Charlotte , nc
Default

Best buy on the floor does/did offer sort of a speaker / head unit set.

4 months ago i got one, and I got to choose, Kenwood deck, with 6.5 kenwood speakers, or a pioneer deck with 6.5 speakers. {may have been 5.5}

The kenwood was out the door for 140 , the pioneer i think was a touch cheaper. Also if i remember correctly, Comparing the head units one for one, the Kenwood had one or two better features that won the choice regardless of price. Aux input on face, or something like that.

I had looked online and found the pioneer set, but got to the store, and they had both sitting there ready. Perhaps call ahead to the store see if they have the combo pack in stock.

I installed the head unit in my Mini, for use with the Zune. and installed the speakers in my PU truck...

Been good stuff for the price.
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 09:47 AM
  #10  
thirdgen's Avatar
Thread Starter
Slowest Progress Ever
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,029
Total Cats: 304
From: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
Default

Now that's what I was looking for...$230 for a Pioneer HU and Polk speaker combo. Thanks guys!
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 11:23 AM
  #11  
vw_nut's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 184
Total Cats: 0
From: Auburn Maine
Default

Haven't looked at head units in a long time, but I like the clean looks on that pioneer. Simple and effective.
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 12:56 PM
  #12  
chpmnsws6's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,712
Total Cats: 25
From: Springfield IL
Default

I'm using the Alpine Type-S 6.5's without tweets and its loud enough to hear easily while going down the highway with the top down (my goal for speakers). They just got with Polk, and you really can't go wrong with Polk's quality. You can put a SUPER huge magnet 6.5 in the doors of the Miata. I was surprised how much room we had.
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 07:02 PM
  #13  
Golferluke's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 496
Total Cats: 3
From: Springfield, MO
Default

Carputer+polks?
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 07:07 PM
  #14  
NA6C-Guy's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,930
Total Cats: 44
From: Birmingham Alabama
Default

Originally Posted by vw_nut
Haven't looked at head units in a long time, but I like the clean looks on that pioneer. Simple and effective.
I'm a big fan of simple and clean. I see some HU and wonder to myself what they were thinking when designing it. Clearly they were made to appeal to 16 year old boys with Civics. 4 different color lights, chrome accents everywhere, far too flashy and none of which match any cars interior. The matching factor was one of the things that made me get my current Pioneer. Simple black face with a black chrome **** surround, spun aluminum looking volume ****, and white display with subtle green back lit buttons. Almost looks like it was meant to be in a black interior NA.
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 07:24 PM
  #15  
Golferluke's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 496
Total Cats: 3
From: Springfield, MO
Default

Just reread the cheap part, disregard earlier post lol. The amp and a cable is a good idea but I couldn't go without radio. Gotta have my morning talkshows
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 07:53 PM
  #16  
ZX-Tex's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,847
Total Cats: 27
From: San Antonio, Texas
Default

You could get a small cheap portable radio especially if it is just for talk shows.
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 10:18 PM
  #17  
levnubhin's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 7,329
Total Cats: 12
From: Va Beach
Default

I really like the features of this one, specifically that it can control the iphone. Not crazy about the looks though.

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_105KDA6...&tp=5684&avf=N

Speakers....

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_107DB52...51.html?tp=106
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 10:28 PM
  #18  
levnubhin's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (30)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 7,329
Total Cats: 12
From: Va Beach
Default

Definitely digging this..........

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KWXR...0.html?tp=5684
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 10:43 PM
  #19  
chpmnsws6's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,712
Total Cats: 25
From: Springfield IL
Default

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Alpine+-...-102&cp=1&lp=1

Bluetooth compatible, which is ULTRA sweet if you have tunes on your phone.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dual+-+3...amp&cp=1&lp=15

Its cheap and will power these just fine without cooking it-

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Polk+Aud...&skuId=9985099

You'll get a decent sound out of those with out breaking the bank. I have my amp stuffed in front of the passenger feet behind the carpet in the same area the pedals would be if it were RHD.
Old Aug 14, 2010 | 10:52 PM
  #20  
thirdgen's Avatar
Thread Starter
Slowest Progress Ever
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,029
Total Cats: 304
From: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
Default

That was awesome...a 300 watt amp for 50 bucks! Then speakers and a HU for like $250? I'm thinking a pioneer HU, polk 6.5" speakers, and that amp, and I'll do it all for under $200.



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:00 PM.