[dugrant153]

I've read through quite a few threads... I feel kinda lost.

The MZ3 has that integrated Stereo system, right?
After I bought an aftermarket deck for one of the family cars, I fell in love with aftermarket systems.

My question is: Is it worth it to get the "tape player and radio" and attempt to go through all the wiring and the messing around with the wiring and stuff (and that funky "hello" message) to put in an aftermarket deck? Or should I just buy the better factory stereo from Mazda?

 

[lmp180psu]

Is there a "better factory stereo" from Mazda? I know that there is a choice of 4 vs 6 speakers, but is the power output any different?

I thought the stereo/cassette in my mom's former 97 Escort wasn't too bad, so I doubt the Mazda3 stereo can be worse At most I will change out the speakers with ones similar to what VaBoom has in his hatch :wink: 8)

 

[vaBooM]

There isnt a better factory HU. All the HUs that can do different things still have the same onboard amplifiers. So whether you go with the 6disc changer or the MP3 player, its still 25x4w max.

 

[bluntman]

I think it really depends on the individual. Honestly, it does seem like a lot to put in an aftermarket HU. Not only do you loose the functionality of the steering wheel controls, but also the LCD readout and you'll have a large blank area around the HU unless you are handy in creating your own surround.

The first thing I did with my previous cars after picking them up was to drive directly to my favourite car audio store. I don't think I will be doing that tomorrow when I can drive away in my 3. If anything, I will keep the factory HU and MP3 unit and add an amp and some nice 6.5" components up front and maybe[/b] a subwoofer depending on how the 6.5s sound.

 

[vaBooM]

6.5" components with a powerful amp crossovered low will sound awesome. My 6.5" fronts and rears sound like 8"s.

 

[mazdaspeed3]

vaBooM:
Now, if you got 8"s that sounded like 10"s, would your 6.5" still sound like 8"s? and so on and so on...

 

[Anarkraft]

i was originally thinking of going with a whole setup by polk momo, but it seems like a lot of money

 

[vaBooM]

vaBooM:
Now, if you got 8"s that sounded like 10"s, would your 6.5" still sound like 8"s? and so on and so on...

Depends. Thats an audio figure of speech. In theory, its impossible. As the cone surface area increases, the frequency response is much lower. For instance, a 10" woofer will go much deeper than an 8", but the 8" with enough power can play just as loud.

There are some guys around the net that have a very special custom box they designed for two 6.5" long throw woofers that according, to people that listen to it, swear they sound like a pair of 15".

Now thats trick.

 

[bknauss]

vaBooM:
Now, if you got 8"s that sounded like 10"s, would your 6.5" still sound like 8"s? and so on and so on...

Depends. Thats an audio figure of speech. In theory, its impossible. As the cone surface area increases, the frequency response is much lower. For instance, a 10" woofer will go much deeper than an 8", but the 8" with enough power can play just as loud.

There are some guys around the net that have a very special custom box they designed for two 6.5" long throw woofers that according, to people that listen to it, swear they sound like a pair of 15".

Now thats trick.

Yea, and if that's the same site that I've seen, its a load of BS. There is one video where they play something like a 30Hz signal, but it plays loud and clear on my $50 set of crap computer speakers. That should NOT be the case with a note that low. You can definitely get a decent output of a small driver with the right enclosure, but nothing like what they claim.