Just a quick DIY for making speaker ring adapters for your Miata.

The Miata comes with 8-inch door speakers that are in no way hi-fi, especially compared to modern aftermarket speakers. Some models come with a Blows version that just suck better than normal. But with some plywood, a jigsaw and a couple hours, you can make your own adapters and install much better 6.5" speakers avaialable cheap from a Best Buy type store.

Now, of course you can just buy plastic adapter rings but then you wouldn't be reading this. So, assuming you don't have a nice table router and MDF stock in different sizes and years of experience, don't be afraid to upgrade your sound system in one day like you should have long ago.

If you're really courageous, buy a small amplifier and really unleash your stereo's ability...even your stock one. I kinda think the wood rings resonate better than plastic like vinyl records sound more natural than CDs but that's probably wishful thinking. I'll just continue thinking it.

Remove your door panels, yadda yadda...you knew that already. Remove the stock speaker and either use it as a template or test out its survivability with a sledgehammer.

Measure the distance between the mounting holes as these will form the outer diameter of your speaker ring


To draw the inner diameter, it will be necessary to measure your speaker cage to find out how big it is. Generic plastic rings can get a little sloppy here since they're made to fit many sizes of speakers and they're not all the same. In this case, I'm making these rings for a set of Polk MM speakers


Using a caliper, now devide the distance between the holes exactly in half and that will be your true center (oops I already did it and cut the wood before taking the picture for this step)


Using a compass, stick the needle part into the center point you just measured and then circle the wood with the pencil part. That is your speaker hole custom sized for your speaker. Drill four holes to relieve the jigsaw blade as you cut a tight circle. (Again, I already cut the hole before taking the photo but you can see exactly what needs to be done)


Now test fit the ring to the door paying close attention to the area the screwdriver is pointing to as it make need to be sanded down slightly to fit.


Properly fitting ring


Now finish the inner circle and test fit your speaker. Mmm, smells good!




If you want, sand the ring for smoothness (better for lacquering)


Put a couple coats of lacquer over the entire ring. You want these to last.


Then finishing coats of black and that's it. Enjoy your new rings.


I can't really show you how nice the sound is so here's a picture of a happy frog.

Your guides are awesome. Many thanks!

Check your PM. I have a special request

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Gerry Hernandez Jr. | Computer Geek | Starving Musician

Genuine computer and math geek. Need help? PM me

1999 Mazda Miata - Twilight Blue. Go-kart on steroids.
2002 Mazda Protege - Beater Silver. Work in progress.

Hey Gerry and thanks! I haven't done that write up yet so might as well answer some of your questions here.

The stock wiring can handle quite a lot but I'm not an electrical engineer so I don't want to speculate. I see all the audio shops doing it so I figure they know more than I. Personally, I ran 14ga, quality speaker wire because I'm running 100W+ RMS. You didn't specify how big an amp you'd like to run so if it's a modest, small amp then there's probably no need to upgrade your speaker wire as long as it's not compromised.

If you run a bigger amp or just want piece of mind, you'll have to remove the seats, lay on your back with a flashlight in your mouth and a flathead screwdriver in your hand and pry up the green retaining clip that holds the door wiring in place.

You'll pull out the female end which is part of the main wiring harness and push it aside. Since it already has a hole in the center, no need to do anything with it.


The male end, which is the part with the rubber accordian boot, needs to be drilled out. It is held to the door frame with hooks on top and bottom. Stick the screwdriver in there and dislodge it free. You'll have to push the green retaining clip back down first.

Push the rubber boot down and separate the wires so the drill bit doesn't hurt them and drill out the center


When you're done, it'll look like this


Then start routing your new wire into the door. Make sure to begin feeding wire through the female end first and then through the male end or you'll have to pull it all out and start over (like me).


The run it through the hole in the door frame and out to through the male connector's hole you just made


It'll snag a little in the rubber boot but it'll eventually come out the other end. Plug the male connector back into the door frame and then pop up the green retaining clip again. Insert the female connector into it and push the green retaining clip back down.

Now your all locked into place but you can freely pull your new speaker wire from the car into the door to whatever length you need. Give yourself a little extra for future speaker upgrades or if you have to move the crossover somewhere else.

I'll have more pictures for my actual write up that makes it a bit easier to visualize.

You're the man.

_________________
Gerry Hernandez Jr. | Computer Geek | Starving Musician

Genuine computer and math geek. Need help? PM me

1999 Mazda Miata - Twilight Blue. Go-kart on steroids.
2002 Mazda Protege - Beater Silver. Work in progress.

Good stuff! When I upgraded my old NB's speakers, I chose the "buy the adapters" path. The difference in sound quality was amazing.

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2010 Mazda MX-5 PRHT - the DD
1989 Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo - the garage ornament
https://www.facebook.com/doomwolfmetal <<<<METAL!

Are those adapter rings waterproof, or is there another measure taken to prevent moisture from reaching it and/or the speaker?

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ToolMan
Tim Allen
'93 LE #790
1993 LE The FIRST R Package
1997 Montego Blue: Daily Driver

When I installed my speakers in my Accord, I used cheap adhesive weather stripping from Home Depot around the mounting hole. Piece of mind for moisture, plus eliminates rattles. I think it's like $3 for a 5 foot roll, or something like that.

_________________
Gerry Hernandez Jr. | Computer Geek | Starving Musician

Genuine computer and math geek. Need help? PM me

1999 Mazda Miata - Twilight Blue. Go-kart on steroids.
2002 Mazda Protege - Beater Silver. Work in progress.

That's actually a good point and I did use such weather stripping but didn't include a photo in the original write up. The wooden rings are pretty protected with coats of lacquer and then paint and the speaker is protected with a foam baffle with the bottom third cut out (no photo).

For running new speaker wire, two questions:

1. Must you remove the whole door?
2. Do you think 12 AWG wire would fit?

Thanks

_________________
Gerry Hernandez Jr. | Computer Geek | Starving Musician

Genuine computer and math geek. Need help? PM me

1999 Mazda Miata - Twilight Blue. Go-kart on steroids.
2002 Mazda Protege - Beater Silver. Work in progress.

Gerry,

You don't have to remove the door at all. It's just that since you will have done the hardest part which is to get up in there and release that connector, the only thing keeping the door in place is the four hinge bolts. Could be easier for some people to put on the workbench and lubricate, install sound damper or whatever.

The gauge of wire you can run only depends on how big a hole you drilled out in the first place. You can drill quite a big hole in the connector (see pict above) and run huge speaker wire and a couple other sets for future upgrades. 12ga. would be no problem.

Oh great, that's good to hear! I was hoping I could fit enough wire to keep my crossovers out of the doors. Looks like I'll be able to.

I just bought my amp and speakers. I'll probably get around to installing everything mid-January. I appreciate your guides - they gave me the confidence to do it myself.

_________________
Gerry Hernandez Jr. | Computer Geek | Starving Musician

Genuine computer and math geek. Need help? PM me

1999 Mazda Miata - Twilight Blue. Go-kart on steroids.
2002 Mazda Protege - Beater Silver. Work in progress.

Yep, you sure can. You can stick the crossovers up inside the dash and then run two sets of wires into the doors. Good thinking! You can also run another set of wires for an LED convenience light or whatever. Perhaps lame idea but I made the hole and had spools of wire so what the hell.

You can do eeeet! Glad to help.