Centre Dash Speaker???

[Pernod]

Hi guys,

I'm in the process of fixing up a few if the loose ends that I just haven't got around to with my stereo, and one of these is linking it up to the centre speaker...

I'm just wondering if anyone can confirm how this should work? If I plug in the two front speaker wires then should the centre speaker just run off that? I'm a little confused as to how its laid out as I have chopped the standard wiring up a bit when I put the new system in. If anyone can tell me the standard wiring layout that would be great!

Also, has anyone actually looked for the speaker when they have had the dash out? I forgot to when I put the system in, which was stupid as I have a couple of spare speakers that I could have swapped it for. What I was wondering is if anyone can tell me what size the speaker is? Is it a 4"?

Thanks for this guys. The reason for my questions is that I'm pretty sure that the way that I have wired my system, the centre speaker should be working, but I cant tell if there is anything coming out of it...

Cheers

Shane

[Dogo]

look here for a similar topic :
http://www.astinagt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1135&highlight=

The centre speaker runs from a "Centre Speaker Amplifier" which should be a little metal box in the centre console, behind the cig lighter/ash tray area. Its hanging down just above the ecu ( another metal box with HEAPS of wires coming out of it )

The stereo wiring diagram currently online does not show this. It must be the wrong one :?

I have the wiring diagram with the full stereo setup including the centre speaker. I'll put this online soon. ( FINALLY I got a flatbed scanner so I can actually start putting this stuff online now )

From memory, the front L&R speaker wires came out of the stock head unit, split into the centre speaker amp and the doors, and then speaker wires come out form that amp to the centre speaker.

Cant remember 100% how the centre amp is powered. But when i put the wiring diagrams up that will become clear im sure.

Its a tiny speaker, but you could possibly fabricate a new support to hold a single 4" or 3 1/4" since they're easier to find.

[Pernod]

Thanks for that, I can see another complete removal of the dash coming on again... :oops:

[Dogo]

only if ur keen :)

the amp can be accessed by removing the centre console area ( handbrake and stereo surround. )

The speaker can be accessed by removing the grill on top. 3 clips. use a knife or screwdriver, and wrap the end in tape to avoid scratching the dash :)

[Toyboy]

The centre speaker runs from a "Centre Speaker Amplifier" which should be a little metal box in the centre console, behind the cig lighter/ash tray area. Its hanging down just above the ecu ( another metal box with HEAPS of wires coming out of it )

So thats what that little chrome box is,had me f**ked what that was, thanks dogo :wink:
I have my door speaker amp wires running to the original speaker wires behind the dash,so that means that there is 2 amps running the door speakers then :? Or is that little chrome box only operable when the standard headunit is being used :?:
Would this cause problems,cause ive had my system wired like this for a few years now :shock:

[Pernod]

This is a pure guess based on my other sound knowledge, so someone may be able to correct me on this who knows about the specifics of the Mazda? )

Rather than being an amp, my guess (let me reinforce that again :) ) is that this is a wave analyser rather than an amp. Typically, the centre chanel taks both the right and left channels, and then strips out the signials that only goes to one of the two channels and puts the rest through the centre channel (so that a sound that only goes to the right, still only goes to the right speaker, any thing that goes to both the L and R also goes throught he centre channel, etc :?: ).

I would guess that this is what the box does, so 'in theory' if I'm right it shouldn't alter the sound going to either the right or left channel (And i would be suprised if it is actually an amp so to speak).

Hence your set up should be fine!

Once again, I'm just guessing based on the other knowledge that I have...

P.S. If anyone can post an image of how this is wired that would be great as I'm going to have to try and rewire power to the unit!

[Pernod]

HAHAHAHAHA :oops: :oops: :oops:

I just followed the advice to getting to the speaker by prying of the speaker cover... And the reason my centre speaker hasn't been working soon became ovbious!!! :? :cry: :?

I HAVE NO SPEAKER THERE!!! :cry: :oops:

Does anyone else with a 1.8 Lantis have this problem? Does anyone know, should I still have a chrome driver box for it, or do I just give up on the idea of having a centre speaker for the moment...

[Toyboy]

Yeah my speaker is there :P Maybe only the special editions get the centre speaker :?

[Dogo]

Rather than being an amp, my guess (let me reinforce that again :) ) is that this is a wave analyser rather than an amp

I dont know for sure. But Mazda's official Workshop manuals and wiring diagrams call it "Centre Speaker Amplifier". so thats what im guessing it is.

possibly, it splits the waves and then amplifies the signal to get it back to a similar level as the doors.

I was going to scan the wiring diagrams last night. Sorry, I didnt ! :) Hopefully tonight tho.

But i do have them with me at work today. I can tell u that the speaker wires split and go into the centre spkr amp, and off to the doors. so the centre amp should not affect the doors. The centre amp has a constant +ve power wire which is colored Blue/Red Stripe. There is also a wire between the HU and the centre amp which is Yellow/Black Stripe. There is no apparent -ve wire from the amp, so Im guessing the Yellow/Black wire is a -ve which the HU would use to turn the amp on. Im thinking there most likely wont be a simple, straightforward way to wire up that -ve wire to an aftermarket HU, as most HUs only have a remote signal, which is +ve, not -ve. perhaps a relay would work well, and the remote or ignition wire activate the relay.

The wires to the centre speaker are Green/Red Stripe ( +ve ) and Blue/White Stripe ( -ve ) , and the speaker wires going in are from the front door speakers, and are the same color as they are going out from HU.

Hope thats enough for now, i'll scan when i can !

Dogo

[Pernod]

Thanks for that Dogo - that will help a heap in the meantime while I am trying to work out if I put a speaker in the empty hole (and whether I have the centre amp...)

Cheers

[Toyboy]

What i was thinking of doing to get that centre speaker operating was to run it off the built in amplifier in my head unit which is 40wx4,cause i am using external amplifiers to run my door speakers and subs :wink:

Catch ya :P

[Dogo]

yeh i thought of that. but i dont wanna have to turn up my amps just coz i need to turn down the centre speaker. Since centre speakers are generally inteded to be much quieter than the core speakers, i'd have to turn down the HU and then turn up the amps to make up for it. meaning i'd have wasted all the hours i spent fiddling with those amp settings in the first place !!



and i have a few spare channels on my amps. i may as well use them. Im not going to use that centre amp at all i dont think :? Im thinking it would have a negative affect from the quality difference to the rest of the system

[Pernod]

I got around that in my last car as my head unit only had rear rca outputs, so the amp was only running of the rear channel (even though all speakers were on it.

I then ran 3 additional front speakers at a quieter vol just to give the front the appropriate 'feel' to it. Thus, by adjusting the front back levels on the head unit I could alter the speaker amp mix ;-)

[Dogo]

heres some of it, wiring diagrams to come ...

http://users.bigpond.com/ksole/photos/centreamp.gif

[Cosmo Dude]

I'm currently using the J spec dash wiring loom, it didn't have the center speaker and I don't miss it. I've just upgraded my head unit and I dont think the "Centre Speaker Amplifier" would make any difference with the new setup :D

Rod

[platypus]

replace it with a tweeter set under the grille!!!

[mrpayner]

Would this be a good spot to mount the tweeters from a pair of splits.. facing in the general direction of each front passenger?

AP

[Dogo]

To be honest I've never listened to splits played with the driver and tweeter that far apart. Common practice is to try to mount the tweet and driver as close as possible. I prefered my tweets up high ( behind side mirrors in my car ). If you wanted them up high, its not a bad spot. however you will lose a lot of 'stereo effect' from having them next to each other.


as for using a tweet as a centre speaker, from talking to ppl I have heard that its best to try and use something slightly more substantial than a tweeter. preferably 4" if possible ( in many cars its not ) or else a 3 or 2" speaker.

[chipa]

The other hassle is that a tweeter produces more directional sounds, how much do you care about your stereo image?? You could also drown out the sound coming from the opposite side of the car. Not to mention the possibility of sound cancellation, which would really suck!

If you were going to do anything I'd say that putting in the biggest speaker possible would be an idea so that it can help out with some front midrange.

[Cosmo Dude]

I'd be putting the tweaters at the top of the 'A' pillar garnish, close to the ears and slightly in front.
I've been investigating for my RS2000 Escort as I want good sound without anyting more obvious than the factory system (two 6x9 on the parcel shelf)

Am ready to learn more tho

[platypus]

hmmm good points.....

cosmo, i think thats where odd12c mounted his.... i didnèt look real closely....

dogo, (or anyone) if you used a mid, would you need some kind of crossover then

[Dogo]

never really considered it
u may want to cut out some of the low-end if the little speaker cant handle it without distortion tho. otherwise, u may as well gtry to get as much out of it as possible.
i bought a pair of Boston 3.5" coax speakers with the intention of getting one in as a centre channel, but it isnt installed yet. Its down on the list of things to do next time the dash is apart.

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/ca_product.asp?ProductID=89&CategoryID=14

a speaker that size doesnt drop right into the spot of the centre channel in the BA tho, i've had to enlarge the hole ( under the grill ) and then raise the speaker using a wooden baffle as there's very little space under there. But this only because I intended to keep the stock grill in place.

[platypus]

3?" copolymer cone woofer with butyl rubber surround
?" soft dome tweeter
Easy ?drop-in? installation


i just love the sheer amount of question marks on that link!!!

kenwood used to make speakers specifically for that stuff.... i can't find any info on their site...

[mira]

Hi!

I'm new to the forum :)

I had been working on the same problem as you.

No Lantis delivered in Germany has the center speaker. I just got one from Mazda Xedos 6 (one from RX-7 FD should also work).

mira

[Dogo]

i just love the sheer amount of question marks on that link!!!


must be something wrong with ur browser then,
it reads 3 1/2" copolymer cone woofer ...
3/4 soft dome tweeter
easy "drop-in" installation