From: bell@asdsun.larc.nasa.gov (John Bell)
Subject: Re: MR2 speakers
Keywords: mr2,speakers
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA  USA
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 20:13:28 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.172552.595@gtephx.UUCP>, saundersb@gtephx.UUCP (Bary Saunders) writes:
|> I just bought a '86 Toyota mr2, the speakers are lacking to say the least
|> Has anyone beefed up the speaker system with much luck, and if so what
|> did you use? I can't believe the powered 5"(at best) woofer under the
|> drivers seat, cute but not very affective.
|> 
|> -- 
|> Bary Saunders, AG Communication Systems, Phoenix, AZ
|> Comments made are my own!
|> UUCP: ...!{ncar!noao!enuucp | att}!gtephx!saundersb
|> Internet: gtephx!saundersb@enuucp.eas.asu.edu

	I have an '87 MR2 and have spent a -lot- of time (and money) on the
stereo system. Depending on how much money you want to spend and how much 
of the car you are willing to cut up, I can offer several suggestions.

	1. The cheapest and easiest option is to replace the cheesy 4"
speakers Toyota puts in the dash with higher quality speakers. Crutchfield
sells a set that are designed just to fit in Toyotas, made (I think) by
JVC. THe only difference between these speakers and the "standard" 4"
speakers is that they only have two mounting holes instead of four, so you
can buy standard 4" speakers and modify them by cutting off the extra two
holes if you like.

	2. You're right, the little subwoofer under the seat is cute, but
not much use. Unfortunately, there isn't much room for any other speakers in
an MR2 without some compromising. If you are not very tall (if you are, what 
are you doing in a sardine can like an MR2 anyway? <grin>), you can -barely-
fit a set of .5 cubic foot box speakers behind the seats. If you have t-tops,
stow them in the front trunk (they will fit, I promise). I use Ultimate box
speakers, which I am moderately pleased with. You can power them with an amp
under the driver's seat once you remove the factory subwoofer.

	3. If you're really brave and handy with a metal cutting jig saw, you
can cut holes in the door panels for bigger speakers. It is possible to mount
up to about a 6" speaker if you're careful, and make sure that the speakers
you buy are shallow-mount types. If you have power windows, (I don't), I am
told this is just not an option.

	4. SAS makes a special bass enclosure called the Bazooka, which comes
in various sizes. I have not tried them in my MR2, but based on what I have
heard at car audio shows, this is the best way to go for bass in an MR2. The
Ultimate speakers I use have 10" drivers, but the laws of physics limit the
quality of the bass produced in a .5 cubic foot box, no matter what you do.
Also, putting the driver right in the back of the seat may give you a big
thrill whenever the bass kicks in, but it's not exactly high quality sound.
Bazookas actually point into the back corners of the car and use the entire
car as part of the "enclosure" for the bass, which yields deeper, flatter
bass response.

	5. Instead of using full range speakers in the dash, you could mount
4" midranges in the dash and put 1" tweeters in the tops of the doors. (Some
cutting involved here, but no metal). If you buy high quality components, this
would generate very clean mids and highs, which would complement the bass
coming from behind the seats. Since bass frequencies are non-directional, it
would sound as if all the sound was coming from in front of the car.

	6. Since the interior of the car is so small, you may have problems
with resonant frequencies. Using some kind of equalizer can really help, but
the kind that only have 5-10 bands won't do you much good, since you end
up cutting out good sound along with the resonant frequencies. I use and EQL
by Audio Control Industrial, which was relatively low-cost, and is very clean.

	Let me know what you think and what you you end up doing. IMHO, the
MR2 probably is one of the most challenging cars in which to get decent sound.

------

John Bell, NASA Langley Research Center
my opinions are not those of my employer (obviously)
Internet: bell@haloe.larc.nasa.gov
804-864-7121
Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech