Headrest Speakers, are they worth installing?

I have searched here and have seen many posts on Miata.net, but never saw a definitive answer about headrest speakers. My son went today and bought some Infinity 3.5" speakers he wanted me to put into the headrest locations. I began to cut the foam and soon hit the steel backing of the seat. The speakers were too deep and the magnet too big to fit past the metal backing in the seat. So in now trying to regroup, I was wondering 2 things

1. Are the headrest speakers worth installing?
2. if question one is "yes" does anyone have any speaker recommendations for a 1990 ish seat? (looking at Clearwater site now)

FYI, I have a Kenwood head unit in place of the stock radio.

I like them and think they make a difference. The problem is, they are easy to blow and it's hard to get good sound quality from such a small speaker. Most long drives in my Miata are to autocrosses and I listen to Podcasts, so I do not need quality sound for music. I can hear the Podcasts better with them than without.

Mine are the Millennium S. There is another thread on here where a guy used speakers from a cheap surround sound system and liked the results.

http://www.dfwmiata.com/threads/1868...-(pics-inside)

Yes thanks, I saw that thread, I was thinking something readily available.

I have Pioneer TSG1040 (or somesuch) 4"/10cm. They are snug, but fit with the back of the cone pressed onto the seat foam. I hard-mounted them to the metal seat pan with long drywall screws and bushings, which helps them provide lower frequencies. This installation method would make an audiophile cringe, but I am very happy with the performance for the price.

The Clearwater speakers are very good, and designed specifically for that application. In fact, that's kinda what put them on the map, car audio-wise. I have the NC kit they offer, and they are worth the investment.

I went ahead and ordered the Clearwater headrest speakers to give them a try. I figured I already had run the wires, might as well finish the job.

Look into rewiring them before you just start hooking them up. I still have the stock '90 speakers in mine (blown beyond belief) but I rewired them when I first bought the car. Actually made a noticeable difference. EDIT: Just noticed you said you ran new wires. Make sure you wired them correctly then - each headrest has a rear left and right.

And the headrest speakers are so "worth it" to me that they are the *only* reason I haven't replaced the stock seats with aftermarket buckets yet. As much as I'd rather have buckets than stock seats, I drive/drove the car on long enough trips that the headrest speakers, albeit blown to crap, were much appreciated. I fade to about 80% front, but that 20% rear headrest speaker fill makes a huge difference, especially on highways with the top down. I have an Alpine headunit with a 50-watt RMS amp powering Alpine Type-R components in the doors - tweeters around where the Ms have theirs, so the front speakers alone "should" be good by themselves. Replacing the headrest speakers is on my longterm to-do list (would probably get the Clearwater or Max-5 or whatever they are).

Rob, thanks for the info, I did indeed run a left and right to each of the seats headrest. I am encouraged by the positive comments and am looking forward to their arrival and installation

This was my original plan

http://community.klipsch.com/forums/...0125/blues.jpg

I used Blaupunkt PCx352 speakers in my seats.

They are worth it if you drive with the top down or with the widows open. Marginal if you keep the hard top on.

I've also fixed my wiring and had my stock head unit enhanced by Jeff Anderson.

I looked for the Blaupunkt PCx352, best I could tell they are no longer made.

Yep, looks like they are NLA. But if you search around there's still some backstock available from some smaller retailers.

Got home and my clearwater box was here!!! I opened the box and instead I got door speakers!!! CRAP! Checked my order and I ordered the correct ones. So I call them and let them know of their error. Things went well until they told me they would reship my order UPS ground again (another week). I asked them that since they made the error would it be better customer service to overnight them?? She then got rather pissy and told me she was not able that. So I asked her to go and get whoever could make it happen. She said she had to wait until her manager got off the phone and will call me back. She calls back and tells me the best they will do is 3 day or I could get my money back!!! So I told her to have the manager call me, she says she will. While I am waiting I get a UPS email telling my 3 day package is on its way!!!! Then she calls me back to tell me the manager is too busy and its 3 day or nothing, and to top that she is leaving for the weekend and does not have time to debate it!! WOW!!

When she gets back Monday, A. record the conversation in which you B. take her up on her offer to get your money back.

UPS Red is freaking expensive as a small business owner I would not have authorized UPS RED. ;)

As an example 5 pounds sent Today from California to Ft. Worth for UPS Red for delivery by Monday is $85.50! Your speakers were what $95.00 plus freight???

Just look at the cost - https://wwwapps.ups.com/ctc/request?...&WT.svl=SubNav

^^^^ What he said.

Yeah they screwed up. People make mistakes. Sh*t happens and it was a simple error. It's disappointing you didn't get your product shipped correctly but it seems they did try to make right by you, just not in your time frame. Overnight shipping is outrageously expensive. Their profit margin can not support your request. Should they lose money to make you happy? As of right now, with the extra shipping they probably not making much if any profit.

Methinks the attitude of the representative hurt the outcome more than the mistake. Of course, going over someone's head isn't going to get them on your side either. Kind of a catch-22 situation.

I have been on both sides of a screwed up deals, some my doing and some that just go for no fault of anyone, if eating some profit to meet a customers reasonable expectations is too much for a company, then they are already in trouble. But to each their own.

But you were asking them to eat $85.00 of freight for a $95.00 order how is that a reasonable expectation??

I speak from my experience, with my customers if we F up something we make it right ASAP, doing whatever it takes to make it right. And as a businessman you hope to have as few as those as possible, even possibly having a loss reserve to cover them. Having loyal customers are your lifeline. That how I was raised and that how I do business. I expect the same from who I do business with. Sorry if that's not cool for everyone.

Yea we normally do the same but my stuff will set ya back a touch more than $95.00. ;)

You were asking for the moon and stars for a simple shipping error on car speakers. The gal on the phone was ill prepared for you demands. Seems like you thought you were going to bully them into making you happy and they didn't jump thought hoops for you. So cancel the order and find another supplier.

And I accept your apology! ::Banana::

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

And I accept your apology! ::Banana::

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Do you watch The Colbert Report? Classic line. Checkmate!

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Originally Posted by Yeller90

I speak from my experience, with my customers if we F up something we make it right ASAP, doing whatever it takes to make it right. And as a businessman you hope to have as few as those as possible, even possibly having a loss reserve to cover them. Having loyal customers are your lifeline. That how I was raised and that how I do business. I expect the same from who I do business with. Sorry if that's not cool for everyone.

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Same here, I have spent thousands, yes really, of dollars over the years to make things right when something goes wrong. Then again, my customers are repeat customers and not a one time $95 order. That said, their offer to upgrade to 3 day service was actually pretty reasonable, we're talking about car speakers here, not your liver transplant.

I have now had a night to reflect. I have decided that I should not expect others to do as I might. In doing that I got angry, when you get angry, your kid imitates you getting angry, when they get angry, they get kicked out of school, when they get kicked out of school they meet undesirables, when they meet undesirables, the marry undesirables and then you end up with a grand baby in a dog collar.................I don't want a grand baby in a dog collar, so I am happy today.

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Originally Posted by Yeller90

I have now had a night to reflect. I have decided that I should not expect others to do as I might. In doing that I got angry, when you get angry, your kid imitates you getting angry, when they get angry, they get kicked out of school, when they get kicked out of school they meet undesirables, when they meet undesirables, the marry undesirables and then you end up with a grand baby in a dog collar.................I don't want a grand baby in a dog collar, so I am happy today.

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Well played sir! :clap:

Dog callar, maybe not but leashes are a distinct possibility.

http://averageparent.com/wp-content/...ld-leash-2.jpg

That's just baby's first HANS Device!!!

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Originally Posted by Yeller90

I speak from my experience, with my customers if we F up something we make it right ASAP, doing whatever it takes to make it right. And as a businessman you hope to have as few as those as possible, even possibly having a loss reserve to cover them. Having loyal customers are your lifeline. That how I was raised and that how I do business. I expect the same from who I do business with. Sorry if that's not cool for everyone.

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Exactly. We lose literally thousands at times to make a customer happy if it's our fault - usually it's just a few hundred to overnight 50lbs or so of telecomm gear, but it's been in the thousands a few times for some of our end user sales people. When Chamberlain only sent my correct length replacement chain ground I was pissed (I didn't bother asking more than once though since I know pissing off the rep wouldn't get me anywhere). THEY put the wrong chain in the box when it was manufactured, then had the balls to put a quality control square of paper in the box too...yet it had incorrect parts. Then I was expected to wait even longer because of their mistake. Like I'm assuming Yeller90 does, I come from mostly customer relations/sales jobs, so I know taking a hit is all part of the game at times. Mistakes happen, it's all how they get addressed/fixed that make or break a company/person eventually.

On a side note, according to UPS, my 3 day package will be here in two! Even though the manager from Clearwater never called me as requested, they must be a great company according to all the other posts I have read. Just don't have a shipping problem.