MR2 Subwoofer Upgrade

Fixing up the old, standard subwoofers in Kym.
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[@paulsengupta971]

I think the 2 ohm/4 ohm thing might come from the different models of MR2. On my 1991 model I only have one subwoofer, which is, strangely, located behind the passenger seat. Behind the driver seat is a lockable cubby hole. I'm guessing that my subwoofer would be a 4 ohm speaker. I would think that if they decided to put one behind each seat, they then went to 2 ohm and wired them in series. You can maybe test this by disconnected one of the subwoofers and see if neither of them make any sound.

[@GeekoftheRoad]

That's a great theory. However I can confirm there are two woofer amps, one on each side and on the wiring diagram I have (albeit for US and Canadian cars rather than this UK one) it shows each speaker individually connected to its own amp.

[@paulsengupta971]

That's odd then, real oddity a 2 ohm speaker.

[@GeekoftheRoad]

True. You can drive the same current with less voltage though, so maybe it was easier to make the tiny amps to drive 2Ω rather than 4Ω?

[@mrcrtking]

Premium version 8 speaker had a pair of 2 ohm subs 1 behind each seat, the cheaper 7 speaker had 1 x 4 ohm sub behind passenger and storage box behind driver, the passenger sub had its own version of the amp module which took a feed off each of the other 4 speaker outputs (doors and rears) as its signal in to then filter off the bass and amp and run, the 2 ohm version had 2 dedicated BTL amp modules (one each side) which got the audio feed directly from the head unit (not off the other speaker output like the 7 speaker 4 ohm sub version) so actually sounded good With CD player, the 7 speaker version also had smaller lower profile rear side speakers, door speakers reminded the same as did tweeters just the grills changed, there was also a version with no sub woofers only 6 speakers (2 door, 2 tweeters, 2 rear) this version the head unit had the amplifier built in so no external amp modules in the rear sides, I can actually repair the factory 2 ohm sub drivers, got proper neoprene rings made so providing cone and voice coil are ok they can be revuilt, I've done a few hundred over the years, as at £57 + vat when toyota had them they were quite expensive back in eatly 2000s, great video tho and the newer ones are more suitable to a small amp upgrade too, just the enclosure to deal with. Own 3 MR2s one of which I've had 20 years 😁

[@rageu]

Great little vid mate 👍🏻 keep it up

[@GeekoftheRoad]

Thanks! Next video should be published next Friday :)

[@noeelserrano4288]

Excelente Video Carnal, un abrazo

[@ter_13l]

Thanks for the clip. I also bought this 200w PYLA speaker after watching this, and installed in the same enclosure behind the passenger seat using the original Toyota Amp. However I have noticed that the subwoofer plays for a little and then suddenly cuts out? is this because the original amp is just not powerful enough for the new 200w sub?

[@GeekoftheRoad]

Hi Terry, I'm sorry but I've not experienced what you describe. Maybe it's a protection in the amp that I'm not triggering for some reason?

[@ter_13l]

@@GeekoftheRoad yes possibly, wondering how I can get around it without adding an aftermarket amp...

[@betom5711]

Very nice 👍🏼

[@classira]

Makes me want to do something to my civic now. Wondering if it's worth replacing the speakers, whilst keeping the same headunit. Stupid modern cars with their curved dash making replacing the Headunit annoying!!

[@GeekoftheRoad]

Certainly worth it if the speakers are shot! Otherwise it will depend where the weakness in the system is, although it's often in the speakers before the built in amps.

[@M5JamesE39]

Old video but any reason why you chose these over the Tangband? I can get two Pyle's for $30 vs one TB for $60 so I'm kinda leaning towards Pyle and making two enclosures even though I've only got one.

[@GeekoftheRoad]

IIRC I couldn't locate any Tangbangs in the UK at the time I made this video.

[@user-dn5if5lt2h]

You should put really big speakers in the front storage room

[@GeekoftheRoad]

But then how would I hear it?

[@user-dn5if5lt2h]

@@GeekoftheRoad through the firewall, i said a big!! speaker, something with power😂

[@GeekoftheRoad]

Haha! Why not just drill a big hole in the passenger side firewall for a cone and use the entire frunk as the box for it? 😂 If I go larger on my new project (and I probably will) it will likely be with a custom enclosure behind the passenger seat...

[@user-dn5if5lt2h]

@@GeekoftheRoad in the blue one? I would love to see him as much as possible, its my absolut dream car but i dont even seen a blue one in switzerland, all are red or black or custom neon green and shit like this, but such an old car has to have a not so showy pain in my opinion

[@GeekoftheRoad]

Yup, the blue one... which I've actually driven through Switzerland! (Well, the donor, Kitt) Beautiful country you have there 😊

[@Facts-over-Feelings.]

I've just bought these myself. What terminal is the negative?

[@GeekoftheRoad]

The speaker should say on it, but I believe it's the black wire with the narrower terminal.

[@Facts-over-Feelings.]

It doesn't say unfortunately and both terminals are the same size.

[@stevencorns9026]

Can this be done to cars that didn't come stock with the sub box?

[@GeekoftheRoad]

Well the boxes will fit if you get some from a breaker, but you'd need to cut holes in the carpet to fit them and sort out all the amps and wiring yourself 🤷‍♂️

[@hermannbaik]

Is your car still save? I mean after all your improvements.

[@GeekoftheRoad]

Oh no... I forgot I disabled the brakes while fitting the speaker! ;)

[@TheMaintenancePlumber]

Nice one m8

[@GeekoftheRoad]

Thanks :)

[@timothybarrow9367]

What size speakers go in the front doors? thanks

[@GeekoftheRoad]

I've not replaced them yet, but a quick google tells me 5.25" straight fit or 6" with an adaptor ring

[@MrPorygon99]

Where did you manage to buy speakers from? Link?

[@GeekoftheRoad]

Cheap and cheerful from eBay: www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/352356892113

[@MrPorygon99]

Geek of the Road whats the sound quality like? I understand it will be better than the shocked stock ones but roughly how decent are they? Thanks

[@GeekoftheRoad]

They're good for the price, but they really could do with being driven by an aftermarket amp separately controlled by the headunit. The combination of the stock amps and the small come size mean they struggle a bit with lower bass frequencies. At some point I'll hook them up to another amp and see what they're really capable of.

[@MrPorygon99]

Geek of the Road alright thanks be sure to upload a video of that when you do it ill be intrested to see how its done. Cheers

[@GeekoftheRoad]

Well I'm sat here with wires draped through the TBar, testing out the speakers with an old amp I have. It certainly sounded better hooked up to a 55W RMS amp, both louder and better low end response with no distortion no matter how hard I pushed it. Therefore I bridged the amp for 90W RMS to see how much further it could go and blew up the speaker. So much for 200W peak power! Still, it will be worth it so I'll see if I can do an amp install video to go with this one... sometime...

[@lecoureurdesbois86]

What are your wheels?

[@GeekoftheRoad]

As I don't show the wheels on the car, I presume you mean the wheels in the background? They're 16" SSR SP1R Professors

[@lecoureurdesbois86]

@@GeekoftheRoad Yes exactly, thank you!

[@error106]

What the hell ?:D U put in oem boox too big speaker, it cant be sound good :( U know that every speaker box is calulated for one speaker ? That speaker that u put inside need minimum 10L BOX, oem have 3 ? Also oem amplifier is too weak.....

[@GeekoftheRoad]

I think you've missed the point of the video... this isn't an audiophile install or a big power system. I know it's not the perfect speaker and stated as much; but it's available, it fits and it sounds much better than before!