Miata Mailing List: May 1996, Message #161
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   From: "Gray Jones" 
Subject: Adding Amp to Factory Stereo
   Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 09:17:37 -0400

I have a '96 with the base cassette deck.  I like it just fine, but 
it isn't quite loud enough at highway speeds.

Rather than replace the entire head unit, I was going to add an 
external amp.

I had a couple of questions, so maybe you all can help me out (the 
rec.audio.car FAQ didn't):

1.  Does the factory head unit have line level outputs?
2.  How much impact will a line level converter have on sound 
    quality? (Assuming the factory head unit does not have line level 
    outputs)
3.  How much power do I need?  The factory head unit is almost loud 
    enough.

I am looking at a Pioneer amplifier (don't remember the model number
though).  It is 18 watts x 2 channels (35 watts peak).  Is that
going to blow the factory speakers?  Pioneer amps don't suck do they?

I can buy this amplifier for $65 + $13 for the line level converter.  
It seems like a very economical way to boost the power of my stereo a 
little.

Can I connect the headphone jack from a portable CD player to the 
inputs of the amplifier or will that cause problems?

While I have the dash disassembled to connect the amp, is it
possible to hook up mini-plug headphone jack to the factory head
unit's CD input lines?  That way I could hook up my portable CD 
player to the head unit rather than the amp (I was concerned that 
this might degrade the sound quality of the CD though).

Can anybody recommend a line level converter?

Should I just bite the bullet and buy a better head unit?  I hate to 
do that.  The factory head unit is a good radio.  Will it fit into a 
Ford Probe (they were made by Mazda, right?)?

--gray 



Gray Jones                            11440 Commerce Park Drive
Software Engineer                     Reston, VA 22091          
Visix Software                        (703) 758-8230 (voice)    
gray@visix.com                        (703) 758-0233 (fax)