2002 Mazda Protege 5 - Stereo System On A Budget

by CAE, Oct 22, 2009

In the rear doors, the other pair of SAK525 components also utilizes the same Scosche adapters for the midbasses. However, since the factory setup did not include rear tweeters, SpeakerWorks drilled holes through the door panels to install the tweeters just above the midbasses. These rear components draw power from the head unit through the included passive crossovers.

If you pull the factory carpet back over the hatch area and overlook the Swiss Audio insignias on the speaker grilles, it's easy to think this P5 has no audio upgrades whatsoever. But considering the impressively clean job by SpeakerWorks, the Mazda's owner might just brave impulsive guano purchases and drive around without the gray carpet. What about the sound? Despite the inferior factory head unit, the speaker and amp upgrades make the system far superior to the original. Once the budget allows (and the owner's dependence on her in-dash CD changer diminishes), another trip to Speaker-Works is a certainty.

BUDGET BOX

Audio

 

Swiss Audio SMX4600C

$519.99

Swiss Audio SAK525 (2 sets)

$298.98

Swiss Audio SWL1081

$119.99

Audio Total

$929.96

Wire and Accessories

Scosche AKPA4BL

$119.95

Scosche SLC4

$29.95

Scosche SA68 (2 pairs)

$11.95

Wire/Accessories Total

$173.80

Total Labor

$450.00

Installation Total

$1,553.76

Next to the subwoofer, the SMX4600C amplifier is screwed into the woofer deck. Because the dual voice coil sub is not rated for 2-ohm mono, it hooks up in stereo to two channels of the 4-channel amp. The amp also handles crossover duties for the sub, limited to 80Hz and below. To protect the amp and the sub, SpeakerWorks fitted a sheet of 3/4" MDF to cover the entire rear floor. Right above the subwoofer, they cut a hole and fitted it with expanded steel, which allows sound to pass while keeping the speaker from harm. For the amp, they cut an insert into the panel. Once the carpet-covered panel is eased into place, the amp lies flush with its surface.

The remaining two channels of the amplifier run to the SAK525 component speakers that make up the front stage. Directly hooked up to the set's crossovers, the amp also removes bass going to the component speakers with its internal highpass crossover filter. To install the component speakers in the factory locations, SpeakerWorks employed trim rings from Scosche to adapt the midbasses into the doors. Meanwhile, the tweeters fit more easily higher up near the rear view mirrors.