I still have the original bose unit in my 3rd gen and the cd-player hasn't worked for awhile. I like the Bose speakers (unlike many) and I was hoping to swap in a new head unit (preferably with mp3 capability) but keep the speakers. I tried this once, but the Best Buy install guy was clueless as to how to do it. I know the stock cd player is Clarion, so could a new Clarion be put in (assuming I leave the tape player alone) and perhaps work with the weird Bose setup? Anyone tried this?



Thanks...-billy

Here's what I've learned..

The factory bose is amplified at the speaker. You probably already knew this.



All Mazdas (Bose or not) from '93 up use the same wiring adapter.



People say that you need a special adjustable gain adapter to run an aftermarket headunit with the Bose speakers. This isn't necessecarily true.. The speakers are compatible with a standard 4 ohm output CD player. No, you will not blow the amps. The volume will be touchy, though - one or two notches up on your aftermarket CD player will equate to a 100% increase in volume! Want to get around that? Look for a CD player with adjustable output levels..

I have the JVC Arsenal with the full-color screen - I forget the model, but it has the ability to 'turn down' the volume to match the factory levels. Works perfectly, sounds great and there was nothing special about the wiring!

One more note - the factory Bose system is not really two seperate head units. It's a head unit (The tape/radio) and a CD player. The CD player acts like an add-on CD changer. It plugs into the rear of the tape deck for sound transmission. The only way to replace the CD player and retain the tape is to go with an OEM CD player, which is pretty much garbage.

I almost forgot - DO NOT let Best Buy install ANYTHING in your car. EVER. Unless you don't give a cr*p about your posessions. I'd be surprised if you got your car back with the interior pieces intact. The RX7 is a little particular on the disassembly order, and easy to scratch/crack the trim, which is very expensive to replace.

haha i learned that the hard way...after the inept 'tech' put the unit back together, i had a surprise dead battery when all the connections weren't secured correctly.

Use the audio wiring page from Mazda repair manual. Everything is color coded so it should be easy, the only thing i couldnt figure out is why there were two antenna wires...

Oh doy! I forgot about the two antenna wires.

Well, there's an antenna in the rear windshield as well as the mast antenna. I ended up cutting the plugs back from the wires, then splicing both antenna coaxial cables into a single male plug end that plugs straight into the head unit. There's probably an adapter somewhere, though.

nakamichi makes "oem looking" cd/radio decks that have the same ohm level as the bose unit



www.nakamichi.com i think

Yep. And they say that the amber colored back lighting looks close to stock. LOL, I was hoping/hinting for Christmas but it didn't happen.



http://nakamichi.com/flash.html

single din too