"MM54" (mm54mk2)
04/11/2018 at 22:05 • Filed to: FB RX7
3
9|
"MM54" (mm54mk2)
04/11/2018 at 22:05 • Filed to: FB RX7 | 3
| 9 |
I recently discovered the wiring to the radio in the RX7 to be pretty badly hacked up, so I put it back to stock, and made a missing piece of the harness to send signal to the amp for the rear speakers (the hack-job had the rear speakers spliced in parallel with the front...) and generally cleaned up the installation (including reconnecting a couple cut ground wires). I also cleaned the tape deck/heads and the volume pot, which made awful noises when turned. The black bin was also just flopping around, so I fixed its mount and secured it, too.
I’m pleased to report that, while the tape deck and AM radio is still dead, FM works miles better than it ever has (great reception, even in the garage), the fade/balance works correctly, the volume knob works without noise, and
it sounds really good
. The only thing non-stock are the speakers themselves, and they’re pretty nice 2-way pioneers so I’m not concerned there.
I’m in the process of trying to get the stack out of a GSL-SE, which would have a digital tuner in place of the analog as well as a (hopefully) functional tape deck and an 80's-tastic graphic EQ where I have the little half-DIN bin. As a bonus, it has better and higher-wattage amps.
Now if the weather would ever stop being so shitty...
Noah - Now with more boost.
> MM54
04/11/2018 at 22:24 |
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This is such a great era for Japanese center consoles: counterparts to the hifi systems of the day as far as this millenial can tell. My friend’s 300zx had a fantastic one:
ToyotaFamily
> MM54
04/11/2018 at 22:38 |
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Man, that is a nice looking stereo.
mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
> MM54
04/11/2018 at 22:40 |
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Sexy center console. Simple functional sleek. Mazda does it right.
Tho that is a good amount going on with the stereo lol.
LittleBennysBurner
> MM54
04/12/2018 at 03:45 |
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Stick with analog! It just adds additional cool factor.
nerd_racing
> MM54
04/12/2018 at 08:41 |
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I’m glad you got the radio ironed out! It worked semi decent for me when I tired using it.
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MM54
> nerd_racing
04/12/2018 at 17:35 |
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It was really come-and-go. The reception was bad but it would pick up a couple stations (though once on the highway it wouldn’t hold on to any long enough to be worthwhile) and never got loud (because of the speakers-in-parallel thing). The weirdest is that it would cut out when you turned the wheel left, 75% of the time. My guess there is that it was trying to ground via dash frame via steering column/bearing. In any case it’s much better now! Just need to get the tape deck working and I’ll be set.
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MM54
> ToyotaFamily
04/12/2018 at 17:36 |
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I really like it, and with the optional EQ it looks even better. I do not understand why anyone would want some plastic-fantastic neon light show aftermarket unit in any car, let alone in place of something that looks (and sounds) this good.
Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
> MM54
04/12/2018 at 21:22 |
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100x this. I’ve never found a tasteful aftermarket radio. Retrosound makes some okay units, but they’re awfully proud of them $$$. Best I’ve come up with is a reasonably tasteful Pioneer unit in which you can customize the backlight to match your factory lighting.
Was this one an OEM option or...?
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MM54
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/12/2018 at 21:25 |
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This is the OEM unit, yes. As seen is the base model, optional was a digital tuner and 9-band graphic EQ. Both of those came with higher-power amps as well. I’m trying to get the digital tuner and graphic EQ since they’re very cool, and a digital tuner is a bit easier while driving than fiddling with the dial (and this one drifts).