Anybody installed and have good/bad things to say about their performance? On the positive side, they appear to be a better physical fit, since they're shaped just like OEM, unlike some of the round replacement speakers available. On the negative, perhaps a little bass and power-poor? Not sure - just judging by the information posted here .

These would require a set of speaker boxes, which my headrests did not come with. Anyone know of a good source for some? And by the way, how are you supposed to enclose some of the round replacement speakers out there, since they appear larger than the stock boxes?

I was also wondering if you can mount these without the speaker boxes..?

Yes �Experience with Millenium-5 headrest speakers?�.
An especially descriptive experience comes to mind from a fellow at Deals Gap last year.

Last year while at Deals Gap doing the usual free Miata headrest speaker wiring checks and corrections, a fellow asked that I check his Miata's HR speaker system for him. With just a quick listen I was able to tell him that his headrest speakers have the improper sounds of being mis-wired. However, there were also the sounds of something more than just wiring being a problem too.

I suggested the possibility of his headrest speakers being bad too. He said that couldn't be so because just before Deals Gap he had bought and installed the highly recommended Miata HR speakers off the Internet. With that description I asked if the speakers he bought were the MAX-5's. He said he thought that's what they were called, but wasn�t sure. He had an aftermarket head unit; so, I let him know that some aftermarket head units mis-wired produce sounds similar to speakers gone bad, but it sounded like something more than that was going on.

After correcting his Miata's mis-wired HR speaker wiring he said he was noticing some good improvement. I agreed improved, but his HR sound remained far from as good as it should be. After listening to the HR speaker system in my Miata he whole-heartedly agreed that something still remained amiss in his Miata. Unzipping his Miata�s headrest revealed HR speaker boxes remaining with new looking speakers installed in them. I asked if the replacement speakers he bought could have instead been called �Millennium�. He said �yes� that�s what the speaker were called he bought.

I let him know that the OEM HR speakers, and other similar looking ones, are all of quite poor quality and sound. I also mentioned that the OEM HR speaker boxes were acoustically way undersized, and for suitable HR sound they should be discarded along with any speaker that could fit in them. He seemed astonished and doubtful that such things could be valid. He mentioned those things conflicting with information on the Internet. So, I asked if he�d like to hear the sound from a set MAX-5�s swapped into one of his Miata�s seats for making comparison.

After listening for just a second he said that the speakers swapped-in replaced the poor sound from his Millennium speakers, but he had just spent lots of money for them and he�d have to make do. Just then his wife shows up. She sat down and listened to the sound from both seats. She said for the improvement in sound that "having to make do just wasn�t so, even if a refund couldn�t be gotten for the new speakers". With his wife so insistent it�s needless to say what they decided to do. However, it was apparent that he was quite upset and he started asking me why there are claims so great on the Internet for something that performs so poorly. I really felt sorry for the fellow and suggested he at least attempt to get a refund of his money for the Millenniums.

Diablozx9,
As previously mentioned, the Miata�s speaker boxes are acoustically way undersized. Attempting to use those boxes and any speaker that could be fit in them diminishes Miata HR speaker sound. Those type speakers are made for the lowest cost products in the consumer market for less than $1.

Also, don�t use a bass blocker, or similar thing with headrest speakers for Miatas. A speaker�s sound being made better by use of a bass blocker is a clear indicator of the speaker being quite inappropriate for use as a HR speaker in Miatas.

To see how to best install HR speakers in Miatas, see attachment in post #2 at:
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...htly+extending

Well, I ordered and installed the Millennium-5s in the headrests. The driver's construction is fairly nice - plastic and rubber vs. paper and foam on the OEMs, and they fit right into the headrest pockets just like the originals. You WILL need enclosures for these, which are not furnished, as well as a correct harness. I wired my own.

They sound as good as one can expect from speakers smaller than the palm of your hand. Nice bright mid and high tones without getting shrill, with some expected dropoff at the lower frequencies (although this may be partly due to the built-in crossover cap). However, a decent set of door speakers can more than make up for this - I don't think it's reasonable to expect bowel-shaking bass from small drivers, and I wouldn't want it near my head anyway. Balanced properly with the doors, the combined sound is quite nice and plenty loud if I fade to HRs.

These probably won't do it for an audiophile, but then again, an audiophile may not be installing headrest speakers. I don't concern myself much with soundstaging - I just need a little more music delivery at the ears with the top down, and I think these will do it.

$75 delivered from the manufacturer, or ~$50-60 + shipping on eBay. No affiliation.

This is why this is the best MX5 forum in the world. My headrest speakers give out - I unzip them. I look at them quietly. I think - what do I replace thse with and how the hell do I do it anyway?! I ponder. I think, hmm, maybe the good folks at MIata.com know the answers. And here it all is - I dont even have to ask. Lotta love to y'all.

However - anyone think a set of JVC speakers as advertised http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_in...roducts_id/388
for �18 would be any good?

Headrest speakers are sometimes a polarizing topic here. There are those who claim to be audiophiles and shun the whole idea of HR speakers, and others who think they're great for just delivering sound closer to your head. Within the second camp, there are brand preferences and many arguments - some truly technical and some less so - for a particular brand. I think all the types discussed are mostly sold in the US, so you will need to decide if you want to ship across the pond. Physically, there seem to be 2 types: OEM size and standard round. The OEM direct replacements, such as the Millenium 5s I bought, are 2x4" and fit right into the headrest pocket speaker enclosures. Standard round, usually 3" or 3.5", can be made to fit the 2x4" pocket by trimming foam or simply mashing them in. Round speakers will end up using the headrest's foam as a sort of enclosure, while the OEM direct replacements can be screwed into the molded plastic factory enclosures.

There is also some debate over 2-way vs. one way speakers. Supposedly, the 2-ways' tweeter will not sound great next to your ears. Not sure about that since I never tried it, but a few here have installed 2-ways and posted good results. If you can get a returnable set, hook them up, take them for a spin, and see what you think. That's the only thing that matters. Also, pay attention to your wiring and make sure you're not hooked up out-of-phase. There are a total 8 leads going to 8 terminals, and it can get confusing. I double-checked my wiring here.

It seems apparent from unfavorable speaker performances in close range acoustical measurements that someone is unknowingly recommending 2-way speakers for headrests, or perhaps just doing so to just sell those speakers. Also, it's much better for speakers to be size for fitting completely within the existing foam cavities without trimming so that their centers are kept spaced no closer together.

Nevertheless, it appears that they, like most any other speaker, would be noticeably better sounding than the poor oval OEM headrest speakers or other similar oval ones. All those oval type speakers are made for the lowest cost things in the consumer market. Although they are so awful sounding, it seems somehow possible to not realize it w/o comparison to speakers available in the USA that suitably perform in the Miata's headrests.

I'm recalling Sean SL saying he found a 3" single transducer speaker from Parts Express. You might look there. I believe they do international. Although the 3" speaker he found has around 45% of the HR sound capacity of the MAX-5's, he said he likes them. I'm recalling something about them needing a mechanical spacer he hot melt glued on and his disagreement that hot glue fails in enclosed automobiles in the USA's hot southern summer sun.