Need a creative solution - losing 2" speakers when switching to racing seat

[Matth3w]

I have a 2016 Miata which while it is my daily driver probably 75% of the month, it's mainly set up for racing. With that, I'm probably switching from my standard seat to a Recaro RS-G.

The factory seats have almost unnoticeable sounding 2x 2" speakers built into the backs of the headrests so you can hear better when the top is down. One critical factor here is that the speakers in the driver headrest is the one and ONLY method to hear your bluetooth communications. It purposely pipes all bluetooth call audio through there so you can hear while driving. Otherwise you'd almost not realize there are two speakers in there (although I do have the Bose upgrade all around).

Switching to the racing seat will make me lose those speakers. Assuming I care enough to "fix" the problem I've just created, I thought maybe you all would have a creative idea or two. Tearing apart the new seat isn't an option, so it has to go on the body somewhere.

My current thought process is to tap into the wiring harness on the engine side (prior to the harness end) and running two wires under the carpet and up behind the plastic trim behind the seat, and then taking something similar to a tweeter or something that's enclosed and screwing/3M VHB taping it behind the seat. I don't see many 2" speakers, so I'm not really sure if a tweeter(s) is a good replacement or not.

I'm not usually in to car audio, so don't roast me if this is easy or my idea is completely stupid.

Tweeter that I kinda picture (I'm not talking quality but just what it looks like):

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Acoustik-200-Watt-3-Way-Tweeters/dp/B0009GBRS4

Seatback (location of current speakers circled):

Location of the wires going into the bottom of the seat (harness location is actually somewhere under the seat, I haven't taken the seat out just yet):

My rendition of where I would put this tweeter or other self-contained speaker:

I can't make that little cubby hole a speaker box or anything because there will be a roll bar behind it taking up most of the usable space.

Any other better ideas or will my idea work? And if so, what speaker should I get?

Also, if it helps, here is the wiring diagram for my speaker system (driver headrest is towards lower right):

Click to read more...

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

AuraSound NS2-326-8AT Whisper 2" Extended Range Speaker Driver 8 Ohm

These are a great little 2" driver. You DO NOT want a tweeter since they lack the low extension to reproduce human voice effectively. You want something billed as "full range" or "midrange".

If money isn't an issue and you want to get really different, try one of these in that square mounting area:

FPS 1010M3R1 6-5/16" Flat Panel MCMA Planar Speaker 8 Ohm 50W

Planar drivers are incredibly efficient and are really great sounding (though they can be quite directional so if that's not aiming at your head it may not help). That would effectively be used to do human voice frequencies, or even paired with a small or medium sized woofer down the road for a decent set of 2 way bookshelf speakers if you ever felt so inclined to tinker with something like that.

A lot of people mount small speakers by buying a foam ball (about baseball sized) at the craft store, carving out a speaker sized hole, finishing with fiberglass and paint, and mounting it on a post with a swivel that is easily mounted to a panel and aimed towards your listening position.

The one issue I see may come up is that the stock speakers are probably only powered with a couple watts and ANYTHING aftermarket may need a little more power to be heard more than a few inches away from the speaker. Some form of very small amplifier may be required. There may be some simple kit type projects or just something super cheap but that adds hassle of wiring and finding a place to mount in an already tiny car. Still you gamble very little to try those Aura full ranges. I've used them for low power center channel and they are great little drivers popular with some home theater projects.

 

[Matth3w]

Thank you on the aura link. How would you see me mounting them? Basically cutting a hole in the cubby door, putting them in, and then screwing them on? I see the connections are kind of thin metal strips, is there a connector that you can attach a wire to? (sorry, electronics noob)

 

[Matth3w]

Is there a way for me to find out (besides trying) if those Aura will work without sounding too small? i.e. - checking a wiring diagram or something

I don't think I want to go crazy, just kinda want to replicate the basic sound of what is in the car as it stands. I suppose I would actually need two of them since there are two in the headrest. Hopefully the wiring will be obvious on the harness.

 

[huberoy123 10+ year member]

How about some really nice wireless Bluetooth speakers with microphones, that hang around your neck. Good for music and answering the telephone.