Durango,

I saw a recent post where you offered to assist with stereo component selection and was hoping you may be able to assist me as well.

I am re-doing the interior of my '75 and would like to install a new stereo. I saw your recommendation aobut investing in front speakers and skipping the rears. I am not looking to invest too much and only want a good quality with enough volume to overcome open windows and t-tops.

I was thinking about 5 1/4" speakers in the kick panels. I noticed that you recommended 6 1/2" units. Will that fit into the opening in the birdcage? I measured that at 4" Do you shave the edge of the opening to get it in?

Also, I was thinking of a simple dash unit with the standard 20-22 amp output. Will this be enough to drive the 5 1/4 or 6 1/2" speakers? Any recommendation for a unit (~$100).

If I have wiring and boxes in the rear from the prior owner, would you put something there or skip it?

What do you suggest for mounting the unit in the dash? I saw the Vette Specialties plate. Is that the way to go, or can I make something.

Thanks for your assistance. I really appreciate it.

 

Glad I can be of assistance.

You'll need to cut your gauge bezel or buy one that's already cut, and the plate you saw is how you clean it all up after the hole is cut for the head unit cage.

Here is a good low price head unit that I really like. I have been using only Excelon stuff for about a decade and LOVE it.

http://item.express.ebay.com/__Car-A...mdZExpressItem

These head units do have internal amps, and so long as you don't go crazy with the speakers, they can sound pretty good. That being said, I always recommend the use of an amp for speakers, and especially subs.

These are great for the kick panels with or without amps. They do sound better amped though, as most speakers do.

http://item.express.ebay.com/Polk-Au...mdZExpressItem

They may fit just fine even without trimming, but trimming is very easy. I can show you a few pics of how I did it with a grinder. It took all of five minutes and made any 6.5" speaker an easy fit.

I would delete the wiring and speakers in the rear unless you plan on a sub, and that would need different wiring and a single box.

Let me know if there is anything else I can help with.

 

Hey DB...I'd like to ressurect this thread.

Right now I have an aftermarket Ken Harrison 100W AM/FM cassette head unit, 25W x 4 (KHE-100), installed in the original intact bezel of my '79.

Basically, just like this without the CD:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Corve...temZ8075213214

There is a single pair of RCA outs that are being fed to a 2 channel amplifier (cheap POC but 200W/channel) to pump a pair of Pioneer 160W 6x9's in the rear. The front dash speakers are connected to the two front speaker jacks on the HU. Overall the sound is poor largely due to the set-up. I read on Crutchfield not to do it this way after I was all done.

Here's the thought. I plan on purchasing the Polk db651's you highlighted. I would like to use the existing HU with the new Polk speakers mounted in the kick panels. I want to buy a decent 4 channel amplifier that will power the Polks and a sub (to be added in the future). If the system sounds OK I'll stick with the pricey HU I bought. If not I will drop for a new Kenwood Excelon unit.

My question:
Please recommend a reasonably priced amp and subwoofer (ideally less than $200 total) that will work with my current HU and will still work well with a Kenwood unit if I opt to upgrade the HU in the future. I'm not a sound snob, especially since my pipes are a tad noisy, but I want something I can crank and hear clearly when the moment hits. Anyone who has some applicable gear they're looking to unload feel free to drop a line.

Thanks, Steve

 

Sure Steve.

The problem with a 4 channel amp and that head unit you have is that you only have one pair of RCA outs...according to what you posted. This means only two channels of amplified music.

You can go several ways.

First, you can buy a 2 channel or mono amp to power a sub, and run the kick panel speakers off of the head unit you have now. You can also use a 2 channel amp for just the front speakers and later you can upgrade the head unit, amp, and sub at the same time.

Second, you can buy a 4 channel amp, power the front speakers with channels one and two, and leave 3 and 4 without a signal until you are ready to get both a different head unit and a subwoofer.

Third, opt to buy a new head unit now, which has provisions for at least two sets of channels, and install a 4 channel amp and a sub.

Here's a GREAT sub that a lot of people have been very happy with.

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=3171

I can suggest amps but I don't know which direction you want to go.

 

Cool, thanks for the sub link. If I buy another it will be a 4 channel amp, 2 channels from the kick panel speakers and the other 2 channels bridged for a sub (or separate for two rears). Any recommendations?

In the meantime let me make sure I have it right: If I remember right my HU has 4 speaker outputs (L-R, F-B) and one pair of RCA. Can I run wires from the speaker jacks to a 4 channel amp and then back to a speaker and/or sub, or do you need an actual RCA pre-out to connect to the amp? Seems like I could upgrade eveything but the HU for now and see how it goes.

Thanks again, S

 

Very welcome.

The signal from the head unit to the speakers is a lot different than the signal the head unit sends to the amp via the RCAs. You have to buy a converter to run the signal through from speaker wire to RCA, but they generally cause a lot of loss in quality.

If you buy a 4 channel amp, which is best for what you want to do, you will have to get one of these converters, and maybe use that signal for the sub. The quality will be diminished considerably.

Here's a GREAT 4 channel amp. I have helped a lot of guys install this amp, and I have it's big brother in my Vette.

http://item.express.ebay.com/Cadence...mdZExpressItem

 

OK..let's go for broke:

Cadence TXA 3004 600W Amp -$100
Polk db651's 180W - ~$50
MB Quart RWE-252 600W Sub $90

Which HU do you like?

S

 

For a budget build, Kenwood Excelon, KDC-X591. It has all the great features, wonderful control over tuning, AUX in, and plenty of sound quality.

http://item.express.ebay.com/__Car-A...mdZExpressItem

 

Let the build begin...thanks loads!

S

 

Good luck, keep us posted, and make sure you let me know if you need any help with the install.

 

I know everybody has their own opinion about a car stereo, but I'm choosing the Pioneer 7900 head unit for my '81. I know Kenwood is a good company, but I've always like the Pioneer stereo better. I also like the motorized face instead of the ones that flap down and you have to put back up when you put your CD in. I know it costs a bit more but you also get more with it. I've priced this unit at Best Buy and this guy will save you over $100. on this unit.....Just my opinion

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PIONEER-DEH-...QQcmdZViewItem

 

The Excelons used to have a flip D-mask face plate and it was cool for security but it failed because of all the moving parts.

The new Excelons all have motorized flip down faces so all you have to do is touch a button to lower the face and insert a CD or touch the button again to get the face up.

 

So what is your opinion on the Pioneer 7900 series, I'd really liked to know. . I already have the cut out version of the bezel so I can put the original one away. Aso, would that amp you sudgested work with my infinitys I have. 6x9 100w rem / 300 max. 4x6 40w rem / 125 max ?.

 

Pioneers make fine head units, even though I like the Premier line better than standard Pioneers. The top three in MY modest book, are Eclipse, Kenwood Excelon, and Pioneer Premier. I have used Kenwood Excelon for about a decade now and LOVE their new products even more than I ever have before.

If you have a chance at a Pioneer Premier, don't pass it up. Just go with what you like better.

Mike - That Cadence amp above is great for the speakers you have. It's a fantastic 4 channel...one of the best I have ever used that didn't cost $900.

 

Thanks DB for the info this guy also sells the premier series . I'll spend the extra $20. to get the 790 premier series instead

 

Hey DB.....will that little bugger fit in the compartment behind the passenger seat?

 

You mean the Cadence amp? I will have to measure but I do not think so. Most everyone that gets one mounts it to the wall at the back of the storage area, or just on the floor in the back.

 

Hey DB,

OK, so the Cadence amp and the Excelon X-591 are ordered and on their way. I'm debating speakers at this point. I found this and was thinking that using the small speakers for the kick panels and the larger 6.5's for the rear may be a good set-up, forgoing a sub at this time.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=014

Right now I have a set of Pioneer 6 x 9's (200W, 40W nominal I believe) mounted in corner gizmos that I could start with in lieu of the larger polks. Do you think it's worth it dropping the extra $50 for the matched set of Polks or will the Pioneers perform well enough?

Also, If anyone has a nice design for an amp/speaker bar to press fit across the back of a 79 I'd love it if you could pass along pics or plans.

If not a bar design, has anyone mounted 6.5's in the rear corners using modified faceplates and the existing original speaker mounts? I'm thinking of shaping a 1/2" piece of plywood to match the original speaker grill, covering it with fuzz, mounting the speaker on it, then mounting the plate/speaker to the original. Thoughts on sound performance with an arrangement like this?

Just a note...my '79 has nice noisy side pipes and runs at about 3000RPM at 65 on the highway...it is anything but quiet. I'm looking to get good, reliable sound but it doesn't need to be prefect since the background is so crazy-noisy. In the future if I drop the side-pipes for some Flowmasters or such it'll be a different issue but for now...vroom.

Thanks to all, Steve

 

To be honest Steve, just the 6.5" speakers in the front kick panels and nothing in the rear will sound better than two sets of coaxial speakers coming from front and back. The 6.5" speakers will provide enough mid-bass for you I'm sure, even without a sub, so long as you amp them.

Here is a small 2 channel amp that can go in the passenger storage bin to power the front speakers, and if you decide to later you can install a sub and amp for it too.

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=5219

 

Seems counterintuitive that more speakers in a balanced system would lead to worse sound...is it a case of overkill in a small area or is the sound from the front and rear channels fundamentally different?

So ideally the real value of the Cadence 4 Channel (TXA-3004) is the powering of the sub and the front channel, and less the powering of the sub and two sets of speakers. Will 6.5" Polks fit in the kick panels or do I need to stick with the smaller 5.25"? I'll order the single set of Polks and the MB Quart sub we spoke about earlier to finish it off. Once I have all the parts on hand I'd like to have an offline discussion to go over proper installation?

Many thanks, S