DorianC3

Hi all,

I jus picked up an AAR vintage reproduction radio.



I decided to test it on a pair of Hertz 460.3 speakers that I had.


...and it sounded tinny and I could not turn the volume very much up, certainly not 50%




I presume I’m doing something wrong.

These will be dash speakers on a 1969 corvette.

Maybe I can fade (?) to 5.25 kick panel speakers ????

Bear with me. I always sucked at audio. I have tried to understand it but ...

Is this because the speakers are 40 continuous to the HU’s 45 ?

Would something like this be more appropriate?

DorianC3

Oh... I do plan to put some form of powered sub behind the seats.

I also read somewhere that capacitors would help prevent overwhelm the speakers ?

DorianC3

Perhaps the tinny sound is because the speakers are not installed ?

GCG

Your speakers sound tinny and you can only turn up the volume a little bit before they seem they are going to break into pieces not because they are mismatched for your new radio, but because of this:


you are testing them in open air.

Speakers need a cabinet, among other things, to isolate their front waves from their rear ones (otherwise sound cancellation occurs and bass is lost, therefore tinny sound) and to have a "cushion" for their cones (otherwise cones will move past their linear limits and could be damaged if pushed hard beyond that).

Regarding the 2 different speaker models you mentioned, either one would be fine. If their specs are accurate, the Hertz should sound louder because both have the same impedance (4 ohms), but the Hertz have a bigger sensitivity (93db vs 90db).

Radio:
45W x 4 @ 4 ohms

Hertz speakers:
4" x 6" treated paper cone/polyurethane surround
⅝" PEI dome
4 ohms
65Hz - 21kHz
93db
40W

Polk speakers:
4" x 6" polypropylene cone/rubber surround
¾" silk dome
4 ohms
50Hz - 22kHz
90db
50W

I guess that since you already have the Hertz speakers you are going to use them, so I would suggest that for the other 2 channels you buy 2 speakers from the same line/series, so all 4 speakers have the same timbre.

DorianC3

THANK YOU GCG...

This really helps me out. I appreciate the tip on staying in the same line/series.

GCG

I don't know what subwoofer you are thinking to use, or how you are planning to connect it, but for best results you'll need to use filters.

DorianC3

Craig has been quite an inspiration for me. He is using the same radio I am and has speakers both in the dash and kicks.

I was going to shamelessly copy his set up with regards to the sub in the storage compartment and a Kenwood KSC-SW11 sub to get a reasonable compromise.

#726
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1588926646




Would this also require filters ?

GCG

@DorianC3 , I just checked the manual for the KSC-SW11 powered subwoofer. Since it has a built-in variable (50Hz to 125Hz) Low-Pass filter you won't need to buy an external filter for the subwoofer.

I don't know the model number of your radio, so I don't know if it has built-in filters or subwoofer output(s). If it doesn't, you would need 4 external in-line High-Pass filters (1 for each of the 4 main channels) connected in-line with each speaker.

I suggest these 150Hz in-line High-Pass filters from Crutchfield:

Set the Low-Pass filter in your subwoofer to 125Hz and connect it behind the radio to either the front or rear speaker outputs (in parallel with those speakers).

Remember, if you are going to get 5¼" speakers for your kick panels, get 2-way coaxials from the same line/series than your 4" x 6" dash speakers.

DorianC3

Thank you, GCG.

I ordered the filters from Crutchfield. It’s soooo much better to understand the plan.

Thanks

GCG

Glad I could be of service! Let me know how it goes.

I didn't know you were in Belgium. I've been reading with great interest your ongoing "adventure" with your car. Congratulations!

PS: I love your beers!

DorianC3

Always new beers to discover here.

I picked up the 5 1/4 speakers and started test fitting



It just barely fits. I can make it work, I’m sure. Damn the magnet is big.

BLUE1972

Different brands of speakers sound vastly different.

I use Pioneer or Sony speakers, as they sound better to me than some of the others.

My 85 came with very HI end speakers and amps. They had made fiberglass enclosures for the speakers in the doors and grills. The enclosures are behind the mounting surface and the speakers just barely fit in to them. Ford and others used a "structural foam" to enclose the speakers on some models. It enhances the base. It's similar to the Boise rear speakers on the C4 where the enclosure was tuned...

I have used 10 mill plastic behind speakers for both water proofing and to enhance the sound.

DorianC3

Interesting. I offered the speaker up to the kick panel void. There really is hardly any space back there. It’ll take some careful fitting to get an enclosure back there. But I’ll give it a shot.

BLUE1972

You can "tune" the enclosure buy adding some insulation to the void behind the speaker.

Remember that bass takes a lot more power than treble.

The sub that fits into the Jack well - works really well. I have one in my 71.

Hope you get the sound you like..

GCG

I'm not familiar with the C3, but would it be possible to install the rear speakers in the panel that form the base of the B Pillars, or in the panel at the end of the cargo space pointing to the front?

Having both, front and rear channels, in front of you, with the fronts at ear level and the rears at your feet won't result in the best kind of audio imaging. It would be much better to have them behind the driver... Just a thought.

BLUE1972

Some people have installed speakers in the rear of the rear cargo area on 68 to about 76 C3's. You have to be careful as the fuel tank is close to the rear wall of the cargo area.

Years ago a friend did it and only recessed the speakers 1 or 2 inches. Put a fiberglass box over the rear of the speaker to seal it and used a wood form to go between the speaker mount and the wall to bring the speaker forward.

There are pictures on many sites that show the installation.

I mounted the rear speakers in the doors of the storage and battery hatch.

DorianC3

Yes, the more I think about it, the more the rear cargo area seems to make sense. I have another vintage car and I installed some speakers in the kick panels with tweeters on the dash. The result is quite underwhelming. I am not an audiophile, but bringing the speakers, when possible, up to ear level seems like a good idea.

I see people installing home fabricated soundbar style enclosures resting on the rear wheel wells. That seems like a good idea to me. Still space for the tops... removable...

DorianC3

Silly question but... how do these get wired up? There still seems to be distortion.

DorianC3

I couldn’t find anything on four wires. Two wires is easy: in line on positive. This ?!?!

DorianC3

And if there are 15 correct ways and 1 wrong way... I’ll do it that way