[C2] Highest performance replacement dash speaker?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Redacted
Highest performance replacement dash speaker?
I'm not interested in putting a "system" in my car, but I am going to add a blue tooth receiver, retain the factory radio, and replace the factory dash speaker. My question is what is the highest quality replacement speaker that will fit in the factory opening? By highest quality, I mean provides the clearest sound, at the highest volume, with the least distortion. Obviously there is no "good" option for a single speaker audio system, I'm just trying to find the best of the available options.
Thanks for the help,
Greg
Thanks for the help,
Greg
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 247
From: CT
I went through this last year. I thought I'm going to replace my speaker only once and going extra bucks wasn't a big deal.
I researched and emailed the manufacturer of my radio and ended up with the speaker they recommended on their site for around $75. I actually searched for more expensive speakers and checked various sites and blogs and still ended up with the standard recommendation.
I'm pretty happy with it.
I researched and emailed the manufacturer of my radio and ended up with the speaker they recommended on their site for around $75. I actually searched for more expensive speakers and checked various sites and blogs and still ended up with the standard recommendation.
I'm pretty happy with it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
I'm not interested in putting a "system" in my car, but I am going to add a blue tooth receiver, retain the factory radio, and replace the factory dash speaker. My question is what is the highest quality replacement speaker that will fit in the factory opening? By highest quality, I mean provides the clearest sound, at the highest volume, with the least distortion. Obviously there is no "good" option for a single speaker audio system, I'm just trying to find the best of the available options.
Thanks for the help,
Greg
Thanks for the help,
Greg
http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm
Aftermarket stereo; then this one, do NOT use those two 4" speakers glued to cardboard - a non-starter IMO:
https://www.carid.com/custom-autosou...-3006-dvc.html
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Jan 26, 2019 at 11:39 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 8,932
Likes: 5,476
From: Richardson Texas
For an original speaker ? This one and none other, start out about 2/3 of the way down the page and find out why:
http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm
Aftermarket stereo; then this one, do NOT use those two 4" speakers glued to cardboard - a non-starter IMO:
https://www.carid.com/custom-autosou...-3006-dvc.html
http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm
Aftermarket stereo; then this one, do NOT use those two 4" speakers glued to cardboard - a non-starter IMO:
https://www.carid.com/custom-autosou...-3006-dvc.html
This is your answer.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,458
Likes: 27
The turnswitch speaker looks awesome!
Yes, stay away from the 2-4" speaker replacement. Sounds like c**p but I keep it there to act as a rain catcher if I get caught out in the rain (no soft top).
But I put in a "system" so I don't need it anyway. lol
BTW, installing that new dash speaker is a btch if you don't have the dash , glove box or cluster out.....
Yes, stay away from the 2-4" speaker replacement. Sounds like c**p but I keep it there to act as a rain catcher if I get caught out in the rain (no soft top).
But I put in a "system" so I don't need it anyway. lol
BTW, installing that new dash speaker is a btch if you don't have the dash , glove box or cluster out.....
Last edited by 65 Hardnoks; Jan 26, 2019 at 12:59 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 169
Likes: 14
From: Columbus Ohio
I think buying a speaker will not get you the high fidelity you are after. You need to have the original speaker reconed if torn with the proper thin paper for bass response and clean the dust out of the voice coil, bend the frame if it rubs. Then hire a good radio tech and ask them to hot rod your radio by adding negative feedback from the output transistor and there are a few more tricks that will step change the fidelity out of a stock radio. You will hear an incredible difference.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
Or you can gut the original radio and have a modern solid-state system installed in the shell, nobody will know and you won't have to chase around to find some old school repairman ever again - and then you can use the suggested stereo speaker....
There used to be a guy that re-coned original speakers but I think he's out of that biz now, there are some youtubes on how to do it yourself and kits are around. I wouldn't put the time into it personally...
There used to be a guy that re-coned original speakers but I think he's out of that biz now, there are some youtubes on how to do it yourself and kits are around. I wouldn't put the time into it personally...
Racer
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 290
Likes: 117
From: ashburnham, MA
I just went through this when my family bought me a modern radio that looks exactly like the stock one for my 66 convertible. The new radio is stereo and will power 2 sets of speakers, so I cut out a new jack storage area cover for behind the seats and mounted 2 6 x 9 Kenwoods in it. For the front, since the radio is stereo, you will need a 6 x 9 with two voice coils and hook up both left and right outputs to it. After studying all the specs, I chose the Custom Autosound unit from Carid (Ecklers also has it) and the whole setup sounds pretty good. The radio is from Antique Automobile Radios and you would be hard pressed to figure out it's not the stock one.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 569
Likes: 176
From: Allentown PA
Very good input here from all - the basics, as I'm sure you know, is to drive good sound and speakers to match. Just like everything else, once you decide to break away from stock-appearing the sky is the limit. Your mileage and taste may vary 
. My goal was to stay invisible other than the head unit when I did mine years ago.
Alternative viewpoint re. the front:
In staying with the stock location the dual voice cone is one way. Lot's of people trash the 2 x 4" with very good reason. An alternative is to do what I did and make my own using a template and sourcing some high end 4" speakers for the front and boxed 6x9's in back (out of sight but adds some base). It is better than you would think and I like the high-quality, high end freq up on the dash off the windshield. There are some excellent and efficient smaller speakers out there now.
However, I am now planning to put the stock radio back in and use a streaming Bluetooth amp to drive those same fronts (I am still happy with them) and some TBD combo out back (prob tube bass) similar to setups others have posted (thanks Frankie!) Nowdays, I am mostly listening to the side pipes!!
. My goal was to stay invisible other than the head unit when I did mine years ago. Alternative viewpoint re. the front:
In staying with the stock location the dual voice cone is one way. Lot's of people trash the 2 x 4" with very good reason. An alternative is to do what I did and make my own using a template and sourcing some high end 4" speakers for the front and boxed 6x9's in back (out of sight but adds some base). It is better than you would think and I like the high-quality, high end freq up on the dash off the windshield. There are some excellent and efficient smaller speakers out there now.
However, I am now planning to put the stock radio back in and use a streaming Bluetooth amp to drive those same fronts (I am still happy with them) and some TBD combo out back (prob tube bass) similar to setups others have posted (thanks Frankie!) Nowdays, I am mostly listening to the side pipes!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 6,569
Likes: 2,405
From: Redacted
Or you can gut the original radio and have a modern solid-state system installed in the shell, nobody will know and you won't have to chase around to find some old school repairman ever again - and then you can use the suggested stereo speaker....
There used to be a guy that re-coned original speakers but I think he's out of that biz now, there are some youtubes on how to do it yourself and kits are around. I wouldn't put the time into it personally...
There used to be a guy that re-coned original speakers but I think he's out of that biz now, there are some youtubes on how to do it yourself and kits are around. I wouldn't put the time into it personally...
Thanks,
Greg
Team Owner
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Army
Gary Tayman here in Florida did mine. Do a web search and he’ll show up
Race Director
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From: San Antonio, TX/Mahopac, NY
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Greg, did you already consider and reject the kick panel speaker set ups?
The nice thing about having a coupe is you could put a removable powered box in the rear area that would provide fantastic sound with rich bass and then unplug it and remove it when you wanted to look stock. This would also enable you to use some very capable tweeters in the original location for great sound. Just a thought.
The nice thing about having a coupe is you could put a removable powered box in the rear area that would provide fantastic sound with rich bass and then unplug it and remove it when you wanted to look stock. This would also enable you to use some very capable tweeters in the original location for great sound. Just a thought.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 6,569
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From: Redacted
Greg, did you already consider and reject the kick panel speaker set ups?
The nice thing about having a coupe is you could put a removable powered box in the rear area that would provide fantastic sound with rich bass and then unplug it and remove it when you wanted to look stock. This would also enable you to use some very capable tweeters in the original location for great sound. Just a thought.
The nice thing about having a coupe is you could put a removable powered box in the rear area that would provide fantastic sound with rich bass and then unplug it and remove it when you wanted to look stock. This would also enable you to use some very capable tweeters in the original location for great sound. Just a thought.
You're absolutely correct, but the stereo really isn't a priority for me, I just want the best you can get out of the factory arrangement, plus bluetooth capability. I don't want to get into mounting kick panels, rear boxes, running wires, etc. I very much want to keep this car as simple as possible. If it was a radio delete car, Id be perfectly happy with that as well, but since it does have a radio, I'm only looking to optimize the stock set up.....much the same approach I've tried to take with the suspension, optimize the factory style set up without going overboard or getting overly complex.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
You're absolutely correct, but the stereo really isn't a priority for me, I just want the best you can get out of the factory arrangement, plus bluetooth capability. I don't want to get into mounting kick panels, rear boxes, running wires, etc. I very much want to keep this car as simple as possible. If it was a radio delete car, Id be perfectly happy with that as well, but since it does have a radio, I'm only looking to optimize the stock set up.....much the same approach I've tried to take with the suspension, optimize the factory style set up without going overboard or getting overly complex.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Redacted
Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: US
I took a page from someone else on this forum... got a aftermarket panel for where the lift is stored.. it's big enough to fit two speakers, Bluetooth head unit and a small amp (eventually put a slim self-powered subwoofer in there too, but not necessary). run everything from your cellphone, keep your dash pristine, you're only running one power wire, and if you want to go back to stock, the entire thing pulls out in 2 minutes, and replace with the original cover. best thing about this is the entire dash remains stock. … I personally hate the look of modern radios designed to fit the factory spot... and there's just no way they're going to sound decent no matter what you do.
Not what I'd consider a "system," but you're getting really decent sound,
Not what I'd consider a "system," but you're getting really decent sound,
Last edited by JMG2; Feb 2, 2019 at 04:04 PM.