Hi
I have a 76 that is currently being redone. I want to replace the dash speakers and also install speakers in the kick panels. I purchased a custom Autosound radio (200W) to keep the look. Is there a particular brand of speaker I should have for the kick panels to get decent sound. I have a set of 60W pioneers for the dash (replacements from Willcox).

Thanks
NBC3

 

Get something that's low watt. A stock speaker of some kind, that's in the 25 watts range. No head unit, and not even the high end big name guys will be able to give you 25 watts per channel RMS. I don't care what they say it's rated at the amps in the head units are just not capable of it and it shows.

Install low watt speakers and they will sound pretty good off of that head unit. When the volume gets to high you will hear distortion.

If you get high wattage speakers, you will encounter this problem earlier on as the speaker will be short changed on the power side of it.

 

The dash speakers should be for treble/mid-range only...YOU DO NOT WANT BASS COMING THROUGH THEM. Did I say that strongly enough? Bass in the dash speakers will just give you rattles and mushy sound. High frequencies reflect well off of glass--low frequencies don't. If the dash replacement speakers you have are responsive at bass frequencies (under 150 Hz), you need to put a low frequency filter on them (200 Hz +/-) so bass signals don't get to them. The kick panels, on the other hand, should handle mid and bass frequency sounds. You can use high dollar 3-way speakers...but you won't hear much treble through them...being on the floor and all. You can wire the two speakers [on each side, R & L] in either series or parallel. For clean sound, I would suggest putting them in series; you will lose some volume, but it will sound cleaner.

 

Actually, that's a good call. The problem with all the after market speakers these days is they will not sound good off of a head unit.

Stock speakers are generally a lot lower on the wattage pole so they sound okay when pushed by the low wattage head unit.

 

D_boy that's exactly why I've decided to run all 4 of my speakers off a R-F Punch 400a4 with a Kenwood KAC 8101D subwoofer amp and a 10" Kenwood KD2505 sub for the bottom end. I'm putting Infinity 5.25" rs5002i two ways with aimable tweeters in the kick panels, in the dash I have Pioneer TSG4641R's.

The head unit is a Jensen MPA6611X with 2 RCA outputs, iPOD iLINK, MP3 aux input, XM input, SD card reader, USB input a CD player and 240 watts total maximum watts that I'm not even going to bother with. Heck, 1400 watts should be enough to fill my 72's interior.

And of course it'll only get used when I'm not listening to the big block.

Only down side is I'll have to decide before hand to leave the T-Tops home or keep them on because there's no place to store them and I absolutely refuse to install a luggage rack.

cc

 

I have that same issue and I could care less. I don't need the tops with me.

 

Check out my website for my stereo install. You can put an amazing amount of stereo gear in the car and still have room for the t-tops.

 

If you put speakers in the kick panels, you DO NOT want them in the dash as well.

A. It will ruin any soundstage achieved by the kick panels.
B. Sound reflected off of glass becomes harsh, irritating and overbearing.
C. WAVELENGTHS!!! It seems to be an ignored subject by most people here. There is a reason to put speakers in the kick panels. To create equal wavelengths between the listener and the right/left speakers. Putting a speaker in the dash puts you 2 ft from one speaker and 5 feet from the other. Which one do you think will dominate your audible experience?

To keep a nice clean sound, use a component set comprised of a 6.5" woofer with a separate tweeter. The set will come with a passive crossover that will keep the appropriate frequencies where they belong. Both speakers will fit in a custom kickpanel. If you can't make one, find a stereo shop and have someone make one. Don't purchase any preformed panels.

 

Well, everyone has opinions when it comes to "sound". I have the tweeters in the dash and kickpanel speakers, too....and the sound is good, with balanced range and good depth [added by the extra speakers]. So, from one humble opinion, both works better than either by itself.

 

Most come with passive crossovers. I've seen some that didn't.

 

Sound stage? Wavelengths?

Dude, the only thing I'm trying to accomplish is overcoming wind noise, engine noise and my Dynomax Super Turbos with decent sound from a head unit I don't have to futz with. I don't want to mess with changing cd's all the time...I have enough to do to keep the 35 year old beast from getting tweaked.

I have no illusions about ending up with an accoustical masterpiece. I'm just tired of listening to the factory mono radio with it's 2 watt output, horrible reception and even worse tuning accuracy.

As far as balancing the system, I can take care of that no matter where the speakers end up. That's why I have multiple amps with separate gain and adjustable frequency filters.

I think with a 10" sub sitting 1.5 feet behind my head, I'll probably use all the mid and high frequencies I can produce.

I don't plan on sinking hundreds of dollars into sound mat or anything like that. I have two surround sound systems in my home for those times when I want to immerse myself in multi-channel sound.

This is simply something to listen to while I'm enjoying my classic car.

cc

 

Some consider the install to be 90%. W/O debating that ...
There should be only 1 set of front speakers for clean sound. A second set will normally muddy the sound. Kick panel is a better location than the dash & a mounting plate must be used to separate the front from back to prevent cancellation esp. bass.
There is not enough airspace behind to optimize 6.5s, Some 5.25 can be fitted to kick panel location. At least the tweerters should be angled up towards the middle. While one would normally want the tweeters near the primary front speakers, the dash location can work well for tweeters.


Kenwood eXcelon mask CD
Kenwood eXcelon 5.25 Components in kick panels.

 

Im wondering your opinions on using this in the back
Undercover II Speakers with 8" woofer and 2 piezo tweeters in each box
11" x 12½" x 2.95" 200 watt capacity with fuller, deeper sound.


and these speakers in the kick panels and the tweeters in the door panels

 

If you have not installed the Custom Auto Sound unit the best thing you can do right now is return it. Their sound quality is poor, they self distruct in a year or two, and the only thing good you can say about them is they fit the dash bezel. Check the archives here for other posts on this topic.

There is no speaker made that will make one of those units sound good. I had 2 of them before I finally broke down and cut the bezel to install a Pioneer DEH P3500 unit. That was 3 years ago and I could not be happier. I replaced speakers with my Custom Auto sound unit 3 times and none of them sounded good. The same peakers with my Pioneer sound great.

If you don't want to cut the bezel check Ebay for and old broken unit and save your stock unit. For the amount I paid for the 2 Custom Auto Sound units I could have bought a repro bezel and cut it to pieces 2x.