speakers
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 933
Likes: 427
From: Dutchess county New York
speakers
The PO installed 6x9 speakers with metal grilles directly behind the seats which not surprisingly have been crushed. What kind of sound he expected from that setup is beyond me - they will go away. The radio is original and I have no intention of touching it except to maybe return something like the factory speakers behind the kick panels.
Here's the question: since this is the future there is no doubt a wireless solution. My iPhone has my entire music collection in it and I thought a portable bluetooth speaker in back might do the trick. It's a '69 convertible so there isn't a lot of room but a 'can' of some sort should fit. Wouldn't be too hard to provide a 12v source for power if needed.
I use a JBL Charge in the garage and sometimes in my service truck but it doesn't have the onions to produce the sound necessary.
Anybody done this ? Any recommendations on brand, etc ? I've been looking through Crutchfield and marine audio sites and so so forth but thought I'd solicit a few opinions.
And yes, I know those nice sidepipes make all the wonderful sound I should ever need, but ....
Here's the question: since this is the future there is no doubt a wireless solution. My iPhone has my entire music collection in it and I thought a portable bluetooth speaker in back might do the trick. It's a '69 convertible so there isn't a lot of room but a 'can' of some sort should fit. Wouldn't be too hard to provide a 12v source for power if needed.
I use a JBL Charge in the garage and sometimes in my service truck but it doesn't have the onions to produce the sound necessary.
Anybody done this ? Any recommendations on brand, etc ? I've been looking through Crutchfield and marine audio sites and so so forth but thought I'd solicit a few opinions.
And yes, I know those nice sidepipes make all the wonderful sound I should ever need, but ....
Pro
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 521
Likes: 23
From: Lititz PA
I've been considering this also... With all of the advances in speaker technology there must be something decent out there. In lieu of this idea, I'm likely going to build my own custom box with a sub and a set of component speakers, along with a Bluetooth amp so that I can use my phone to control the music. My stock am/fm would be for show only...
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Just ADD kickpanel speakers along with the stock dash speakers. Well, I suggest that you replace the dash speakers while you are adding the new ones to the kickpanel areas. This works well with the original radio head...IF it is done right.
All four speakers should have a 4 ohm impedance. The two speakers on each side (R and L) should be wired in SERIES (not in parallel). That would yield a total of 8 ohms impedance on right and on left side. That is a 'good enough' impedance match for the radio output amp...which wants to see 10 ohms. You will have no negative effects with that setup; but the sound quality will be MUCH better and the sound will be much fuller than with just the dash speakers.
P.S. Those dash speakers are still an important part of the system.
All four speakers should have a 4 ohm impedance. The two speakers on each side (R and L) should be wired in SERIES (not in parallel). That would yield a total of 8 ohms impedance on right and on left side. That is a 'good enough' impedance match for the radio output amp...which wants to see 10 ohms. You will have no negative effects with that setup; but the sound quality will be MUCH better and the sound will be much fuller than with just the dash speakers.
P.S. Those dash speakers are still an important part of the system.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Dec 28, 2016 at 01:59 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 933
Likes: 427
From: Dutchess county New York
more speakers
I think 79C3tnd probably has the right idea but I haven't given up trying to find a 'just throw it in the back' solution.
Marine audio is where I'm looking. 12v supply is available and they have to overcome a lot of ambient noise.
As for the kick panel speakers, they are priority #152 right now but they are on the list.
I feel that if that old radio has been in there for almost a half century then that's where it will stay. Good enough to listen to a ball game on.
I've bookmarked a couple of places that offer replacement slimline 10ohm speakers. I just want to remove
the existing 6x9 behind the seats before they scuff up the backs of the seats any more.
Marine audio is where I'm looking. 12v supply is available and they have to overcome a lot of ambient noise.
As for the kick panel speakers, they are priority #152 right now but they are on the list.
I feel that if that old radio has been in there for almost a half century then that's where it will stay. Good enough to listen to a ball game on.
I've bookmarked a couple of places that offer replacement slimline 10ohm speakers. I just want to remove
the existing 6x9 behind the seats before they scuff up the backs of the seats any more.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Oops! 
You're right. I was thinking that only '68s had the kickpanel-only speakers.
Well, like the Church Lady in SNL used to say...
"Nevermind..."
To that end, find the best quality LOW POWER (50 watts or less) 8 ohm speakers (2-way types will sound better) that will fit in the kickpanels and connect them up to your original head unit. Make sure both speakers are 'phased' alike.
{Why low power? The amp in the Delco head and convector only had 16 watts RMS. If you connect up some high power/low efficiency speakers, there won't be any power left for sound volume.}
If you can't locate suitable 8 ohm speakers, buy two mid-range/tweeter speakers and two mid-range bass speakers, all four being 4 ohm units. Then wire each side with 2-speaker sets wired in SERIES to get 8 ohms. Again, all speakers need to be properly phased; and the two speakers on each side can fit one above the other behind the kickpanel.
You're right. I was thinking that only '68s had the kickpanel-only speakers.Well, like the Church Lady in SNL used to say...
"Nevermind..."
To that end, find the best quality LOW POWER (50 watts or less) 8 ohm speakers (2-way types will sound better) that will fit in the kickpanels and connect them up to your original head unit. Make sure both speakers are 'phased' alike.
{Why low power? The amp in the Delco head and convector only had 16 watts RMS. If you connect up some high power/low efficiency speakers, there won't be any power left for sound volume.}
If you can't locate suitable 8 ohm speakers, buy two mid-range/tweeter speakers and two mid-range bass speakers, all four being 4 ohm units. Then wire each side with 2-speaker sets wired in SERIES to get 8 ohms. Again, all speakers need to be properly phased; and the two speakers on each side can fit one above the other behind the kickpanel.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Dec 28, 2016 at 05:09 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 169
Likes: 18
From: Stony Brook New York
If your into keeping the original look of the radio, there is a retro radio that is Bluetooth and can be used as a stock look. They can be had almost anywhere but here is one from summit. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/r...mdwaAh9n8P8HAQ
There is also a rear speaker box that is on the C3 sites that sounds ok. They go in the back corners and look original.
There is also a rear speaker box that is on the C3 sites that sounds ok. They go in the back corners and look original.
Last edited by Skybolt; Dec 28, 2016 at 11:39 AM.
