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I have a pretty good system in my '79. Sony head unit, Pioneer amp, 10" sub. 4x6 speakers in the stock dash location, 6x9's in the stock rear location. Happy with the sound, although the biggest problem is the noise from everything else in the car. I agree with everyone who said you need a sub to get decent sound, and I think the amp is a good idea too. Also you are going to have to cut your dash to install the head unit. No one makes a twin post stereo anymore, except perhaps for a couple of those vintage suppliers. Also most of the quality aftermarket 6x9's are not going to fit in the stock location. I had to custom fabricate a couple of panels to accommodate them.
I have a pretty good system in my '79. Sony head unit, Pioneer amp, 10" sub. 4x6 speakers in the stock dash location, 6x9's in the stock rear location. Happy with the sound, although the biggest problem is the noise from everything else in the car. I agree with everyone who said you need a sub to get decent sound, and I think the amp is a good idea too. Also you are going to have to cut your dash to install the head unit. No one makes a twin post stereo anymore, except perhaps for a couple of those vintage suppliers. Also most of the quality aftermarket 6x9's are not going to fit in the stock location. I had to custom fabricate a couple of panels to accommodate them.
Got that covered,I made a template for the receiver chassis. I'm also making a set of new panels that go on the sides of the console and I plan to mount another set of 3-1/2 2 way speakers in the sides where I can find the room. I've always wanted to put a nice system in something so this is my chance. A sub woofer is an option I'm looking into to. The challenge is everything but the receiver is going to be hidden.
Almost done with fabricating the brackets. I made a set of patterns for the new console side panels to mount a set of speakers. The speakers will be mounted behind the panel then the panel will be covered with fabric.
I don't mean to be critical, but speakers pointing out from the center console will not be good for hearing stereo separation. For example, the right speaker will point away from the driver down where the passenger's legs will be. Those same speakers in the doors would work better for hearing both left and right channels.
Also, 3.5" speakers are pretty small. Will you also put in rear speakers?
Last edited by zxryder72; Dec 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM.
I don't mean to be critical, but speakers pointing out from the center console will not be good for hearing stereo separation. For example, the right speaker will point away from the driver down where the passenger's legs will be. Those same speakers in the doors would work better for hearing both left and right channels.
Also, 3.5" speakers are pretty small. Will you also put in rear speakers?
I understand. Passenger won't be able to hear that one very well. I set up car stereos primarily for good sound for the driver who will be listening the most. That's why I mentioned the other side as an example.
I understand. Passenger won't be able to hear that one very well. I set up car stereos primarily for good sound for the driver who will be listening the most. That's why I mentioned the other side as an example.
The speakers are in poor placement and too small to hear.
Speakers are normally set up all the way to the left and to the right to get stereo separation. You want to hear the differences between the left and the right channels. That's why all the car stereos you'll see from the factory don't have speakers in the console or toward the middle of the car. If you only listen to mono sound, like AM radio, it doesn't matter so much where you put the speakers.
Any diagram you'll see for car stereos will look something like this. Subwoofer can go pretty much anywhere, that low frequency sound doesn't really need to be separated for left and right. But your main speakers should be far apart like this:
Last edited by zxryder72; Dec 16, 2025 at 02:43 AM.
The speakers are in poor placement and too small to hear.
