Okay guys, I need your expert opinions once again. I know there are other stereo threads, but the one I found was from 2007. I was hoping there might be some more current information available.

My car has a JVC cassette deck from like 1984 in it, the car is a 1978.

I get bad radio reception, first of all, it has a power attenna in it that no longer goes up and down, I noticed the the power lead is disconnected from the radio, I am assuming for now that it was because it stopped working, the antenna cable is hocked up but the reception is bad. The dash speakers were not hooked up because there were totally rotted. In the back there are these.






The don't sound too bad, but the head's 4 channels are bridged to 2 to add more power to these. they slide around and get in the way of the T tops when I put them in the back.

So the new carpet is on the way along with new floor mats and new rear compartment frame and door frames. I am going to do it right. The kit includes the rear speaker cover carpet as well.

I want to order the rear speaker brackets and put some really decent 6x9's back there and get new 4x6's to go in the front. I may add a amp and later to get them more power, I would like to find a place to hide a 8 inch sub that won't **** my wife off too much and the amp has to look good too or she won't have it.

So here is the point, I think I want the RetroSound Model II the ability to stream from Pandora or a Custom playlist appeals to me without having to have a Aux cable running across the car. And I am going to get the brackets and rear speaker grille's from Ecklers. Does this sound good? any other suggestions.

Also I have questions about speakers, It is hard to find ones that fit in that dash space, Ecklers has those N series 4x6's that are 1.33 inches thick and seem to have good power handling, but what about rear 6x9's Has anybody used the N series 6x9 most of the others say you need a small spacer on the front of the speakers so they tweeters don't touch the grille.

I would love some suggestions on which 4x6's and 6x9's offer good proformance and don't require a bunch of modifications to fit, I want it all to look straight and clean when it is done.

As far as radio reception, I was thinking of getting a new shorty antenna non power, and running a new antenna cable to the new radio and that should fix that. Is it possible that the old JVC in my car is causing the bad reception that I get now, or would the power antenna not having power cause that or a problem with the antenna cable from the antenna to the radio be the culprit I should be looking into?

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated, I want really good sound, I don't need it to really bump right now I will add a sub later when I figure the best way to hide it, but I do want to be able to hear the drums and bass guitar.

Sorry about the novel, thanks in advance Ecklers is having a decent Memorial day sale, one last thing Cruchfield offers the head unit with a face plate that goes on the outside of the bezel to clean things up a bit, and I don't think Ecklers does, plus Cruchfield throws in the wireing harness at no charge.

Thanks I love you guys!!

 

Finding good 6x9's that will fit in the stock brackets is problematic. I went with a custom box and it looks good and sounds great. I used Infinity 4x6 plate speakers for the front dash area, they were tight but they did fit. I put Infinity 6x9's in the custom box along with a single 10" sub. I did use amps to power everything, and mounted the amps behind the seats. I've gotten all my stereo equipment at Crutchfield for years, you won't go wrong there. I can post the part numbers of the speakers if you need them.

 

Yea if you have the part numbers that would be great! Has anybody ever tried using the rear speaker covers and cutting them out to mount the speaker to the outside so that there are no clearance issues, and covering them with carpet and using the speaker grille's what come with the 6x9? It might be a good way to have the best of both worlds factory brackets with high quality speakers?

 

i get my stuff at crutch field too. good quality and great customer service.

 

Part numbers for the dash: Infinity Kappa 462.9cfp
Part numbers for the 6x9's: Infinity Kappa 692.9i

The 6x9's have been replaced by a newer speaker, Kappa 693.11i

Both sets of speakers had crossovers that came with them. Excellent sound quality. You could cut the brackets to surface mount the 6x9's instead of rear mounting them and gain some space. Just use the grills that come with the speakers on the fronts. It should look pretty good.

 

Do you have any pictures of that box and where did you get it. I have had a hard time finding boxes, I like the one with 2 6x9's and a spot for a 10, but the wife says not in the vette. I think once it was covered with matching caprpet it wouldnt look bad, but I also need to be able to put the T-tops back there comfortably.

 

Built the boxes at home and covered. 6x9 alpine speakers

 

Box right after installation:



With tops stowed in suitcase:



I made the box myself, its not that hard to do, but they also sell them on ebay for around 100 each.

 

I am also thinking of replacing the front speakers with either Infinity or Polk. Given your experience with Infinity do you think that the Polk speakers with a top mount depth of 1 13/16" be an easier install?

 

I don't recall the depth of the Infinity plates I used, but if the 1 13/16" is shallower, then the Polk speakers should fit fine. Keep in mind my speakers were plate speakers, not 4x6 cones, which allowed me to position the deeper part of the speaker to one side to aid in fitment.

 

Thanks, very good point.

 

So I ordered the Retrosound Model II. My car did not have the rear speaker brackets or grille's so I decided to order them as well. I also Retrosound N series speakers 4x6 and 6x9, this way I know everything will fit correctly and look stock especially with the new carpet kit I am still waiting on that comes with the speaker grille covers as well.

I will sound good I am sure alot better than the strange multi purpose speakers I had in the back. I can always upgrade the speakers later If i find the sound lacking. I will wire the car for a amplifier when I lay the new carpet so I can add one later without having to pull up the carpet. Retrosound makes a compact amp, and soundstream has a real nice nano amp, with more power and a 300 watt sub channel.

Has anybody used one of the Retrosound powered subwoffers, I would fit nicely behind the passenger seat and be covert enough to make the wife happy?

I will upgrade the front speakers for sure at a later date. Does anybody have the measurements for there rear 6x9 boxes. I would like to get a high powered set to use at a later date when I install an amp.

Also, about my power antenna, it has never gone down since I got the car, I noticed that the power antenna lead from the radio is not connected to anything. Currently the car gets lousy radio reception which I want to fix at the same time. A power antenna would be nice since it was factory, but I read a thread about the trouble others have had with there's and though mabey a short fixed powered antenna would be a good replacment. Has anybody every found one that worked for them. Or should I get a replacment power antenna from Ecklers, are they reliable, how long will it last, and do they have many issues? The fixed mast antenna's I have seen look like the require you to make a small cut in the body for the bezel, It looks like it has a small pin that pokes through the body?

Thanks for all the good advice please let me know if you have an antenna suggestions.

Brent