Amp, MP3 player and speakers of choice?

[Lin]

OK Roger, I have begun a new thread. My plan is to use an amplifier and an iPod, but I am not really happy with my speakers under the dash - not enough bass. Could you describe your system in a little more detail? Any under dash images of speaker locations? Thanks.

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye

 

[Keoke]

Hi Lin, while we are waiting on der Roger tell me what speakers you have and what amlifier you propose to use.---Keoke

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hi Lin,
The way I set my system up is to use a Garmin Nuvi 660 and self powered computer speakers. Both the Garmin and self powered computer speakers use cigarette lighter adapters to power them. So no need for an additional amp for power.

You mentioned not enough bass with your current speakers.
I must have tried 8 different computer speakers in my Healey. The ones that fit and sounded the best were:

Sony SRS Z510
Creative Gigaworks T20

The Sony speakers will fit way up in the back of the dash, above the heater box rail. On both the driver and passenger sides. So they are really hard to see, even if you bend down and look under the dash.

The Creative speakers were a little bit larger, so they could not fit up there. They could be screwed into the heater box rail for mounting.

The Creative speakers were the best of all the speakers I tried. Much cleaner, louder and have bass and treble control. As far as bass output, once hard wired and the job was done...Great. I have a lot of bass. Tight bass, not boomy. Nice to have treble control, for I ended up turning that down a bit.

If your looking to hide the speakers more than what I have done with the Creative, then consider using the Sony SRS Z510 speakers. Here’s a link:
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SRS-Z510-Personal-Active-Speakers/dp/B000095SAX


If you interested in the Creative Gigaworks T20 speakers, here’s a link:
https://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=4&subcategory=28&product=14299


Here’s a link to some photos of my installation:
https://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rfc_2002/a...m/ph//my_photos

Hope this answers your questions.
Cheers, Roger

 

[Ed_K]

Good job Roger !
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif

 

[GregW]

Hi Roger,
Is that 4 speakers under the dash?

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hi Roger,
Is that 4 speakers under the dash?

Hi Greg,
Yup. At the moment I am only running one pair.
Someone is making some sort of gadget that will let me wire the other pair in. All about what the Garmin sees. The Garmin is OK with one amp, but not two amps. This gadget should fix that problem.

Currently, one pair of speakers sounds good until you hit about 50 mph. After that, the Healey lets you know your driving a Healey. Another pair of speakers does increase the DB's. Which I'm hopping will help from turning the volume up as much. The more you turn it up, the higher the distortion. Distortion usually is followed by failure.

Of course there is a point where the Healey is so loud that it doesn't make sense to try to compete with it.

How's that sound? What? I can't hear you!
Roger

 

[Keoke]

Hi Roger, that is a pretty good setup. That is true when the Healey winds up it gets noisy and $3000.00 worth of the best equipment you can lay your hands on won't beat it. Regarding your reference to more db's with the additional speakers. I do not think this will materialise if you need more db's, then you need more gain in the driving amplifier of the speaker, assuming the speaker has the ability to handle the additional power.---Fwiw---Keoke

 

[Lin]

Roger, thanks so much!

Do you have the dimensions of the speaker? I could not find them on the spec sheet on line.

Thanks

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye

 

[AUSMHLY]

Lin,

9" x 5 1/4" x 3 1/4" (LxDxW)

Best of luck, Roger

 

[Dave Richards]

Nicely done Roger! My wheels are turning...

 

[healeynut]

Roger -

That's an awesome installation!! Where is the Tuner/Amp unit, and what kind are you using? I would really like to rig up my BJ8 with something I can plug my iPod into and have the whole thing hidden like you have.

 

[bighly]

Healeynut,

From his note above he is using a Garmin Nuvi, which is a pocket navigation sustem with built in MP3 player. Here is a review ($700 price tag).

https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2020228,00.asp

 

[Lin]

Well, it is thanks to Roger!

Today I replaced the speaker system I was going to use in my car with the Creative Gigaworks speakers recommended by Roger. I have the new components installed and I must say that the system does sound great. I cannot say that I have tested it in a running car, because mine isn't to that point yet, but I don't anticipate any problem. Plenty of volume and bass with separate bass and treble controls. The speakers are nicely hidden and power is supplied with a Radio Shack accessory power adapter (cigar lighter). No external amp or subwoofer necessary.

I highly recommend this setup and again, thanks to Roger for the recommendation. I am using an iPod plugged into the input jack of the amplified speaker. I don't care about having a radio so I went this route.

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye

 

[healeynut]

Lin -

Can you upload some pics of your installation? Roger's pics are no longer accessible for some reason.

Thanks!

 

[Lin]

Sure, I will take some pix tomorrow and upload them.

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye

 

[Patton]

Do you have to convert to negative ground to do this?

 

[Lin]

Hi Patton,
Yes, I am using negative ground.
Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hi Lin,
Glad things worked out for you. I too look forward to seeing your installation.

Patton, my car is positive ground.
Simply reverse the two wires at the back of the female cig ligher adaptor.

healeynut, here's the photos I posted before:
Cheers all, Roger

 

[Keoke]

And Roger, don't forget to tell Patton to mount the cigar lighter in a plastic bracket or he may burn the whole car down.---Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif


Patton! I be biased,but I think it is a better idea to put ground the right way around.---- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/yesnod.gif

 

[AUSMHLY]

Good point Yoda.
Patton mount the cigar lighter in a plastic bracket or you may burn the whole car down.

Make sure you isolate everything if staying positive. May be a good idea to fuse things along the way too. Roger