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"The Sound of Music" - Speaker Placement

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For some strange reason, an idea popped in my head about rear speaker placement today. I came up with a relatively subtle speaker arrangement that could be easily removed, and not look like speakers to the average Joe passing on the street. Make them look like headrests. Obviously, this would be for the occasional 4-seater crowd. An aluminum sheet (1/8ā€ thick) could be used as the base and would sandwich in between the fold-down tray and the rear squab. Detach the wires, undo the seat snaps and pull the whole thing out. I didn't see this idea in any thread. If I stole it from someone, I did it unconsciously.
 

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Hey Greg,

Idea popped in your head today. You made that in a day. Dude!

Wow, that's impressive. Your my new HERO. Now come clean, that's really photo shop right? :smile:

In case anyone missed it, Greg has also installed what appears to be a retro looking...toggle styled EQ behind the seat back. Ah, these speakers produce way too much bass, better flip one of these toggles.

Nice job Greg.
Roger
 
I've been giving this some thought as well, but not nearly as much as Greg has!!!

Sam's, or maybe BJ's has a set of Bose exterior grade speakers for about $150. I've been playing with the demo and they seem to have a really nice sound. I was thinking of mounting a pair on the topsides of the foot wells.

Bose Outdoor Speakers

What kind of an amp and power would I need to drive these if I wanted to plug in my iPod? This is from the Bose website:
ā€¢ Compatible with amplifiers or receivers rated 10 to 100 watts per channel at 4 to 8 ohms
ā€¢ 50W IEC continuous power handling at 6 ohms
 
Hi Dave

Consider self powered computer speakers. You can plug your ipod directly into them and bypass the amp situation. Being they will be in the car, under the dash, you should be ok.

Bose makes a nice pair if you like Bose products.

I used 2 pairs of Creative speakers.
Nice thing is they are hidden, keeping the car looking stock.
Photo attached.

Happy motoring!
Roger
 
I may have found something interesting. I just ordered a pair of transducers. They aren't a speaker themselves, but they turn whatever they are attached to into one. I was thinking of trying them on the inner door panels. Stay "tuned".
Dayton

P.S. they are 3/4" deep, so hopefully they'll be out of the way for rolling the window down.
 
For those who have used Roger's creative computer speaker installation. If you are looking for a little more volume on the interstate, you might want to try a headphone amplifier. I use a small Creative Zen mp3 player that sits in the ash tray with a wire up throgh the bottom of the ash tray. I found out that the output level from the mp3 player was very low by experimenting with some other music sources (used the headphone output of a boombox). I picked up an inexpensive boostaroo headphone amp that I have plugged into a spare underdash power outlet and wired in series with the mp3 player output. It was just enough to give me enough volume that I can still listen to my tunes at 80mph on the highway. The headphone amp lays on the tunnel under the console hidden away from view like everything else.

Later,
Drew
65 BJ8

PS Thanks for the idea Roger. When I unplug the mp3 player and close the ashtray it looks completely stock. On top of that, it's all reversible for the next owner (once I kick the bucket in 50 years or so).
 
Hey Drew,
I like adding James Bond-ish gagets.
Like my hidden volume control.

Sounds like you do too.
That's one of the things I dig about this forum. We share our ideas. Thanks for sharing yours. I'm impressed!

Cheers, Roger
 
Hi Rob,
No I haven't, and looking at 'em, I'd shy away. Buying from Ebay, you might not have any return policy if you don't like 'em (though you could ask). They don't list any specs for the speakers and with a 4" full range cone, they may be a downgrade from the original single speaker. I don't imagine they are very good at putting out high and low frequencies. They are also for an environment that has a lot of wind and the rider wearing a helmet (most likely). All this is just my opinion.
 
Hi Drew,
Last year I installed the Creative computer speakers that Roger had "creatively" added to his car. However, I used only one pair of speakers, unlike Roger's two pair. I am very satisfied with the volume around town, but listening quality is hampered at higher speeds. I am intrigued by the booster to which you refer. I only saw battery powered units at their web site, but you refer to wiring yours into an auxiliary power outlet. Do they make a 12 volt booster that I just missed? Which booster did you end up using (model number or name)?

Thanks! And, thanks again to Roger for a great sound solution!

Lin
1960 BT7 "The Bloody Beast"
1959 AN5 Bugeye
 
Lin,
I installed only one pair of speakers also. The headphone amp I used was a "Upbeat Audio T794 Boosteroo with USB Connection and AC Adaptor for PC and Audio Applications" available under that listing at Amazon.com for $32.57. I then bought a car adaptor for the power input at Radio Shack to plug it into the car. Works great at not much cost and really makes a difference on the road.
Thanks,
Drew

Nice retro look on the volume control Roger. It does look like something Q would have put in the old Aston Martin.
 
Drew,
Thanks for the information. I ordered one this morning!

Lin
1960 BT7 "The Bloody Beast"
1959 AN5 Bugeye
 
gregw, yup i was and still is a "drummer", but also play a bit of the guit. and have several, man is this one of the longest runnin subject we have on the forum "the sound of music"?, look at the monster i created, "its alive",.. i realy miss my friend keoke!!!!!! :yesnod:
 
anthony7777 said:
man is this one of the longest runnin subject we have on the forum "the sound of music"?, look at the monster i created, "its alive",.. i realy miss my friend keoke!!!!!! :yesnod:
Click to expand...

I noticed that too. As of right now, 4866 views. Wow.
I too miss Keoke.
 
The transducers arrived today, interesting little things. I pulled a door panel outta' garage and was a little disappointed. I thing the foam muffles the sound too much. I tried the cardboard box the 'ducers came in and that sounded a lot better, louder also. You can change the tone by moving it around the surface, lower and midrange frequencies are towards the middle. As you move it to the edges, the lows are cut and the highs are enhanced. I'll do some more exploring as I find the time.
 
I have a guitar, though I won't kid anyone by saying I'm a musician. I gathering parts to build another one, a solid body electric. Should be a fun project. It is also good therapy for my hand, which has never been the same after an operation.
 
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