Front speaker locations

[AZRC]

I am looking for ideas of where to put some front speakers in my 72 Satellite coupe. I have not bought the speakers so any size is a possibility. I do not want to cut up the doors or kickpanels. I have considered something small in the single center speaker location on top of the dash. Has anyone tried installing in that location? Anywhere else? All ideas welcome.

Thanks

 

[dgraver]

I put a new dual cone 4x10 upfront and 2 6x9s in the rear package tray in my 72. Some people are using 2 3" or 4" speakers in the dash instead of the 4x10. I'm like you, didn't want to cut into the kick panels or anything. I even kept the original am radio in dash and installed a secretaudio hideaway stereo under the drivers seat controlled via rf remote. If you use some quality speakers, the sound should be fine, couldn't be happier with mine. You won't have much bass or anything, buy still gives you nice tunes. I still prefer the sound of the 440 though! Good luck!

 

[ram250098]

I hear ya about not wanting to cut the doors, but I always do the kick panels. I find some older ones to use and save my originals. You can even buy some on ebay that allow for speakers to be mounted in them.
I go with a shallow 4" speaker in the panels and cover the speaker with black door screen so I don't have to worry about the speaker grille standing off that extra bit.
If you really like the old school look get a pair of the Pioneer TS-M4 or TS-M2 and mount them on the corners of the dash...provided you can find some on ebay...they have been getting a good price lately.
I am in the process of doing mine right now.
AL

 

[beezee]

I just picked up a pair of Secret Audio Undercover II,s that will fit nicely under the front seat.8" woofer with 2 tweeter,s should be a big improvement over what I have now.I have the first generation Secret Audio but going to change to a Pioneer head unit just for ease of use while driving.Planning on a custom console to hold the head unit with cup holders.

 

[marlabuck]

Doors???

Put them on both doors...looks cool and sounds balanced...my opinion...Marla

 

[yellowdartdave]

Put them on both doors...looks cool and sounds balanced...my opinion...Marla

...and 2 perfectly good door panels ruined.

 

[marlabuck]

Ouch!!!

...and 2 perfectly good door panels ruined.

...see below...Marla

 

[moparmarks]

Can do something like this in the dash.

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

Same concept but using a stock speaker frame to avoid additional holes in the dash frame. Angled away from each other slightly to attempt to get a little separation in the windshield sound reflection. As mentioned, don’t expect a lot of bass, a good quality coaxial will give pretty good mid-high end response however. Just couldn’t bring myself to cut holes in the doors on this one.

BTW, with any speaker installation, if you seal off as much as possible around the perimeter of the speaker, as far away from the speaker as possible, you will slow the rear pressure waves from reaching the front pressure waves and cancelling each other out, killing bass response. This will maximize what little bass this small speaker can reproduce, not that it’s a whole lot. A plate cut to fit the 4x10” opening completely, then a holes cut to fit the 3 ½” speakers, with a thin foam gaskets between each will perform better than bracketing in the bare speakers. You will never be able to seal off the entire dash frame air tight, too many other openings like that defroster vent.

 

[moparmarks]

72's is a more professional approach. I wasn't too concerned about spearker seal on these as I was going to cross them over at about 500Hz and have subs and other mid drivers.
Either way, having dash speakers really fills the front center of the car.

 

[AZRC]

Thanks MoparMarks & 72RRGTX - that was what I was hoping to do and your examples are good inspiration, pics are great. Can you tell me what size speakers those are? I am thinking 3.5".

It looks like the metal grill over the 4x10 speaker is easy to remove from the top of the dash with a few screws.

 

[696pack]

I used to have a 1966 Corvette that I was faced with this same problem. I took it to a professional stereo shop and told them that I did not want to make any changes to the factory interior with holes etc. We came up with them making small enclosues for the speakers, covering them with the stock type loop carpet with velcro to attach them to the frame work behind the original kick panels we remove and I of course saved.

 

[Jerseys Finest]

I'm planning on mounting 6.5 components in the back under the rear windshield 5.5 comps up front and mounting the tweeters on the pillars with gauge pods

 

[pabster]

I had a local car stereo specialist put in 2 x 3.5in speakers, just like 72Roadrunner's pic. Very little bass in the front, but I put 2 of the biggest speakers I could fit in the back, so the combined system sounds great... didn't bother with an extra amp, and it's loud and clean enough for continued doses of Zeppelin.

And no, I didn't mess with the original AM radio in the dash. Put the new deck inside the glove box.

 

[Capsule]

Hi

Here is where I chose to mount my speakers in my 71 RR. I have 6x9 coax- units in the parcel shelf providing more than adequate bass levels. In the front I startet with two 4" coax-units in place of the old 4x10" unit. This I never really got to work properly since you get stereo from the center front and then proper stereo from the back corners. This really made the stereo perspective muddy and tiresome to listen to. Maybe it is possible to make it work but I couldnt!
Instead I mounted the two 4" coax-units in the upper door panels as you see in my photos. Now stereo imaging is really good and the sound rocks.

 

[pabster]

As far as a deck goes, my advice is to get a basic one with an AUX port put into the glove box. Then connect an iPod/MP3 player to the deck with a cord, set the deck volume high, snake the cord out of the glove box and close the glove door without crimping the cord, and use the player to control the volume. This way you get modern convenience of tons of music in your car, with no visible alteration in your dash. The shop that I had do the install did have to cut into the back of the glove box to fit the deck- outta sight, outta mind.

My Charger is a original survivor so I just couldn't mess with the interior...

 

[AZRC]

In my stereo system that I am currently putting together I will not even use a head unit. They make some nice boxes to go in between the MP3 player and the amp so that the output is conditioned for the amp. I am using a JL Audio CL-RLC that will also give me a fader front to rear - but no balance. Volume is controlled by MP3 player and many also have built in radios now.

 

[Propwash]

Don't know if you seen this thread floating around, but I used a template from this guy for the center speaker on my 69' roadrunner..

Good Luck!

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?t=26510&highlight=speaker

 

[ram250098]

Instead I mounted the two 4" coax-units in the upper door panels as you see in my photos. Now stereo imaging is really good and the sound rocks.[/QUOTE]

Hey Capsule those speakers in the doors look right at home there with those stainless speaker grilles...nice job.
AL