retro stereo -- failures and success

[parkcity124]

I read many posts during my planning stages, so now that I'm done I wanted to reciprocate.

I wanted at least a "B" grade system that did not seem out of place in a 30 year old car.

So I started by buying a used Nakamichi cd35 for about $100. Then a/d/s 300i speakers ($175) and an a/d/s pq10 amp ($100). This would have been a killer and expensive set up when new (probably more than $1,500 in the early '80s). All of this stuff is readily available and cheap now.

Then I decided to go with 6.5 inch MB Quart reference-series component speakers in the back. 5.25 inch in the front. These have seperate crossovers and importantly, look old -- plain black surrounds and grills. Each set cost about $60. Msrp was about $350.

What I learned:

There is plenty of room for speakers it the front panels. You have to cut metal. I installed the 5.25 inch MB Quarts and wish I would have installed the 6.5 inchers there. The crossovers are screwed into the sheet metal next to the battery.

There is not much room in the rear side panels. The MB Quarts were way too deep and wide so I had interference with the rear window glass.

So, I installed the a/d/s 300i's in the rear panels. I added home-made 1/2 inch spacers.

I mounted the amp on small metal right-angle braces and mounted the braces to the particle board over the gas tank also to the left of the battery. So the amp sits vertically and gets plenty of air and does not take up much space.

I installed foam baffels behind all 4 speakers. Cheap.

I used a cheap Rockford Fosgate amp install kit. 14 gauge speaker wire that I had sitting around the house.

Everything was purchased on e-bay. I am now selling the 6.5 inch MB Quarts.

The sound is good. Not great but I can make it very audible, and still clean, even with a loud exhaust system at highway speeds.

It looks right. Very black in an all black interior.

I will someday buy old a/d/s 6.5 inch speakers for the front, then I will have the retro system that I want. And maybe a second pq10 amp (they are bridgeable to about 90 watts x 2 channels).

I hope this info helps someone out there.

I am not cool enough to post photos yet but would be willing to e-mail photos if that would help anyone.

[So Cal Mark]

thanks for that info

[joshuagore]

I ditched my stereo for the time being until I figure out some stealth manner to have tunes. I am considering going the route of no head unit and simply using my MP3 player to a line in on a small amp powering 2 speakers hidden on the lower console. I mostly only use the mp3 player as it is.

I do like the idea of doing a system like yours, very hi fi etc.. etc.. I actually have a very similar system in my BMW wagon, which has something like 4 speakers 4 components, and a sub. I just can't come to grips with putting that in the convertible, it 'seems' like it doesn't have the space and that I wouldn't appreciate the good sounds in an open top.

So how does it sound top down?
Josh

[mbouse]

parkcity124 - - first welcome to the site. please stop by the introductions section and tell us more about you and your car. we love to chat about nearly everything.

second.. <GASP> No pictures? we gotta have pictures of your new stereo setup..

[mdrburchette]

Pictures would be nice. If you upload your pics to a photo sharing site, like Photobucket, you can show them in your posts. Somewhere on this site is a detailed description on how to do it that is very helpful.

I had a heck of a time finding a new fangled radio for my Spider. I didn't want to cut on the center console so I used an old Pioneer with tuning knobs. My speakers are in the quarter panels but I can barely hear the radio because of the noise coming from the twin carbs.

On the X19s, I was very surprised to find just about any new radio fits perfectly...and they come with two speakers already!

[mbouse]

but I can barely hear the radio because of the noise coming from the twin carbs.

umm... we need to edit this to read:

but i can barely hear the radio because of the wonderful Italian sounds from the twin carbs.