C2 Stereo Recommendations

[paul 74]

I have a Ken Harrison KHE-200 (4 x 50W) head unit in my 1967. I use an IPod Shuffle linked directly into into the AUX jacks in the back of the head. The front speaker is a dual-cone Kenwood and I have a speaker bar in the back (see pic). That gives me four channels. The front speaker works very well but the rear speaker bar is a terrible product. The sound is low volume and of poor quality. It simply does not perform. I have thought of installing a small amp in the glovebox to power those rear speakers but the wiring necessary on a 40-year-old car gives me pause. I was thinking of bringing all the sound up front to replace the rear bar with the available kick-plate speakers that various manufacturers offer. I believe the size is 6.5". That would retain the four channels. Is this a good idea? If yes, what 6.5" speakers are recommended? I believe the kick plates can be purchased without speakers but if there is an nice combo out there, so much the better. I am into Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, etc. so boombox bass is not a necessity. Just cruising music.

[pentavolvo]

Is it one dash speaker or a pair of dash speakers. Did you plan to actually ditch the entire rear sound bar

[paul 74]

It is a dual cone, two-channel Kenwood speaker. You see these at Corvette America, Corvette Central and the like. Wired for two channels. Yes, I wish to turf the rear speaker bar.

[BarryK]

Paul

you are currently set up as a 3 channel system. The front speaker should really only be one channel and the sound bar in the back is stereo therefore 2 channels.

good idea to dump the soundbar as I've heard from various people it's not the best sounding unit.

Yolu really only need 2 GOOD channels of music and preferably in the front. The idea of the kickpanels is your best idea by far. I wasn't aware of any for the C2's that handles a 6.5" speaker but if so than so much better but most likely mounting depth may be an issue on better quality speakers. Also, to put speakers in the kickpanels, expecially a 5.25" or 6.5" you are probably going to have to lose functionality of the fresh air vents....... is this something you are willing to lose?

IF ( a big IF since i know you a little bit from all our posts) you are willing to lose functionality of the vents, and you can get good kinkpanels to hold a good quality speaker in a 5.25" or 6.5" size to fit there than I'd definitely go that route and pick up a decent 2-channel amp to run the speakers. The radio may be rated 50 x 4 watts but believe me, it's really not - that's a peak power rating and your real power rating is somewhere around 12-15 watts per channel - not even close to run the speakers loud enough to overcome road and engine noise in our C2's and not drive the little built in amp into distortion levels.

Kick panels with good speakers and a good quality amp with a continious power rating (RMS power) in the range of 50-60 watts/channel will make a world of difference in your car and you won't even need to worry about the dash center speaker or having 4 channels instead of "only" 2 channels.
2 channels of very good sounds is MUCH better than 3 or 4 channels of poor quality sound.

*EDIT: ok, you posted just before I did. Even if the dash speaker is set up with dual cones and voice coils to be 2-channels, since they are so close together it really makes no difference practically speaking over the original mono speaker in the dash. There is no seperation for a stereo effect.
My suggestion to you above still applies

[paul 74]

Barry,
You are everywhere! Never been in this area before. I have to think about this. As to losing the kick panel vents, they don't work. Never have, never will. Watch for a post soon (C2 area) on splash panel louvers where the heat really does go down under the car instead of inside. Rectifies a non-A/C condition. This is from an NCRS "Restorer" article (Fall 2006).

Why would I need an amp with 50W x 4? Does it power four-channels or two? Direct hook-up to battery. In glovebox?

Here is an option.

http://www.casmfg.com/Corvette_Speakers.htm

[VinceC5]

looks like you could do one of the following:

1. Replace the drivers in the sound bar with better quality ones.
2. Build a sound bar to hold 2 - 6x9" speakers

[Xtreme5053]

Originally Posted by VinceC5

looks like you could do one of the following:

1. Replace the drivers in the sound bar with better quality ones.
2. Build a sound bar to hold 2 - 6x9" speakers

I wouldn't do any of this and instead go with BarryK's suggestion. Kickpanels are a great place to start without becoming obnoxious for installation. I don't know your price range, but for starter level I like Infinity. I would go with the largest component set that can be put in the kicks (looking like 4" or 5.25"...??), a 4 channel amp to adequately power them, and a small sub in the back(prob 8" or light duty 10") or the dash (they make 5 1/4 and 6" subs). The way the 4 channel would go is two channels for the left and right front, and the back two will be "bridged", that is sending the same signal and combining the power together to go to the sub. This will give you a great sounding car with a full range of sound (lows, mids, highs) and won't take up the entire cabin.

What would be my ideal setup? 3 way components up front (midbass in doors or kicks, mids and tweets in A pillars), and large sub (13" and up) in back (ultra low frequencies). Dedicated two channel for 3 ways and mono amp for the sub. Take from that what you wish.

*** The above ideal is in my car, there may not be enough physical space in yours. Please keep that in mind, I'm pipe-dreaming here.***

[A.Fry]

bump

[TheKomoman]

I don't know much about C2's but that single speaker in the dash is really what's killing your setup for sure. No matter what fancy electronics they try it's still not enough separation to give you a real stereo soundfield so speakers in the kicks probably will be your best bet for that, and the bigger the better. I don't know that you want to go cutting up the doors in that car for a component set so I'd consider coaxials from some of the better names out there to get you a good sounding front stage. Brands like CDT, Focal, Eclipse, Boston, JL, Infinity etc all make pretty good sounding coaxials, so it just depends on what your ear prefers.

That sound bar is a decent piece aesthetically so you may want to try working with it instead of ditching and starting over. I'd bet even if you put a good set of coaxials in the biggest of the mounting positions and disconnected the rest of the speakers in the bar you'd improve the sound. You could put a set of 3 way components in there, but really I think that would be wasting money as the rear soundstage is for fill so that's why I suggested something that's certainly not purist, but might be effective for ya.

Gotta be careful in this section.. most of us who post here are pretty nuts about audio so always filter the responses knowing that! You have to define your goals - which is more important, better sound or keeping the car looking fairly stock?

[DPG]

Originally Posted by VinceC5

looks like you could do one of the following:

1. Replace the drivers in the sound bar with better quality ones.
2. Build a sound bar to hold 2 - 6x9" speakers

i was thinking about option 1 as well. You've already got the bar. Im sure replacing just the speakers should be a huge improvement.

[paul 74]

The sound bar is welded shut. I have ordered front kickplates with 4" three-way (80W) Pioneers to supplement the dual cone Kenwood dash speaker (50W). That should give me the sound I need.

[DPG]

Originally Posted by paul67

The sound bar is welded shut. I have ordered front kickplates with 4" three-way (80W) Pioneers to supplement the dual cone Kenwood dash speaker (50W). That should give me the sound I need.

[BarryK]

Paul

sorry it took me over a day, but I just replied to your email.

i think your idea is a good place to start and IF you find you need more than you can expand from there.
I know you aren't looking to rock the cars around you or go excessive at all but rather just be able to simply enjoy some music while driving and since you don't have sidepipes if may work out well for you.
On MY C2 with the sidepipes I haven't even sent the radio out for repair since it would basically be a waste of money anyway since you can't hear it above idle speed and i'm not willing to do ANY cutting or drilling to make anything non-stock fit into my car and I would require larger speakers and an amp to make any system loud enough to overcome the exhaust.