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First, I want to thank everyone for their kind and patient input on my previous posts. I'm new to C3 Corvettes and this forum has been very helpful.
I'm restoring a 1972 Corvette (that currently has no front speakers) and I understand if I had them, they would be installed behind the LH, RH front kick panels. My question is, what size are they supposed to be? Can someone please include a pic with their response?
I have a 75 coupe so not sure if same - I just installed 4" Rockford Fosgates R14X2's. That's all that would fit. Connected to a cheap Customautosound USA 230 radio. Sounds o.k. but not much volume at speed.
I have factory speakers up in dash that I disconnected sounded worse!
IDK if you can fit some 4" or 5" round speakers in there that would be a bonus. Pretty much every guy who knows their car stereo 'stuff', like experienced installers, seem to say 4 or 5" round 2-way speakers beats out a 4x6 any day. I was just reading the Car Stereo Cookbook the other day and funny that author said the same thing. But I haven't personally done listening tests myself. I'm going to experiment with some I think though. But I've been reading some car stereo forums and the OBS forums have some knowledgeable car stereo guys on there who say the same ...based on their yrs of experience. Something to look into perhaps.
IDK if you can fit some 4" or 5" round speakers in there that would be a bonus. Pretty much every guy who knows their car stereo 'stuff', like experienced installers, seem to say 4 or 5" round 2-way speakers beats out a 4x6 any day. I was just reading the Car Stereo Cookbook the other day and funny that author said the same thing. But I haven't personally done listening tests myself. I'm going to experiment with some I think though. But I've been reading some car stereo forums and the OBS forums have some knowledgeable car stereo guys on there who say the same ...based on their yrs of experience. Something to look into perhaps.
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Interesting. I think I'll put in a call to Crutchfield, see what they think.
Interesting. I think I'll put in a call to Crutchfield, see what they think.
Definitely! Let us know what they say. There's not enough room in the dash for round speakers (w/o modifying), but in the kick panels there should be. Ask Crutchfield about Component speakers too (separate tweeter n woofer). Another pro-installer tip seems to be components are higher quality and almost always sound better than combo speakers. Let us know.
When I go to re-do my C3 car stereo I'm *planning* to follow a tried and true plan of putting some larger speakers in the rear, a sub, full-range speakers in the dash (maybe), tweeters on the A-pillars ...and either speakers in the door (if I get new door panels, by the knee area), or worst case kick panels (not as ideal, but less cutting). And an amp.
Every car I own (and have owned) that has a true kick-butt factory stereo seems to use a similar speaker lay-out.
IDK if you can fit some 4" or 5" round speakers in there that would be a bonus. Pretty much every guy who knows their car stereo 'stuff', like experienced installers, seem to say 4 or 5" round 2-way speakers beats out a 4x6 any day. I was just reading the Car Stereo Cookbook the other day and funny that author said the same thing. But I haven't personally done listening tests myself. I'm going to experiment with some I think though. But I've been reading some car stereo forums and the OBS forums have some knowledgeable car stereo guys on there who say the same ...based on their yrs of experience. Something to look into perhaps.
I actually put 6-1/2" speakers in the kick panels of my '73. They had to be mounted on top of the kick panels rather than behind them. I had to carefully measure the pocket in the bird cage to make sure the speaker magnet would fit. I also had to measure carefully before cutting the kick panels. This was back in 2009 and I used Boston Acoustics speakers model #SL65. I also put their S75 4"x6" speakers in the stock dash location and custom built a subwoofer enclosure over the rear wheel behind the drivers seat. I used the head unit to drive the dash speakers and installed a 4 channel amp for the others. Bridged the amp for 2 channels to drive the subwoofer and let the other two drive the kick panel speakers. All in all, I get great sound out of it. Now I just need to tame an exhaust drone so the sound doesn't compete with the stereo.
The speaker grills overhang the door panel just a bit but have caused no issues.
I'm restoring a 1972 Corvette (that currently has no front speakers) and I understand if I had them, they would be installed behind the LH, RH front kick panels. My question is, what size are they supposed to be? Can someone please include a pic with their response?
Actually, 1970 - 1972 Corvettes used two 4x6 speakers under the upper dash pad. The upper pad is perforated to allow the sound to pass unhindered (unlike the 1968 - 1969 dash pad which was not perforated). 1968 - 1969 Corvettes used two 4x10 speakers in the lower kick panels behind the plastic trim piece (which was also perforated). These speakers/locations were the same regardless of whether a mono or stereo am/fm radio was installed. Also of note is that these speakers were rated at 10 ohms to work correctly with the Delco radios of the period.
Having said this, you have some options. You can stay with the stock system, you can upgrade the speakers/head unit using the stock speaker locations, or you can upgrade the speakers/head unit and use additional/alternate locations. Going to an aftermarket head unit also opens up your speaker options.
Totally in agreement. You put even tiny 4" rounds in a resonant cavity --- like a door panel, you can get amazingly good sound. Kick panel isn't sealed like a door, but you might be able to
mount 5 inchers there.
Had a 1964 GTO with a crappy 8 track, low-cost equalizer, and 5" rounds in the front doors sounded as good as anything I've had since at much higher $$$.
Definitely! Let us know what they say. There's not enough room in the dash for round speakers (w/o modifying), but in the kick panels there should be. Ask Crutchfield about Component speakers too (separate tweeter n woofer). Another pro-installer tip seems to be components are higher quality and almost always sound better than combo speakers. Let us know..
Called Crutchfield, spoke with Dante:
He had no opinion one way or another as to round vs. oval. However there was but one round separate component choice with a 4" speaker and a separately mounted tweeter and that was an
Oval speakers were used by car manufactures to maximize space-
They are lousy in reproducing bass as you have different distances from the center to the edges- this can cause flex -adding distortion.
You won't find them on home speakers (except if used as a passive driver - I think Polk did that)
No matter what speaker you mount in the kick panel- DO make sure you don't have an "Acoustic Short Circuit."
Sound waves from the front of the speaker are 180º out of phase with the sound coming from the back of the speaker and cancel each other out- Very noticeable in the lower frequencies( bass )
So if surface mounting- make sure you cover the perforations-
Speaker phasing is important; all speakers in the car need to be wired in-phase. Also, speaker impedance needs to match what the head unit wants to see. If you have a stock Delco unit, they want to see 10 ohm speaker impedance. They will work fine with 8 ohm speakers...BUT NO LESS THAN 8 OHMS or you risk frying the power output section when the volume is turned up. Most modern amps/head units want to see 4 ohm speakers.
P.S. Putting high frequency speakers in the kick-panel areas is a TOTAL waste of effort and money. Hi frequencies need to travel directly to the ear...not bounce around (they just dissipate to nothing). That's why Corvette designer put the speakers in the dash pad--so the sound would bounce off a HARD surface (windshield) and be directed straight to the listener. You can replace the mid-high speakers in the dash with better units; but keeping them there is a plus.
In my 78 I'm running Kicker 4 inch rounds in the dash, 6 inch components in the kick panels, and 6x9s in the rear all running through an 4 channel amp. For the bass I have a single Kicker 10" running on a big mono amp.
The car is loud as hell, but the stereo will drown in out no problem. It'll rattle anything that isn't bolted down tight lol
...
P.S. Putting high frequency speakers in the kick-panel areas is a TOTAL waste of effort and money. Hi frequencies need to travel directly to the ear...not bounce around (they just dissipate to nothing). That's why Corvette designer put the speakers in the dash pad--so the sound would bounce off a HARD surface (windshield) and be directed straight to the listener. You can replace the mid-high speakers in the dash with better units; but keeping them there is a plus.
I scrolled down the add this, and saw it already eloquently written.
There's lots of room in the back for round bass speakers, or even a sub. But keep the high frequencies at ear-level. You'll notice that many modern cars do this in the a-pillar.
I agree with what’s been said re speaker locations.
Put some good speakers eg 4x6 separates in dash that produce mid and high and in the kicks some rounds for mid bass. A sub in the rear if you want as well.
You Just need to split the signal properly for clear sound so your mid tweeters don’t get bass.
All depends on how good a sound you want and remember once your moving the engine and exhaust sounds will be in constant battle with your music 😀
09-12-2023, 01:40 PM
Audio - C3 Front kick panel speakers
