Loud and clear music in a convertible? Yup! Update added Center Dash Speakers

[Cudaragtop]

Just sharing the system I have in my convertible. It's not easy to get clean, full and loud sound in an E Body vert but it can be done.
Start with plenty of power. I have always had good luck with Hifonics but there are lots of good amps out there. Just be sure to have plenty of watts RMS. http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_12207_Hifonics-ZXi-8408.html I mounted this under the drivers seat. 110 Watts x4 RMS

I bought a pair a kick panels to cut and put 5-1/4" Kenwoods in years ago but after years of service they were giving up so now in their place I installed Focal IC 130s they are very clear and handle 60 Watts RMS continuous. With aimable Tweeters aimed at the driver.
It's a tight fit and I had to shim/bend the E-Brake pedal over a little to clear. No big deal.
http://www.focal.com/en/integration-archives/268-ic-130-3544057750107.html


The combination fills the car very well.
Wasn't able to demo them first but comparing their 6" to all the other 6" at car toys they sounded best for my taste. (Subjective) And were very loud and clear with good power handling. I did my best to create a closed sealed chamber for them with left over sound deadener and some rubber carpet pad to help the seal. These sound awesome in the car.
For bass I installed a 12" Sealed Sub in the trunk and run it Bridged Mono with 220 Watts RMS and a Sub control knob mounted under the head unit using one of the existing holes.

Allows easy Bass adjustment as needed... different songs, freeway, volume up, volume down, top up, top down. Capable of way more bass than I need but it's like having 511 foot pounds of Torque in a small block, more than I need but there when I want it...
Swapped out an aftermarket head unit for a Vintage Radio AM/FM Aux/In Pre-Amp Out unit. Looks stock but other than that they are low feature high price unit. I have replaced it with a new Kenwood unit in with HD Radio, Ipod and USB inputs and controls for about 1/4 the price. Any quality new head unit will give a ton of features. I really like the USB feature, for the cost of a $10 thumb drive I can take all my music with me. Just plug it into the front of the unit and it's all at your finger tips. Leave the Ipod at home...
 http://www.crutchfield.com/S-2yBYrAX66t8/p_113KDCX498/Kenwood-Excelon-KDC-X498.html?XVINQ=DST&XVVER=BBB


Edited 10/18/14
I added a pair of Infinity 3002CFX 3.5" in place of the single stock front dash speaker (Run off Deck Power) front channels.
Fader works with the Kick panels and Dash speakers. Centered seems good.


If all you want is AM/FM and 4 channel stereo out of a stock looking unit it would be fine. You can run an Ipod to the Aux In too.
But don't expect the features of a modern new head unit.
No equalizer, Tone control lets you turn up treble or bass but you get one or the other i.e. bass up treble down or treble up bass down 
PM me an offer if you want one of these at a 50% discount from retail or make an offer. I'll ship UPS anywhere you are. Comes complete with everything as new and all original packaging.
SOLD! SOLD! SOLD!
http://www.shop.allclassiccarradio.com/1970-71-Mopar-E-Body-Aux-AM-FM-Stereo-Radio-ACCR-temp8.htm

[moprr]

I installed focal speakers in my old truck and they were amazing,  when I was looking for speakers even their bottom of the line speakers sounded better then other higher end lines.

[Cudaragtop]

I installed focal speakers in my old truck and they were amazing,  when I was looking for speakers even their bottom of the line speakers sounded better then other higher end lines.

They work well. Much better than the Kenwood's they replaced. Not an easy fit but was I able to get them in. Had to shim/bend the E-brake pedal a little to clear the grill. I used some sound deadening to try to form as much of a seal around and behind them as I could.

[Travis72]

Any pics of how you installed the sub in the trunk?  That might be one of my winter upgrades.

Thanks,
Travis
72 Cuda

[Cudaragtop]

Any pics of how you installed the sub in the trunk?  That might be one of my winter upgrades.

Thanks,
Travis
72 Cuda

Travis,
Right now all I have is an off the shelf enclosure that I take out so I can put the space saver spare in when I take it to a show.
I would like to build something that fits and looks better. I haven't had a real spare in my trunk for years. Don't even own one.
Right now I use the spare hold down bracket to secure the box. I used screws with eyes for suspended ceilings screwed into the box spaced to fit through both the holes that the spare hold down studs get bolted to. Slide a washer over the eyes and cotter pin. Holds it in place well and is easy to remove. If you like I can still post a couple pictures. Probably not what you were looking for.
I would really like to do something like this... Needs to be removable and not require any drilling though. Keeping my stock hinges too.
 
Randy

[BarracudaDave]

Randy,
This looks like a nice setup.
Please clarify one thing:  I see what speakers you are using in the kick panels, but are you using any other speakers with the 4 channel amp?  Or are you using the amp to also power your sub?  Finally, I can't seem to easily find the amp you listed?  I know you listed the brand, but they seem to have several models.  Has the amp you listed been replaced by a newer model?
thanks,
Dave

[Fern]

I did a simular set up on my vert. Used component speakers up front:


Its hard to get good sound in a vert but this came out great. Get great speakers up front since most of your sound will come from there.
In case anyone is interested?

JVC arsonal head unit.
Kicker component system in front (2 tweeters in center speaker location, and mids in kickpanels).
Custom autosound speakers under seats (from classic industries).
Alpine amp PDX-5 (given to me by a friend).
Bazooka basetube 8" in corner of trunk.

[Cudaragtop]

Randy,
This looks like a nice setup.
Please clarify one thing:  I see what speakers you are using in the kick panels, but are you using any other speakers with the 4 channel amp?  Or are you using the amp to also power your sub?  Finally, I can't seem to easily find the amp you listed?  I know you listed the brand, but they seem to have several models.  Has the amp you listed been replaced by a newer model?
thanks,
Dave

Dave,
My Hifonics Amp is several years old now but they make similar units. This looks very similar but a few more watts RMS. Good power for the $$
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_44492_Hifonics-ZRX1000.4.html
I have the FOCAL IC130 5.5" in the kick panels (CH#1/2 Amp Power) rear channels.
12" Titanic Subwoofer in the trunk (CH#3/4 Amp Power bridged Mono) deck Sub out. I built a few subwoofers for home theater use and this was a driver that I ended up not using. I just bought an off the shelf sealed enclosure for it based on the manufactures recommendations. 1 cubic foot.

Today I added a pair of Infinity 3002CFX 3.5" in place of the single stock front dash speaker (Run off Deck Power) front channels.
Fader works with the Kick panels and Dash speakers. Centered seems good.


The combination fills the car very well.

[BarracudaDave]

 

[HP_Cuda]

Randy

Can you tell us what power system drives your 1000W Amp system? My guess is you must have a > 100A alternator or that's at least a guess on my part.

Thanks!
B

[Cudaragtop]

Randy

Can you tell us what power system drives your 1000W Amp system? My guess is you must have a > 100A alternator or that's at least a guess on my part.

Thanks!
B

Just a stock OEM replacement alternator. What are they, like 42A or 60A??? Would the part number tell me? 

[HP_Cuda]

I have a 60A alternator and that would generate 720 watts to recharge the battery.

Given this wouldn't you be in a losing battle over time with a 1k watt amp?

B

[Cudaragtop]

I have a 60A alternator and that would generate 720 watts to recharge the battery.

Given this wouldn't you be in a losing battle over time with a 1k watt amp?

B

This is my amp. http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_12207_Hifonics-ZXi-8408.html
It is discontinued but it is 4 x 110 Watts per channel RMS @ 4ohms. All my speakers are 4ohm.

My thinking is with Alt. output of 14V DC x 60 Amps = 840 Watts Alternator output.
The front speakers in the dash and head unit at 100 watts RMS, The kick panel speakers at 120 watts RMS, Sub at 200 watts RMS total 420 watts RMS output.
420w output at 62% efficiency or 420/.62=677 watts input. 
677watts/14v= 48A This would be worst case constant load at full blast volume.
Still though I have considered upgrading to a higher output alternator. Maybe 75Amps...
I plan to install the Alt. bypass and Headlight Relays first.
I'll bring an amp clamp home from work and measure the actual Alt. output with everything on and tunes cranked up sitting at idle.
I will post results when I do.

[Topcat]

I don't know, maybe it's just me.

I built my car for performance and power.

Not to listen to tunes while I drive.
I've got plenty of time for that later in my commuter vehicle.

Hearing the engine and exhaust kicking a$$ is my type of music.
I've got less than 15 minutes listening to music since I fired up my Cuda this summer.   

[Cudaragtop]

I don't know, maybe it's just me.

I built my car for performance and power.

Not to listen to tunes while I drive.
I've got plenty of time for that later in my commuter vehicle.

Hearing the engine and exhaust kicking a$$ is my type of music.
I've got less than 15 minutes listening to music since I fired up my Cuda this summer.   

I like that music too!   

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k241/Cudaragtop/VIDEO0015_zpskneazzcg.mp4/URL