Stereo?

[More1Putts]

This weekend I started to mock-up my dash and center console. (Thank you to the many pictures and individual forum members help) I am thinking about installing a stereo in the bottom half of the center console but not sure how effective it will be while cruising give road noise. I have two speaker location options, 1. on either side of the center console (easy wiring), 2. behind the driver and passenger seat .

Is this a waste of time or a nice to have on a weekend cruise?! Thanks for your feedback.

[MPTech]

If you're not expecting Premo Audio, it will be fine.
I'm planning a stereo as well. I plan to install 2 smaller 5" speakers below the door in the side x-panels and 2 larger 6x9 in my cubby, behind the the rear bulk-head. I plan to use an amplifier connected to an iPhone or similar device (no headunit).

I think it's worth the cost and effort.

I say "YES" go for it.

[ClemsonS197]

This is my lower console:



I also have 6-1/4s between the seats. They all all powered by a 4 channel Kenwood amp in the trunk that uses and ipod/RCA input. If I want radio, I'll just stream it through my phone. Reduces theft changes and cleans up the interior.

[rokfor]

Radio...haha...who needs a radio???

Remember...if you can hear the radio...it's not loud enough!

Rob

[Brian F]

Stereo is one of my top 3 adds that I really like and would do again.

[RobCYoung]

Here is what I did. It is an Alpine Media Player with a USB port mounted in the glove box between the seats. A connected Ipod menu comes up on the little screen. The console is aluminum laminated with Sapele which is an even grained wood that matches the steering wheel. I have two 7" Alpine speaker with separate tweeters mounted between the seats and 150 watt amplifier in trunk mounted over the glove box.
/Rob

[Drop Zone]

I have speakers on both sides of the center console and two speakers between the seats. Looks good and is loud enough to hear above the side pipe noise.

Originally Posted by More1Putts

This weekend I started to mock-up my dash and center console. (Thank you to the many pictures and individual forum members help) I am thinking about installing a stereo in the bottom half of the center console but not sure how effective it will be while cruising give road noise. I have two speaker location options, 1. on either side of the center console (easy wiring), 2. behind the driver and passenger seat .

Is this a waste of time or a nice to have on a weekend cruise?! Thanks for your feedback.

[Hunter 2]

Do it. You wont regret it.

[cobrathegreat]

2 speakers behind the seats here.
It works just fine and can be heard at any speed, top on or off. With top on, much better.

[KEITH T.]

I tried my I-POD with the ear peace and when on the highway with it loud as it goes I could not hear it, and I have good ears. But I run a big block.

[RobCYoung]

There are lots of times when it is nice to have a stereo when you are parked or sitting in traffic! It's a lot easier to do now than on a finished car.

[Michael Everson]

If you finished product is even close to what you mocked up, you might run into a problem. Most radios are too long for that location Try and find the shallowest radio you can. And then mount is as low in the console as you can. Its very tight. You could cut out and box in the area behind the console to help if there are no frame bars back there.

Mike

[Hunter 2]

I had two little 60watt speakers in my first Cobra. Had no problem hearing them while cruising around town. On the highway you're better off using headphones but I could still hear the music. The challenge with highway driving is the wind noise cancels out most of the music but you can still hear it. I didn't use a traditional radio just my Iphone satellite radio and pre-programmed music. I used a marine type amplifier because I didn't want a radio or speakers visible in the car. I had two 6x9 speakers. They were located in the rear bulkhead between where the driver and passenger sits. They were installed behind the carpet so no one knew they were there.

My Mark IV has 6 speakers and 250 watts per speaker. Four are located in rear bulk head and a 4 1/2 speaker in each door front inner kick panel. Again, all invisible. I may use a traditional radio in this car but it will be located in the trunk with an Iphone/MP3 wire coming into the cockpit. That's all you really need. But then again I only listen to satellite radio in my car.

[cobrathegreat]

Originally Posted by Michael Everson

If you finished product is even close to what you mocked up, you might run into a problem. Most radios are too long for that location Try and find the shallowest radio you can. And then mount is as low in the console as you can. Its very tight. You could cut out and box in the area behind the console to help if there are no frame bars back there.

Mike

Yes, Mike is correct about this.
As you can see in my above picture, my console is not flush with the dash.
This was required to fit the radio and I looked for a shallow one.
In the end, it turned out exactly how I wanted it.

[BleedFordBlue]

I used Google Sketchup to fit everything behind the dash. I designed a retractable head unit that slides on some 6" cabinet glides (amazon). I detached this Sony face from the main box and used two cat 5 cables to extend all of the connections. Remote located the rest of the head unit just right of the steering column. When the radio is up you would never know it exists. I don't have the skills to post a movie, wish I could show it in action. It is held up by a touch latch. Gravity drops it down. It always gets an oh awe from my passengers when I drop it down. I'm powering about 1500 watts of old school Precision Power amps. Love it!

[RobCYoung]

Yeah Mike is right but it can be done. My console is at the same angle as the dash and recessed 20mm. I set the head deck low on the console so that it fits into the angle between the console & firewall. It's tight but just fits.

[More1Putts]

Great feedback.

BleedFord Blue, Very clever design. I would love to see it in action.

[Snakely]

Originally Posted by BleedFordBlue

I used Google Sketchup to fit everything behind the dash. I designed a retractable head unit that slides on some 6" cabinet glides (amazon). I detached this Sony face from the main box and used two cat 5 cables to extend all of the connections. Remote located the rest of the head unit just right of the steering column. When the radio is up you would never know it exists. I don't have the skills to post a movie, wish I could show it in action. It is held up by a touch latch. Gravity drops it down. It always gets an oh awe from my passengers when I drop it down. I'm powering about 1500 watts of old school Precision Power amps. Love it!

That is pretty awesome!

I'd liek to see the finished cat5 extenders.

[Daddy-O]

Amplified speakers yes. Radio no.

Consider doing a simple mount for a 3gs IPad. Get any radio station in the world, wife can watch Netflix movies and have a headphone, scan the Internet, have Google maps directions, play pictorial presentation of the car at shows, take it out for security anytime and you dont have to violate the dash as much as an in-dash radio.

Take a look at the new Fiskars at their ipad like dash.

IMHO.

[Steak]

I had one installed just like your plan. Speakers in the console. First - you do need a short radio. I made mine removable by using Whitby's console with flanges that overhang the tunnel. Put two finishing screws into the tunnel to anchor it. After a year of driving, I removed it yesterday. I could hear it but wasn't listening to it. Ear buds and an ipod work fine. Thankfully I made mine removable and the holes through the carpet into the tunnel are invisible. The interior looks cleaner without the radio. Now to install removable cupholders - IMHO much more relevant.

But it's all personal preference. Good luck.

[FFRCobraPoison]

I used a Sony Marine Remote and mounted the head unit in FFRMetal Glovebox between the seats.

[smada001]

I thought about putting a radio/speakers in my car and saw many pros and cons. I opted to not put one in and what I use now seems to be optimal for me. I just use a Jabra Xtreme bluetooth earpiece that syncs up with my iphone and it allows me to stream music through it. It works 'much mo better' than I could have anticipated.

Though deaf people drive, somehow driving with earphones/plugs in your ears is illegal. With that being said, there are no issues w/ a bluetooth earpiece in your ear. In fact, it's prefered when on a cell phone. Just wanted to throw another option in there for you.

[lynnhowlyn]

Originally Posted by Steak

I had one installed just like your plan. Speakers in the console. First - you do need a short radio. I made mine removable by using Whitby's console with flanges that overhang the tunnel. Put two finishing screws into the tunnel to anchor it. After a year of driving, I removed it yesterday. I could hear it but wasn't listening to it. Ear buds and an ipod work fine. Thankfully I made mine removable and the holes through the carpet into the tunnel are invisible. The interior looks cleaner without the radio. Now to install removable cupholders - IMHO much more relevant.

But it's all personal preference. Good luck.

Any chance you've pictures you can post/share with (and without) the Whitby's console? And some more of the removable mounting details

The idea of making it removable for servicing - behind the dash and etc - is an interesting option to explore.

Thanks

Lynn

[cobranut1]

Guys, why have a radio in the first place? The chances are pretty good that unless you're actually driving the car and not at a stop sign idling, you will absolutely irratate the crap out of anyone around you since the only way you can hear it is if it's turned up loud enough to overtake your sidepipe noise. Our cars are noisy enough already don't you think? The Ipod solution is the best although illegal. But then again, so is not having a front license plate. I'll take my chances....

[LynnB]

Ya just GOTTA have a radio! At least an FM one. Why? Going to the drive-in movies, of course! Our local drive-in is a really nice one. Good, reasonably-priced food in the concession stand, first-run movies, playgrounds for the grandkids, good ticket prices, the works.

Pull into where you want to park, tune the FM radio to the transmitter frequency for that screen and movie, kick back, and enjoy the show.

My wife and I go often. When it's just us, we pull in "forward" and stay in the cab of my Frontier. When the grandkids join us, we pull in "backward," set comfortable lawn chairs up in the back, and I run an extension cord from a small inverter back to my wife's large-ish ghetto blaster, and we watch the movie that way.

Dood, ya just GOTTA have a radio! After all, ya gotta park it SOME time!


Lynn B.

[Doug Meldrum]

I opted to avoid a head unit because of the space and went with an IPod adapter in the dash, an amp in the trunk and speakers between the seats. I use it all the time with my phone and pandora or the radio or my iPod. No problems hearing it at any speed. Ive even been known to drive my wife to a secluded place with the iPad and set it on the dash for our own drive in. (in case your wondering, the car stinks to make out in. )

This link shows what I did.

[mirose]

I got a vintage radio/MP3/ipod amplifier from Vintage Auto Radio Services. The radios are expensive, but are period correct, and upgraded with modern electronics. The have a less expensive model that is longer and won't fit in the pedestal ( I have same thing) and a more expensive model that is much smaller and fits fine. Talk to the guy at the company and give him your dimensions and he will make sure you get the right one.

I have two speakers up front...4" rounds below the doors, and two 6" ovals behind my seats. Yes, the ones behind the seats are blocked by the seats, but I still hear them fine.

I am very glad I have the radio/ipod player. the music is great, even if you do have to put it up kind of high to really hear it. Heck, we are already drawing so much attention with these cars, whats a little music to go along with the show, right?

The speaker install and running the wiring was a minor pain, but just part of what makes these cars your own. I say do it.

Here are some pics. These are all during the initial install...After carpeting and getting some covering on the pedestal it looks really nice.

[Bill Lohmiller]

Originally Posted by cobranut1

Guys, why have a radio in the first place? The chances are pretty good that unless you're actually driving the car and not at a stop sign idling, you will absolutely irratate the crap out of anyone around you since the only way you can hear it is if it's turned up loud enough to overtake your sidepipe noise. Our cars are noisy enough already don't you think? The Ipod solution is the best although illegal. But then again, so is not having a front license plate. I'll take my chances....

Point well taken -- however even here in SoCal there are some great roads that have little or no traffic/other cars or people around. Cruising these roads with a gentle foot and some favorite music is really one of life's great things!!!

I am thinking you need to get out of the city/commute thing more often

Regards,
Bill

[Beal]

Under dash stereo with remote control. Most of the dash units lately come with a remotes. Crutchfield gave me free of charge the under dash bracket which I mounted to the underside top of the passenger footbox. You can't see it unless you stick your head down low. 6 inch rounds behind the seats give plenty of sound and also can't be seen easily. 8 Gig memory stick holds about 20 CDs of your favorite music and you just point the remote in the general direction of the passenger footbox to adjust volume and change music.

[MPTech]

Beal, very clean setup. That under-dash bracket looks perfect.

Where did you get your arm rest? (make it?) I like that too.