stereo loadspeakers

[David Olivant]

Without cutting into the doors, has anyone fitted stereo speakers to a 408 [or similar] ?
If so do you have any details, sizes and locations?
I have looked at fitting under the dash or under the seats.
Is there any preference for sound,speech etc?
Regards,
David

[pasini s]

Hello David,

I have given to this problem a lot of thought as the original speaker layout of the 407-410 series is far from ideal. If you want to preserve the original layout you can fit one Infinity 6532Si ('S' for 'Slim') 3-way speaker in place of the original overhead ELAC/Goodmans front magnet speaker, and a single 6x9 3-way JBL CS-69 in the original place under the driver's side grille on the rear shelf. This will give you some good modern speakers; for the radio, I couldn't think of spending £2.000 on a old-style Becker but I found this cheap retro 'Caliber' radio/CD etc performing passably well for Euro 150:

Bristol 409 audio system improvements (June 2012)

I'll fit the new speakers in September (I have already bought them) and I'll let you know if the sonic result will be worth it. Fitting two original speakers in good condition, both front and back, with the new radio improved the overall sound considerably.

Cheers

Stefano

[GREG]

I like them fitted under the rear seats -- means cutting a couple of holes in the steelwork ..

[Kevin H]

My 411 already had them in the rear parcel shelf and the front doors.

By the way, anyone thinking of using the round two grilles that are already in the rear parcel shelf of the 411 - don't, they are there for air flow.

[David Olivant]

I never thought about under the rear seat.
Do they not get kicked there?
Does it not weaken the rear seat support cross member?
David

[GREG]

It's fine to cut an average size car speaker size at each side and it's almost unnoticeable amongst the carpet. It would be difficult for them to get damaged by feet because of the sitting angle.

I am not a hi-fi expert and I remember a friend demonstrating to me his £30 k car music system with gold wires etc -- I didn't notice any difference from my basic Ford system except for it being louder !! So I don't know if it's a good place from a best quality sound point of view. Mr Pasini is your man for that advise :-)

[David C]

Updated audio now going in to the 410.

The speakers are Alpine S-S69C on sale at £84 for the kit including tweeters.
The wooden supports are made to the same size as the original internals for the ash tray so are held in place by the spring.

The low/mid range units under the rear seats will have a perforated stainless grille and be covered with speaker cloth to match the carpet.

https://www.bristolcars.info/forums/...1&d=1726326865

[David C]

Having fitted the hidden speaker system in the 410 I was a little disappointed with the resulting audio. Having midrange in the rear and tweeters up front I expected the sound to move around a bit but it was worse than I thought it would be.
I have now fitted a 6" dual (stereo) voice coil speaker in place of the original roof speaker and fed it from the rear channel outputs of the radio. I am really pleased with the overall result.
The dual voice coil speaker on its own is limited in frequency response and very directional. Added to the other speakers everything works well together and makes the effort of installing it worthwhile.
As the dual voice coil speaker is deeper than the original I had to fit a 12mm spacer to the roof speaker. This will be veneered to match when the dashboard is re finished. The black bump in front of the roof speaker is the microphone for hands free telephone.
I have added pictures of a tweeter in the dashboard ash tray and one of the speakers under the rear seat with its stainless steel grille.

https://www.bristolcars.info/forums/...1&d=1742055838
https://www.bristolcars.info/forums/...1&d=1742055838
https://www.bristolcars.info/forums/...1&d=1742055930

[AndrewA]

Go on indulge us...and your favourite tunes for Bristolling are....please pick one for cruising and one for when you're pressing on a bit....if you can be bothered!
Great install btw.

PS Where's the turntable going?

Jackson Browne - Running on Empty and Going up The Country -Canned Heat sprung to mind with me for some reason....

[David C]

Looking at the state of the paintwork I think I will go with Seasick Steve's
I started off with nothing and I've still got most of it left...
Otherwise Tom Petty's Running Down a Dream, but I need to fit cruise control for that one.

Silly of me but I hadn't thought of a turntable. will have to find one of the parallel tracking Revox units that lift the needle if they get knocked.

[AndrewA]

Excellent !

[Sam410]

This has the best cover art

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-cp0srnf0M