stereo

6T5 square · December 20, 2008, 03:59:23 PM

As most of you know, I hate having a stereo in my VW's cause I like listening to the motor. But recently, I will admit that it would be nice to have a stereo to play while hanging out at a show or cruising through the parking lots. So I went out and bought a stereo. It's a cheap sony unit but it will take an MP3 player, disc and I can have a radio if I need it. Along with it I got 2 6X9 speakers. Now come the questions. Where would you think would be the best place for the speakers? The rear seat is down and I built a nice wood frame support to hold the back of the seat down flat and level. I could put the speakers there but they would be pointing at the back of my front seats. I've thought of a speaker box but will it look kinda stupid sitting in the middle of the car? I could build boxes and have them either on top or next to the wheel wheels but that will either look good or like crap. Any ideas?

Second. I know I should probably running an amp for this but money is tight right now. Can I go with out? Also when wiring the stereo to the fuse box, is there a particular fuse I should use. And do I just hook it to an end of a fuse holder or is there a neater way to do this.

Feel free to answer any and all questions.

BTW- stereo will be mounted in the glove box.

Bugaru "JAY" · December 20, 2008, 05:55:05 PM

John..

If your looking to keep your dash stock, you can get one of those glovebox's that has the Stereo mount built in. If you do decide to go this route hopefully your head unit has a remote, as it will save you from reaching across to fiddle with the unit.

As for speakers. They have front Kick pannels that take up mimal space and mount to the sidewall of the footwells. Your carpet kit would cover over them and you simply cutout the carpet for the speaker grill after the carpet is glued in place.

For the rear, you can build a sub deck above your package tray and mount the speakers there. It would also still leave cargo space. This would also be a good safe place to locate a small amp if you feel you need more push. If your looking to get more thump out of your tunes your going to need a single base speaker, and enclosure to hollow the sound.

Reguardless what you do you should lay the speaker wires in for future use. On my car before installed the head liner, I installed a small high range tweeter in the corner where the head liner meets the A Post.

Did the Head unit you picked up have a SD card, or USB, or MP3, etc input jack?

Oh-oooo and now is the correct time to think "Sound Deading" unless you like tinny rattling sounds.

!fright! sqBk !fright!

Beetleboi -Greg- · December 20, 2008, 07:13:58 PM

John just buy good Speakers I'm sure you arn't looking to rattle your ride apart if you get decent speakers you should have not problem getting good sound. I have 3 way pioneers in the back and 2 way pioneers in the the back. If you want extra bass get a amplified bass tube, but like I said get good speakers you should have enough bass to keep you happy. I buy all pioneer because they've been good to me. *even though my rear grills say kenwood* As for mounting good question, can you get kick panels with speaker holes for a type 3? I know they make roof speaker holders for pick ups you problem don't want to go that route. I say get something you can easily remove for car shows get an old suitcase cut speaker holes in it when you arn't using it as a speaker can turn it around so the speakers are hidden and it will look like you have a suitcase in the back. Is the tail gate an option?

Where is the battery in the square might be easier to run the amp right to the battery and put a kill switch on it when you aren't using it. I'd probably attach the amp to the ignition/radio if the fuse will allow it.

Jay mentioned a remote for the head unit, you shouldn't have to mess with the volume on it at all. You should be able to contol the volume with the mp3 player just keep the radio around 45 and just turn the mp3 player to a comfortable hearing level. Just make sure your turn the volume down before unplugging the mp3 player from the aux in.

Just my 2 cents =-)

6T5 square · December 20, 2008, 07:45:16 PM

Quote from: Bugaru on December 20, 2008, 05:55:05 PM
John..
If your looking to keep your dash stock, you can get one of those glovebox's that has the Stereo mount built in. If you do decide to go this route hopefully your head unit has a remote, as it will save you from reaching across to fiddle with the unit.

The stereo is definatly going into the glovebox. As for the fiberglass glovebox- I can't get the glass action web site to work but I remmember them being kinda expensive. I was just going to make my own mount.
No remote for the stereo- remmember I said CHEAP

Quote from: Bugaru on December 20, 2008, 05:55:05 PM
As for speakers. They have front Kick pannels that take up mimal space and mount to the sidewall of the footwells. Your carpet kit would cover over them and you simply cutout the carpet for the speaker grill after the carpet is glued in place.

For the rear, you can build a sub deck above your package tray and mount the speakers there. It would also still leave cargo space. This would also be a good safe place to locate a small amp if you feel you need more push.

The kick panel kit is a future idea. I know they make them for type 3's.

BTW- whats a package tray? This is a squareback- the whole car is a package tray!

Quote from: Bugaru on December 20, 2008, 05:55:05 PM
Oh-oooo and now is the correct time to think "Sound Deading" unless you like tinny rattling sounds.

I am not redoing that headliner again! Once was enough.

Quote from: Beetleboi on December 20, 2008, 07:13:58 PM
As for mounting good question, can you get kick panels with speaker holes for a type 3? I know they make roof speaker holders for pick ups you problem don't want to go that route. Is the tail gate an option?
Just my 2 cents =-)

CIP1 sells a plastic unit that goes over the rear cargo door in back, but I think it looks like but. Can't put them in the "tail gate" cause the constant closing would loosen them/ vibrate. Plus running the wires would be a nightmare.

matt · December 20, 2008, 07:47:17 PM

Hey John,

I really lilke the speakers in kickpanels, cause the sound is right there, you dont have to blast it louder cause they are in the back, otherwise, I think they would be loud when your at a stop, and quiet (er) when the engine is running. I never tried it in the back, just a thought - I'm sure other people are ok with the setup in the back, but I'm not one for real loud music......unless the convert top is down

For the fuse, .

You could go with a fuse that is always hot, that way you can listen to music when the car is off/parked....
Con..just dont let the battery drain by forgetting about the radio being on!

If you go with a fuse that becomes hot when you turn the key to the on position, - the radio will not drain your battery if you accidentally leave it on....

Con, - when the car is off, & you want to listen, ...you have to disconnect the hot wire to your coil so you dont risk burning the points. - No big deal though - just remember to do it,

just some thoughts

Matt

Bugaru "JAY" · December 21, 2008, 09:16:52 AM

John.. Ooop-ssssss my bad. Duha-aaaaa :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: I had thought that you were talking about putting a Stereo in the Bug that you've been devotedly building, Ned. Not Fred the Jt3 car. Now I understand better.

I would still think that the Hide-a-way radio would be the way to go with front left & right kick pannel speakers. As for the rear that Plastic unit that CPi sells could be a good option, or one could easily be fabicated and dressed out nicely. If you wrapped it in a simular interior fabric as your rear hatch it may blend in fairly well. I would use some of those higher quality small speakers, sort of like the Bose units have in them, they would be much lighter and provide great quality sound. I would also build it to be removeable, and use some decent stranded relife wire with flex shelding, it would then hold up to the flexing of opening and closing. Both wires could enter from the same side, just put some quick disconnects on them. I would bet that we could fabicate a very low profile speaker unit about 2-3" thick maybe thinner by the width you needed. We could even contor it to the shape of the hatch. This is truely Do-able... But then again what in the hell would I know about custom cars, and being creative. s#r

njgt-1 · December 21, 2008, 11:01:52 AM

QuoteBut then again what in the hell would I know about custom cars, and being creative.

and modest too! LoL LoL LoL LoL LoL

gotta love ya Jay!

Baha (Shawn) · December 21, 2008, 09:55:11 PM

Here's my 2 2CENTS

If you're not cutting the dash, and only want to use it amongst people... Build an unobtrusive speaker box with an amp attached and a cable for your ipod. Clean, removable and no cutting, no muss, no fuss. I probably have a cheap amp for ya.

Or...

bugs2much · December 22, 2008, 09:38:19 AM

There ya go. Great idea Shawn.

njgt-1 · December 23, 2008, 11:22:15 AM

QuoteAs most of you know, I hate having a stereo in my VW's cause I like listening to the motor. But recently, I will admit that it would be nice to have a stereo to play while hanging out at a show or cruising through the parking lots. So I went out and bought a stereo. It's a cheap sony unit but it will take an MP3 player, disc and I can have a radio if I need it.

John,

would that be a Sony Xplode? I have one in my truck and they are great! I've got the one with a remote control and I can turn it off and on and change channels from 15 ft. outside the truck. Best of all is the MP3 player, I burn my own CDs and just change the CD once a week and have music all week. Yea I know its "old" tech by now with the Ipods and sd cards but 12 hours of music a week covers most of my driving and I never hear the same song twice.