LETS SEE: How About a HIDDEN SPEAKER Thread?!?! Let's SEE What Can't BE SEEN!

There are plenty of threads about hiding decks or wiring up just an iPod (which is what I'll be doing in my '40), but what about the equally as ugly speakers?

Hiding them behind guitar amp material is cool, but I don't want to have custom upholstery.

-What about under-seat ideas?
-Good sounding in-dash options?
-Small subs?
-Amps that can run front, rear and subs from one amp?
-Package tray tricks

Let's see the unseen!!!!

 

Headphones?

 

In my modified, yes. In the '40 with the family, no. They want to rock too!

 

What about the original speaker location. My friends '36 has one in the header panel? I have a stereo in my '52 right now under the center grate but I have never even turned it on. It run a flathead so I am contantly trying to figure out when it's going to break down hahahaha!!!

 

Yeah, I think I'll run one in the stock dash location, but of course, one won't be enough.

 

My speakers in my 32 were hidden no grills just perforated holes in the material to hide any grills

 

There is a pair of 6x9 speakers in this pic.

 

Do they fire through the vinyl? If so, how's the sound?

 

Yep. They sound good to me. You just need to add a bit more volume.

 

mine are also under the rear deck (3 way 6x9)
plenty loud and plenty clear.
one amp for the speakers another for a 12" sub in the trunk

 

I have carpet in the package tray, I'll just mount them underneath, should sound just fine. The radio will go in the glove box. The stock '65 radio and speaker still work; the speaker is in a nice chrome grill between the rear seats, so I'll leave them operational.

 

What about the technology that BOSE uses in there smaller unit. That thing is like one speaker and fills a house with music. I wonder if there is a single speaker that uses that type of sound wave that one use in a smaller Hot Rod like a coupe????

 

Door speakers are easy to hide. Just be sure to perforate the upholstery over the speaker. For the rear deck, I'd use a dark speaker fabric stretched over a wood frame (or light steel or aluminum). Look for a shallow mount sub and put it in a sealed box firing through the rear seat. JL makes a 5 channel amp that a little bigger than your hand that is supposed to be VERY nice and have great sound. This is my plan for my Merc and both of my daily drivers.

 

When Terry Cook owned the Lee Pratt '41 Buick,I installed a full stereo system in it,including a separate amp and waterproof outside speakers hidden behind the grille and under the rear fenderwell. That car was just tooo much fun!

 

I'm thinking of making a total iPod dock with amp and speaker inside an old 40's style heater unit. I think it would work great and could sound great too. I saw this in a caddy the other day that would look good also.....I think........

 

Kirk,

If you're using the original mohair (not sure if it still was on a '40) you can always remove the backer board and leave the mohair where you want to place the speakers or perforate the board with a series of holes without disturbing the mohair.

Bill

 

Here is a photo denise posted in another thread...clever idea. On a side note Pioneer came out with some VERY thin subs but they got sued by JL Audio because JL Audio filed the patent first. I have no idea if JL Audio ever released their version.

 

JL Audio Thin Line!!! Pricey but would be the answer for low Lows.

 

That setup will work,but remember: A speaker is an air pump. You must seal the backside from the front (pumping) side. Otherwise,you got nothin'

 

Right, but in a 40 Tudor there is plenty of room for an inconspicuous box.

 

Only small fraction of that sound quality is due to the speaker itself, the rest is due to highly engineered and tuned enclosure.

 

tell that to my ma audio free air subs or my old free solo barics... no box needed

 

we are gutting an old tropic-aire art deco heater and installing a speaker in there...maybe two

 

But you guys are just in Ohio!! I know it's warm today but lets not jump the gun!

 

Dangerous (and I believe illegal in many places).

 

Hiya Scott The term "free-air" is a misnomer. If you contact the mfg,they'll tell you it is meant for a large,leaky enclosure (like a car trunk)
Technically,'Free Air' means hanging the speaker on a piece of rope in the middle of a room,like the way that spl measuments are taken.

 

No offense, but those speakers aren't hidden at all. In fact they sort of stick out like sore thumbs.

 

I made a board that mounted behind the back seat behind the factory speaker grille. Believe it or not, there was (barely) enough room for 2 6X9s. I didn't want to have to perforate the tuck 'n' roll package tray.

I have to admit that they sounded better when they were mounted facing up (the way that 6X9s are normally mounted), but, I guess that's the price you pay when you are trying to keep everything hidden...............E

 

I have 4 4 inch speakers in the top of my seat, set up so there are one on each side of your head in reference to the seatback.