C3 Speaker Recommendations

[Rob H.]

Hello there - I have a '69 with not so great replacement speakers that I am looking to replace and wanted to see if anyone could recommend a brand and model that will fit into the kick plate space. From what I understand I can use either 4"x6" or 4"x10".

FYI - I have an original delco radio that is not hooked-up to keep the cluster looking true to form; however, I am thinking that I am going to get an ipod hooked-up directly to the new speakers that I am going to install - hence I do not need to worry about the correct ohm's for the delco. I just want something that fits and sounds great.

If anyone has any recommendations, or has done a similar adjustment I would love to hear your feedback.

Much thanks in advance -

Rob

[Erik S.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

Great topic - looking into that myself as well so interested to hear the views. I am using the old Delco machine though (or is that the weakest link??).

Erik

[Michael L.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

Hi Rob
What about building or buying a speaker box for the rear. That way you could take it in or out and not have to modify the car. You could also build a receiver ect. in also. Just a though
Michael

[Anthony S.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

Rob,

I put a set of 4x6's in my kick panels. I used some thin sheet metal to fab up brackets to use the original holes. I have an original Delco radio that has been converted to modern hi-fi inside.

I also put a set of 6x9's in the rear, in store bought enclosures held down w/ velcro. They can be taken out for judging.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/MTX-6x9-Vertical-Enclosure-6901/sem/rpsm/oid/16061/catOid/-15481/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Anthony

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

Hello there - I have a '69 with not so great replacement speakers that I am looking to replace and wanted to see if anyone could recommend a brand and model that will fit into the kick plate space. From what I understand I can use either 4"x6" or 4"x10".

FYI - I have an original delco radio that is not hooked-up to keep the cluster looking true to form; however, I am thinking that I am going to get an ipod hooked-up directly to the new speakers that I am going to install - hence I do not need to worry about the correct ohm's for the delco. I just want something that fits and sounds great.

If anyone has any recommendations, or has done a similar adjustment I would love to hear your feedback.

Much thanks in advance -

Rob

Rob----


THEORETICALLY, you can use a 4 X 6 or a 4 X 10 speaker. However, the problem is finding one which is of low enough profile and/or which has a magnet size that will fit. Quite a few years ago, I was only able to find 4" speakers that would fit. The kick panel openings in the pillar posts are quite small and shallow and can't be enlarged. There might be more speaker choices available today, though.

One other thing: I don't think you'll be able to connect an iPod directly to the speakers. The amplifier in the iPod will be way too small to drive any speakers in the car. You'll need to have some sort of amplifier between the speakers and the iPod.

[Rob H.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

Michael - Great idea, I was thinking that two speakers might not really give me great sound. A speaker box would fit the bill very well.

Anthony - May I ask where you had the work on your delco radio done? If they can make it hi-fi maybe they can add an ipod jack to it as well?

Joe - I will be sure and make sure that whatever brand I decide upon that they size them to the opening before I purchase.

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys!

Rob

[Anthony S.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

Rob,

I sent the radio to Mike Hagan in PA. He put modern tuning & a 180 Watt amp in my Delco radio.

It looks & operates as original. He also adds a pair of RCA jacks in the rear that you can hook an I-Pod directly to. The job runs about $400.

I used Polk Audio speakers all around; 4x6's in the front kick panels & 6x9's in the rear boxes. Also, most Vette parts places sell a fitted box for the back of your C-3, but their kind of pricey($200).


Here's Mike's add:
RADIO restorations, FM stereo conversions, 180 watts, 1946-1975; look for me at Spring Carlisle F115-117. Mike Hagan, Antique Radio Repair, 235 Glouster Rd, Fairless Hills, PA 19030, 215-547-7145.


Anthony

[Louis T.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

Hi Rob,

Another restorer option that is similar to the one Anthony gave you is Mike Frenchek in NJ. He can also restore any radio to original specs or convert its innards to modern solid state electronics. I met him at Corvettes at Carlisle a couple of years ago where he was displaying his work and demonstrating his conversions. What was neat was that he managed to use the existing radio controls, albeit operated in a non-standard manner, to operate all of the modern features available today, thus completely preserving the factory appearance of the radio (of course, one wouldn't pass Operations Judging, since the radio controls would operate differently). His options were many, including incorporating satellite radio as well as inputs for CD changers and mp3 players. His display unit was out of a late '60s Chrysler product and the top cover of the chassis was left off so that you could view the conversion. I was especially impressed with the quality of his work (impeccable soldering and gold-plated terminals throughout).

High wattage amplification afforded by modern electronics will also give you many more speaker options. Regarding the kick panels, take precise measurements of the speakers you have, and/or the cavity itself, then check the dimensions of a variety of speakers to see what will fit (www.Crutchfield.com is a good resource). As Joe suggested, more speaker choices are likely available with the use of improved materials and technologies. As a general rule, however, bigger is almost always better and buy the best quality you can afford. And as Anthony mentioned, speaker boxes in the rear will afford you the most flexibility and best sound (and depending on the degree of “integration” you desire, you can even cover them with carpeting material to match your car’s interior, for that “near factory” appearance).

By the way, if you go with speaker boxes, just make sure that you safely secure them. You don’t want them turning into projectiles during hard braking or worse.

Best of luck!

Louis


Mike Frenchek
5524 Ridge Road
Elizabethtown, NJ17022 (not too far from Harrisburg / Carlisle)
717-367-1428
http://www.retroradio.biz/

[Jack H.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

There are a couple of considerations here...

First, impedance matching is done to optimize power transfer from the radio chassis to the speaker. If you're 'close' to the mark, you won't notice an appreciable difference...

Second, there's a performance/reliability consideration that deals with Delco's use of the DS-501 audio drive transistor. This was a 'First of the Mohicans' germanium power transistor that came from the original Bell Labs technology transfer associated with licensing manufacturers for transistors. In electrical engineering terms, it's a real 'dinosaur' of a component that GM continued to use WELL past its useful technical life.

There were 'drawbacks' associated with the part that design work arounds were made for that included using a 'matching transformer' mounted on the speaker for early Corvettes ('58-67). Typically, GM passenger cars had more available space behind the dash and those radios built the matching transformer into the radio itself. But, Corvette continued to use the transformer up on the speaker.

Running one of these radios with an off-the-shelf replacement speaker that lacks the matching transfomer is almost GUARANTEED to result in damage to the DS-501 audio drive transistor! But, if the matching transformer is built into the radio chassis (as it was on similar Chevelle, Camaro, Etc. radios), you can freely substitute speakers...

Now, in the Shark era, the matching transformer moved off the speaker and into the radio chassis like the balance of GM's car/truck lines. So, here it IS safe to swap speakers and use replacements that are 'close' in terms of their native impedance spec's....

The key problem you're fighting with a Shark car is there really isn't much room for the speaker to mount AND the radio designers played 'tricks' to squeeze out low frequency bass response. One of these 'tricks' involved the use of a particular mounting gasket material that was integral to the speaker.

This gasket allowed the speaker to ressonate against its mounting cavity (kick panel holes, dash pad) and use the mass of the speaker's physical mouting location to reinforce the overall bass response. So, while a given off-the-shelf replacement speaker might have superior performance specs, it just might fail to deliver superior audio response over the factory original speakers!

BTW, the factory original speakers were NOT Mona Lisa pieces of art when it comes to performance. Issues like harmonic distortion that top drawer speaker folks try to tweak WAY down (1-2% or less) were routinely held at something in the neighborhood of 20% or less at GM!!!!

Why? Well, these cars did NOT sport quiet cabins and the human ear is pretty forgiving of harmonic distortion in a noisy environment. So, why throw component cost $$$ at a problem that isn't a problem? Pretty smart guys at Delco!!!

Bottom line, on your Shark car you can use just about any speaker you desire. But, due to the cramped mounting space, all the cost dollars you can throw at the problem won't make that big of a difference compared to using a drop-in/set-in 'boom box' system in the rear compartment....

Plus, when all is said and done, the audio system is still installed in a classic car from the late 60's/early 70's whose cabin doesn't seal up all that well AND it's being driven by an aging Baby Boomer whose ears are already 'losing it' due to natural age factors!

[Rob H.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

Anthony - Like you, I really want to retain the stock look but want to have better performance. Thank you for the contact info!

Louis - Before I purchase, I will probably go to a shop that has a wide variety of options and mix and match to see which speakers fit best into the space and has the highest quality sound. I'll definitely look into your guy as well - thanks.

Jack - Wow, a crash course in Corvette audio history! Yes, my ears have degraded quite a bit - "natural age factors" and too many rock 'n roll shows in my day. My solution - turn it up louder! (...guess the search is on for a unit that will go up to 11!).

Rebuilding my Delco with an ipod jack and supplementing with the addition of the speaker box sounds like the way to go. Thank you all for the terrific feedback! The generosity of your shared expertise is very much appreciated.

Best, Rob

[Brett D.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

Hi Rob,
I recently purchased some for a 69. The only ones I could find that were even close came from Volunteer Vette in Knoxville Tennessee. They have the mounting strap and the correct plug for the wiring harness. I think they were $25.00 a piece. I hope this helps
Brett

[Rob H.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

Hey Brett - Thanks for the info. I'm curious, how was the sound quality of the speakers?

Thanks,
Rob

[Anthony S.]

Re: C3 Speaker Recommendations

Rob,

I recently had the radio from my 68 restored by DM and and kept it original. I replaced the speakers with a set from Ecklers: http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...4&dept_id=1625