Advice needed for a complete system

[HandOverFist 10+ year member]

Snowed in atm and I figured this would be a good time to garner some expert advice for a new car stereo system. I'm in the middle of a complete restoration of my 1967 El Camino and it is in need of a modern sound system. I would like to get a package together so I can do any under dash installs/wiring before the dash panel goes back together.

I would like to use a radio similar to this one... 1966-1967 Chevelle Radio, USA-630 In the vehicle's earlier life someone had butchered the dash panel for a modern radio...I just completed the repair and want to use something that fits the factory opening if at all possible.

I would like to use a single speaker in the factory dash location and add an enclosure behind the seats (will be buckets) for two 6x9 speakers. Would a small subwoofer and a amplifier be a good investment? I'm no audiophile by any stretch, but I do want it to be able to crank out some heavy metal from time to time. I will be adding some sound deadening material in the roof and door panels...the floor pans are already covered. All suggestions would be welcome and entertained.

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[big scott]

i would do 8" sub in a sealed box.

are you trying to keep the inside stock looking ??

you may not get sood sound from 1 speaker... but..

it depends on how you want the interior .

 

[HandOverFist 10+ year member]

Yes, I want to use one speaker up front under the dash in the factory location. For the rear speakers I plan to build a full width enclosure behind the seats against the bed wall.

Can you recommend components that will jive with my radio selection?

 

[HandOverFist 10+ year member]

Ok - Can someone tell me if I'm on the right track with these components?

Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime Series 5-channel car amplifier — 50 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms + 300 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms at Crutchfield.com

RetroSound R-69N Single 6"x9" 2-way car speaker with dual voice coils at Crutchfield.com

(2) http://www.crutchfield.com/p_575PPS48/Rockford-Fosgate-PPS4-8.html

Rockford Fosgate Punch P1S4-8 Punch P1 8" 4-ohm subwoofer at Crutchfield.com

 

[HandOverFist 10+ year member]

Golly gee...I must have stumbled onto the perfect combo all by myself. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsupwink.gif.129404938effda6ad9cca39e7f4b58a3.gif

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Ok - Can someone tell me if I'm on the right track with these components?
Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime Series 5-channel car amplifier — 50 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms + 300 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms at Crutchfield.com

RetroSound R-69N Single 6"x9" 2-way car speaker with dual voice coils at Crutchfield.com

(2) Rockford Fosgate PPS4-8 Punch Pro 8" midrange speaker with 4-ohm voice coil at Crutchfield.com

Rockford Fosgate Punch P1S4-8 Punch P1 8" 4-ohm subwoofer at Crutchfield.com

Trust me, you would not want those rears in if you like listening to metal. There's a good bit of soundstage and imaging with metal songs and any sound in the back just kills all forms of sound quality that can be attained. You want some high quality front stage with woofer and tweeter and a quality amp. That amp's not good enough tbh. You want very strong midbass with metal so you'll want at least 100 rms to that rockford pro 8. I'd go with a modern head unit with proper sound adjustments if possible or else the whole system is not gonna sound good with that old tuner radio. Why? Because of Digital audio convertors and internal circuitry along with tuning options needed. They make a huge difference. If you get a head unit thats active capable, you can properly control and crossover your speaker choices which is a necessity for good sound and protected speakers.

For 230 range you can buy some of the top of the line sound quality head units out there that will make your system sound amazing.

I'd get some crescendo pwx 8s if you want something with stronger midbass and warmer sounding mids. Make sure to turn your door into a proper speaker enclosure by sealing up every huge gap or hole. This is very important for a metal listener.

http://store.crescendoaudio.com/pwx-8-midrange-speaker/

And some nice smooth yet highly detailed tweeters in the A pillar or sail panels or the front dash location.

http://www.parts-express.com/tymphany-xt25sc90-04-1-dual-ring-radiator-tweeter--264-1014

Much better amp for 300

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_27733_Massive-Audio-NX5.html

Fit the biggest sub you can fit.

if you have 2.5- 3.0 cubic feet of space, do a pair of 12s or a single 15 sealed.

1.5-2.0 cubic feet, a pair of 10s.

Metal doesnt have strong bass so you need the cone area to bring up the needed punch with more output and overall efficiency. An 8" wont get you there at all unless you design an advanced 1/4 wave t line enclosure which takes up a lot of room.

Disregard the rear completely. Dont spend any money on it. It will only kill your soundstage and overall sound quality. A proper front stage will encompass the whole vehicle and have more than enough output for you to tap out waaay before your speakers tap out.

 

[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

The 630 radio is a pretty sweet way to keep the stock appearance while giving some good sound and modern tech and at a decent price...but it is an am/fm radio...though it has usb/ipod/etc connectors in the back so you will be fine for music, etc.

While it boasts 300 watts it would not be in the same area of power and clarity, etc. as a stand alone amp.

I've used RF amps in the past and found them to be pretty darn good amps...you always get what you pay for and just a lot of wattage at a low low price generally means a lot of noise, etc...so quality will always win in the end in my book.

I've no experience with RF speakers, I've generally used MB Quart and Alpine in the past and solely JL Audio for the past 8 years or so. I find them to be of very good quality and sound reproduction, all other parts being equal. There are a lot of other quality speaker companies that I've not listened to their offerings so my judgement is limited to what I've heard in various shops I've visited in the Boston area and Northern NY now...ugh it is cold...

I have no suggestions regarding the front dash speaker...I'd guess it is going to really affect the overall sound stage no matter what you do...I'm not sure how to connect it to the overall system...Thinking out loud perhaps I'd bridge two channels of the 5 channel amp to the speaker but adjust the passes to make it a vocal range driver rather than "full" range...or the usual equivalency when adjusting them...rear speakers to the next two channels and the fifth to the sub...it is going to take some careful tuning and the sound stage will/may??? be odd but if you look at a 5 channel home theatre system, that doesn't include the sub which has its' own, the "center" channel is for the vocal range. It may work and if it does it should prove interesting.

Good luck and keep us informed this could be a very interesting build.

Rather than buy speakers from an online sales pitch or buyer reviews try to listen to them...we all hear differently and our hearing changes over time...I have a yearly hearing test due to my work environment and in the ten years I've worked at this place my hearing has changed...not for the good sigh...also years of concerts, especially the Deep Purple Machine Head concert back in the '70's where I was at the stage in front of the lead guitarists amps caused a buzz in my ears that didn't go away for three days...I'm sure that didn't help my hearing either lol...Listen and buy what sounds best to your ears listening to your favorite music.

 

[HandOverFist 10+ year member]

The 630 radio is a pretty sweet way to keep the stock appearance while giving some good sound and modern tech and at a decent price...but it is an am/fm radio...though it has usb/ipod/etc connectors in the back so you will be fine for music, etc.While it boasts 300 watts it would not be in the same area of power and clarity, etc. as a stand alone amp.

I've used RF amps in the past and found them to be pretty darn good amps...you always get what you pay for and just a lot of wattage at a low low price generally means a lot of noise, etc...so quality will always win in the end in my book.

I've no experience with RF speakers, I've generally used MB Quart and Alpine in the past and solely JL Audio for the past 8 years or so. I find them to be of very good quality and sound reproduction, all other parts being equal. There are a lot of other quality speaker companies that I've not listened to their offerings so my judgement is limited to what I've heard in various shops I've visited in the Boston area and Northern NY now...ugh it is cold...

I have no suggestions regarding the front dash speaker...I'd guess it is going to really affect the overall sound stage no matter what you do...I'm not sure how to connect it to the overall system...Thinking out loud perhaps I'd bridge two channels of the 5 channel amp to the speaker but adjust the passes to make it a vocal range driver rather than "full" range...or the usual equivalency when adjusting them...rear speakers to the next two channels and the fifth to the sub...it is going to take some careful tuning and the sound stage will/may??? be odd but if you look at a 5 channel home theatre system, that doesn't include the sub which has its' own, the "center" channel is for the vocal range. It may work and if it does it should prove interesting.

Good luck and keep us informed this could be a very interesting build.

Rather than buy speakers from an online sales pitch or buyer reviews try to listen to them...we all hear differently and our hearing changes over time...I have a yearly hearing test due to my work environment and in the ten years I've worked at this place my hearing has changed...not for the good sigh...also years of concerts, especially the Deep Purple Machine Head concert back in the '70's where I was at the stage in front of the lead guitarists amps caused a buzz in my ears that didn't go away for three days...I'm sure that didn't help my hearing either lol...Listen and buy what sounds best to your ears listening to your favorite music.

Thanks Kai - That's the kind of advice I was looking for. I'm 62 and my hearing is impaired as well as most other senses lol...sound is very subjective I agree. I admit right off the bat I have no clue about car audio which is why I came here.

First off the radio...I picked it simply because I do not want to butcher my recently repaired dash panel and I figured it a sure upgrade from the factory am unit.

Speakers - Once again I have no clue what is compatible/desirable. What I can say is there will be a speaker/speakers in the factory center dash panel. There will be no holes cut in the doors period. The same for the kick panels...this is a non-air vehicle and I'm not giving up my vents for speakers. That leaves only the area behind the seats for the rest of the speakers. What would be the difference between 2-way and 3-way speakers in this environment?

I was hoping someone could help me design a moderate system within my restricted parameters and direct me to parts that will work well together. Music interest's trend toward Alice in Chains, Tool, Foo Fighters and the like...I don't have to blow the windows out if you know what I mean.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Thanks Kai - That's the kind of advice I was looking for. I'm 62 and my hearing is impaired as well as most other senses lol...sound is very subjective I agree. I admit right off the bat I have no clue about car audio which is why I came here.
First off the radio...I picked it simply because I do not want to butcher my recently repaired dash panel and I figured it a sure upgrade from the factory am unit.

Speakers - Once again I have no clue what is compatible/desirable. What I can say is there will be a speaker/speakers in the factory center dash panel. There will be no holes cut in the doors period. The same for the kick panels...this is a non-air vehicle and I'm not giving up my vents for speakers. That leaves only the area behind the seats for the rest of the speakers.

I was hoping someone could help me design a moderate system within my restricted parameters and direct me to parts that will work well together. Music interest's trend toward Alice in Chains, Tool, Foo Fighters and the like...I don't have to blow the windows out if you know what I mean.

I listen to those bands very often as well. Its not blowing out windows, its just an 8 in a sealed wont do much at all. Car audio is a very noisy environment and a sealed box is not an efficient box which translate to almost inaudible bass in comparison to everything else. at least go with a 10 or 12 so the sub wont be as stressed as an 8" in a sealed box struggling to keep up over the road and engine noise. A sub barely lifting a finger to provide proper output will also last a lot longer than a small sub being overworked.

The amp recommendation stands but you'll want to keep things simple with a pair of component speakers with a crossover network included in if you want to stick with that radio.

However there are plenty of single din radios that fit into the slot because they are the same size as your factory radio. We are not cutting anything, i'm not suggesting any touchscreen big double dins. All the good Sound quality decks are single dins.

 

[HandOverFist 10+ year member]

I listen to those bands very often as well. Its not blowing out windows, its just an 8 in a sealed wont do much at all. Car audio is a very noisy environment and a sealed box is not an efficient box which translate to almost inaudible bass in comparison to everything else. at least go with a 10 or 12 so the sub wont be as stressed as an 8" in a sealed box struggling to keep up over the road and engine noise. A sub barely lifting a finger to provide proper output will also last a lot longer than a small sub being overworked.
The amp recommendation stands but you'll want to keep things simple with a pair of component speakers with a crossover network included in if you want to stick with that radio.

However there are plenty of single din radios that fit into the slot because they are the same size as your factory radio. We are not cutting anything, i'm not suggesting any touchscreen big double dins. All the good Sound quality decks are single dins.

I'm fully open to speaker suggestions...it's just the placement that is set in stone. Here is the dash panel I just repaired and what whatever radio purchased needs to fit (6-3/8" shaft center)...

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

I'm fully open to speaker suggestions...it's just the placement that is set in stone. Here is the dash panel I just repaired and what whatever radio purchased needs to fit (6-3/8" shaft center)...

What are the dimensions for every speaker location in your car? Width/height and depth clearance would be nice.

 

[HandOverFist 10+ year member]

Depth of the rear enclosure needs to be kept in the range of 8" or so before it becomes intrusive...width/height can be nearly the back of the cab below the shelf as pictured above. The center dash speaker would be limited to nearly stock dimensions I'm sure which is why I picked the one above. I don't see how one of those single din receivers would fit this dash panel...pretty sure that is the reason for it being butchered in a previous life.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Depth of the rear enclosure needs to be kept in the range of 8" or so before it becomes intrusive...width/height can be nearly the back of the cab below the shelf as pictured above. The center dash speaker would be limited to nearly stock dimensions I'm sure which is why I picked the one above. I don't see how one of those single din receivers would fit this dash panel...pretty sure that is the reason for it being butchered in a previous life.

so basically you have to settle purely for rear speakers only. Nothing in front exept the dash speaker? What size is the dash speaker.

 

[HandOverFist 10+ year member]

Yes, single front center dash speaker - 6x9

This would be considered a factory replacement - http://www.ss396.com/el-camino/4008.html

This one I figured would be an improvement - http://www.crutchfield.com/p_068R69N/RetroSound-R-69N.html?tp=91

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Yes, single front center dash speaker - 6x9
This would be considered a factory replacement - 1966-1967 El Camino Dash Speaker Dual Voice Coil 140 Watt

This one I figured would be an improvement - RetroSound R-69N Single 6"x9" 2-way car speaker with dual voice coils at Crutchfield.com

Does the front dash speaker have to be extremely shallow or what depth would fit?