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MG MGA - Speaker Installation

Does any of you have any cunning ideas on how to best install Speakers for the radio-CDplayer?

I have just finished reupholstering the whole car, new seats, foam, side rails and interior panels (BIG JOB!), and was wondering how to install the speakers so they are the least obtrusive and in a reversible way. Up to know I had installed them in the old tatty panels by just cutting a hole in the panel and installing them. This worked well.

I was thinking maybe on the sides under the dash, by making up a suitable piece of wood to for mounting. My concern is that since it would not be installed in an enclosure the sound may not be great/loud enough.

Maybe an arrangement within the door pocket?

I have seen some people install the speakers on the rear bulkhead was but would like to avoid that.

Ideas welcome...
Gonzalo Ramos

Gonzalo,

here is my solution - makes the boot more crowded with the spare, but I think it is the best place (without having to cut up door panels). I don't have a side curtain stowage bag in the way, either - but that might be a problem if you do.

JIM



AJ Mail

here is the back - this goes in the spare tire opening in the rear bulkhead, of course. I ran the wires along the harness and then up through one of the two holes just in front of the spare tire hump in the boot.


AJ Mail

The speaker domes are readily available at Radio Shack and auto parts stores. The plywood is scrap 1/2" from the floorboards. This will actually be covered with leftover black carpet or the brown vinyl on the passenger side eventually.

There is a guy on eBay selling these for MGA - but I made my own...easy enough. You can surf eBay to see if he is still advertising them if you prefer that route.

JIM
AJ Mail

Gonzalo:

"I have seen some people install the speakers on the rear bulkhead was but would like to avoid that."

I missed this comment - sorry.

I think you could use the nifty plastic enclosures above to mount the speakers and then just fasten the enclosure to the triangular space near the goalposts just to the outboard side of the driver or passenger's feet - there's a recess there big enough - and you could even fasten them temporarily with adhesive backed velcro or some such to see whether it works. Similarly, you could tuck them up under the dash - and they'd still be in their own little enclosures.

JIM
AJ Mail

Here is my solution. It is a tight fit but not secured in place. It can be easily removed for the OEM look, if desired. The original left and right channels become "top" and "bottom" channels. It sounds more like "High-Fidelity" than "Stereo" for those of us who remember Hi-Fi. But then you won't ever get a great sound in an "A" unless you turn the radio/CD off.

I also added a dual lighter jack on the RH side of the speaker box for GPS and other items. I never used them though. You can see one of them, the other is just out of sight above the first.


Chuck Schaefer

Chuck, that is a beautiful car and a clean looking installation.

AJ Mail

> But then you won't ever get a great sound in an "A" unless you turn the radio/CD off.

Amen to that!
Andy Bounsall

I agree about your point on the sound!

I was thinking about getting a what AJ calls 'nifty enclosures' and experimenting around an under the dashboard. Any suggestions on where to get those enclosures?

The reason I didn't want the speakers on the back is because I thought the sound would be bad with the convertible to in front... I will get atenuated/distorted.
Gonzalo Ramos

I believe I got them at Pep Boys - but also at AutoZone or Radio Shack or the like.

They come in several sizes. If you are putting speakers under the dash, you could go with smaller ones than the ones I show here, I think.

JIM
AJ Mail

Here's my effort
Piece of thin aluminium bent a right angles and fitted behind the outer door panel. This creates a box for the speakers (One at either side) and also still leaves space in the door pocket. To finish the aluminium is covered with faux leather.

The better the quallity of the player and the speakers the more likely you will be able to hear it above the wind and exhaust sounds


Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Bob,

This is exactly what I was looking for!
I have enough vinyl left over from reupholstering to cover it to!!
Great idea, the best is that is is easily reversible.
Gonzalo Ramos

What seats do you have fitted into your MGA Bob?, they certainly look a lot more comfortable and supportive than my standard ones.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Pleased you like that Gonzalo. :)

Colyn

When I had finished my restoration of my car a good number of years ago I really loved the original seats.

However after a few journies and a holiday in France and Scotland my wife informed me that either I improve the seats or she would never ride in the car again.

The problems with the seats especially for the passenger is that you slide about all over the place as there is no support for sideways forces. My wife was finding it very tiresome on longer journies.

So I found the "Corbeau Classic Bucket Seats" and proceeded to fit them. Not an easy task as you need to make the mounting adjustable front to rear and also make the seat tilt forward to allow stowage of the hood. again a not very easy task but well worth the effort when complete.

Here is the seat which we purchased without headrestraint and fabric inner with leather edges


Bob Turbo Midget England

I saw an MGB once where they had fitted very small high frequency directional speakers in the dash. You hear direction and stero with the higher frequencies only of course. They were about the size of the fuel gauge. Then they stashed a bigger low frequency speaker under the dash.
You could do that with the A. Very small hi frequency speakers in the door panel and base behind the speaker grill in the middle.
Just a thought.
Peter Sherman

You can also get Dual Voice Coil (DVC) speakers that retrofit into single enclosures like on the MGA and MGB. Then you can put the unit in its original location on the dash and still get some directionality.
Mark Lambert

I have fitted radios to both of my MGA's, with speakers behind the factory speaker grille (not the best sound with modern radios!), but wish that I had not (easily reversible at least!). Just enjoy driving your MGA, you don't need a radio (I have hardly ever used mine!).
Barry Bahnisch

I am currently building the enclosures for Dual Coil speakers. (I had them installed on the door in the old panels and the sound was GREAT, event on the highway -nice overall frequency response)
I just need to cover them in vinyl now so should be finished tomorrow.
I will post some pictures when done.
The beauty is that these enclosures will be easily removable in 2mins.
Also the front face of the radio comes off, and a velcro strip holds the original MGA blanking plate...

You can argue that you don't need a radio, but I like to listen to my CDs on long trips/straight roads; I agree that the sound of the MGA is the best...although I am thinking I may need stainless muffler soon! ; )

But that discussion will be a separate post...
Gonzalo Ramos

I've done something similar with the radio face Gonzalo
I recommend it to anyone. It happened almost by accident. Almost too easy. I was looking for a better radio face surround, and found that the chrome blanking plate surround was ideal. Then thought, "why not magnetise the blanking plate?"
I'll attach some photos. This is an MGB but it could just as easily be applied to an MGA



Peter Sherman

heres the radio face in place


Peter Sherman

here it is being slid into place


Peter Sherman

A thin smear of super glue either end on the vertical bits. If you've sharp eyes you'll notice that the surround is offset about half a mm to the left. The upper is the old radio, but the surround is the same


Peter Sherman

Here you can see the back of the blanking plate with it's very thin rare earth magnets. Thinner than the thickness of the blanking plate. No need to glue them. You do need to glue the MG emblem because you need to cut off the "pegs", no room for the clips. Once again a drop of super glue. The magnets cost about $5 the pair from a magnet shop. Warning, be careful when you go near the magnet display in the magnet shop. Embarrassing "Mr. Bean" type personal experience speaking here :) .
The magnets are turned sideways because otherwise they are too strong. It doesn't take much to hold the plate in place. Never falls off


Peter Sherman

There are a couple of clips that holds the slide in radio in place. I put small cable ties in these so I could reach behind the dash and spring it loose easily when I needed to.
To get the blanking plate off I just push it up with my thumb and it falls into my hand.
Here's a photo with the face off


Peter Sherman

I should add that the very slight offset of the surround to the left is because you need a little more room on that side when the radio face is being clipped into place. It's a close fit. Because the back of the surround is a smooth chrome surface you can get it off without too much force. As I found when I needed to reposition it.
Peter Sherman

you don't need a radio (I have hardly ever used mine!).

Not surprising Barry as I am sure you will not be able to hear it!!

With mine the CD player is great upto about 75MPH I have a sidedraught Weber and above 75 it does tend to suck pretty loudly. Howevere a twist of the volume knob and heaven is restored!!

Peter I have to ask the question WHY?

I am always amazed at the lengths folks will go to to disguise the modifications they make to their cars so that they can enjoy them more. If you want to listen to CDs then why hide the fact?
Bob Turbo Midget England

Because Bob,
Appearance and practicality.
sometimes I like to listen to a DVD or IPOD (there's a plug in the back) and sometimes I'd much rather be looking at the very stylish art deco MG logo.
It is also a theft deterrent. No one knows that there is anything to steal. Removing the face (and they are all like that nowadays) leaves a rather ugly blank spot that advertises that you have a music system that might be worth stealing. And sometimes I forget to get the face out of the boot, and would rather not look at the ugly.
It's also very easy to do!
Peter Sherman

Point taken Peter the theft is the key benefit I feel, :)
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

I mounted my pair up behind the dash in the forward corners. I will post a picture on Thursday when I am reunited with the car.

I am able to listen to the radio throughout the speed range, even with the noise of motorway traffic. The solution is to fit sponge type earplugs, then turn the volume up. Works very well and cuts out all other peripheral sounds, including traffic, tappets and the wife.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Here is my creation, made out of some hard carton, vinyl cutouts from doing my interior, and a pair of Pioneer 2 voice speakers that I painted to match the interior.

I am quite pleased with the result!
Let me know if you want other pics.




Gonzalo Ramos

Nicely done! Very neat.
AndrewF

Dear me Gonzalo mate but your installation makes mine look decidedly crap!! LOL

As I stated some time ago you are too good for this job. :)
Bob Turbo Midget England

Well Bob, I only copied what you started... ; )
Sound it pretty good too!
They are just placed in, and not attached so it take like 5 mins and 3screws to remove if necessary...
Gonzalo Ramos

This thread was discussed between 08/07/2010 and 19/07/2010

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