Good stereo setup for an A body?

IfItsGotWheels · Sep 30, 2024

Rude72* said:
Thanks for the reply. I will have to be happy with just the 6 x 9s since I don't want to cut into the front doors for door mounts.

If you want front speakers & don't want to butcher your door panels, you can get kick panels that hold 4x6 speakers ( 1967-1976 Mopar A Body Kick Panel Speakers 4x6" No Speaker ) as an example, or these ( Kick Panels for 1964-69 Plymouth Barracuda )

Rude72* · Sep 30, 2024

IfItsGotWheels said:
If you want front speakers & don't want to butcher your door panels, you can get kick panels that hold 4x6 speakers ( 1967-1976 Mopar A Body Kick Panel Speakers 4x6" No Speaker ) as an example

Never seen things like that! Not even sure where they go or how to install them. Would I still need to drill holes to mount them?

IfItsGotWheels · Sep 30, 2024

They are direct replacements for your original kick panels.

mbaird · Sep 30, 2024

IfItsGotWheels said:
If you want front speakers & don't want to butcher your door panels, you can get kick panels that hold 4x6 speakers ( 1967-1976 Mopar A Body Kick Panel Speakers 4x6" No Speaker ) as an example, or these ( Kick Panels for 1964-69 Plymouth Barracuda )

I have those in my Barracuda and I don’t know how much I can hear them . I mean I can but less than I thought I would.

Rude72* · Sep 30, 2024

IfItsGotWheels said:
They are direct replacements for your original kick panels.

Ahhhh... pardon my ignorance! Are they available in "Duster" interior kick panels colors? If not, I guess they could be painted.

Rude72* · Sep 30, 2024

mbaird said:
I have those in my Barracuda and I don’t know how much I can hear them . I mean I can but less than I thought I would.

I was suspecting the same thing.

mbaird · Sep 30, 2024

Dash speakers would work much better but that would be a lot of work . Or maybe some in the lower dash if you don’t mind cutting the holes.

Rude72* · Sep 30, 2024

mbaird said:
Dash speakers would work much better but that would be a lot of work . Or maybe some in the lower dash if you don’t mind cutting the holes.

Yes. And your right about the work. I'll keep searching for alternatives.

340six · Sep 30, 2024

IfItsGotWheels said:
If you want front speakers & don't want to butcher your door panels, you can get kick panels that hold 4x6 speakers ( 1967-1976 Mopar A Body Kick Panel Speakers 4x6" No Speaker ) as an example, or these ( Kick Panels for 1964-69 Plymouth Barracuda )

Was personal looking at these what size speaker is better/ more available?
https://www.classicindustries.com/p...Z4HQEDDRCGkI4322FTAaAsPtEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Mike69cuda · Sep 30, 2024

I have used a couple of the Bluetooth amplifiers in post 15. They work great. Hide it somewhere, hook it up to ignition power and speakers. Turn volume all the way up and control everything from your phone.

halfafish · Sep 30, 2024

Rude72* said:
Thanks for the reply. I will have to be happy with just the 6 x 9s since I don't want to cut into the front doors for door mounts.

Depending on what speaker you have in the dash, there are several upgrades that are easy to do. No door cutting necessary. I did this in my 66 with a homemade speaker holder. It went in from below after loosening the heater controls to get good access.

There are a couple of options to mount a pair of 3-1/2" speakers, but before buying one of the metal templates, pull your speaker first. There are two shapes for sure (and maybe more, IDK?) to fit the dash. Here are the two plates I have, laid over each other so you can see the difference. The white one is for 4" speakers and mounts from below, the black one is for 3-1/2" speakers and at least in my car, it went in from above.

This one went in from above, it's in my 72 Coronet.

If this looks like more monkey business than you're interested in doing, Crutchfield sells a single 4x10 with a dual voice coil. I have one in my truck, it's surprisingly good.

BrianT · Oct 1, 2024

I throw this JBL speaker in the front seat and connect via bluetooth to my phone. I can stream anything from Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora to movies on Max. When I get to my destination, I pop it in the glove box and the interior goes back to stock. It also allows me to answer and talk on my phone handsfree, which is very handy. It has a good charge life and puts out a decent sound.

Rude72* · Oct 1, 2024

Mike69cuda said:
I have used a couple of the Bluetooth amplifiers in post 15. They work great. Hide it somewhere, hook it up to ignition power and speakers. Turn volume all the way up and control everything from your phone.

Great idea! Thanks!

Rude72* · Oct 1, 2024

BrianT said:
I throw this JBL speaker in the front seat and connect via bluetooth to my phone. I can stream anything from Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora to movies on Max. When I get to my destination, I pop it in the glove box and the interior goes back to stock. It also allows me to answer and talk on my phone handsfree, which is very handy. It has a good charge life and puts out a decent sound.

View attachment 1716310065

I was considering this idea but since I am kind of picky about the sound quality (especially bass) I was certain that Bluetooth speakers wouldn't satisfy my needs in that area.

Rude72* · Oct 1, 2024

halfafish said:
Depending on what speaker you have in the dash, there are several upgrades that are easy to do. No door cutting necessary. I did this in my 66 with a homemade speaker holder. It went in from below after loosening the heater controls to get good access.

View attachment 1716309957

View attachment 1716309958

There are a couple of options to mount a pair of 3-1/2" speakers, but before buying one of the metal templates, pull your speaker first. There are two shapes for sure (and maybe more, IDK?) to fit the dash. Here are the two plates I have, laid over each other so you can see the difference. The white one is for 4" speakers and mounts from below, the black one is for 3-1/2" speakers and at least in my car, it went in from above.

View attachment 1716309960

View attachment 1716309961

This one went in from above, it's in my 72 Coronet.

View attachment 1716309962

If this looks like more monkey business than you're interested in doing, Crutchfield sells a single 4x10 with a dual voice coil. I have one in my truck, it's surprisingly good.

Thanks for the post. Yeah, I'm not a good
"do it yourselfer" type of guy, unfortunately.

Mike69cuda · Oct 1, 2024

You can buy kick panels with speakers, or just the panels and buy your own speakers. I think they work better than dash speakers and are much easier to install. I prefer the 4x6 over the round ones

BrianT · Oct 1, 2024

Rude72* said:
I was considering this idea but since I am kind of picky about the sound quality (especially bass) I was certain that Bluetooth speakers wouldn't satisfy my needs in that area.

I get it. I consider myself a bit of an audiophile myself. I have decent stereos in my other two dailys. This won't rattle your windows, that's what your exhaust is for.

Rude72* · Oct 1, 2024

BrianT said:
I get it. I consider myself a bit of an audiophile myself. I have decent stereos in my other two dailys. This won't rattle your windows, that's what your exhaust is for.

True that!

IfItsGotWheels · Oct 1, 2024

Rude72* said:
Ahhhh... pardon my ignorance! Are they available in "Duster" interior kick panels colors? If not, I guess they could be painted.

A-bodies all have the same kick panels.
In order for the kick panel speakers to be heard, you have to adjust the front-rear fader.
Another thing you can do is install 2 4" speakers in the dash speaker opening. Someone on this site makes a nice adapter for that opening.

mbaird · Oct 1, 2024

IfItsGotWheels said:
A-bodies all have the same kick panels.
In order for the kick panel speakers to be heard, you have to adjust the front-rear fader.
Another thing you can do is install 2 4" speakers in the dash speaker opening. Someone on this site makes a nice adapter for that opening.

I am thinking of relocating my 4” kick panal speakers to the lower part of the dash .
I adjust the fader but they have no reverb space butted up against the body .