Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) A very sensitive question : music and speakers

On the 2013 price list it is listed as an option and in brackets (plus rear speakers). I suspect this is an error and the rear speakers are only fitted to the Plus 8 where the Stereo is listed as standard. Fitting rear speakers would be difficult in a trad Morgan because the panel next to the rear seats, in a 4 seater, or the parcel tray is all that separates the inside of the car from the rear wheel. There is a small area behind the front seats where small speakers could be fitted and I have considered using that myself, Before the longer doors were introduced this is the area where speakers were fitted.

I can't see why it would not be possible but I have not really investigated it fully. It would be necessary to run speaker wires to the plug at the back of the stereo system but any competent car audio fitter should be able to do that.

It's a bit like smoking in school,usually in hiding behind the bike shed

Of course it's really a matter of what you have bolted to your engine as to whether or not you listen to the radio. My 4/4, until throttle bodies were fitted, had a very boring sound and some music might have been preferable! However, those who are lucky enough to have a pair of Webers attached would be rather strange if they didn't like to listen exclusively to the sound of the engine!

I'm with Peter on this subject: there are times when music is nice to have. Not the radio, but music. But it needs to be good quality.

The Aldermog has no antenna and as far as I can see no speaker wires, no nothing - other than the radio slot on the heater box plated over.

So, how best to do this? Until the advent of "integrated systems" I've put tape players and CD players in all my cars. I have a "totally over the top" home audio system and yes, I still buy and play vinyl... see separate thread!

I’ve thought about the idea and in the end gave up. But this is what I came up with.

There are few good places for speakers. Hi and upper mid range sound is directional, mid to low level is not. Which is why in cars the speakers have the tweeters in the doors high up at the front: clearly impossible in a Morgan, so the best, but sacrilegious, place for a pair of high quality upper mid units is the ends of the dashboard. We need something from Alpine or another high end source, no more than 2” in diameter and capable of handling 200 watts.

The mid range units, of similar quality and able to take high power, can go in the panels just in front of the doors, as high as possible so they don’t get muffled by the driver/passengers legs. Finally a single base unit mounted somewhere at the back, possibly the space behind the driver, using the void that the battery occupies on the other side.

The amplifier is next, about 400 watts per channel,so 2000watts, can probably go in the space above the passengers feet, mounted high up. Finally the head unit, accepting whatever input you like – I’d stick with iPod and USB.

I talked to some specialist installers and someone I know at Naim, who do the audio for Bentleys and concluded that this is going to cost the thick end of £1000 to do properly. The basic Bentley system costs £10K...

But in the end I gave up, mostly because to do properly it makes the car attractive to thieves.

So my decision was to stick with the noise the engine makes.

I have just got a small MP3 speaker bud which jams in the gap between seat back & head restraint for if I feel the need for music on long journeys. Bach, Handel, Mozart & Greig for preference.

Peter
Many thanks for this very thorough answer. Exactly what I needed ;-)
I surely do not want to ruin my dashboard with 2 tweeters but your advice on directional and non directional sound range is more than welcome.
;-)

Good hint! Any idea on max diameter?
Many thanks,

None at all but if someone could get access to a frame at the factory they could make a cardboard template of that part of the frame which would allow accurate positioning and calculation of the diameter available.

From feeling up behind the dash about 50mm is free between the frame and the edge of the glove box, but to be certain you need to take the dash off. On the drivers side 50mm is fine, as Jays showed when he fitted a clock.

You will have to take the dash off to fit the speakers and to get at the side panels and do the wiring and fit the power amp. Again, the side panels are not that rigid, I think I'd replace them with 3mm aluminium sheet, re-upholstered and with damping material on the inside would help. The idea is that they cannot vibrate. The dash is fine!

Thinking about fitting the head unit it might be a good idea to modify the glove box so it fits in there and is totally hidden when not in use. The standard position is worse than difficult to get at.

I'm still very concerned that doing a proper job might sound great but make it a thief magnet.