Best place to put speakers on Speedster

Unless you’re going to spend big money on stereo equipment the earbud method is your best approach. I have a quality system in my car but it involved installing speakers in the doors and a large subwoofer. The system is powered by a 500 watt amplifier and was quite expensive. 

I'd try looking how speakers are mounted under the dash - perhaps they can be angled so the sound goes back towards you instead of down into the floor covering.  It would not be difficult to put speakers in the doors - it is a huge open space and they would stay dry.  Some probably don't like the look though which is probably why it isn't standard.  Some Speedsters have room in the front kick panel on either side - for best sound in a convertible that would be a great place.  Other have build fiberglass recessed bowls and recessed them in "firewall" area just behind where the doors latch (covered by carpet or speaker grills).

I too have a Miata (2016 GT) - it has a 9 speaker Bose system that I actually like (except for the woofer that takes up valuable passenger foot room).  Many do however upgrade the stock speakers. If your radio will handle better speakers or more speakers - that might be the trick.  Many just install an A1 exhaust and listen to the engine.

Here's an original 356 - the speakers are mounted high in the kick panels on either side.  You could try moving yours there too.

Two good quality home computer speakers affixed up under the dash angled down works great.

We have used a Bose Soundlink Bluetooth Speaker III for a while now.  It’s rechargeable and hooks to a cell phone via Bluetooth.

The best feature: it comes with us wherever we go when we park our Speedster.  

I have a UE speaker mounted under my dash.  

https://www.ultimateears.com/en-us

No wires, and out of view.  Works with my iPhone.  Maintains a charge for 10+ hours.  You can hear it quite well at speeds under 45mph.  It becomes less and less heard on highway speeds (unless the top is up).  I have a 4 y/o Boom, and am guessing they have gotten better and louder since.  I like it because it does not have any unsightly speakers and keeps everything really clean.  Just strapped it to the brace under the dash.

Another cool alternative is the BoomCase: https://store.theboomcase.com

 

I’ve had 3 Bluetooth speakers. AOMAIS GO one is the loudest. I can even daisy chain another if I wanted, but so far it does the job up to about highway speeds. At that point it’s just a hint of music and the harmony of the pipes takes over. I’m happy with that. It's not as loud as Robert's setup. But that's another level.

It was the least expensive as well — $70.

AOMAIS GO Bluetooth Speakers,Waterproof Portable Indoor/Outdoor 30W Wireless Stereo Pairing Booming Bass Speaker,30-Hour Playtime with 8800mAh Power Bank,Durable for Home Party,Camping(Black)

I pinned it under the dash with some zip ties. I keep it plugged in, but if I don't, it'll power itself for 30 hours.

Ryan in NorCal posted:

I’ve had 3 Bluetooth speakers. AOMAIS GO one is the loudest. I can even daisy chain another if I wanted, but so far it does the job up to about highway speeds. At that point it’s just a hint of music and the harmony of the pipes takes over. I’m happy with that. It's not as loud as Robert's setup. But that's another level.

It was the least expensive as well — $70.

AOMAIS GO Bluetooth Speakers,Waterproof Portable Indoor/Outdoor 30W Wireless Stereo Pairing Booming Bass Speaker,30-Hour Playtime with 8800mAh Power Bank,Durable for Home Party,Camping(Black)

I pinned it under the dash with some zip ties. I keep it plugged in, but if I don't, it'll power itself for 30 hours.

My setup was about 23.5 times that. Sometimes I wished I went the lesser expensive route. But when my wife and I are rolling down the freeway loudly singing to all of our favorites songs, those are the times I'm glad I have it.

Out of curiosity I looked up if AOMAIS has any new speakers. I might upgrade to a pair of these  for $49 each: https://amzn.to/2UzfQCL

AOMAIS Life 30W Bluetooth Speakers, Loud Bamboo Wood Home Audio Wireless Speaker with Super Bass, 3EQ Modes for Home, Outdoors Party & Subwoofer

It's not waterproof like the other one, but it's a bit smaller (no handle). I can build a little hanger off the cross beam to install them upside down (for button access) and angle them down better. 60W for $100 is about as good as it gets, no?

Robert M posted:

My setup was about 23.5 times that

Don't beat yourself up to bad. I had to buy several to find one that worked, and I'm about to buy 2 more.

I have had a great luck with my Out of Sight system. The unit is hidden under the dash and I have 4 speakers - 2 in the door and 2 under the dash, it is controlled by my phone and apple watch. Sound is fine under 50mph, and was good background music when I drove topdown to Carlisle a few years back. 

IMHO, the engine and appropriate exhaust system  makes the best music.  

I  got real basic, simple, clean, no holes for radio or speakers, flexible and portable.

I just set my JBL Charge 3 in-between the seats at the rear with a strip of velcro to grab the carpet.  Put my iPhone on Pandora and enjoy. No holes in the dash for a radio or for speakers any where.......Bruce

That’s what I’m going do after I get my $800 radio

Thanks good idea

Today I took delivery of the two 30W AOMAIS Life Speakers mentioned above. I paired them for a 60W experience to compare to the single AOMAIS GO speaker I already have. All 3 are rated 30W. Here's what I found:

• 2 AOMAIS Life speakers, stereo paired = 1 AOMAIS GO speaker
• 1 AOMAIS Life speaker = 75% AOMAIS GO speaker

The new ones are already back in the return box. So that's 4 portable bluetooth speakers tested now (AOMAIS Go, Life, UE Roll, Owlee Stealth360).

AOMAIS GO is the clear winner. I may pick up another.

I also tried out a much larger 6 inch "450w" system, but I couldn't fit it under the dash.

KIDS:

The best place to put speakers on your speedster are: "IN YOUR EARS!!!" 

Let me give you the top ten reasons to use wired ear buds verses a portable Bluetooth speaker or install speakers in your car:

1.  It allows you to clearly hear your tunes...

2.  Cuts down on wind noise that can damage your hearing...

3. light weight, easy to hide and store..

4.  There is no sound reduction due to wind or ambient noise throughout the car 

5. No Batteries and nothing to charge.

6. Cant hear your wife, girlfriend, or Life partner complaining..

7.  Cuts down on the excess sound of those annoying cars with mega blasting subs you can hear a mile away. 

8.  You look really cool

9. You can still hear the PO PO siren ( within 10 feet).

10. Did I mention you look cool?

This top ten list is taken from the multi billion best selling Guide book by Terry Knuckles @Terry Nuckels entitled: "They Cant Hear You Coming A Mile Away" a complete guide on the proper way to listen to music in a convertible car so you don't annoy the whole world. 

 

Best Regards,

Tebs

PS:

Please ignore any feedback from any PO PO  that may chime in on this post regarding earbuds in both ears being legal or not..  There are bigger offenses going on like, a waitress giving you a plastic straw without you asking for it first ..  ( for those of you in CANADA, that is really a law in California and is being enforced)

Interesting plastic straw law..

But, I still say the best and only speakers are the two at the very rear of my car, and I can vary the tune as I like.  That’s the only sound I need and want to hear.  

FWIW, I have a all retrosound with their 4 channel amp and a self powered subwoofer under the rear seat.  I have two speakers in the sides on the rear seat area, two in the kickplate and two small tweaters in the A/C panel.  

I can listen to music to 70mph and it works and I should mention that I have a hearing loss, being deafened and needed to wear amplification ITE is a bit of a challenge for me but it works.

So you can make use of the retrosound if you want to do the rest of the sound install.  There is more expensive units and probably better units but the Retro look is what I settled for.