A radio in a Speedster?
We seem to be divided about them - they're either a blast or blasphemy.
I don't get all religious about it, but I can do without one. I had a stereo in a Miata for 15 years and turned it on about six times. And in the Speedster, I don't like the idea of cutting and cluttering things up.
But I wanted to hear what a sound system might be like if it could be made invisible, so here's something I tried and you might want to, too.
Here's the installation after everything was hooked up - head unit, amp, crossover, subwoofer, and speakers:
And here it is from a different angle:
I had a Sony bluetooth speaker that we use for travel - we take it into the room for some portable tunes - and was wondering what it would sound like in the Speedster. So, I stuck it up under the dash and was amazed at how the bass was reinforced by being in that small cavity. I got another and now leave that there permanently.
It runs off its own battery but I plugged the charger into a 12 volt power port that's on only when the ignition is. Aside from that, there are no wires, no cutting, and nothing else to install. In the Speedster tradition, I went for a minimalist, weight-saving installation - the period-correct two zip tie system.
So what does it sound like? Well, better than the original Blaupunkt or Becker radio would have. But, not much better. It's not a car stereo and doesn't play one on TV. It's much better with the top up or noodling around at slow speeds.
But I'm not a fan of blasting a stereo loud enough to be heard in a convertible with the top down.
If anything, this gives you an idea of how a sound system might work out in a Speedster without spending big bucks or cutting any holes. If you try this, like the idea, and want more, you can then commit to the real deal. Or you may find this is all you need.
Consider this a replica sound system.
