Secret stereo?

Anybody on here have a tastefully hidden stereo in their ride? I've got an easy fix for the receiver and iPod input, just trying to think up creative ideas for speakers that can be heard, but not seen. Thanks folks!

Here is my system. I posted previously about it. Maybe you can find that with a search. I used the Secret Audio. system. The main electronics chunk sits on a shelf attached to the 2x2 tube behind the dash. The display drops down on rails and is held up hidden behind the dash with a magnetic catch.

I found the speakers on eBay. They are 1/4" thick and I have them mounted in picture frames.

More pictures of the speakers and display out of sight:

Great! Thanks! I've got a good idea now what I need to fab up!

Mike, I've said it before but here it is again: I cannot wait to see all of the details you've worked into your car. Amazing!

I also can't wait to see Mike's creation !

I'm just starting to layout my stereo. Right now looks like i'm going to fiberglass a box into the back seat.

Or fiberglass in boxes in front kick panels so they stick in wheel well (for say 5-6" speakers) and cover with the carpet and no grills. Can do same just behind the doors on either side for 6x9" one.

No better sound system than the exhaust note...

I agree Alan. Have never regretted not installing a stereo. I love tunes, but I get enough attention without blasting a stereo at the pain level while rolling by.

It was a nice ride to meet my buddy for breakfast, at 3500 rpms ... Good sound...

Ok... sound and speaker guru's... is there a reason I could not use PC or computer style speakers under the dash? I think I could hide them so much easier and not have to mold pods.... Some nice cube style speakers that sound good at a desk, but would a car stereo push them? Any car audio gurus out there? Thanks.

Gremlix, back in my "Van" days, some people were using these box speakers that were about 7 or 8" wide about 4 or 5" tall and about 4" deep with (2) small speakers inside them, they were VERY heavy and seemed to sound very good. I was just in an electronics store and saw them again in black and a white version. Not sure how to google that to find them but maybe if you have an electronics store near you.

I have some Pioneer speakers mounted up under the dash.  Sound good - cant be seen, no cutting of panels.

 

How did you mount them? Did you make brackets of some sort?

They come with brackets.  These are meant to be surface mounted, like on the rear deck/in the rear window area of a sedan.  I couldnt take a picture of mine but stole leveraged this picture of the bracket from Amazon;

So you screwed the brackets to the fiberglass tub then? Thanks

Mike McKelvey should chime in with some info about the flat panel speaker he put in his.  Mike?

Since I have the carpet up on the drivers side, I think I will stub speaker wire for a suitcase !!!

Great idea Mango! I once saw a guy do something similar in a TankBag for a motorcycle.

Mine are 1/4" thick mounted in picture frames.

 

I found them on eBay several years ago. I don't know if someone would be able to find them now. They were originally intended to be used in an RV that is no longer made.

 

Two small ones are mounted up under the dash and the big one is behind the rear seat.

 

I seem have inserted one picture multiple times. I can't tell how to delete the extras.

 

Have you played them yet? Do they sound ok? Just curious?

 

They are a planar diaphragm/transducer design and they have many problems, the lack of mid down through the bass frequencies, being huge ones.  I sell expensive invisible speakers (planar diaphragm) in high-end (6-7 figures) home systems (when the designer demands it) and they never even come close to producing quality sound compared to a standard speaker design and that is even with a third speaker in the room dedicated to the mid bass frequencies. 

I think they sound OK.

 

I wasn't too concerned with ultra high fidelity audio.

 

I wanted them to be unobtrusive with no permanent alterations to the car. The rear speaker is held to the carpet with Velcro.

 

 

So true. Driving the speedster to me is a lot like riding a motorcycle. Not a Goldwing mind you...

 

 

Meh, why bother.  In this modern age of Smartphones with Bluetooth--

 

1.) Add a bracket to your tunnel or dash for your iPhone/iPod/Android/etc.

2.) When you get in the car, enable Bluetooth if not already on

3.) Throw a Jawbone BIG Jambox behind you.  Or anywhere. https://jawbone.com/speakers/bigjambox/overview  (Hopefully it will overpower the exhaust, intake, wind noise)

 

If you are going on long trip add a 12v USB charging port behind the dash to charge either or both.

 

-or- Throw in a pair of earbuds.  While the law is ??? about "headphones" most "earbuds" are actually handsfree cell phone devices and handsfree is now required in many areas.

 

Just a thought...