Although I upgraded the front speakers during the rebuild of Project Jigsaw to Infinity Reference Series components I was never truly happy with the sound quality.

The head unit is a very reasonable Sony model and I was beginning to doubt whether I'd been sold a set of genuine Infinity speakers or if they'd been cheap Far Eastern copies

Today the rear speakers were upgraded to a set of Sony 16.5cm two-ways (not 6x9) and OMG!

The difference in sound quality is incredible!

The whole system now sounds sooo much better

So, I'd suggest to anyone thinking that their system isn't that good, ditch the feeble OE rear speakers and upgrade them at the first opportunity.

Trust me, you won't believe the difference it makes, I didn't!

I definitely agree same issue as you decent sony head unit but awful sound quality.

Replaced with brand new infinity reference series inc front tweeters and crossovers all for £60 (think they were last years models though)absolute bargain.

Massive difference in sound quality much more balanced stereo sound

Without a doubt a 'must do' upgrade!

you should try new wires and sound proofing, new speakers all around, "new" sub, digital amplifier and digital sound card on the carpc (no head unit here).......you'd be amazed

go on brian show him a pic,you no you want to

Oh I've seen that!

Having said that I did think about doing something similar but I couldn't get Mrs Stan to agree to sit in the boot running out the extension cable for the laptop down the M6! Women!

Done the soundproofing, did that during the rebuild, definitely helps a lot

It really is tremendous now though, it sounds like Mr Sinatra is in the car with you, although he isn't really cos he'd be a bit whiffy by now

ooooooooh.............ok

I'm doing a big spring cleaning at the moment so this is the best picture I have, but in a couple of weeks I'll post a complete photo session of the car, carpc included

http://pwp.netcabo.pt/0150868001/img/fiat/DSC04539.jpg

love it

Sooo cool

interesting read, got a pair of nice infinity 6x9's sat in the spare room, never been used.
think this may be another project for while the coupe is off the road

Dito

Yo! Flyingcustard, if you want a listen to the system we can meet up again in that car park?

This time I might even let you sit in the front seats

you said it was between you and me!












Here it come`s

Oooh, I like your new location!



I think our secret is safe, no-one reads this section anyway

Hmm, maybe now is the time to add a nice big subwoofer in the boot?

I`ve had a 10 incher SUB! in my garage for ages plus x2 amps wires etc never get round to fitting them, got some infinity 6x9s off coupedummy.

Probably the less said about that the better

I can see I'm going to have to do some reading up on what's the best subwoofer and amp on the market now........when will this *improving* ever end?

cowboy, flyingcustard : thank you




I bought a polkaudio mm1024 and I'me very happy with it. it works great in the small box I made for it on the side of the trunk, if that's any help to you

Yes, that is helpful, thanks Brian

I'm certainly wanting to stick the sub in one of the side panels rather than use up valuable boot space.

Now I just need to find some decent suppliers/prices.

Price will be the most important factor, 'er indoors has stopped my pocket money after I bought the Widget!

s1mma did a fantastic audio install in my coupe about five years ago that comprised of mb quart reference series speakers all round (including a 10" sub). The install is still going strong after all this time - but be careful you'll get so used to the sound quality you'll only appreciate it when you go to another car with a lesser system!

picture taken while the work was in progress, but you get the idea

http://pwp.netcabo.pt/0150868001/img/fiat/DSC04548.jpg

Gouki: I've been running my new install for almost an year now and I enjoy every minute of it everytime I drive I'me still amazed of what I achieved

That's exactly the sort of thing I'm looking at Brian, simple, neat and effective (the install, not you! )

Do you really get a good beat from a sub made in a box with those dimesions? I maybe looking into swapping the rear speakers over as it sounds a little weird with just fronts, although they are infinity kappa's and amped. Just feels like something is missing.

LOLOL

sweetride: the box is kind of hybrid, it's molded to the wheel arch and the front, top and bottom are 20mm MDF. I managed to get +-21L from the box, that's enough for the sub to work.

I have a 5.1 digital amplifier (conected to the carpc by an optical cable) working with a phantom central channel, front speakers are DLS MS6a and rear's Phase CFS16.25 and the sound stage is astonishing, with loads of definition in all frequencies

That's exactly what I have done to mine, only using and 8" sub but it's loud enough and bassy (sp) enough to have the mirror vibrating :D.
This thread might help as it's got the guide I used to make mine,
http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=597491#Post597491

Having the bass bin in the side is great as it gives you back your boot space.

just read this...but I'll keep my mouth shut....however that sounds suspicous (at the minimum....)

nice stuff brian.thought about this type of thing also but decided to keep my coop original and live with useless sound quality.
set up looks really nice though

Ive wanted to upgrade my back speakers but have read many threads, bringing up much work is need to stop rattling etc and it hard work just for two more speakers. Did you sound proof the quarters stan or just simply replace?

I'd already done the soundproofing. Being a tight-fisted so and so I had done some reading up on sound in cars and how the panels vibrating were the main issue. I then read that just about anything that slows down the panel vibration can radically alter the sound in the car and someone on here (Bockers/Barnacle etc) had mentioned simple roof flashing tape from B&Q, which I just happened to have a roll of in the shed

To soundproof I simply cut small patches of flashing, maybe six/seven inches long and placed them on the panels until the vibration when being thumped with my hand, stopped
Seriously, it made a huge difference!

Anyhoo, the speakers I fitted (which I found in my loft and had never been fitted) were 16.5cm Sony XS-A1724 multi-fit, two-way speakers. You probably can't even buy them now they are so old but they are a perfect fit, and it was just a five minute job with the soldering iron to wire them up

Bearing in mind that I did the soundproofing a while ago as part of the rebuild of the car and I've been using the original rear speakers ever since, then I think it's safe to say that even if you didn't soundproof you'd notice a heck of a difference

HTH?

May be my next little project for when the car brakes down on the drive way

My front have been sound proofed with dyno mat but i agree, its really not the cheapest stuff to purchase. The fronts really do sound amazing infinity kappa, but just misses that surround feeling, especially with a sub. I doubt ill replace with anything to special as i just want them to fill that empty sound and finish things off

Well I don't know whether it was just the mis-match between decent Infinity speakers in the front and the originals in the rear or whether the rear speakers are really poor but the difference has shocked even Mrs Stan and she's a bit of a snob when it comes to sound quality

Personally I think the standard speakers are pants, why fit a good quality clarion stereo and spoil it with crappy speakers.