Speakers for a CObra

[Steve R]

I use a walkman with a splitter for the passenger's earphones. Bose markets a headset to frequent flyers that samples ambiant noise and and electronically cancels it out. On a trip to LA a while back, The guy sitting next to me let me try his. They worked very well. I don't know how they would work in the Cobra. I would be interested in hearing from someone who has tried them in his car. I think the cost in the $200- $300 range.
Steven
Hmmm, maybe a normal car stereo that has 2 headset jacks would be the ticket....low speed/ parking lot- use the speakers in the car, at speed use the Bose headsets...

[flipper35]

I used a pair of Boston Acoustic sattelites in the dash. You can't see them unless you are sitting in the car and even then they are small enough they aren't noticable. I also have a set of 6x9s mounted high in the bulkhead similar to a Viper. I use a Blaupunkt in dash CD head unit and a flexible antennae in the trunk. Cruising at 70 I can hear the music just fine, but I use it mostly in town. It may make a difference where the pipes are pointing, mine will chirp car alarms cruising easily in town. You cannot converse and listen to music at the same time so I don't even put mine in when I have a passenger.

Get some headrests out of a Fiero, they have speakers built in. I don't know how you would mount them though.

[cdog]

The key is to somehow not be able to hear to the exhaust/wind but yet to hear music. The only thing I can think of is the plug-phones.

Constant wind and exhaust noise is not good for hearing. I think it is against the law to wear earplugs, but the little foam ones really don't eliminate noise, just lessen it, so conversation, horns, etc. are still audible. Your hearing is saved though.

As to loud stereos, there wouldn't be anything cooler than having my 'glass trunk lid vibrating loudly from the massive "woooov wooov" of a Sir Mix a Lot CD through four 18" subs, but somehow I think that without side windows to limo tint out, and without a rear window in which to put foot-high lettering saying "El Snako Loco" in a thick, old english script, what's really the point? Maybe if I get a GT40....

[Jack21]

Steve K hit the nail on the head.

You can appreciate a sound system in a Cobra up to about 35 MPH (top off), and 50 MPH (top on) cruising steady speed on the highway. A little gas, the sidepipes cut in, the sterio cuts out.

At the volume you'll be playing the system at, an amp is manditory, as well as speakers that will play and not distort at 75 - 100 watts RMS!!!, not peak.

And!! One does not need to spend megabucks to do this. Just design, shop, and spend wisely. My in-dash cassette deck was about $150. The amp, about $100, and the speakers (Infinity Kappas), about $120 for the pair. Not megabucks. Found an on-line sterio store (soundomain.com) with MUCH better prices than Crutchfield. Only used one pair of speakers. No home theater, or dolby 5.1. Tip. Put the speakers in an enclosure and they'll work a whole lot better at high volume.

And when you're cruising at 75, turn off the sterio and enjoy the rumble of the pipes.

[Bill Wells]

tunes....i just installed a Custom Autosound "SECRET AUDIO" radio in my spf. ALL components , including antenna and two large speaker boxes with 3 spkrs in each are mounted under the dash, out of sight. Only thing visible, and it can be removed/ hidden or attached with velcro, is a 1-1/2x4" face plate. however it does not need to be seen to work as the entire system is controlled by a wireless remote . the face plate also swivels up if desired and then only 1/2x4" is barely visible mounted on the frnt edge under the dash just barely peaking thru. the rod folks use this radio often. while not heard going thru the gears due to the sound of the side pipes and the shrill squeal of my blower, when cruising in 4th or 5th gears the radio can be heard. i added a separate toggle switch to depower the system when car is parked so that there is NO battery drain from clock etc, but draw is so low i doubt that it matters. at least now, my long trips on the freeway will have the option of hearing something besides the pipes and blower sounds. a separate cd player from custom autosound can also be located out of sight . this ain't 'live' symphony quality music with hidden speakers but it works well enough for my purposes. after all, it is a secret, right ? bill

[Bill Wells]

http://www.custom-autosound.com/

the 'secret audio' radio just installed in my spf is :

http://www.secretaudio.com/

bill.

[James Baldwin]

Back about 13 years ago (when I was in to all that stuff), I installed systems like this into 3 Contemporarys and 1 Shell Valley. The person who was building them in the Denver area had to have sounds systems for his customers.

Some of the tricks to making the systems work well are:

1. Use separates all the way around (i.e. 5 or 6 inch midrange with separate tweeter)

2. Now days, companies like Phoenix Gold make a good 5 channel amp that provides good power and clarity (instead of using two separate amps). An amp is not designed to make the music louder, it is designed to make it clearer as it gets louder. Most often people under power their speakers and that can lead to distortion and damage.

3. I always hid the main speakers the best I could. Perforrate the carpeting and install the front mid range speakers in the sides of the footboxes (make sure the back of the speaker can be sealed into a small compartment, away from the header heat or the open air). The remote tweeters are less than 1" wide and can be placed someplace higher. I usually embedded them into the corners of the door (just inside the top hinge) because they are really not noticeable and that give you great sound.
4. The rear mid speakers were cut into the trunk wall behind the seats and then covered with the perforated black carpet so no one knew they were there. The rear tweeters were placed at each corner by the softtop ferrels.

5. For some bass, the sub does not have to be shown (the sound is nondirectional). There are areas in the trunks of most Cobras (above the rear suspension or behind each tail light) that provides you the space for two 8" subs in a custom box (about 1.8 cu.ft). Again, by cutting a 5" hole (not for the speakers but for the sound travel through) in the trunk wall behind the seats, it allows the sounds to pass through without seeing it (perforrate the carpet that covers the hole). The bass will actually use the trunk to make the sound waves longer (more bass) so 8" subs are more than enough when powered well.

5. Although I never had the chance to use one of the hidden systems that are produced today, I used the glove compartment for the main unit and it worked well by deepening the box.

6. The amp or amps (depnding home many you want ) and any optional voltage stiffeners are great in the trunk.

7. For an antenna, I simply used the wires from a stock one and remove the metal antenna part, then attached it to the bolts of the window support. Most of the time this worked fine depending on how the car is grounded. You may want to go more high tech and use the new hidden antennas.


These systems were about 500 watts and $1,600+ in "quality" parts including a high output alternator. The sound is great at even highway speeds because it is clear, though loud.

Easy to do yourself with some help on custom speaker enclosure designs that can be found in many places on the Internet.

Sorry for lengthy opinion.

[Snakebit]

You already have the best sound system installed in your cobra. They are called side pipes! That's music to my ears.