TheSamba.com :: View topic - Need ideas for stereo wattage and speaker location

Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:33 pm

Is 50 watts per channel adequate for the interior of a van? Are rear mounted speakers effective for good stereo? What kind and size of speaker works best. I like my music a little loud at times but I don't want to rock the boat. Also, do all aftermarket radios fit with a little work or do I have to be model specific?

Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:47 pm

Ed Ruth wrote: Is 50 watts per channel adequate for the interior of a van? Are rear mounted speakers effective for good stereo? What kind and size of speaker works best. I like my music a little loud at times but I don't want to rock the boat. Also, do all aftermarket radios fit with a little work or do I have to be model specific?

50 watts wont even bother the neighbors. Your gonna need to go big in your van!

Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:54 pm

do you want to listen to your preference in music or is this for talking big and trying to impress others? / get attention?

Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:21 pm

I think I prefer quality over quantity. I may try satellite radio someday. A Blu-ray link to cell phone would be nice. I need a detachable face to deter theft. A built in CD is good also. I am concerned to find quality fair priced speakers. I am curious about how others got their stereo to fit into that gaping space in the dash.

Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:24 pm

Mine's mounted in the glove box, the original in the dash.

2 full ranges under the dash, 2 mids and tweeters in the rear.

Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:42 pm

Ed Ruth wrote: I think I prefer quality over quantity. I may try satellite radio someday. A Blu-ray link to cell phone would be nice. I need a detachable face to deter theft. A built in CD is good also. I am concerned to find quality fair priced speakers. I am curious about how others got their stereo to fit into that gaping space in the dash.

It is necessary to trim the opening slightly to fit a modern stereo. Or buy one of the shaft radios designed for classic cars. One company advertises here on The Samba.

There are many opinions on proper speakers locations. Try a search, there are several stereo threads. FWIW I have a set of computer speakers plugged into an ipod. Sounds pretty good.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=236878
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=374328

Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:03 pm

we recently went through this. If the dash has not been hacked you will have to hack it a ilttle to fit a modern DIN mount. Anything with a detachable face will take a DIN mount so ask your local stereo shop for one. They are a sheet metal carrier that slides in and you bend a few tabs to hold it in. Then the stereo goes into that. If your dash has not been hacked and you have a good dash, you may want to leave it that way and not hack it.

Buses, like many older cars are easy to break into - that is why manufacturers got rid of vent windows. You may want to hide the stereo in the glove box unless you will be parking it 100% of the time where you can see it. We put our speakers in the door and kick panel on this 1977. On my 1971 bus I had speakers in the doors and behind the seats in the square holes. Downside of kick panel speakers is they get kicked. Do a search, there are some great installations on some of the threads. Good luck.

Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:04 pm

I run a tma 320.4 amp, with 6.5" Memphis audios below the rear bench, 5.25" Memphis audios in the doors, it sounds great and is loud enough to hear even when going 70. Running just the headunit wasn't enough (50x4) to produce clear sound when cruising on the highway. I would highly suggest running a 4-channel amp. Also, I would look into an alarm if you are putting an expensive sound system in, mine was pricey but has stopped a few theft attempts.

Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:10 pm

SGKent wrote: we recently went through this.

Yep. Try a search for speakers and you'll see plenty of suggestions.