Improving stereo sound in a Defender

[sam_d]

I know I'm never going to get brilliant acoustics with a Defender but there must be something better than the current "Two speakers pointing at the floor in the front and two speakers buried under camping gear in the back".

I am thinking that having four 4" speakers in the cabin located nearer the front seats would be the way to go but am keen to see what anyone else has done.

So, has anyone upgraded/improved the speaker setup in their Defender? If so, what have you done? Where have you mounted the speakers etc?

[n plus one]

I know I'm never going to get brilliant acoustics with a Defender but there must be something better than the current "Two speakers pointing at the floor in the front and two speakers buried under camping gear in the back".

I am thinking that having four 4" speakers in the cabin located nearer the front seats would be the way to go but am keen to see what anyone else has done.

So, has anyone upgraded/improved the speaker setup in their Defender? If so, what have you done? Where have you mounted the speakers etc?

I've fitted upgraded front splits, a Pioneer head unit, upgraded rear speakers, a set of amplified 6x9 speakers on my cargo barrier and a mono block powered 12 inch sub in the cargo area.

Does the trick!

[Naks]

This is what I have done, which resulted in a great improvement in the sound:

1. Replaced the head unit with a decent frontloader (Philips)

2. Replaced the rear speakers with JBL 6x9s, mounted in the ceiling facing towards the driver.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fe7Gb-Hwx68/Uoo8rGWXjXI/AAAAAAAAdms/GkAHuCZpyiM/w1554-h874-no/DSC_0161.jpg

3. Replaced the dash speakers with JBL 4"s.

[voltron]

Do the sub first. Turn down the bass on the front speakers and rear speakers and up the treble and mid a little, and check out how much difference that makes. The defender is a great vehicle for a sub. The body carries the bass awesomely. New head unit as well.

[carlschmid2002]

A good head unit with a USB input and Bluetooth and a self powered sub. Mine rocks now. I got a pioneer head unit and sub from RYDA in Sydney for less than $500. I think the standard speakers aren't too bad. Sub attaches to rear of cubby box.

[Don 130]

Have a read on this:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/181338-school-me-factory-speaker-locations.html

I and others put our ideas in.
Don.

[uninformed]

iPod, portable iPod amp, AKG K240s :D

[sam_d]

Thanks for all the replies!


Have a read on this:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/181338-school-me-factory-speaker-locations.html

I and others put our ideas in.
Don.

Nice one!

The problem I have is that the cargo area is generally full and has a drawer system in it so isn't really usable for additional audio bits 'n' bobs.

How much room is there between the roof lining at the roof? I'd like to work out possible locations in advance without having to do too much drilling, probing and removal of interior trim.

[jimr1]

I changed the Land Rover unit and put a Pioneer unit in and put two speakers up the back at high level , made a nice improvement plus I can use a usb stick foe when I loose radio , It saves using discs .

[Cobber]

I changed the Land Rover unit and put a Pioneer unit in and put two speakers up the back at high level , made a nice improvement plus I can use a usb stick foe when I loose radio , It saves using discs .Ive done something similar, only I need to get speaker boxes for the rears. I have the speakers and wires there ready to go but can't find speaker boxes that will slot nicely up there in the back corners - if I was any good with wood I would just make them myself! :D once I buy/ get those made I'll get them covered with the same carpet that's on top of the draws in the back so it's all tidy :cool: I've no doubt in my mind that rear speakers will make all the difference ...

[Pickles2]

I was not expecting "sensational" sound when we bought our new 90, but I was quite happy when I learned that it came standard with a sub-woofer. (In a Defender!!!)
Anyway, after taking delivery, I find the sound to be quite adequate, especially with the addition of the sub woofer which adds just that little bit of "grunt"...pretty good for playing my Doobie Bros, America, Shadows, etc CDs.
Does anyone know the output/specs of the Alpine head unit currently fitted?
Pickles.

[sam_d]

I currently use a Jaycar Radio/MP3 player. It plays MP3s from USB or SD Card (or Aux input from smart phone). It saves on destroying and losing so many CDs like I used to in my old Disco.

Anyway, can anyone tell me how much room there is between the roof lining and the roof in the defender?

[Don 130]

Yours might be different from mine, given mine is a 130. Also I'd stripped the headlining off as it was falling off anyway. Having said all that, I borrowed a fine skewer from the kitchen and stuck it through where I wanted the speakers to go. once through, you can feel around for obstacles and measure the space available. I understand you may not want to do that if you've got good headlining. I could measure the position of my front speakers from the side and the windscreen for you if you like. At least that position should be the same in both vehicles. That way a skewer test would be less risky.
Don.

[sam_d]

I could measure the position of my front speakers from the side and the windscreen for you if you like. At least that position should be the same in both vehicles. That way a skewer test would be less risky.
Don.

That would be really useful of you could do that for me.

I was going to do a skewer test but wanted to avoid it is possible. The headlining is actually in fairly good nick.

[flagg]

Anyway, can anyone tell me how much room there is between the roof lining and the roof in the defender?


Not much. Enough to run cables but not enough for speakers or anything else. Not even for a cross over.

I have 6x9 infinity speakers in the rear and Polk audio marine 6.5 splits up front. They are mounted in a cradle that the old 4" ones were in. I put an amp under the rear seat and the head unit in the roof console with a 12" sub in the back.

Sounds ok, but I want more mid - I listen to a lot of metal and like the guitar to be big and dirty.

[Don 130]

Anyway, can anyone tell me how much room there is between the roof lining and the roof in the defender?

There is about 55mm in the spot where I've mounted the speaker above the front seats, but there is also an internal rib to avoid. I've made mounting rings which add another 19 mm.
Don.

[Craigb]

I fitted a digital radio head unit from Jaycar - sounds great and so much better choice of stations. Also they are a good source of good quality speakers at a reasonable price - I fitted 6 x 9 in boxes I mounted to the rear of the cargo barrier (making sure they don't go flying and hit me in the back of the head in an accident! I used some pioneer splits that I had, mounting the tweeters at the top of the front screen pillar and speakers in the standard hole. Amp I put under the center console/arm rest by modifiying the mounts and only raises it ever so slightly - that was an amp I had but they come in different sizes so might be able to shop around for one that doesnt' require mod of mounts - but thought it was a good out of the way place with good ventilation. And then I did a small jaycar built in amp sub under the back seat because I figure I could unplug it easily if I wanted to load up etc. Sounds great and didn't cost big dollars.

[ramblingboy42]

I just had an idea but have no way of checking it out as I don't have my defender yet.

Has anyone tried using the new 'soundbars' being offered with home theatre systems?

I don't know how easily they might fit up , but from my observation they can sure pump out some quality sound.

[patclan]

I just had an idea but have no way of checking it out as I don't have my defender yet.

Has anyone tried using the new 'soundbars' being offered with home theatre systems?

I don't know how easily they might fit up , but from my observation they can sure pump out some quality sound.

Now you just got me thinking and searching. I wonder if one of these could fit across the back door.

NEW 6 Speaker Soundbar Jeep Wrangler Sound BAR Black With MAP Lights | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-6-Speaker-Soundbar-Jeep-Wrangler-Sound-Bar-Black-With-MAP-Lights-/121170932620?_trksid=p2054897.l4275)

[2 rocks]

Both my TJ's had the sound bar, most had them but they were actually an option. They sound ok with good 6"ers in there, but only got a good sound when I put the big sub in the back!

[Blade74]

I put in a pioneer head unit with some new Polk two ways in the front and pioneer 6x9s in the back in boxes. Although mine are down low.
I also put in a low profile pioneer 10" sub in a low profile box.
Powered the 4 speakers with a JL Audio xd4004 and the sub with a JL Audio xd6001.
One amp each side behind the seats and fit perfect. They are very small and don't give off any heat. They also do not shut down no matter how loud you run them.
Got nearly everything at Ryda.
Also did a lot of dynamat around the car and also some wave bar. Car is heaps quieter than before.

[VladTepes]

If you want STEREO in a Defender just open BOTH front windows.