Car Audio in a Defender Dual Cab - many questions please

[VladTepes]

Advice / info welcome please.


The vehicle: Defender Tdi dual cab, with under-dash aircon.


Current set up: (was) just a head unit and very terrible speakers firing down into the footwells.
It was so pointless that the head unit isn't in place and I've been driving without it for years.
But it's time to get me some tunes.

The first thing I'll be doing is appropriate sound deadening material, or everything else will be a waste of time.

Then the audio part...

I have a basic Eonon head unit but need to decide

1. What speakers to get, and most importantly where/how to mount them to best effect.
Ideally I'd like front and rear speakers for good fill.

2. What subwoofer to get and again, where how to mount it.

3. Then what amps I'll need to use (for sub and speakers).


Front speakers - All owners are welcome to contribute as the issues are the same irrespective of model.

Subs - depending on the solution, any Defender owners might wish to contribute.

Rear Speakers / subs - (for locations at least) I'd love to hear what solutions other dual cab owners have come up with.

Obviously as we don't have the luxury of space in the rear of the vehicle like wagon owners have, our situation is more challenging.

[Don 130]

I've got a Pioneer head unit with Aux in, USB in, CD player(that I'll never use) AM,FM and SW. It has RCA outs for a sub, but I don't have one and don't need one. There are Blaupunkt 6" speakers mounted in the headlining above the front seats, and 6"x9" speakers also mounted in the headlining above the back window.The front and back speaker mountings are also bonded to the inside of the roof.
The sound will not blow the windows out, but will go louder than I need. It will silence the Defender, and at that level, will probably ruin my hearing more than it is already.
My 2/- worth.
Edit: And I forgot this bit. I also have replaced the rotten original 4" speakers pointing at the floor from the under dash with Pioneer jobs, and have a separate fader control to manage the front sound up/down.
Don.

[VladTepes]

Thanks Don. Any pics?

The Pioneer speakers you have up front - are they just in the same position as the old ones?

Not sure how/why you have 4 speakers up front. Are some bass and some tweeters?

My issue is that I looked at mounting speakers on the roof but they always compromised headroom etc. So it's be interesting to see here/how you've put yours in both front and back if that's possible please?




Has anyone managed to put speakers in the DOOR of their Defenders ?

[Don 130]

These will give you an idea of what I did. After installing the speakers, I pulled it all out and scuffed the rotten foam off the headlining shell, then painted it with a colour matched to that of the sun visors. The result is very good, and I believe, better than having fabric up there.
I used cedar that was lying around for the speaker mounts, but with hindsight, ply would be better.155631155632155633155629155630

As for the little speakers under the dash, they're just ordinary 4" jobs, but I do have a separate fader control to adjust sound up/down on the front.
And by the way, there is no headroom issue with what I've done

Don.

edit. image 0268 is inverted.

[VladTepes]

Thank you, some food for thought there :)

[Nick S]

Hi Vlad
I put in an Alpine head unit with no CD, much shallower but you’ll need a mud console or something like it. Amp is behind back seat, rear speakers above. Get splits for the front ( doors and dash) as this helps lifting the sound. How’s the canopy going?
Cheers
Nick
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[VladTepes]

Thanks mate.
Speakers can fit in the doors?
How'd you run the cable?

Yeha mate canopy is going well.
Keeps the water out and the stuff in!

[Nick S]

Good to hear Vlad. You can get spacers that are angled for the door speakers so that they sit vertically
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[VladTepes]

Being a slack arse I haven't gotten around to this yet... yeah I know.

I can't see any decent way of putting speakers in the doors (there are none there now) and would prefer to avoid that I think.

I might go along the lines of what Don has done. though I have no headliner.

Can anyone recommend some decent but affordable splits? And what amp / amp size?

Also does anyone know where to get those slimline subwoofers?

[biggin]

Just bought one of these off eBay:
Pioneer TS-WX130DA Space-Saving Amplified Subwoofer

Should be good enough for my old ears.