Golf mk1 cab audio upgrade

[Hav1979]

Not messed around with any in car audio for a long time, but picked up a Golf mk1 cab last year and have a smallish roadtrup planned this year so want to update the audio. Nothing too crazy but so at least you can hear it on the motorway.

The car does have a JVC Bluetooth headunit which is OK, but the sound is shocking, quiet and tinny. Would updating the current front speakers and going old school and adding some 6x9s in an mdf shelf make much difference, or is there a more modern solution? Don't want to throw loads of money at it..

Would just be for roof up on the motorway.

Cheers

[paddy1970]

Replacing the front speakers with decent quality ones would make a substantial difference. The original speakers are likely degraded after all these years, and modern replacements will significantly improve clarity and volume. Brands like Pioneer, Alpine, or JBL offer good options in the £40-80 range per pair that would work well with your existing head unit.

Adding 6×9s in an MDF shelf is still a very effective solution for adding bass presence, especially in a convertible where you need more power to overcome road and wind noise. This approach gives you the most impact for your money compared to more complex modern solutions.

[shtu]

Some handy info on speaker sizes - https://www.cabby-info.com/audio.htm

[TEKNOPUG]

Fit an amp.

Doesn't matter what speakers you fit, if they are driven by some tiny 12w RMS amp in the head unit.

[gmaz]

paddy1970 said:

Replacing the front speakers with decent quality ones would make a substantial difference. The original speakers are likely degraded after all these years, and modern replacements will significantly improve clarity and volume. Brands like Pioneer, Alpine, or JBL offer good options in the £40-80 range per pair that would work well with your existing head unit.

Adding 6×9s in an MDF shelf is still a very effective solution for adding bass presence, especially in a convertible where you need more power to overcome road and wind noise. This approach gives you the most impact for your money compared to more complex modern solutions.

The problem with a cabrio is that the 6x9s will be firing straight up into a soft top that will absorb a lot of the sound pressure.

I'd advise an under-seat subwoofer, and decent door speakers powered by an amp.

[Hav1979]

Thanks. I've swapped the fronts for 6x4 JBLs, and dropped a slightly retro 4x45 headunit in i picked up cheaply. The fronts had actually already been swapped for small alpine ones.

This sounds a touch better for still lacking any low end, so agree thinking the under seat sub is the way to go.

Cheers all

[Len Clifton]

I’ve been through the same process with my 2001 Range Rover. The system that was in it was HK and once quite high end, but not now, so I replaced everything with new. Went with Focal speaker replacements which dropped straight in and a Focal class D micro amp, which fits behind the dashboard. Also, a retro-modern head unit by Blaupunkt.

Amplification for those speakers you’ve fitted will make a world of difference.

This is what I went with, it’s a brilliant little piece of kit
https://www.focal.com/products/impulse-4320

Head unit
https://blaupunkt.com/product/frankfurt-rcm-82-dab...

Edited by Len Clifton on Thursday 13th March 07:15