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Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 10:55 pm
by bongojoe
Completed a small pimp today that I've had in mind for a while.
I had a set of old Apple desktop speakers kicking around, which I've mounted at each end of the dashboard and wired in parallel with the front door speakers. This vastly improves the clarity of your tunes when trucking along with 2.5 litres of noisy diesel engine beside you in the cabin.
But! There's a twist...! I installed 1/4" jack sockets in the pillars and the speakers are removable - with a couple of extension cables I can take Pink Floyd with me to the camp fire up to 10 metres away.
A couple of very discreet switches below the door speakers lets me switch them off so those sleeping in the van aren't disturbed while I chill out to Dark Side of the Moon outside.
Thinking I might build a couple of sturdier outdoor speakers now...
Re: Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 4:20 am
by helen&tony
Hi
Very nice indeed...do they really sound that good?
Cheers
Helen
Re: Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 9:55 am
by bongojoe
helen&tony wrote:
Very nice indeed...do they really sound that good?
On their own, no. With the door and rear speakers delivering a bit of bass, yes!
Re: Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 11:14 am
by Simon Jones
Looks very smart. I've often toyed with the idea of getting some Bose satellite speakers & then fitting the subwoofer somewhere behind the rear trim panels. While they are generally mains powered, there's a good chance the amp is more like 12V so running it shouldn't be an issue. Must get thinking cap on....

Re: Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 11:18 am
by helen&tony
bongojoe wrote:helen&tony wrote:
Very nice indeed...do they really sound that good?
On their own, no. With the door and rear speakers delivering a bit of bass, yes!
Hi
Thanks for that!....it's prompted me to look round for some more ideas, but I'll be down to the 'puter emporium on Wednesday for a peek
Thanks again
Cheers
Helen
Re: Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 9:17 pm
by mellon man
Maybe sound would improve if you wired them through some Tweeter (External) Crossovers

Re: Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 4:12 pm
by bongojoe
My next move is to add a subwoofer, which I'll do as soon as I've figured out where I can hide one without the missus realising...
Re: Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 5:17 pm
by helen&tony
Hi
Under the seats!
Cheers
Helen
Re: Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 5:47 pm
by bongojoe
Thought about that - there's no space at all. And she'd get the fright of her life!
Re: Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 7:10 pm
by Dr Fingers
Funny thing, and I've been in the music biz all my life, but don't feel the urge to have good sound in Bongy, quite the opposite..I have a naff old Sony stereo in there, Radio4 does it for me more than Daft Punk (which I LOVE, btw, best produced album in years), and I rather enjoy the burble of that funny old diesel lump.
Saga moments, I guess?
Derek
Re: Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 10:59 pm
by mikeonb4c
Dr Fingers wrote:Funny thing, and I've been in the music biz all my life, but don't feel the urge to have good sound in Bongy, quite the opposite..I have a naff old Sony stereo in there, Radio4 does it for me more than Daft Punk (which I LOVE, btw, best produced album in years), and I rather enjoy the burble of that funny old diesel lump.
Saga moments, I guess?
Derek
Ditto for me Derek and I'm also a musician!
Re: Detachable, extendable dashboard speakers
Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 4:02 am
by helen&tony
Hi
Er ....I tend to agree with Derek and Mike on this ....I'm no musician, but I hardly ever listen to music in the van now (Van seems to have become the Bongo's name).....music seems to be very confusing for my brain now if I listen in anything other than a quiet environment....BUT, those speakers might give some nice LOW VOLUME entertainment when camping....the beauty being that they won't cope with volume, so listening to classical stuff FAINTLY could be nice
Cheers
Helen