Speaker Sizes +2

[pmallinson]

Hi

Can anyone advise me reasonably quickly what size speakers (physical dimensions not wattage) are best for a +2 and do they normally fit in the doors or footwell kick plates ?

There are some being made available to me which seem very good value but need to know which size

I'm overseas at work at present so cannot check mine myself

Thanks

[peterako]

Hi Peter,

I put 4" ones in the shelf. They fit nicely into the existing
cutouts if you have them....though I should probably add some
sealing as there can be some gaps.

I also mounted 6" (I think) speakers under dash in
boxes I made myself (and covered in leather to doll up)
as I found teh sound too thin with just the 4" ones
in the back.

And yes, there is good foot/leg room too. Although with the
boxes I made for teh front speakers one may have trouble with
a foot side of say 11 upwards on the driver side. Easily rectified
with smaller boxes. But then if you have 11+ the pedals are going
to be an issue anyway, especially hard braking.....

I have a modern CD/Radio that I mounted under dash too.

I'll try and post some pics.

Take care,
Peter (1973 +2S 130/5 in daily use....nice....)

[peterako]

Hi Again Peter,

Missed half (or more) of your question.....

I had looked at the doors to see if I could put speakers (front) in
them and decided against it:

- Little room
- Bad weather protection etc.
- Would have to CUT the car

Footwell sides...something similar. And very invasive with regard
to cutting in to the car....

I bought my 4" ones new (?29.99 at Halfords). I got the 6" ones
from a written off Peugeot 605 (?20 the pair + Tweeters and
crossovers....nowhere to put the tweeters so the make good
paper weights!) havinmg had one previously myself and
having been extremely impressed by the sound systems in them.

Abroad again?

Peter

[pmallinson]

I bought my 4" ones new (?29.99 at Halfords). I got the 6" ones
from a written off Peugeot 605 (?20 the pair + Tweeters and
crossovers....nowhere to put the tweeters so the make good
paper weights!) havinmg had one previously myself and
having been extremely impressed by the sound systems in them.

Abroad again?

Peter

Hi Peter

Yes I'm abroad but I suppose its actually STILL !! I work offshore Vietnam for 28 days at a time then 28 off again to play with the Lotus and prepare the boat for next summer on Kenmare Bay !!

Thanks for the Info on the speakers I'm planning some slightly larger 3 way items in the rear parcel shelf, Howmuch room it there about the Petrol tank approx ? would I get some 4 " deep spearkers in without them touching the tank and vibrating etc ?

Thanks

[tdafforn]

The Spyder Zetec has them in the bottom of the B-posr on the inside.
Not sure what size they are, but I'm sure you could ask them if you come to Stoneleigh
Tim

[peterako]

Clearance above the fuel tank.

I'd really have to check, but I think 4" deep will be VERY tight
and may rattle.

More of a problem may be getting the shelf in and out as it
'slides' in pretty tightly to allow for:

- rear of the shelf snugly fitting at the rear screen
- front being constricted by the side panels.

Of course this may not be an issue if you decide to 'surface'
mount the speakers rather than flush mount them 'under' the
shelf.

Another consideration is that bass is probable going to be
reduced by the fact that there really won't be much of a 'boom'
box (air chamber) under the parcel shelf AND the Elan
Exhaust note muffles (no pun intended) what ever bass the
speakers will produce.
Combine that with sound coming from behind you (along with the
exhaust note) and you're really reducing the potential for
your sound.

The Elan cabin is not an ideal place for music/radio etc!
Some would even say that it's blasphemous (spelling?) to even
have a radio when you have that exhaust note.....but I guess
we're at the stage where we like our creature comforts....and
live in a country where an 80 mile journey can take 4 hours even
with 50% of that being moterway and the rest national roads....

Give me a call when you get back.

Peter

[tdafforn]

hey, the radio is also useful for:
1) listening to traffic news so you can miss the tailbacks that lead to a boiling elan
2) listening to while you wait for a tow truck
3) drowning out the sounds of impending engine rebuild from under the bonnet
4) providing a source of spare wire when you have been stranded with electrical "issues".


tim

[peterako]

And....
Hill starts if you can't find a rock to put under the wheel!!!

[john.p.clegg]

?

John

[tdafforn]

??
Tim

[lotuselan2]

Peter
Since originality was not a factor in my restoration, here is my sound system:
- 5 1/4" component speakers installed in the two rear side panels alongside the rear "seats". They are just above the front of the cushions. There is lots of room there for the component crossover box and you can angle the tweeters to suit.
- Head unit is an modern Alpine intalled in my home built (very nicely I must say) dash in place of the glove box.
- 8" sub-woofers installed in a custom made box in the triangle between the two rear seats, on top of the chassis.
- Two channel amp (modest watts) for the sub-woofers in the floor of the boot opposite the spare tire. I don't have that silly floor panel in the boot so I added some extra heat shielding on the floor since the silencer is below it.

With the BDR at full roar I can still hear some music! The component speakers in the rear panels alone might be all you need. Buy good ones and enjoy.
Ken

[kevin]

Sorry for the late reply, but with very careful measuring, I managed to fit a pair of 6"x9" speakers in the rear parcel shelf, just behind the suspension turrets of my +2.

I used Boston Acoustics NX97's, they are a very close fit, but the sound quality is great!

Kevin

[lotuselan2]

Good job they must sound great if you have a good head set to drive them.

[pmallinson]

Hi Everyone

Well you help has provided me with all I needed (again) and I have a new pair of 6X9 speakers for the rear shelf and a pair of 4 inch for the front (as yet undecided as to where these are going) I have bought a 'old' Motarola to cover the hole in the dash and a 'Secret Audio' system with 10 changer CD player all going into the boot and only a remote control for the system to be in the car !!

I'll try and do a report and photo's for the job when I get round to fitting it all

Peter M