Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3750
Speaker / sub upgrade. Rockford fosage & Focal K2
So during lock down I found my old car audio stuff that must be 20 years old !! Mainly Rockford fosgate
Might as well look at putting in the defender
Click image to enlarge
So first job I have some 5.25 speakers and Focal Tweeters with Crossovers... So the original rear speakers are 4". Modify the rear speaker holders drill some extra holes for the tweeters. Find away to fit the cross overs. Then Add some silent coat behind the panel (on the car) and also round the speaker cover on the inside.
Apart from the roof I silent coated the whole car a while back but added a bit more behind the covers...
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
I fitted these to the standard speaker output wires and instantly a better sound than the oem speakers so Happy...
Then onto the Amp, bit more of a challenge, so much googling and asking a forum member on here I had a plan.
Click image to enlarge
Checking what I had then had to order some more wiring. Out comes the head unit again, At the back it has 3 sets of RCA's so from the unit I can configure the front, rear and sub to the amp using the onboard graphic equaliser (how 80's)
However this meant a shed load of wires...... and while all apart I also added two remote turn on leads, which I fuses also at the head unit end and also added new speaker wire while all apart... to front and rear locations.
Click image to enlarge
big pack of new wiring 3 x RCA and two remote turn on plus some speaker wire
Then onto the front speakers, was going to go for 5.25 focal's but decided I didn't want to start cutting the front dash so googled loads of stuff to see the quality and given the high rating of these Focal K2 10cm went for these.... I wanted an easy life buy now.
Click image to enlarge
Direct replacement for the front, have to say look very well made and solid.
Click image to enlarge
And as I had already ran new speaker wire to the front left and right, they were DEAD easy to fit....
Click image to enlarge
The tweeters needed a bit of black tape to pad them out so they 'fit' better in there home, the crossover I used double sided 3m Velcro to stick to inside of dashboard.... Time will tell if I need to re think this?
Results are nice to look at...
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Now in my old days of ICE.... I had a big 12" Punch sub in the boot of my hot hatch... So wanted something to add a little kick. I read about a system a Defender specialist offers in their Premium plus package... They add a little 8" Sub under the passenger foot-well. (their systems fitted is £2000)
So a few weeks missing ones on e-bay I managed to get this neat little shallow depth 8" Rockford Punch sub. I need to tie it down with some straps and I have a Grill on order to protect the front... But sits in this location great easy to remove as quick release speaker terminals.
Click image to enlarge
So lets plumb it all into the amp and see what happens.....
Now my Amp is an Old Skool Rockford (made in the USA not China) which claims 4 x 60w @ 4 ohms. My head-unit claims 4 x 50w....Think that's just made up in the same way some amps claim to be 1000w Its a different league running through this amp. It was good 20 years ago, its still Good !! very very good.
So Far I'm running the front and rear from this amp and bridged the sub.
The amp needs fixing into place and I'm going to add a couple of computer fans to keep it cool with another sucking the air out... I need to order these. Then On e-bay the very same amp came up and I bagged a bargain !! I don't have it yet but when I do I have all the wiring ready to split the system up:-
Use the Front channel for one set of speakers
Rear Channel for the rears
Complete amp Bridged to run the sub dedicated
As it is its flipping good I played some Dire Straights and Mark Knopfler was sat on the arm rest !!! then I try one of my old favourites.. Faithless - Insomnia....
Boomtastic. It took 20 years off me Like a old boy racer (with a Land rover)
So massive improvement over the original and actually given what I have wasn't silly expensive? I've probably spent a good 4 to 6 weeks phaffing with a bit here and a bit their... to build the system up. Googling a lot and checking stuff as I go.
I would say around £300 including the focal speakers, as I already had the rear speakers, fuse terminal, some wiring, silent coat and amp...
I will try and post a video but doubt on the inter web it will be that easy to tell? once I have the other amp will see what difference it makes.
I'm Happy
27th May 2020 2:48pm
newton-tony
Member Since: 18 Sep 2016
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 122
Many thanks for sharing very impressed.
So far I have managed the Focal front upgrade, so more to come
27th May 2020 6:01pm
mk1collector
Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 6769
Good old Rockford fosgate before they went down hill. I had many an amp form them back in the day. Loving the install I have one planned for mine when I get time and inclination Ray
My build thread
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic17615.html
28th May 2020 9:38am
Stacey007
Member Since: 25 Sep 2015
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3750
^ Your right
The old stuff is brilliant, and can be bought for way less than new Pioneer, Alpine, etc new stuff don't think that many people 'know' about it to be honest.
I used to bring stuff back in hand luggage from the states years ago to build my collection up
The new stuff does look a bit more run of the mill, stick to the Punch series from USA not China
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
27th May 2020 6:01pm
Ray
