Hello louise,

all you really need is a small amp, two speakers and the right wiring. I'll send you a pm with links to everything you need and I'll draw you a simple diagram of how to wire it up. I'm sold on the no head unit idea, for my purposes it's ideal. A lot of the people asking questions on other forums about the same thing are also using it as a way to avoid ruining the dashboard of a classic car.

And that is why I have used a computer-soundsystem for many years in my DS and 2CV. It works great. As a sound-source I use my GPS with built-in mp3 player using and SD-card. The whole thing can be removed in seconds and leave no traces in the car. It runs directly from 12V. And was cheap, so if it gets stolen it's not the end of the world.

Here's my setup in the DS: (Hope the picture-links works)









No picture of the sub in the car, but it sits on the floor between the foot wells in front of the seats. DS has a flat floor.
The whole thing plays fantastic considering the simplicity and cost. It will stay in the DS for as long as I have it! (Had the car for 10 years now )

Had the same setup in the 2CV for many years until now. Since I use the car a lot I wanted radio, and got bored of taking out and putting in the GPS everytime I left the car, and having to manually switch it on/off. So now I build a regular system with car-stereo components for the 2CV.

Great stuff! This must be the best forum ever! You know the questions before I ask em!

Nice one, Russell! (I hope no one has their eye on it...)

Eirik, nice to have it confirmed that it's a workable solution. I currently have Sony Explode speakers fitted and went to the effort of building a solid rear shelf to take them, but I'm still very disappointed with the bass response. In fact, the whole sound quality is pretty pants. Mind you, most cars don't offer the ideal environment for sound - and that's especially true for our 2CVs.

That's why the 'computer speaker system' seems such as good solution - the bass response is already provided within an enclosed, ported unit, often with their own individual control over the amount of 'body rumble' you could want. No need to worry about having to mount the speakers to get the best sound - they come fully enclosed already.

Also, they have their own built-in amps, so no need to find one of them either...

And all available for around - ooh - £10-20 second hand?

I'll be ditching my Sony speakers and tin-pot Chinese amp when my car gets a long-needed refurb this summer, and will be squeezing in my 'Creative' speakers one way or another! (Currently in astonishingly successful use providing sound for my latest toy - an electronic drum kit...)

With a bit of research, it should be possible to find a 2.1 speaker/amp system with a sub-woofer that'll fit under the front seats, a remote mountable on/off/volume control, and 12V powering. And that's all you'd need - along with your MP3 player.

Did you solid shelf seal the boot space? Speakers require a specific volume of air that is either sealed (or vented with a tuned pipe) to operate efficiently. With my first 2cv I did the same, built a shelf between rear seat and rear window. The speakers just flap about, and when you crank it they distort because they can move too much.

I'd recommend building some small pods to put your speakers in, and mount them somewhere, like under the rear seat towards the front. That worked in my dyane quite well.

Hi meshking.

Yes, I know that speaker box/baffle/port design is a minefield! I trimmed the panel to fit as neatly as possible, but no way is it anything like sealed or accurately vented!

The Sonys are supposedly designed to fit on 'normal' rear parcel shelves, most of which are much thinner and flimsier than mine, so it couldn't have been that far out. However, I guess a little makes a big difference - 'cos they sound pants.

Even if the shelf itself had been sealed, the rear boot area is hardly a 'tuned' system - floppy rear seats, large air space under the seats, a tinpot boot lid...

So, I will be going 'Creative' with my refurb. I'm keeping an eye out for a 2.1 or 5.1 system that has a sub-woofer less than 150mm thick so it'll fit under the front seats. Failing that, I'll be shoving my own much boxier one into the boot, possible slung just behind the rear seat backrest so it 'ports' into the car. I'll have a proper play around when the time comes.

But I'm pretty confident it'll be miles better than trying to fit speakers into the car door panels, rear shelves, etc etc.

Excellent - post some pics when you've done it. I agree that short of making some proper door pods to mount the speakers in, it's a tough job to find somewhere suitable to put speakers. That said, once you hit the motorway, it's pretty pointless having a proper component speaker setup I'd think. Far too much wind noise and engine noise.

Cheers, Ben

With my stereo I can't hear the engine, wind noise or anything else. In a 2cv, I found the best place for speakers is in pods (you can buy them for various sizes on eBay) mounted on the roof on the brackets I made. If you want a set made up I can quite happily oblige.

I'd forgotten about those, Russ. You'll have a pm shortly.

I'll certainly post the results when I get around to doing the work, Ben.