69 RADIO AND SPEAKERS

[Tom S.]

WHEN I bought my 69 the radio did not work. I assumed it was the radio as it is original. Well I checked it out and found the radio to be ok.Someone had taken the speakers out of it.I put in some aftermarket speakers that I had and it works fine. My question is when I turn the volume up very much at all the sound is terrible. Did these radios require some special speaker or differnt ohms or something?It is not a stereo radio but I don't remember the sound being this poor.Thanks in advance!

Tom Stanton

[A L.]

Re: 69 RADIO AND SPEAKERS

Tom,
These radios require a 10 ohm speaker. Since they do not have much power, the original type speakers GM used actually sound best. Another thing to bear in mind is that these radios had 60's technology and just do not have the power or frequency response of todays radios. In my 71 vert, even with the stereo version, it was hard to hear after 60 MPH.

[A L.]

Re: 69 RADIO AND SPEAKERS

Tom,
These radios require a 10 ohm speaker. Since they do not have much power, the original type speakers GM used actually sound best. Another thing to bear in mind is that these radios had 60's technology and just do not have the power or frequency response of todays radios. In my 71 vert, even with the stereo version, it was hard to hear after 60 MPH.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 RADIO AND SPEAKERS

Tom-----

As A.G. mentioned, 10 ohm speakers are what was originally used. Using speakers of this rating is best, but they're really only available in original design speakers. Usually, you can get by ok with an 8 ohm speaker which are generally available in modern speakers and these spekares can be "impedence matched" with an in-line resistor. You absolutely cannot use 4 ohm speakers, which are the most common impedence availble today, as-is with a Corvette radio. The sound will be terrible AND the radio can be easily damaged by such speakers.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 RADIO AND SPEAKERS

Tom-----

As A.G. mentioned, 10 ohm speakers are what was originally used. Using speakers of this rating is best, but they're really only available in original design speakers. Usually, you can get by ok with an 8 ohm speaker which are generally available in modern speakers and these spekares can be "impedence matched" with an in-line resistor. You absolutely cannot use 4 ohm speakers, which are the most common impedence availble today, as-is with a Corvette radio. The sound will be terrible AND the radio can be easily damaged by such speakers.

[Tom S.]

Re: 69 RADIO AND SPEAKERS

Joe and A.G.
Thank you for your quick response. The speakers I have in there now are 4ohm.I thought that there would be a good explanation. I will change them out before playing the radio. It seems to work well and I do not want to damage it.

Thanks again

Tom

[Tom S.]

Re: 69 RADIO AND SPEAKERS

Joe and A.G.
Thank you for your quick response. The speakers I have in there now are 4ohm.I thought that there would be a good explanation. I will change them out before playing the radio. It seems to work well and I do not want to damage it.

Thanks again

Tom

[Richard G.]

Re: 69 RADIO AND SPEAKERS

Tom

And the sound will still suck. I've given up on my original 69 radio and now drive to hear the exhaust/cam when I drive it.

Enjoy

Rich

[Richard G.]

Re: 69 RADIO AND SPEAKERS

Tom

And the sound will still suck. I've given up on my original 69 radio and now drive to hear the exhaust/cam when I drive it.

Enjoy

Rich

[Klaus Friedrich #33362]

Re: 69 RADIO AND SPEAKERS

Hello together,

you're all right. The sound is terrible - compared to modern radios.
I don't listen to it, the sound of my 427 engine is music in my ears.
But last year our club visited the meeting in Idstein (here in Germany) and we cruised over normal streets - not the Autobahn. I switched my radio on an didn't tuned it and what did I hear? AFN !!! American commercials and good old country music. God, I was in heaven ...

Klaus
Germany

[Klaus Friedrich #33362]

Re: 69 RADIO AND SPEAKERS

Hello together,

you're all right. The sound is terrible - compared to modern radios.
I don't listen to it, the sound of my 427 engine is music in my ears.
But last year our club visited the meeting in Idstein (here in Germany) and we cruised over normal streets - not the Autobahn. I switched my radio on an didn't tuned it and what did I hear? AFN !!! American commercials and good old country music. God, I was in heaven ...

Klaus
Germany

[Jack H.]

Another consideration....

The early Shark cars had speakers mounted in the resonnance cavities behind the kick panels. In addition to impedance matching (sets the power transfer profile of the audio system), you can have mechanical mounting problems with generic aftermarket speakers. The 'cage' of the speaker has to have openings in the back to let the speaker cone 'ride'. If there's a mechanical interference fit between the max rearward excursion of the speaker cone and the corners of the kick panel ressonance cavity, the speaker cone can touch or 'slap' and it's sure to sound like (*&& especially at high volume. A calibrate eyeball on the final mechanical installation of these speakers is must unless you're using the real McCoy factory originals!

[Jack H.]

Another consideration....

The early Shark cars had speakers mounted in the resonnance cavities behind the kick panels. In addition to impedance matching (sets the power transfer profile of the audio system), you can have mechanical mounting problems with generic aftermarket speakers. The 'cage' of the speaker has to have openings in the back to let the speaker cone 'ride'. If there's a mechanical interference fit between the max rearward excursion of the speaker cone and the corners of the kick panel ressonance cavity, the speaker cone can touch or 'slap' and it's sure to sound like (*&& especially at high volume. A calibrate eyeball on the final mechanical installation of these speakers is must unless you're using the real McCoy factory originals!