Any one fitted a hidden MP5 player and speakers

**Mike424u** · 02-11-21, 07:50 PM

Show me were you fitted your single din stereo and speakers. Or even double din if it would fit.

I'm considering fitting an MP5 player with blue tooth hands free from my phone and also to be able to play music from my phone or the MP5 player all hands free.
As lot of new style MP5 players have a remote function, so may be fit it in the boot or under the bonnet scuttle.
Not bothered about having an aerial for the radio side of it.

I would like to hide it out of site if possible, same with a couple of speakers or even 4.

I have seen a few cars with units fitted in a cubby between the seats on the rear bulk head. But don't fancy cutting that out or the leather panelling

Is there room under the dash on an AK up around the passenger side up by my ECU etc.

Nice to have a bit music on a long journey.

**427jlc** · 02-11-21, 09:18 PM

If you're running sidepipes, after 30mph you won't hear nothing, I've trialled a high end Bose speaker in different parts of the car, again after 30 mph nothing!

You end up stopping at the lights reaching for the volume button, when driving you will have it a top volume until you stop.

I tried the Apple air pods which perform a bit better but again up to 30 - 40mph then wind noise takes over!

What I haven't tried is a set of head phones that have a foam covering which may reduce the wind noise.

What I will say is the air pods was the best especially pootling around at low speeds. On motorways forget anything.

The last one is the earphones that look like ear defenders, but they come at the price of looking a bit bell endish........

Let us know if you find a decent solution as I've mentioned before, I have a big sound system 8-10 speakers but can't fit them anywhere and a booming stereo with a 50 year old guy at the wheel is a no no......

**Clive** · 03-11-21, 01:01 AM

I have aa Le Mega PR1 portable digital radio which is fantastic in the Cobra. Compact and excellent sound quality, the ear pods also protect your ears from the buffeting you get at speed. Also great value at under £30!

http://www.lemegaaudio.com/product/P...3-19/1315.html

**Russhowell** · 03-11-21, 09:14 AM

Hello Mike,

I thought about doing this on my next build. Therefore I purchased one of these for about £5 just for testing:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353561691933

Its approx 9cm long and a couple of cm's deep, so very small. I can successfully connect to it using bluetooth or insert a small SD card loaded with tracks.

I was going to install at the back of the glovebox, attach it to an amp that is sufficient to drive two mid range and two tweeters.
I think with the correct placement of speakers it will be quite a good sound at any speed.

Certainly in my boy racer days of mini's\escorts, my bass could be heard coming before my car was in sight!

I think angled tweeters up on the doors, should be nice and clean, and only 20mm wide:
https://www.kenwood-electronics.co.u.../com/KFC-ST30/
and maybe some 5 inch midrange in a custom triangle wedge covered in carpet down under the door\hinge\floor area, so firing up\towards opposite side.

The other thought was to make use of the boot and cut and mount speakers into the rear bulkhead BEFORE covering with leather\carpet. The perforated leather is so thin anyway, plus the speakers would be closer to you, might be a good idea.
This would also make the boot an enclosed bass box, maybe improving sound........slightly.

Just throwing ideas around....

Russ

**Mike424u** · 03-11-21, 09:44 AM

I have used Bluetooth in ear headphones connected my mobile phone in my Westfield, and up to 70mph on motor ways and dual carriageway's they work well.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bluetooth-He...%2C242&sr=8-12

I have tried Samsung ear buds, but they don't stay charged up for long enough.

I have tried my BOSE full over ear phones, but like someone said you look a bit of dick driving down the road with those on.

I have been looking at some of the cheaper MP5 players around ( Ebay Amazon ) they seem to come with a hands free adaptor which to fits on the steering wheel.
Has to be worth a shot for the price, and could be fitted in the boot or well out of the way. To avoid using the touch screen or having it on show.
I did think of fitting it in the back of the glove box just remove the leather cover rear panel and cut out a slot, use the standard din fitting, then I could re fit the cover over it to hide it, speaker placement would be the key to using it with out headphones. I don't think any amount of speakers with no roof will ever give true sound at anything much over 50mph

**aaronjb** · 03-11-21, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Mike424u

I don't think any amount of speakers with no roof will ever give true sound at anything much over 50mph

I can't hear the stereo in the BMW at speed with the roof down, and that's whisper quiet (in terms of exhaust) .. unless the volume is up loud enough to sound like a proper eejit when I stop at a set of lights, anyway

I did buy a cheap 'retro look' MP3 player (MP5 is a submachine gun, you'll definitely hear that at close range over the exhaust!) - looks a bit like this, but cost £15 from Aliexpress: https://www.classiccarstereo.co.uk/s...ro-300-dab-bt/ - with the thought of fitting it in the car for longer journeys, to be used with 3M Peltor ear defenders via bluetooth.. we'll see if I ever bother, though!

**ChrisP** · 03-11-21, 10:19 AM

I've got another solution (it's the old farts answer)! Phonak Bluetooth Hearing Aids work really well, I use them for Satnav, you can hear instructions as plain as day when wearing ear defenders and even answer your phone on them (for a one way conversation)! Mind you the £2500 price tag might be a bit steep unless you really need them to hear, like I do!!!!!!

As for music, as far as I am concerned my old V8 singing is unbeatable so never bother!

**aaronjb** · 03-11-21, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by ChrisP

even answer your phone on them (for a one way conversation)!

So .. when you need to take a call from the wife?

**TINKA** · 03-11-21, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by 427jlc

If you're running sidepipes, after 30mph you won't hear nothing, I've trialled a high end Bose speaker in different parts of the car, again after 30 mph nothing!

You end up stopping at the lights reaching for the volume button, when driving you will have it a top volume until you stop.

I tried the Apple air pods which perform a bit better but again up to 30 - 40mph then wind noise takes over!

What I haven't tried is a set of head phones that have a foam covering which may reduce the wind noise.

What I will say is the air pods was the best especially pootling around at low speeds. On motorways forget anything.

The last one is the earphones that look like ear defenders, but they come at the price of looking a bit bell endish........

Let us know if you find a decent solution as I've mentioned before, I have a big sound system 8-10 speakers but can't fit them anywhere and a booming stereo with a 50 year old guy at the wheel is a no no......

Exactly the same issue when I built my car so I removed it all as the best soundtrack is the V8 anyway.