Styling Punto 1999 MK1 Car audio!

[Riddler91]

Hi, i've just registered and I have a punto SX 1999 MK1
Im not sure if this is the right place to post this, or even if anyone can help really.
You will probably be able to tell, this is my first car and im a bit clueless atm.
I was looking to change the speakers and headset in the car but I honestly havn't got a clue what to get.
For the headset, i am looking for something simple with an AUX in. Dont really want to spend over £50 on that.

The speakers are the hard part. I'm looking for some tht could replace the factory fitted ones, then a woofer as well. But i wouldn't know where to put the woofer. Again i dont want to be spending a lot as im a bit skint atm. Just incase you dont know, my punto has 4 speakers:
2 front 8.7 cm
2 rear 10 cm
the originals are all full range but are pretty poor which is why im looking for new ones!
As is the stereo, but main reason is aux in.

Thanks to anyone who can help me!

 

[Riddler91]

Infact, if anyone can seggest the best place to get them from, i guess i could just take a look and make my own decision.
Thanks again

 

[firstcar-Y10]

the fronts are simple but pricey, Alpine make some direct fit replacements and seem to be the only ones that do. Just ordered mine up through Halfords for about £40 (this was a couple of years ago now mind) this will brighten up the sound in the front no end. I personally wouldn't bother with the rears, they will make no noticeable difference from the front seat and you're not going to add a thumping bassline no matter how much you spend on 10cm speakers. A sub realistically just has to go in the boot, on the cheap you just use an off the peg mdf box but remember you still have to lay out for a seperate amp and fitting kit.
Personally I'd go for a (slightly) better head unit and just whack some 6x9s on the back shelf (or pay out for a custom acoustic shelf with the money you save on the sub/amp combo) You will be pleasantly surprised with the results, there is a reason you see that arrangement so often in mk1s. Run the 6x9s off the head unit and when the wallet has recovered you can stick the sub and a 4 channel amp in the boot and run the 6x9s off that too when you're ready.
where to buy? just go to Halfords if you're new to this game, you can touchh the stuff, have a listen and talk to the guys who may be numptys in some areas but usually spend all day playing with the ICE and do know their stuff. Then if you're worried go and price up the stuff you've seen online.
Have fun

 

[Riddler91]

Thanks a lot for your advice.
When you say acoustic shelf, can i not use the standard shelf fitted and get 6x9 holes cut in that? or should it be a new shelf?
Thanks again!

 

[firstcar-Y10]

yes you can use the standard shelf, and I have just mounted mine that way and they sound great. You shouldn't need to get the holes cut, the shelf is only fairly flimsy plastic. About five minutes with a jigsaw and you're there. The acoustic shelf is the next step up though, you replace the standard shelf with a much heavier duty mdf version which will not flex and vibrate with the speakers thus sharpening up the sound a bit.

 

[Riddler91]

Ah ok. I understand. Managed to get some old 6x9s from my bro from abouit 5 yrs ago for the moment, so all i have to get is a new stereo.
Thanks a lot for your advice. Wouldn't have had a clue otherwise!:worship:

 

[sharpshots-s.a]

You wont get a headunit with aux input that will power a sub & amp for £50 mate

 

[5abr3]

I've got an MDF rear shelf that I made up mysely, works find and any more development will have to wait till I can spend more time and cash on audio rather than mechanics... Door cards I think may be in order.

Anyway, built my own mdf shelf in a couple of hours from scratch for less than £10 including carpetting it (didn't have to get the MDF, used some we had knocking around).

 

[sharpshots-s.a]

nd i just put my 6x9s in my standerd parcelshelf, nd they hve been fine for tha moment

 

[Riddler91]

Dont think im going to get a large sub, just because of the practicality issue. Kinda need to use the boot. Think its just guna be Aux and 6x9s for a while.
Is there any point in an amp if i dont use a sub? and do you know what sortof price im looking at for a head unit and amp (if i do need one)?
Thanks

 

[firstcar-Y10]

Dont think im going to get a large sub, just because of the practicality issue. Kinda need to use the boot. Think its just guna be Aux and 6x9s for a while.
Is there any point in an amp if i dont use a sub? and do you know what sortof price im looking at for a head unit and amp (if i do need one)?
Thanks

how long is a piece of string? If you really only want an alright head with an aux input you could get away with spending under a ton, 70 to 100 or so and still get something that will go louder than you will ever need unless you want to annoy the neighbours, or you could spend hundreds on one with dvd playback and a flip up screen (that won't flip because of the mk1 dash design)
I've even just bought an acoustic solutions head unit just for the hell of it from Argos for 25 quid that does USB, SDcard, MP3 cd and has a pre out for an amp and it even (whisper it) doesn't sound bad, so it is possible to get a bargain. It does have the sort of tacky lighting display that an ex eastenders star usually switches on mid November but hey what do you expect for that money?
no, don't bother with an amp unless you are getting a sub, utterly pointless for the fronts and a 2 channel for the 6x9s will set you back about 50 quid upwards which you might as well spend on a better head unit and save all the hassle of running a seperate power supply all the way to (presumably) the boot and finding somewhere to stash it. A four channel to power a sub later will be around £100 plus and you'll still spend another 20 to 30 quid on cabling it up. worth it in the long run, but as I said before, do it as a second stage later with the sub and you can figure out how to fit it all together better. There's no shortage of threads on here with people showing off some neat builds to give you inspiration.

 

[Riddler91]

Thanks for the advice.
I saw one earlier,
https://www.fiatforum.com/punto-styling/165085-finally-finished-my-boot-build.html
Which with a perspex sheet or cover for the sub would be, well... perfect to keep the boot usable.
Need to save a bit of cash first though, so no hurry at all.
Thanks again all

Oh and i got the Alpine CDa-9812RB head unit just so u dont have to change it when i DO get a sub fitted.

 

[firstcar-Y10]

good stuff, get the basics in place first, something decent to listen to, then something to make the car shake with your choice of bass, then an eerie blue glow like there's a dimensional rift in your boot. It's a plan
The perspex might not be great, mesh and some sort of felt to stop the crap getting in if you want a useable boot but covering it with something solid is going to mess with the sound, you need air moving there. If you want useable boot space mounting a pair of smaller subs upright into the sides between wheelarch and the little factory speaker mounts might be a better option, then you keep a boot and the spare wheel.

 

[Riddler91]

Ok, sounds better than perspex (the mesh etc) and with the vertical mounting. How would you do that? sounds like an idea!