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MG MGF Technical - Rear Speaker Options

Not very technical, but....

I have an early F with the 2 speakers in the doors (which I have upgraded because the originals disintegrated after water damage, but thats another story). I would like to add speakers to my T-bar. MY2000 T-bar + speakers are currently going for a small fortune on EBay, so I am looking at the alternative options.

B&G offer the pod + speakers for a reasonable price, but will this fit inside the early T-bar? Has anyone done this and not cut holes in the T-Bar ie leaving the speakers entirely hidden? Given the speakers would be behind the headrest anyway I assume that the acoustics are fairly rubbish at best.

Alternatively I can buy aftermarket speakers and attach these to the T-bar. If I do this I have the option of separate tweeters which perhaps could be mounted to the side of the headrest, under the seatbelt hole.

I'm not after anything amazing, just audible on the motorway with the roof down. However, any experiences of which system would sound best will be welcomed!

Ta.
Pete

You can certainly make them fit - all you need do is cut some holes in your current T-bar, and then figure out a way of covering that hole. Grilles used to be available, but I gather that one side is now very hard to source... :o/

For some more inspiration see http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/DIY/interior/T-bar/installing_rear_t.htm
Rob Bell

Pete,

I also have a Mk1 F, and have a the MY2000 rear speakers. Try as many scrappies and you can, I got speakers for £20 and the T Bar for £10. Having rear speakers really makes the world of difference, even if you just go for the OE ones.

Emma Jackman (& Green with Envy ~ S369 FAR)
Emma Jackman

you will find that the cost of fitting rear speakers in your current bulkhead cover is not worth the effort when compared with getting a mk2 cover and speaker boxes, don't forget the cost of speakers, the curve of the bulkhead or the acosticness of a closed box.
Will Munns

Pete
I have just done the rear speakers in my 98 F.
Like you, prices seem OTT on ebay for 2nd hand units The rear speaker pod assy from B&G via Ebay was new and at £45 I thought OK. Although I will be changing the speakers themselves when funds allow later. I went to the MGF centre for a Leather T Bar at a good price with the grills already done £170 and they fitted it, exchange for my old T Bar of course.
The difference with a good head unit is excellent and worth the extra. I would say it is a very good upgrade option
Mike
M Johnson

Thanks for the tips, thats exactly the sort of info I was after! I guess I'll keep hunting for the MY 2K T-bar.
Pete

As an update for those who offered advice, I bought the B&G speaker box and fitted it behind a spare mk 1 T bar cover. I cut oval speaker holes and carved out the foam with a stanley knife (on balance, not the ideal tool for the job!). Covered the cut edge of the holes with bias binding and the speakers are visible 1" behind the T-bar. Looks ok, nothing special, but I dont spend much time behing the seats with the roof on!

Vastly improves the listening experience but the OE speakers are noticeable "muddier" than my ~£30 Sony door speakers (at least they are when listening to dodgy metal!) Something to upgrade one day. No probs with vibrations etc by using the speaker bar, though.

Took a very long time to refit the windstop, mind!
Pete

Pete,

what about the door tweeters ?
My 97 has had them fitted and they do make a difference over the two door speakers I had in my old 96.
Jon Baker

Just a thought but could you not use a template to mark an oval on the front of the T-Bar and just drill holes through the T Bar itself at regular intervals rather than cut a hole in it to mount a cover.

You could mount the Speakers behind and the holes would let the sound through without having to carve away at the T Bar to try to get a flush fit on a curved surface for the speaker trims.

6 x 4 400W speakers are available at reasonable price at

http://www.caraudiofield.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3269
Chris Catchpole

For an edasy solution which looks great contact Ken Marshall on marshall.kk@xtra.co.nz He is working night shift so has some time to answer emails


I went the whole hog and had the front of the T bar moulded out to allow for a proper fit and then covered. Looks great. photos available of Dieter's web site somewhere

Ken, on the other hand, changed the profile of the the edges of grill covers to match the curves of the Tbar- result is simple and very professional and saves having to cover the T Bar and the spakers sit firmly against the the T Bar face.. If you contact him he can tell you what he did and any secrets he learned. We both have 1996 MGFs
DAVID RICHARDS

This thread was discussed between 24/10/2006 and 11/11/2006

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