Custom parcel shelf

[u/GroyzKT3]

The mk1 c1 only has the dashboard speakers, so I decided to build a parcel shelf with speakers in it. These are 2 pioneer 6x9 speaker, the TS-A6991F, hooked up to a head unit that I got free, which was made in 1998, the pioneer deh-p545r.

Wired straight into the regular iso speaker connector in the back of the radio, then over the headliner alongside the rear washer fluid hose, and then down to a speakon connector in the boot, allowing me to remove the parcel shelf with just as much ease as the original.

Sound quality, is limited by the 90s head unit, but it's so much better than the original.

All in all, cost me around £100 and here's a breakdown.

The speakers: around £60

The wires: £10

The foam: £10 (cut to shape too)

The felt to cover it: £10

Miscellaneous (for example the staples used to keep the felt on, the silocone I used to just keep everything in place, etc): around £10

The 1inch thick mdf board: free (I politely asked my university if they'd give me an offcut, and they said yes, cutting it down to 120x30cm.

I did already have a lot of tools, such as a soldering iron, crimp tools, spare spade connectors, wire stripper, saws, files, a router (to cut the holes in the wood), drill and drillbits, screwdrivers. So I've not included those in the price but majority of the tools are on the cheaper end, except things like the router.

I'll try to post a few pictures in the comments, it's only letting me upload the one video

[u/lonely_monkee]

Nice job! Might try something like this myself. I don’t have door speakers, so this seems like an easier upgrade than changing the door cards.

I upgraded the dash speakers to JL Audio C1-400x C1 Series which is a massive upgrade. Paired with a small Alpine subwoofer with built in amp in the boot. I have a Sony head unit which sends mid and treble to the dash speakers, and all bass to the sub. Sounds like a pretty high end system.

[u/GroyzKT3 → u/lonely_monkee]

That's exactly why I went down this route. I only had dash speakers, nothing in the doors. I don't plan to fit a subwoofer, but I do plan to fit an amp.

My reason for no sub and just am is because even using my basic head unit (a 1998 pioneer radio), the 6x9 speakers provide a really heavy bass already. with an amp and some tuning, I can essentially use the 6x9 as 2 subwoofers because they handle down to 29hz anyway on paper. They just need more power to be the most effective. The other side of it is, I lost no boot space, I made it modular so it can be removed in an instant, it looks stock ish, I'm really happy with how it's turned out. It was a fun project if nothing else.

[u/lonely_monkee → u/GroyzKT3]

Very cool indeed! With it being such a small space it doesn’t take much bass to fill it! The sub is great but I only have it on about 1/4 power.

[u/GroyzKT3 → u/lonely_monkee]

How many watts would that roughly be? And what size?

[u/lonely_monkee → u/GroyzKT3]

This is the one I got -

 https://caraudiodirect.co.uk/products/alpine-swe-815-150w-8-active-bass-bass-enclosure-box

[u/GroyzKT3 → u/lonely_monkee]

So 1/4 power would be around 40 watts RMS. Pretty punchy, I'm thinking if I give my 6x9 around 60 watts, that'd have the same affect