I put up a thread on here about installing a JBL GTR-102 Bluetooth-only amp. I used the speakers already in my 77 Spider, which I believe are original.

I think the GTR-102 has gone out of production, but you can still find them online. They’ve introduced newer versions of the unit, but the 102 is all a Spider needs.

It is a very powerful amp with Bluetooth receiver. That’s it. You could add other input devices if you like, but all I use is the music or radio stations accessed by my IPhone. It auto-syncs when I start the car, I pick a playlist, and I’m gone.

Radio delete plate

Anyone have one of these you’d let go? For a boy’s first car. 77 Spider.

www.alfabb.com

 

Get a stinger exhaust.....

 

Mount a pair of "rear" speakers in the parcel shelf to complement the "front" footwell ones.

 

Don's setup sounds very nice, if I would have known about it before I bought my Kenwood BT receiver I would have went that route. You can hide the amp and no one would know it was there.... leaves you open to.find an Alfa blanking plate for the radio hole.....

 

Yes, it is possible to make the installation totally invisible. However, I chose to mount the control head in the radio location, as it allows me to turn it on manually without starting the car, plus access hands-free telephone, if I so desired.

I should mention that the sound, even using the two original speakers, is astounding. I was expecting thin and tinny, but this thing fills the air. The amp (not the controller) has some interesting equalizer controls. I just left them as delivered. For around $100, it’s the best sounding Spider system I’ve had.

 

I just updated the sound system on my 88 Spider to an Alpine CDE-172BT deck, plus an Alpine KT445A Power Pack amplifier. Already have speakers in front and on the back deck. All I needed was the amp, but I changed out the deck to upgrade to Bluetooth. Amp made a huge difference in sound. And now I can call and stream handsfree! Would highly recommend one.

I was able to install amp beneath the center console between shifter and heater and ran the mic wire up the driver A pillar, and clip mic to the visor.

BTW, I am selling the old deck if anyone is interested Alpine CDA-9847 CD Player In Dash Receiver | eBay

 

I recommend an aggressive set of cams and freer flowing exhaust. Best sound system you can put in the car.

But in seriousness, you can mount just about any modern head unit and some speakers for a nice upgrade that shouldn't cost too much. Probably not worth going for a big amp or a subwoofer, and the electrical system is not really set up for a big modern sound system.

 

My GTR102 gets its main power from the B+ stud on the right side firewall. Heavy current. Another stud is attached to the switched-power on the key for auto-on with ignition. There's a button on the front of the head that lets me select the main power manually, if I just want to sit there and listen to tunes without the motor running.

There really is a difference in a first-class, high-watt amplifier pushing even mediocre speakers and a small amp doing the same. When I installed the GTR in my 77 Spider, I assumed I'd need a sub mounted somewhere. Nope. The original speakers, with plenty of power down low, and doing just fine.

 

With my Alfas I always asked the question..."do I want to drive? Or do I want to listen to music?
Headers, stinger exhaust, speakers removed. Solved!

 

I like driving while listening to music. With my arm around a lovely young lady. Who likes to listen to Latin music.

There's more to the aspirations and story, but I'll leave that to your imagination.

 

Um, do you have an automatic, or do you let her shift?
I'll leave it at that before I get banned.
Mo in NJ

 

My father used to advise, when operating in a car, it is safer to use both hands. Let her drive.

 

I have to say that having the Kenwood Bluetooth was an upgrade but the best thing I did was add these tweeters. Totally different sound. Raised the stage.

Good luck,

Vin

 

I was wondering, has anyone considered adding headrest mounted speakers?

 

I'm sure it can be done, but aftermarket headrest speakers tend to look pretty cheezy.

 

I looked into this so I took out the centre air vents which are not really needed in Florida as the roof is always off. I fitted a shallow double din Alpine ILX W650 head unit and put a double USB socket hooked up to the head unit where the cars with an AC switch goes. I added a rear view camera the one that fits into the rear tag surround and upgraded the speakers in the footwells as I already had an amp I fitted it in the boot (had to make a cut out of the rear carpet bulkhead to fit). To be honest the sound was not really loud enough as footwell speakers are not the best place to be heard anyway. I then looked at my options for speakers behind the seats and again the space available is not great for decent sized speakers so I went for this stereo box that's a perfect fit between the 2 seat belt mounts on the back shelf.

Yes I realise not to everyone's taste for sure but the sound with another small amp I fitted is very good indeed, even with the roof off at speed I can hear the music fine something that really isn't possible with discreet speakers unless you want to spend a lot of money. I still have some of the red carpet left over from when I had the interior restored so I will cover the box in that. I can just unclip the speakers wires and take it out anytime I need and obviously I can use it in another car if I sell my spider. So it's either discrete factory looking operated speakers that you will struggle to hear clearly on a long run with the roof off or a box like this that gives real undistorted sound on the same run but doesn't look as good!

 

I just replaced the sound system in my 87 S3. Replaced the old Alpine head unit with a Kenwood KMM-BT328U. It has Bluetooth (what I was interested in) plus you can plug in satellite or other inputs. Installation was easy once I figured out how a PO hacked up the wires (interesting discovery: one wire was spliced three times, all three with different colors ...). It came with a mike for the phone but I haven't figured out where it should go yet. It's too noisy with the top down and I'm not about to put the top up just to yak on the phone. The same PO had replaced the original door speakers and totally buggered up the original speaker enclosures in the process. I rebuilt the door cards and installed a pair of Retrosound surface-mount speakers. I don't recommend either that surface-mount enclosure or the speaker that came with it. The enclosure was a total PITA to work with and the speaker sounds like late-70's really cheap OEM unit. Tiny magnets do not make for powerful sound. I still have the previous speakers and am trying to figure out how/where to install them to augment the ones in the door. Somewhere on the parcel shelf, but haven't figures out a plan yet. Too busy driving to get any work done.

 

I had an old cheap AM/FM cassette player in my 74 GTV with four speakers, the old Jensen 6x9s in the back and some smaller speakers in the doors. The radio didn't work well and the speakers were pretty tired.

I searched off and on for quite a while to find a period-correct replacement. I toyed with getting something new with BT also, for the convenience, but ended up shying away because I didn't want it to look modern.

I finally ended up buying a head unit from RetroManufacturing. I saw a picture of one someone had installed in a GTV. They offer these "Vintage Dial Screens" which are basically screen protectors with retro-looking AM/FM selection. You can still see the digital display behind the screen but you can turn it off if you like. And obviously, it isn't on when the car is off. It turned out pretty nice looking and doesn't distract from the look of the interior with the old style knobs and mounting plate.

I ended up buying some middle of the road Pioneer speakers to replace my existing speakers. I was able to salvage the old plastic Jensen speaker grills in the back so I put those over the Pioneer 6x9s in the back.
It sounds great and having BT is awesome.

Jeff
1974 GTV

 

I ditched the sound system completely. Made a blanking plate to cover the stereo hole and new carpeting over the speaker holes. Bought a small but good Bluetooth double sided speaker w/mic that I place on the dash or between the seats and connect to my iphone. Great sound with enough power, I can answer calls if I really need to, and take it with me if I need it for the beach, backyard, or picnic. Sounds crazy but it great.

 

Hi Guys,

We recently bought a '74 Spider and I am looking to replace the new BT stereo they put in with a classic looking one. Has anyone installed one from Alfaholics?

Thanks,
Chris

 

I’m using one from Woody’s radio shop.

Alfas in that era weren’t delivered with radios, and were left to dealers to sell and install. At the dealer I worked at, we put all sorts of stuff into new cars. So, “originality” is arbitrary.

The nice thing about modern, “blind” Bluetooth installations, is you can replace the delete plate and have a truly original look. Except for speakers, of course.