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Chicago. I think it's sort of crazy to re-wire when all of the speakers are already wired, the problem is that there are so many of them. At least 20 wires for the speakers themselves, then the inputs from the head unit and warning units, seems like a waste of time to pull them out and start from scratch. One of the install guys said that there are really too many speakers to be useful, so I guess that's one way to go, with high-end amps and high-end speakers, you can reduce the complexity.
Before you make your decision, let me get my install done, if it is too weak (it very well may be, the Focals are supposed to require a lot of amp) then we'll know you need to do something different. But another installer I spoke with said that most Bentley owners kept the original amp. However, his "most" might very well mean, "the only one I've done so far".
You need such a big set of channels to power all 12 speakers that the best solution might be the easiest, unplug the old speakers, plug in the new ones, add a subwoofer, add a subwoofer amp, unplug the old infotainment, plug in the new Ben Hur and run a cable for the backup camera.
We also have the wiring diagram, plus the battery-plonk test to test the wire pairs so it might just be time-consuming but not difficult to change out power amps.
Interesting trivia: the Ben Hur engineer guy told me that the whole reason Ben Hur exists is because the manufacturer of the first car stereos for the post VAG Bentleys stopped making the radio, so when a radio would quit under warranty (which I could see happening with that junk) the dealer would have to cannibalize cars in inventory to replace the bad radio. So Bentley called TV AG or whatever their called and Ben Hur was born.
I still think it's a bit too plasticy, but whatevs.
Ive got 4 more speakers to install, in the doors and Im done with speakers, next wire up the amps which won't take long as all the cables are in the boot, then unplug the stock amp and start chopping some wires ... fun ... Ive figured out how to get rid of the stock amp, I'll post my findings once Ive done a test run ...
Chicago. I think it's sort of crazy to re-wire when all of the speakers are already wired, the problem is that there are so many of them. At least 20 wires for the speakers themselves, then the inputs from the head unit and warning units, seems like a waste of time to pull them out and start from scratch. One of the install guys said that there are really too many speakers to be useful, so I guess that's one way to go, with high-end amps and high-end speakers, you can reduce the complexity.
Before you make your decision, let me get my install done, if it is too weak (it very well may be, the Focals are supposed to require a lot of amp) then we'll know you need to do something different. But another installer I spoke with said that most Bentley owners kept the original amp. However, his "most" might very well mean, "the only one I've done so far".
You need such a big set of channels to power all 12 speakers that the best solution might be the easiest, unplug the old speakers, plug in the new ones, add a subwoofer, add a subwoofer amp, unplug the old infotainment, plug in the new Ben Hur and run a cable for the backup camera.
We also have the wiring diagram, plus the battery-plonk test to test the wire pairs so it might just be time-consuming but not difficult to change out power amps.
Interesting trivia: the Ben Hur engineer guy told me that the whole reason Ben Hur exists is because the manufacturer of the first car stereos for the post VAG Bentleys stopped making the radio, so when a radio would quit under warranty (which I could see happening with that junk) the dealer would have to cannibalize cars in inventory to replace the bad radio. So Bentley called TV AG or whatever their called and Ben Hur was born.
I still think it's a bit too plasticy, but whatevs.
Cool check your PM’s. I’m in Hobart, In
I think I can live without PDC if I just add amps to it. 😂
Cool check your PM’s. I’m in Hobart, In
I think I can live without PDC if I just add amps to it. 😂
Hi TeamJones, Im working on the PDC Beeps for guys like us who are installing after market amps, I think Ive worked out how to sort the PDC Beeps without using the stock amp, Im going to give it a trial run and post my finding soon, it will involve some soldering but Im sure most people can use a soldering iron ...
Ok, one would think that having attained enough stature to own a Bentley, one would be able to count to twelve, but that seems beyond me.
My car goes in Monday for the stereo upgrade. But I'm two speakers short and I don't know which two. I thought tweeters, but I'm not sure. Are there tweeters in the door panel? What's in the door panel that isn't mounted to the door itself?
I bought two of the Focal sets (below) for a total of 10 speakers. What are the missing two? Sorry to be behind, I thought I had this solved. Each set has two 6.5", two 3" and two tweeters. I need two more...
Ok, one would think that having attained enough stature to own a Bentley, one would be able to count to twelve, but that seems beyond me.
My car goes in Monday for the stereo upgrade. But I'm two speakers short and I don't know which two. I thought tweeters, but I'm not sure. Are there tweeters in the door panel? What's in the door panel that isn't mounted to the door itself?
I bought two of the Focal sets (below) for a total of 10 speakers. What are the missing two? Sorry to be behind, I thought I had this solved. Each set has two 6.5", two 3" and two tweeters. I need two more...
The little speakers mounted on the door panels themselves are the mid's, just like the little speakers mounted in the rear seat side panels down by the lower seat section, you have a coupe GT correct, what you are most likely missing is the tweeters in the upper portion of the rear seat side panels as I pictured way back in the beginning of this thread, in post #'s 2, 3, and 32 with diagrams and pictures, your front tweeters are in the a-pillars left and right, for some reason there are some years of GT's with no rear tweeters on each side of the pond in certain years....
Last edited by Johnny Hotspur GT; 05-08-2019 at 01:06 PM.
Reason: grammar
Ok, one would think that having attained enough stature to own a Bentley, one would be able to count to twelve, but that seems beyond me.
My car goes in Monday for the stereo upgrade. But I'm two speakers short and I don't know which two. I thought tweeters, but I'm not sure. Are there tweeters in the door panel? What's in the door panel that isn't mounted to the door itself?
I bought two of the Focal sets (below) for a total of 10 speakers. What are the missing two? Sorry to be behind, I thought I had this solved. Each set has two 6.5", two 3" and two tweeters. I need two more...
Did a little more work on the audio system today, connected the 2 crossovers on each side of the rear seats great place for the crossovers, the rear speakers crossover can go there to & fed the RCA cables into the boot, the centre panel is where the field control system is going to be installed, I also did a small project on an old sax case I had for years, took all the insides out and relayed it with soft carpet, cut a mirrored alloy on the cnc router ...
Ive come across these speakers and the company that produce these do a full range ... Im thinking of changing mine to these set for the mids in the doors, Im showing the 3"mids ...
DLS Scandinavia 75 - 3 inch midrange speaker Scandinavia series information DLS Scandinavia 75 is a midrange specially designed for competition use. The extreme audio performance makes it a winner in every Pro installation.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS:
- Extreme audio performance, transparent and clear sound
- Great imaging and staging capabilities
- High resolution and dynamics, rich of micro details
- Extremely wide frequency range Specifications
Description / type
3" midrange speaker
I just dropped off my GT at the stereo installer yesterday afternoon, complete with two boxes of Focal Flax speakers and the Ben Hur conversion unit. I also gave them the slidey plastic thing under the gear shift, since they're taking it all apart, I figured they could drop that in. And I figured correctly! They had done it before on a different Bentley and it was no big deal. Score! The part I'm talking about is the articulated plastic piece that slides back and forth under the shifter. I bought the Audi part, let's cross our fingers.
I'm having an 8" woofer installed exactly as yours in installed, but I'll have a screen over it. He wouldn't leave the leather flap, he says the leather will buzz and vibrate from the speaker, sounds like he knows what he's doing
To re-iterate those following along:
1. I bought the Ben Hur from the factory, $2,100 including shipping, no VAT and no US sales tax. Here, it would have been $2,499 plus 10% sales tax, so $2,750, so worth ordering direct.
2. I bought two boxes of component Focal speakers which will exactly replace the current 12 Bentley speakers. And for those following along, each box has six speakers, so I'm not short two, which was my mystery. The Frogs only pictured one tweeter on the box, there are two. These were $1,050 including shipping. In the U.S. would have been $1,600 plus tax, so $1,750. I saved $1,400 by using Ebay.uk.
3. I am putting in top-of-the-line double-DIN Alpine the 207 (no nav)
4. Installing backup camera and mounted phone cradle I don't groove on the phone cradle, but the Bentley has nowhere to put your phone, it slides all over the place.
5. One USB connection and one HDMI connection where the ashtray goes (I'm keeping the cigarette lighter in case the battery ever goes totally flat and I need to open the trunk by charging. Probably silly. But I'm loath to take out a power connector.
Install shop: $4,100, which includes Alpine, backup camera, sub-woofer, sub amp and installation. Total, about $7,100 or so. Seems stupid high, but the Ben Hur is killer at more than two thousand bucks.
I also overdid the speakers, that car is too small to need 12 speakers, but whatevs.
Just spent $4,000 getting a thermostat, plugs and third tail light installed, so this is an $11,000 month for the blue Bentley.
Oh, and just realized the windshield has scratch marks from the windshield wipers, so yet another shop visit in its future.
Thank You... Yah it all sounds great spending a small fortune, all the best I hope it all sounds fantastic for you.
Im doing the whole install myself as you proberly gather but I like keeping busy when I can, for me maybe a couple more weeks and Im done, 12 speakers changed, 2 new amps, 11 band EQ and a Field Control system and a whole load of wires but Ive been doing other stuff to the car like upgraded all the lights to LED and did all the piano black panels to carbon fibre.
Ive got something special Im doing to the rear arm rest when its done I'll show all ...
Oh British are you installing new Amps or just using the stock amp ...
Last edited by Rico.Adams; 05-14-2019 at 12:37 PM.
Stock amp. Installer says it will be fine, since the amp has 12 seperate channels and doesn't require crossovers, that if I did crossovers, it wouldn't have enough power. But we're going to try the stock amp, if it needs more, we'll do more. I think it will be fine, since the biggest current draw is for the bass, and I'm putting in a sub woofer and seperate amp for that.
I live in a building that doesn't have anywhere to work on a car, so I can't do it your way, although I was tempted to bring it to the in-laws and just replace all the speakers. The Ben Hur install looks straightforward, but I bet between the two, it's a couple days of work, since I haven't done it before and I really don't (ever) have two days to spare.
I'll throw it back atcha: how are you willing to put all this work into amps and speakers but keep the stock head unit? Seems like buying a Dodge Hellcat and changing out all four wheels for donut spares.
Stock amp. Installer says it will be fine, since the amp has 12 seperate channels and doesn't require crossovers, that if I did crossovers, it wouldn't have enough power. But we're going to try the stock amp, if it needs more, we'll do more. I think it will be fine, since the biggest current draw is for the bass, and I'm putting in a sub woofer and seperate amp for that.
I live in a building that doesn't have anywhere to work on a car, so I can't do it your way, although I was tempted to bring it to the in-laws and just replace all the speakers. The Ben Hur install looks straightforward, but I bet between the two, it's a couple days of work, since I haven't done it before and I really don't (ever) have two days to spare.
I'll throw it back atcha: how are you willing to put all this work into amps and speakers but keep the stock head unit? Seems like buying a Dodge Hellcat and changing out all four wheels for donut spares.
Ive put a lot of work into this with some good help from Johnny Hotspur nice man ... Im installing 2 new Amp a 5.1 and a 4.0, the stock amp will run the PDC's but saying that I think Ive found a way of dealing with the PDC's and get rid of the stock amp. As you ive changed the head unit to a Alpine which I did last year with the Ben-Hur works great. Yes your right its a lot of work but un like you I have a lot of time on my hands when Im well ... Lol ...
Totally didn't know that. I didn't realize you already had the Ben Hur, although I should have, since you showed us a picture a long time ago.
You're going to have an incredible setup. If I would have put my own labor into it, I would have been able to finish for $4,500 or so, but I also think I would have a bunch of leftover parts, a center console that didn't fit together right and a broken wiring harness on the Ben Hur.
Plus, I have no way of making custom speaker mounts. Can't be hard, but I saw a CNC router in your background.
I admit, I have ZERO ability to justify seven grand for a stereo. None.
My choice was to buy a Maserati or a Bentley. The Maserati has no way of updating the infotainment, the Bentley has the Ben Hur. So once I made that choice, I was on the crazy train to stupid expenditures.
I replaced the third brake light too; even the independant was like, "Why?" I dunno, I want it to look right.
05-04-2019 | 03:43 PM
