Classic Looks, Serious Sound

A classic car with a very modern surprise

The Morris Minor 2000 has a discreetly installed, high-power audio system hidden behind its period-style interior. The dashboard and cabin retain a clean classic appearance, but beneath the surface is a serious sound system with a Sony Bluetooth/DAB head unit, Alpine 5-channel power amplifier, multiple speakers and twin 12-inch Rockford Fosgate subwoofers.

It is powerful, practical, and deliberately concealed.

Hidden Sony head unit

Mounted behind the passenger-side glovebox cover to preserve the car’s classic dashboard appearance.

Alpine 5-channel amplifier

A compact digital power amplifier mounted out of sight beneath the rear seat, with access through a removable hatch.

Twin 12-inch subwoofers

Vintage Rockford Fosgate “The Punch” subwoofers mounted behind the rear seat back and concealed from the cabin.

Eight-speaker cabin layout

Six additional interior speakers plus the two subwoofers give the car a much fuller sound than you would ever expect from a Morris Minor.

Memory retained when isolated

The head unit retains Bluetooth and other settings via an auxiliary battery supply, even when the main 12V battery is isolated.

Driver-friendly controls

Remote volume, mute, track and handsfree controls are mounted within reach of the driver, avoiding the need to open the glovebox while driving.

Hidden head unit and controls

The Sony MEX-N7300BD head unit is hidden behind the passenger-side glovebox hinged cover, preserving the classic look of the dashboard while adding DAB radio, Bluetooth handsfree, USB MP3 playback and CD/MP3 disc playback.

DAB/FM/MW/LW radio
Bluetooth handsfree phone connection
USB stick MP3 playback
CD/MP3 disc playback
Remote volume, mute, track and handsfree controls
Dashboard-mounted quick on/off switch

Amplifier and installation

Power comes from an Alpine PDX-V9 5-channel digital amplifier, mounted beneath the rear seat and hidden from normal view. It remains accessible through a removable hatch behind the passenger seat, allowing the system to be adjusted or maintained without disturbing the cabin trim.

To access the underside during construction a hinged mounting plate for the amplifier and crossover networks was installed. To access this, the rear seat must be removed.

Alpine PDX-V9 5-channel digital power amplifier
Fitted new in June 2022
Mounted beneath rear seat
Accessed via removable hatch
Crossovers fitted for front and rear speaker control

Speakers and subwoofers

Behind the rear seat back are two vintage 12-inch Rockford Fosgate “The Punch” subwoofers. These are concealed behind the rear trim, giving the car a surprisingly substantial sound system without spoiling the interior or boot presentation.

Location Speakers

Rear seat back 2 × 12" Rockford Fosgate “The Punch” subwoofers

Rear quarter panels 2 × 6" × 9" speakers

Front footwells 2 × 8" speakers

Doors 2 × tweeters

Practical electrical detail

The head unit is wired so that Bluetooth connectivity and other settings are retained using power from a 10.8V auxiliary battery pack, even when the main 12V battery is isolated using the switch in the boot.

This gives the car the benefit of a proper battery isolation arrangement while avoiding the inconvenience of losing the stereo settings each time the main battery is switched off.

Full sound system specification here

Head unit

Sony MEX-N7300BD DAB/FM/MW/LW CD Bluetooth stereo head unit, fitted new in October 2021 and hidden behind the passenger-side glovebox hinged cover.

Features include:

DAB/FM/MW/LW radio
Bluetooth handsfree phone connection
USB stick MP3 playback
CD/MP3 disc playback
Driver’s remote control for volume, mute, track selection and handsfree operation fitted within driver’s reach on extreme lower RHS of dashboard to negate need to open glovebox to access the head unit itself
Dashboard-mounted quick on/off switch fitted within driver’s reach to negate need to open glovebox to access the head unit itself

Power amplifier

Alpine PDX-V9 5-channel digital power amplifier, fitted new in June 2022 and mounted beneath the rear seat behind the passenger seat

The amplifier and crossovers are accessed through a removable hatch in the rear seat area

Speakers

2 × 12" vintage Rockford Fosgate “The Punch” subwoofers mounted in the rear seat back
2 × 6" × 9" speakers in the rear quarter panels
2 × 8" speakers in the front footwells
2 × tweeters in the doors

Electrical detail

The head unit is wired to retain Bluetooth connectivity and other settings using power from a 10.8V auxiliary battery pack, even when the main 12V battery is isolated using the switch in the boot. See Auxiliary Power

Wiring from main 12V battery to stereo power amplifier under rear seat (12V:1[A]) shown with rear seat removed

2 x magnificent Vintage Rockford Fosgate 12" 'The Punch' sub-woofers concealed behind rear seat back

Alpine PDX-V9 5-Channel Digital Power Amplifier and passive crossovers for front speakers & tweeters.

Power amplifier and crossovers mounted under hatch in rear seat behind passenger seat.

Alpine PDX-V9 5-Channel Digital Power Amplifier also has active crossovers for rear speakers.

The setup controls are accessed via the hatch in the rear seat situated behind the passenger seat from the 80A fuse end of the amplifier.

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