TAC Tech => Audio => Topic started by: Bale9 on June 08, 2021, 06:20:52 PM
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Hi All
I'm looking for suggestions / photo's of car audio head units...
I have my 1979 T/A which i want to install an aftermarket audio system into, however i want to steer away from the Custom Auto retro looking stereo... i currently have one in my Corevette and although it works well it is not very user friendly.
I'm going to go for a modern radio, i even though about a flip out unit however I am not sure if it will be able to flip out given the location of the head unit.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Bill
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Safe to assume your radio hole is already cut?
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Yes, i probably should have stated that... It is a single din size.
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Should have plenty of options then depending on what you’re looking for. My radio hole isn’t cut so I opted for adding a Bluetooth enabled amp after the radio and console 8 track feeding 4 modern speakers. I can use either the radio or 8 track player or switch to Bluetooth and stream from my phone and control via a wired remote I hid in the ashtray. Not sure if that would suit you best though if you’re looking for a non factory radio option. There are plenty of aftermarket units that offer Bluetooth
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Go nuts, but look for one that compliments the dash or interior trim, many look gaudy and out of place. A simple black cd player with silver or chrome trim isn't always easy to find.
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Mine's a 79 too. I cut an original radio bezel for the single DIN size, and installed it with this Alpine model number UTE-62BT, that has USB and Bluetooth, both of which will work with playing the music from my phone, so no need for a CD. Having the original radio bezel as the surround keeps an original look. I like the style and appearance of this radio, and the Alpine brand goes back to when these cars were new, so there's a bit of nostalgia to it too.
This model has variable lighting, so you can change the lighting colors to suit your taste. The colors are customizeable, so you're not stuck with just basic colors. So you can make them whatever color you want. You can make the display lighting one color, and the surrounding lighting different, as I did with orange display and blue surround. Or make them the same if you want.
It's been a couple years and Alpine updates their models, so it looks like now, they have a new model that's basically the same as mine, but called the UTE-73BT.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49810156977_57632d72a1_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iTy5iX)019 (https://flic.kr/p/2iTy5iX) by grand73am (https://www.flickr.com/photos/67172480@N05/), on Flickr
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I have mine in the glove box, Bluetooth works great but the radio not so much (I've also extended the antenna). Its hidden and I use my phone to control it (it came with a remote but it does not work well). I still have my factory AM radio where it belongs.
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I have an original am/fm and 8 track. Never hooked them up but I did put in new speakers when I built the car. I have thought about getting a hidden audio system. Last spring I was at best buy for something unrelated and bought a $30 blue tooth speaker about the size of a coffee cup. Paired it with the sirius on my phone and it sounds great on its own! Problem I have is the car is SO loud that I cant hear the speaker driving down the road. They had one a bit bigger with a little more bass for around $60 I think I will give that one a try now.
When I was a young man that had plenty of disposable income (before marriage, lol) I would upgrade my car stereos on a regular basis. I would usually get a new system about every 6 months just because. Always bought high end stuff, usually Alpine or Kenwood. Amps, good speakers, eq's, the whole nine yards. Now honestly I could care less about listening to music driving down the road.
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Portable speakers work well but you have to charge them or have a USB cable connection. I like the look of the factory radio, although it is not hocked up (I want to connect the light at least). I like the hidden radio with Bluetooth for a number of reasons: 1) it's hidden; 2) Sounds good (especially with good speakers); 3) with a remote microphone I can place and receive calls (very important in MA as we are no longer allowed to even hold the phone in the car anymore).
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I should add that I've also added two 4" front speakers again hidden under the dash (within the footwell area) and my rear speakers are old (80s aftermarket) but quality speakers.
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I've retained a stock AM/FM cassette radio, and feed the right and left speaker wires into a Sony Bluetooth amplifier that has speaker level inputs. I can listen to the radio or cassette tapes, but mostly listen to streamed music from my iPhone. I installed 3 1/2" speakers in the dash, 6x9's in the rear deck and a JL Audio boxed sub in the trunk. All looks stock from the outside.
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IMO they all look old out of place.
I added a radio delete cover and use a Bluetooth receiver/amp and play off my phone.
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While on the subject of 'car audio' (sorry, don't mean to hijack this thread; I'm desperate)
Hi,
I replaced the older Sony receiver my 79' TA came with (purchased the car 5 years ago). The speakers were busted so I didn't know how well this "90's" unit worked. Anyway, I purchased a Sony and also installed to new Infinity 6x9 speakers in the rear deck.
When the car is on 'accessory mode' (on but not in running mode) the stereo plays/sounds great. When you turn on the car and turn on the stereo, the connection comes and goes (see url for video) which is very annoying. How can I begin to troubleshoot? Thanks in advance
https://www.icloud.com/attachment/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcvws.icloud-content.com%2FB%2FAVm6-EYu4t-g03A37op8KsKt-zaVAYahomINCSbwBOsHq-OQ8Oi8Z10K%2F%24%7Bf%7D%3Fo%3DAlFXOpqG7EELRZGTl7CZSDPjnsdoUEecRwvFlYY_-3T5%26v%3D1%26x%3D3%26a%3DCAoghISJsikdAlLontluHFHFNFmuFJF0eU8j1EdEg9yKN_wSdBCxpOCsvy8YsbTbgMkvIgEAKgkC6AMA_wQchytSBK37NpVaBLxnXQpqJO-a7WkxB7VJQ-zQSWmn54Ya9WFEj3EPLuaxRaY19GuYjUGcsXIk7JvTdYrvl3-9UlxhA5zVu53MfRysr4iEJTs1gXz5AV87JXK5%26e%3D1634504989%26fl%3D%26r%3D28DC9FD9-A2FB-40F6-B5B6-1F4CAFD93C60-1%26k%3D%24%7Buk%7D%26ckc%3Dcom.apple.largeattachment%26ckz%3D3FDEEAAF-AC25-4421-A7BC-C9E95FC01891%26p%3D64%26s%3D0cRZ1-CWC9pRh5s-Z795gl5r8e8&uk=utt3HpP6N1hxDjrwXhoEMg&f=IMG_9522.MOV&sz=63493847 (https://www.icloud.com/attachment/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcvws.icloud-content.com%2FB%2FAVm6-EYu4t-g03A37op8KsKt-zaVAYahomINCSbwBOsHq-OQ8Oi8Z10K%2F%24%7Bf%7D%3Fo%3DAlFXOpqG7EELRZGTl7CZSDPjnsdoUEecRwvFlYY_-3T5%26v%3D1%26x%3D3%26a%3DCAoghISJsikdAlLontluHFHFNFmuFJF0eU8j1EdEg9yKN_wSdBCxpOCsvy8YsbTbgMkvIgEAKgkC6AMA_wQchytSBK37NpVaBLxnXQpqJO-a7WkxB7VJQ-zQSWmn54Ya9WFEj3EPLuaxRaY19GuYjUGcsXIk7JvTdYrvl3-9UlxhA5zVu53MfRysr4iEJTs1gXz5AV87JXK5%26e%3D1634504989%26fl%3D%26r%3D28DC9FD9-A2FB-40F6-B5B6-1F4CAFD93C60-1%26k%3D%24%7Buk%7D%26ckc%3Dcom.apple.largeattachment%26ckz%3D3FDEEAAF-AC25-4421-A7BC-C9E95FC01891%26p%3D64%26s%3D0cRZ1-CWC9pRh5s-Z795gl5r8e8&uk=utt3HpP6N1hxDjrwXhoEMg&f=IMG_9522.MOV&sz=63493847)
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While on the subject of 'car audio' (sorry, don't mean to hijack this thread; I'm desperate)
Hi,
I replaced the older Sony receiver my 79' TA came with (purchased the car 5 years ago). The speakers were busted so I didn't know how well this "90's" unit worked. Anyway, I purchased a Sony and also installed to new Infinity 6x9 speakers in the rear deck.
When the car is on 'accessory mode' (on but not in running mode) the stereo plays/sounds great. When you turn on the car and turn on the stereo, the connection comes and goes (see url for video) which is very annoying. How can I begin to troubleshoot? Thanks in advance
https://www.icloud.com/attachment/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcvws.icloud-content.com%2FB%2FAVm6-EYu4t-g03A37op8KsKt-zaVAYahomINCSbwBOsHq-OQ8Oi8Z10K%2F%24%7Bf%7D%3Fo%3DAlFXOpqG7EELRZGTl7CZSDPjnsdoUEecRwvFlYY_-3T5%26v%3D1%26x%3D3%26a%3DCAoghISJsikdAlLontluHFHFNFmuFJF0eU8j1EdEg9yKN_wSdBCxpOCsvy8YsbTbgMkvIgEAKgkC6AMA_wQchytSBK37NpVaBLxnXQpqJO-a7WkxB7VJQ-zQSWmn54Ya9WFEj3EPLuaxRaY19GuYjUGcsXIk7JvTdYrvl3-9UlxhA5zVu53MfRysr4iEJTs1gXz5AV87JXK5%26e%3D1634504989%26fl%3D%26r%3D28DC9FD9-A2FB-40F6-B5B6-1F4CAFD93C60-1%26k%3D%24%7Buk%7D%26ckc%3Dcom.apple.largeattachment%26ckz%3D3FDEEAAF-AC25-4421-A7BC-C9E95FC01891%26p%3D64%26s%3D0cRZ1-CWC9pRh5s-Z795gl5r8e8&uk=utt3HpP6N1hxDjrwXhoEMg&f=IMG_9522.MOV&sz=63493847 (https://www.icloud.com/attachment/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcvws.icloud-content.com%2FB%2FAVm6-EYu4t-g03A37op8KsKt-zaVAYahomINCSbwBOsHq-OQ8Oi8Z10K%2F%24%7Bf%7D%3Fo%3DAlFXOpqG7EELRZGTl7CZSDPjnsdoUEecRwvFlYY_-3T5%26v%3D1%26x%3D3%26a%3DCAoghISJsikdAlLontluHFHFNFmuFJF0eU8j1EdEg9yKN_wSdBCxpOCsvy8YsbTbgMkvIgEAKgkC6AMA_wQchytSBK37NpVaBLxnXQpqJO-a7WkxB7VJQ-zQSWmn54Ya9WFEj3EPLuaxRaY19GuYjUGcsXIk7JvTdYrvl3-9UlxhA5zVu53MfRysr4iEJTs1gXz5AV87JXK5%26e%3D1634504989%26fl%3D%26r%3D28DC9FD9-A2FB-40F6-B5B6-1F4CAFD93C60-1%26k%3D%24%7Buk%7D%26ckc%3Dcom.apple.largeattachment%26ckz%3D3FDEEAAF-AC25-4421-A7BC-C9E95FC01891%26p%3D64%26s%3D0cRZ1-CWC9pRh5s-Z795gl5r8e8&uk=utt3HpP6N1hxDjrwXhoEMg&f=IMG_9522.MOV&sz=63493847)
I wasn't able to click the link, but if you mean AM/FM by stereo then it could be antenna related. That might be a good first start? If the stereo is from the 90's I would also try swapping out a new unit; could just be because its now a 30 year old radio. Also, I think there are some dedicated sound forums that may be able to help too. Good luck!