Replacement stereo

[Tommy Z]

My almost in possession of 79' SC has a Blaupunkt San Diego in it. I am someone who enjoys music and I will want to have a decent head unit and speakers in the car but it's really not important enough for me to spend big bucks on it. Looking at a website like Krutchfield and they have very limited options for head units for the car when you plug in the year, make and model. I'm also not sure what would be a better bang for my buck? Replacing the front speakers or rears or both. I haven't picked it up yet but I doubt the speakers are anything other than stock. Think I can use the existing speaker wire if I replace the speakers or would that be a waste of new and improved speakers? Would like to avoid an external amplifier if possible but I'm wondering what others have done to replace the aging system without major modifications and expense?

[wildthing]

Any DIN1 should fit. It's now a matter of preference on the colors of the display. Some folks like the look of the Porsche Classic stereo. I have an Alpine CDA something or other. $105 at Crutchfield some years ago. Your existing wires may work. But they are 40 years old now and the constant opening and closing of the doors may have broken them (happened to my driver's side speaker wires). I replaced the speakers but did not want to drill larger holes so I stuck with 5.25 woofers and a separate tweeter (Focals I believe) in the stock holes (88).

Amps may be necessary for a clean signal since the sound of the engine drowns out the stereo. Once you are cruising at 3K RPM you will adjust the volume. Even more so with upgraded exhaust components. Fortunately, Alpine amps are not expensive. I forget what I have but it's not Alpine. 4-channel and it powers the front and rears. If I were any more serious I'd get rid of the rears and install a shallow sub.

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

I went retro sound Long Beach + their din install kit. A variety of faceplates and knobs to choose from. Bluetooth, Sirius xm, dual usb, full iPhone/iPod Control, etc.


https://www.retromanufacturing.com/pages/product-result?rq=yr_1971~mk_porsche~md_911

[RFP]

Tommy... When you get the car and can enjoy that flat-six-symphony happening only a few feet behind you, you just may lose interest in getting a new stereo. Jus' sayin'

Rob

[darrin]

Tommy -- I keep all my music on in apple lossless format on my iPhone and have enjoyed using it as a music source, feeding a bluetooth receiver connected to a power amp that fits under my passenger seat (radio head unit sits there unused looking period corrects). Hear this is a very nice option too https://www.kenwood.com/ca/car/marine/kac-m1824bt/ -- would be nice to have the remote (mounted in the ashtray?) too. I'm only using my door speakers, which I upgraded to include component tweeters mounted midway between the door woofers and power window switches -- don't use the rear speakers at all -- this sounds surprisingly nice (and I still have a bit more work still to do, including fabricating speaker mounts out of cutting boards so that the speakers mount firmly onto door rather than cardboard door card, dynamat inside door, etc.)

There are a few threads on current head unit options that are bluetooth-compatible (if you want to go that way), including the continental radio (which lacks rca line level outs), the new blaupunkt Reno sqr (which looks to require a 4 step process to use bluetooth each time it's restarted), the new Porsche classic radio ($$$$$) and a clarion marine headunit (which looks interesting)

Search the forums, there's a lot of stuff to be found -- here's one that discusses speakers Door speaker recommendation --

[blucille]

@darrin...I run that kenwood unit in 2 of my aircooled 911’s....and ...yes, the remote fits perfectly in the ashtray...totally stealth, close the ashtray and the system is invisible. The amp is tiny, fits behind the wooden foot board on my cars...and the whole system is very light, compact and sounds great....and if you want a period correct head unit in the dash, you can pipe the audio from it into the kenwood amp, so you can listen to local radio if there is no cell service in an area....

[kanadary]

i went with a nak with a built in 6 disc cd player, looks stealth enough, not flashy. the only thing i don't like about it is the removable faceplate, sometimes i forgot to take it with me or lock it in the glove box. kinda wish it would just be a din. i run polk 6.5 up front, 4x6 in the rear and a single soundstream 8 inch sub with a sub box i built when i removed the ac in the smugglers box. all powered by an ads six channel amp. sound is pretty good, better than the alpine that was installed previously.

[darrin]

Originally Posted by blucille

@darrin...I run that kenwood unit in 2 of my aircooled 911’s....and ...yes, the remote fits perfectly in the ashtray...totally stealth, close the ashtray and the system is invisible. The amp is tiny, fits behind the wooden foot board on my cars...and the whole system is very light, compact and sounds great....and if you want a period correct head unit in the dash, you can pipe the audio from it into the kenwood amp, so you can listen to local radio if there is no cell service in an area....

thx -- have a vintage a/d/s amp under the passenger seat, but my current bluetooth adaptor requires me to manually pair my phone each time I use, which is a bit of a pain -- does your Kenwood remember your phone?

Also, big fan of the rennline iPhone mount -- https://www.rennline.com/Porsche-911-ExactFit-Magnetic-Phone-Mount/productinfo/PM01%2E06/

[rsrguy]

Originally Posted by darrin

Tommy -- I keep all my music on in apple lossless format on my iPhone and have enjoyed using it as a music source, feeding a bluetooth receiver connected to a power amp that fits under my passenger seat (radio head unit sits there unused looking period corrects). Hear this is a very nice option too https://www.kenwood.com/ca/car/marine/kac-m1824bt/ -- would be nice to have the remote (mounted in the ashtray?) too. I'm only using my door speakers, which I upgraded to include component tweeters mounted midway between the door woofers and power window switches -- don't use the rear speakers at all -- this sounds surprisingly nice (and I still have a bit more work still to do, including fabricating speaker mounts out of cutting boards so that the speakers mount firmly onto door rather than cardboard door card, dynamat inside door, etc.)

There are a few threads on current head unit options that are bluetooth-compatible (if you want to go that way), including the continental radio (which lacks rca line level outs), the new blaupunkt Reno sqr (which looks to require a 4 step process to use bluetooth each time it's restarted), the new Porsche classic radio ($$$$$) and a clarion marine headunit (which looks interesting)

Search the forums, there's a lot of stuff to be found -- here's one that discusses speakers Door speaker recommendation --

Am I missing something here? Doesn't running lossless through Bluetooth defeat the purpose?

[RWebb]

maybe not - there are new, improved specs. to it all the time

I did find this:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/measurements-of-bluetooth-sound-quality.12729/

[darrin]

Originally Posted by rsrguy

Am I missing something here? Doesn't running lossless through Bluetooth defeat the purpose?

Yes and no -- this article does a good job of explaining Bluetooth limitations https://www.howtogeek.com/338750/whats-the-difference-between-bluetooth-a2dp-and-aptx/

Bluetooth's basic protocol (A2DP) can only handle the bandwidth necessary to play mp3 (lossy) files compressed to a 256kb/s level -- significantly, if you're using an iPhone as your source, that's the best you can do via bluetooth, as the iPhone doesn't support the advanced / higher bitrate aptX bluetooth codec.

SO -- there's actually nothing to gain storing lossless files on an iPhone if bluetooth streaming is the SOLE output source for an iPhone - however, since I also stream my iPhone music via apple airplay (and airplay supports 48k lossless) and play via wired headphones, I keep my iPhone music in lossless format and let my iPhone transcode down to the 256kb/s lossy format for bluetooth playback.

From what I've read, one of the reasons bluetooth / lossy compression in general get a bad rap is the significant sound quality loss that results from MULTIPLE lossy transcoding -- put another way, if you store mp3s at a higher bitrate than supported by bluetooth and require another lossy conversion to play through the bluetooth interface, sound degradation can occur.

Similarly, low bitrate mp3 files (below, say, 128kb/s) are going to have audible degradation that will show up while played via bluetooth.

SO -- while my music collection is lossless (much preserved at 24/96, 24/192 or DSD) and I maintain a lossless signal chain for critical listening, I frankly cannot discern a difference in my 911 (with or without the engine running) between a well mastered recording played back via bluetooth (256 kb/s lossy) and the same recording in lossless format played back via a wired connection to my amp. YMMV, of course, but convenience in this compromised environment wins out for me

Another option to consider is the new Blaupunkt Bremen, which supports SD cards (and usb thumb drives) for playback (see, https://www.blaupunkt.com/en/nc/products/car-multimedia/car-radio/products/single/19059/) -- note, however, that the Bremen only supports the lossy mp3 and (potentially lossless) WMA format -- which would require another layer of fiddling for me to use, as I've archived my music collection FLAC/apple lossless

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by RFP

Tommy... When you get the car and can enjoy that flat-six-symphony happening only a few feet behind you, you just may lose interest in getting a new stereo. Jus' sayin'

Rob

I love the sound of my engine, but I do like to hear music. Especially on long trips.

The overall noise level inside of a G body 911 while driving is going to make super great sounding stereos pointless. Unless you are parked and just sitting in your 911 with the engine off.

The wind noise and engine noise will make the stereo less than perfect sound unless you have a crazy powerful system and play at at defining volume.

I have a simple stereo, and I plug in a 16 gig thumb drive with all my music in WAV format, low compression, on it, and I put it in random order pay mode. No need to mess with my iPhone, or anything else.

If you want really great sound, forget about it in a G body, just get a new Porsche and the premium sound package.

[blucille]

Originally Posted by darrin

thx -- have a vintage a/d/s amp under the passenger seat, but my current bluetooth adaptor requires me to manually pair my phone each time I use, which is a bit of a pain -- does your Kenwood remember your phone?

Also, big fan of the rennline iPhone mount -- https://www.rennline.com/Porsche-911-ExactFit-Magnetic-Phone-Mount/productinfo/PM01%2E06/

Yes, the Kenwood remembers and restarts playing very quickly after starting the car. It’s an apple thing, but sometimes if I’ve been listening to podcasts I have to press play, either on the phone or the kenwood keypad.

[Mocker]

Please, no modern head units in G-body cars! Stealthy solutions are your best bet.

[Mike Andrew]

Not sure about all the Sc's but mine is wired for a rear center channel which was the hot setup in the late 70"s & early 80's. May want to check yours out and wire accordingly if you are upgrading all the speakers.
I left mine as is and stuck a pair of Pioneers up front and replaced the Blaupunkt cassette/short wave with an Alpine. With my M & K and wind noise, it is just fine on longer trips as Glen pointed out.

[RWebb]

Needs:

- retro look
- plays well with iPhone
- line outs for use with separate amp

There are hundreds of boy racer fugly modern units that meet #2 and #3, but nothing that has even an 80's retro look, much less the 1960s or early 1970s - nothing hits all 3 criteria.

[darrin]

rwebb -- seems the new blaupunkt Bremen sqr 46 checks all those boxes -- take a look -- https://www.crutchfield.com/S-ks9uJ3S6dmw/p_423BREMENS/Blaupunkt-Bremen-SQR-46-DAB.html

here's a link to the original mid '80s version https://www.chromelondon.com/86-88-blaupunkt-bremen-sqr-46--radio-cassette--porsche--ferrari-rolls-5253-p.asp

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Needs:

- retro look
- plays well with iPhone
- line outs for use with separate amp

There are hundreds of boy racer fugly modern units that meet #2 and #3, but nothing that has even an 80's retro look, much less the 1960s or early 1970s - nothing hits all 3 criteria.

• SiriusXM-Ready™
• Made for iPod®/iPhone®
• Built-in Bluetooth® connectivity
• AM/FM RDS tuner with 30 pre-sets
• Two rear-mounted USB ports for iPod®/iPhone® or USB flash drive
• Two auxiliary inputs for portable devices
• 25 watts x 4 channel RMS power amplifier
• Dual RCA pre-outs plus subwoofer output for external amplifiers
• Works seamlessly with any external amplifier

1965-74 Porsche 911 Long Beach Radio
https://www.retromanufacturing.com/products/1965-74-porsche-911-long-beach-radio?rq=yr_1971~mk_porsche~md_911&variant=28569106371

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by darrin

the Bremen only supports the lossy mp3 and (potentially lossless) WMA format -- which would require another layer of fiddling for me to use, as I've archived my music collection FLAC/apple lossless

That is my problem with the new Bremen also - does not play well with iPhone, Apple Lossless files.

Plus, the display is tiny.


The Continentals would work but I don't see anything about line outs on them, AND they do not answer email.

[rsrguy]

Anyone know if the Kenwood amp has a mic plug in?