Stereo suggestion....

[jcsjcs]

Hey all -

If anyone is looking to do any stereo work - I just completed a couple of CHEAP upgrades that made a big difference.

I had two problems to resolve (actually three if you count a TIGHT budget.)

1) My automatic antenna fell off one day. I have had it in the garage for over a year - waiting to be installed. BUT I liked the idea of no antenna (and it weighs a ton.)

So upgrade 1: I bought a TuneTrapper hidden antenna for about $40. I shoved it in the FRONT Trunk right in front of the firewall where all of the wires, etc. are hidden behind a partition. Works FINE in there - and installed a plug from Lowe's where my antenna used to be.

2) The radio / cd player from the PO pretty much sucked. It had zero memory when playing CDs - so they skipped constantly.

I also wanted a way to charge my phone in the car - so decided on a radio with a USB port.

The Dual XHD7714 just DROPPED in price on Amazon to $90. It's ridiculously packed with features. USB port, IPOD compatible, Bluetooth enabled (AND plays music from my phone via Bluetooth (even Pandora)), is an HD Radio, plays CDs, has a removable faceplate, 200 watts, and three PRE-AMP jacks.

It's a bit too modern for my 84 Targa - but I don't really care. And it is a bit cheap feeling - but it is actually cheap at $90 - so how can i complain.

I hooked it up tonight using the Pre-Amp to my amp to ONLY the front speakers. Sounds really good. Someday I may get some bass in the back speaker spots - but for now I left the back speaker locations empty.

Hope this helps any of you non-audiophiles out there....

jcsjcs

[lynn911]

I just finished the stereo install on my middle aged baby(1985),let me first say that the cost of building a good system today is Sooo much cheaper than 20 years a go. it took the weekend to wire and fab
I wanted a good full sound without any clutter,using I pod /radio CD single.
My budget was under $1k
The car has been stripped of the AC (North eastern car)
System

Radio
Kenwood 999 something? (199.00)
controls Ipod on the radio with full display also charges Ipod

Front speakers
ADS 6.5 mid bass 1 tweeter Diamond x over ($250.00 from Richard So on Ebay)

Rear speakers (fill) infinity 5"two ways ($80.00)

Sub woofers
two 6"firing down into smugglers compartment $150.00,(they send the bass through the front AC vents)

Amplifier
5way sound stream (used $250.00)

The result is that the car looks stock without any speakers (sub boxes in the back seat or floor!
sounds very good and only adds 14 lbs
I will post pictures if any one is interested ?
Chris

[arbita1]

Originally Posted by lynn911

Sub woofers
two 6"firing down into smugglers compartment $150.00,(they send the bass through the front AC vents)

I will post pictures if any one is interested ?
Chris

Funny, I've been collecting parts to do the same thing and then abandoned the idea recently. I was planning on using one 8" Boston Acoustic subwoofer firing downward towards the AC return air vent. I had fabricated some wood to fit in the smugglers box and was going to use the box itself partitioned off for the subbox.

Can you take pics of your install? What 6" subs did you use?

[sobamaflyer]

Cool! I like your hidden antenna suggestion, I've had no antenna yet and might look for that one instead of mounting one back in the hole in the fender.

I too found an equally cheap stereo that provides pretty decent background noise (since I don't care enough for true audio fidelity in my 911). It was a Boss 755, solid state so no skipping, Bluetooth for Pandora (even controls my phone's skip functions) and an SD and USB flash drive ports.

I've so far filled up a 8gb SD and alternate to my phone, but been thinking I needed to add an antenna so I could at least tune in FM for when I want it.

One nice bonus of my cheapie is that if you squint it kinda looks like an old 2-knob radio so I felt it was as horribly out of place as some of the new super modern units.

[lynn911]

Will try to get some pics later tonight,
I used two 6" in order to get a (tight bass,plus decrease the impedance ) to get the most out of the AMP,

Mine was a pretty rudimentary install, but it works well.I listen to most everything

Chris

[mikesride]

May I suggest pulling it all out and installing the proper M&K stainless steel sound system? Lol I like some tunes in my ride too guys! Love the idea about the hidden antenna as my 20lbs power one has been giving me grief ever since I was caught in a freak snow storm in Washington last summer.

[arbita1]

Originally Posted by lynn911

Will try to get some pics later tonight,
I used two 6" in order to get a (tight bass,plus decrease the impedance ) to get the most out of the AMP,

Mine was a pretty rudimentary install, but it works well.I listen to most everything

Chris

What brand are the 6" subs?

[jcsjcs]

I took a spirited drive last night after putting in the stereo at about 1 am. Had the stereo on the whole time - but took me about 15 minutes to realize I was listening to commercials in Spanish.

I completely agree that the flat 6 sound track is much more inspiring than anything I can find on the radio, pandora, usb card, etc.!

[lynn911]

I agree with the comments regarding the flat six sound, how ever the reality of regular3 hour + trips with wife and kids,plus trips to SC from Boston and back make the thought of listening to nothing other than the engine challenging.
the option of listening to scratchy Fm radio is also quite daunting.

My car has pre muffler and sports exhaust so I needed a little more than stock stereo.

Additionally I really enjoy the audio option, I can always turn it off?

[gregwils]

Originally Posted by lynn911

how ever the reality of regular3 hour + trips with wife and kids?

My wife has no interest in even sitting in my car. Although, I haven't decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

[nineball]

Originally Posted by jcsjcs

The Dual XHD7714 just DROPPED in price on Amazon to $90. It's ridiculously packed with features. USB port, IPOD compatible, Bluetooth enabled (AND plays music from my phone via Bluetooth (even Pandora)), is an HD Radio, plays CDs, has a removable faceplate, 200 watts, and three PRE-AMP jacks.

i'm not trying to rain on your parade but the dual brand in car audio world is about the same as buying your power tools at harbor freight - really, really, really low on the quality scale. i'm glad you are happy with it though and hope it serves you well for a long time. one other thing, the output it actually 17 watts per channel, so 68 total, not 200.

Originally Posted by sobamaflyer

I too found an equally cheap stereo that provides pretty decent background noise (since I don't care enough for true audio fidelity in my 911). It was a Boss 755, solid state so no skipping, Bluetooth for Pandora (even controls my phone's skip functions) and an SD and USB flash drive ports.

boss is about the same as dual. same thing applies though, i hope it serves you well for a long time.

[83_Silberpfeil]

Here's my suggestion .....

[83_Silberpfeil]

Originally Posted by 83_Silberpfeil

Here's my suggestion .....

88 Carrera Radio Replacement

[kramer747]

Originally Posted by gregwils

My wife has no interest in even sitting in my car. Although, I haven't decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

ha! My wife is the same way -wants nothing to do with my 911. Thinks its stinky

[fbeatty]

I just installed a Kenwood KDC-X695 that is pretty nice. Rear speakers are Boston Acoustics and Fronts are Infinity's. All works well.

[kramer747]

I was just looking at the 695 the other night at Best Buy. i think the remote will velcor nicely to the steering wheel so it can be operated by thumb

[sobamaflyer]

Originally Posted by nineball

i'm not trying to rain on your parade

No rain taken from me , I've had cars where I invested +1k in actual, quality audio gear, my 911 only needs minor accompaniment to it's rear mounted symphony (and I was sick of staring at a gaping hole in the dash). I'll never try to tell you what's in there is high quality audio, just a little background noisemaker for cheap.

$ better spent on other projects.