Another Radio Upgrade
 

My old Blaupunkt went kaput (Vancouver CD126). Actually the FM radio part died and the volume buttons and power button have gotten flaky. I need to replace it and the blown speakers on the passenger side of the car.

Punch list:

1. Cheap
2. Knobs (not buttons) where possible
3. Bluetooth
4. Cheap
5. iPod input
6. Minimum Bling
7. Cheap

I am looking at this head unit: Blaupunkt Toronto 420 BT
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1000_.jpg

These door speakers: Blaupunkt GTx 542 DE 5.25-Inch 180-Watt Coaxial Speaker System (they are 1.9 inches deep)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg

These rear deck speakers: Blaupunkt GTx 462 DE - 4x6 inch 160 Watt Coaxial Speaker System (they are 1.77 inches deep)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg

I don't have an amp yet, and don't have a sub woofer. I would like to be able to get away with neither.

I am driving a 1984 Targa, so wind noise is the only thing that competes with the engine singing at speed. However, I do need to have a radio for those fabulous LA traffic jams and in the odd case I need to use the phone.

While not particularly 1980's, the mostly black colors and included speaker grills (my old ones are cracked) make these seem like the best chance at a cheap, reasonably good sounding non-offensive set-up.

Anyone have experience with any of the above?
Amp suggestions (or can I get by without one)? There used to be one (factory?) but PO removed it. The head unit is 4x50 watts max and the speakers are 40 and 35 (RMS)

The head unit looks nice - very clean, but the speakers may look out of place in an '84 911. If you could find simple mesh grills that would fit those speakers, you would get away with your cheap solution and keep something of an understated look.

Regards,
Lawrence

I'm putting a Retrosound Zuma in my '75 along with some Boston Acoustics speakers. The Zuma has a bazillion knob choices and doesn't look out of place. (No bluetooth, though.)

Speakers are cheap but grilles look quite close to OEM (No affiliation). I am using these in my 964 Targa, My hearing is shot and I have a fabspeed exhaust (dual out) so I didnt see much sense in putting great quality in (am using Alpine CDA 117 head unit)

Pair Pyramid 468GS 4x6" 3 Way 160W Car Aduio Speakers 160 Watt B05001C | eBay

I need to replace my stereo with something less Tokyo at night looking. I spent a lot of time researching Sunday and the Toronto 420BT looks like the way to go. Fairly simple interface and the knobs look more period correct. When I had my 1987 Targa the previous owner had just put in Blaupunkt speakers and as much as they cost the sound was fairly average at best. Also, Blaupunkt makes an external microphone that plugs in the back to improve the sound quality of the phone.

>>> I don't have an amp yet, and don't have a sub woofer. I would like to be able to get away with neither. I am driving a 1984 Targa...

I need every watt from my 200x200 Sony amp to keep me in the tunes on the highway, and I still feel the need for a subwoofer (still in box waiting to go in). Just my experience, open top cars really need power to sound great, I wouldn't skimp on the amp or the speakers. Head unit looks great BTW!

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 359k miles

define cheap for the hu. there are lots that have one knob but not many in the cheap range that have 2, if any.

Thanks for the feedback everyone...

lgowin- you are correct about the grilles.

964TargaC2 - I may buy those just for the grilles. I have seen grills offered for as much as $20 each.

Michael T - I am going to get the mic too.

Chuck H. - Yeah, I thought I would have a problem with power. I may go with a powered sub like this one: Blaupunkt Blue Magic XLf 200 A
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1500_.jpg

Maybe with this I can get away with no additional amp? If not, I think I can rewire to add one for the 4 other speakers... It i s 3.1 inches high and I am not sure it will fit under the passenger seat.

I welcome any other comments. I will also post photos of my project when I get it underway.

nineball - I was thinking less than $200 The Blaupunkt Toronto 420BT is less than $150

By the way, my Blaupunkt choices in no way reflect my focus on one brand. I chose the head unit for features and look (at price). I thought getting same brand speakers would avoid some of those nasty incompatibility issues that seem to crop up when I do these kinds of projects (impedence, etc). Also, I feel buying from one place (Amazon in this case) will help if I need to return anything...

I just replaced the head unit in my 83 SC with a new Blaupunkt Toront BT400. Purchased via amazon Germany (Amazon.de: Günstige Preise bei Elektronik & Foto, DVD, Musik, Bücher, Games, Spielzeug & mehr). After all shipping/for-ex fees it was within $200. It has all I need --- UBS, in-line Aux, Blue Tooth and CD. Very subtle classic Blaupunkt look --- with a big blue lighted button (on/off volume)!

There's a newer BT420, but it is ~ $80 more. It will give you SD Card functionality.

I just installed the San Fransisco in my dad's Benz, which is the sub-model to the Toronto. Overall, I give it a thumbs up for a budget system.

Upside: Looks great in a German car, Easy controls, will probably last as long as any other head unit of similar price.

Downside: weak reception (better get a power booster for your antenna if you are rural)

83_Silberpfeil - the 420 BT is ~150 on amazon
SchnellSchweitz - I am in Los Angeles, so I get pretty good reception. Long drives out of town are usually done with the top down and radio off. Sometimes I will go with something MP3 (music, podcast) and this 420 has ipod inputs and will bluetooth stream with a phone full of stuff too.

i just put one of these alpine head units in my car. it was cheap, had bluetooth, and not TOO many buttons.

Alpine-UTE-42BT

Look at Amazon also for plain speaker covers. The stock speaker covers for the Polks that I installed in the map pockets were quite plain so I left them alone but I found some generic covers that are very similar to the stock rear covers on Amazon. Covered the Kenwood 3 ways in an understated manner.

I installed Focals front and rear, Rockford Fosgate Prime amp, Kicker 10" comp sub box in trunk and Kenwood KDCX997 head unit, all low key and easy to install. I liked the Kenwood head unit because it is all black and variable LED display so you can pick your color.

I installed the sub box because it gives more bass and is removable. I have it tied down with L brackets.

The system is awesome.

Here's a couple of pictures.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1372909837.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1372909855.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1372909872.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1372909887.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1372909905.jpg

Ha! Thanks, save $$ by DIY ... I went with the "best" components I could get without going over board, wanted to,protect the budget for all the other stuff I gotta do on the car.

Just had one of these fitted to a late 80s 911 Coupe -- seems understated and loads of different color displays to pick from, CD, Bluetooth, SD Card, 2 x USB
:http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1375427797.jpg
PIONEER DEH-80PRS