Car Stereo Recomendations

[74NovaMan]

Hi All,

I'm looking for a stereo that will fit the dash of my 74 Nova. I've found this one: http://www.vintagecarradio.com/store...&products_id=5. It's a USA-6 240 Watt AM/FM Radio that seems to fit my needs and even offers ipod connectivity that I have become accustomed to in my daily driver. Has anyone had experience with this particular model or any recomendations for others? Any help would be much appreciated.

[squirrel]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

damn that's an ugly radio! I'd find a stock radio, and just plug the ipod into an amplifier.

[74NovaMan]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

I've actually got 2 original AM radios. Neither one works. I've also got 2 perfect dash surrounds where the radio mounts and one that is hacked up for a DIN style radio and also has 2 gauges mounted in the blank AC vent location. I was planning to use this one and just get a regular deck but the car is a 38,000 mile original and I am getting a little picky in my old age.

[squirrel]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

In that case, you have some choices....if you want to make the inside of the car look as original as possible, then run the broken stock radio and hide an amp under the seat or wherever and plug your ipod into it. If you want a nice in dash stereo, then put in the hacked dash insert and a decent DIN stereo, and don't worry how it looks.

Or get to know how electronics works and do some repair/conversion work on one of the AM radios to make it do what you want...or maybe find an original FM radio (possibly for another 70s GM car) that will fit and make it work.

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

On my Centurion I mounted an MP3 CD capable stereo under the glove box down by the passenger kick panel and use a remote control to control it. Never had a problem with it in the last 5 or so years it's been that way. The MP3 capabilities mean I'm not reaching over to change the CD out every 40minutes to an hour. It also has an input port that I set up so the the plug sits by the driver to hook an MP3 player or Ipod to. I didn't want to cut the dash at the stock location for the new radio. I really need to take a picture of it, but in my T-bird I run an 8-track to cassette adapter then a cassette to headphone jack adapter in it so I can use my MP3 player in the AM/8-Track radio in the car. Found out my Friend's car's Sirrius radio has an output jack that would work there too, so I may be getting satellite radio just so I can keep the stock AM/8-track in the car........

[Not A Duster]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

Trouble with ipods n' MP3's is that they sound so stinkin' bad. I tried just jacking mine straight into the power amps in my car and I really couldn't bear to listen to it.

Ended up mounting a clarion parametric eq/preamp under the dash with an "aux" in for the mp3 player before the amps. This helped to deal with some of the shortcomings.

[74NovaMan]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

I agree. I can't stand to listen to music on a bad connection either. Thats why I want a radio designed for the connection. I'm just not sure if the one I've found fits into the good category or the bad as far ipod connectivity.

[squirrel]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

Might look into the preamps they sell for ipods, too....

I got a $40 shaft type tape/radio at Pep Boys a week or two ago, it has a 1/8" jack in the front and fit in the 87 suburban just fine. Not very good as far as features and power output though. And it's not quite as ugly as the one you listed in your first post, but it does look funky with some red and blue round buttons on it.

[70.5CAMARO]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

here is a vintage looking stereo, that doesnt actually look that bad, has front usb and aux input. http://www.jcwhitney.com/RETROSOUND-...0547_10101.jcw

[HEMI]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

My reccomendation is:keep it turned down,I damn sure don't want to listen to it.

[milner351]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

I just saw on crutchfield.com that many companies are offering head units with direct USB sockets right on the front panel - so you can bypass a whole step and you don't even need the ipod or mp3 player.... just plug a thumb drive (CHEAP) into the face full of mp3, aac or other music files - and you're rockin!

i put a new stereo in the glovebox of the 54, leaving the stock radio in the stock location- when I want to listen to tunes - open the glove box and use the remote to control the new stereo.

[dhondagod]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

Audio Control makes a preamp that boost's the sounds that get lost on the Ipod. Has basic equalizer controls, a plug in for an Ipod, and a volume knob on the front. Model Four.1i Very small unit too. I have one of these that will be going into the wifes 69 camaro soon.

http://www.mobileaudiocontrol.com/dept.asp?d_id=5250&l1=5250

Another thought (old school trick) is to buy a DIN style deck with a removable face (common) then get a flat "ribbon" cable from an electronic store. Solder the ribbon cable to the pins on the deck and the removable face so its "connected" but not installed on the deck. You can put the faceplate into the sun visor or overhead console or ???? Mount the deck under the seat, glovebox, ?????

Dont limit yourself to just where you think you can fit the head unit. Think outside the box a little.


Good info over here: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/gene...here-else.html


Chris 8)

[Not A Duster]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

Audio Control makes a preamp that boost's the sounds that get lost on the Ipod. Has basic equalizer controls, a plug in for an Ipod, and a volume knob on the front. Model Four.1i Very small unit too. I have one of these that will be going into the wifes 69 camaro soon.

http://www.mobileaudiocontrol.com/dept.asp?d_id=5250&l1=5250

Yep - that's very similar to the clarion I purchased. Looked at it when I was shopping as well...went with the clarion because it was in stock at a local dealer.

[74NovaMan]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

Good stuff! Thanks for the ideas!

[squirrel]

Re: Car Stereo Recomendations

Another thought (old school trick) is to buy a DIN style deck with a removable face (common) then get a flat "ribbon" cable from an electronic store. Solder the ribbon cable to the pins on the deck and the removable face so its "connected" but not installed on the deck. You can put the faceplate into the sun visor or overhead console or ???? Mount the deck under the seat, glovebox, ?????

Neat idea, thanks Chris! I might try that...I have an old CD only head unit that works pretty well and has a removable face, I can think of a few vehicles it would work in with the face remoted.