Audio Without Touching the Original Radio

wsutard · Nov 29, 2017

If you are looking for a way to have great audio without touching the original radio then take a look at using this Exile Bluetooth receiver. It connects directly to an amp via rca’s and the Bluetooth lets you use your phone as the headunit. 100% bypassing the radio.

Premium Marine Bluetooth 4.0 + Aptx Music Receiver - Exile Audio https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X1V4FYW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_qISTBEBz5bss4

I had a crappy aftermarket radio in my dash. I yanked it out and put in my gauge pod so I could actually see them. Stuck this to the underside of the dash, connected the rca’s, paired the Bluetooth to my phone and bam, great sound, no head unit required.

Hope this helps someone.

Cruzin69 · Nov 30, 2017

That’s a great idea. Unfortunately it requires the installation of an amp to make it work, correct? I was looking at the RetroSound radio that looks stock, but has new internals with Bluetooth.

PRND21 · Nov 30, 2017

Good idea! If you scroll down the amazon page, it shows a 400 watt micro amplifier. Would that be sufficient to run 2-4 speakers? I’m not familiar with modern electronics. Thanks.

wsutard · Nov 30, 2017

I use it with an amp. Its only outputs are RCA so you sort of have to use an amp. They make tiny amps these days that will sit behind the dash very easily, then you can tap into your speaker wire right there.

Don selleck · Nov 30, 2017

planning out my audio on my 68 i'm doing. haven't put a custom stereo in a car since the early 90's we used to buy splitters and separate amps, and install low, mid, and high range speakers in custom individual locations. your idea is probably the route i'm gonna take, with a couple subwoofers in the trunk, leaving stock radio in place inoperative. have most of my music on a mp3 was gonna tap into that and hook it up to a lead in my console. I had a brainstorm idea about finding a 5x6 display and installing it in my ashtray location with the stock ashtray cover attached to the backside so i can open the ashtray and walah the display, ( my interior is stock looking) but can't find one that will fit, and don't wanna cut up my dash opening for the ashtray. You don't know where a you can find a touch display that size or a little smaller by chance that's separate from a head unit, or a flip down head that has those dimensions or smaller? or a place i can look, thanks, Don.

wsutard · Nov 30, 2017

Don selleck said:
planning out my audio on my 68 i'm doing. haven't put a custom stereo in a car since the early 90's we used to buy splitters and separate amps, and install low, mid, and high range speakers in custom individual locations. your idea is probably the route i'm gonna take, with a couple subwoofers in the trunk, leaving stock radio in place inoperative. have most of my music on a mp3 was gonna tap into that and hook it up to a lead in my console. I had a brainstorm idea about finding a 5x6 display and installing it in my ashtray location with the stock ashtray cover attached to the backside so i can open the ashtray and walah the display, ( my interior is stock looking) but can't find one that will fit, and don't wanna cut up my dash opening for the ashtray. You don't know where a you can find a touch display that size or a little smaller by chance that's separate from a head unit, or a flip down head that has those dimensions or smaller? or a place i can look, thanks, Don.

It’s probably in your hand right now! Seriously, I run all my music off my phone, Bluetooth to the exile and into the amps. Graft a little phone mount into the ash tray and then just clip it in there.

I have a small suction mount that I use. It sticks to the underside of the dash between the radio location and where the factory tach would be. Any modern phone will let you switch songs from the lock screen so it’s really easy to use.

wsutard · Nov 30, 2017

Also, they have amps with Bluetooth built in so if you are going to be buy amps look for something like that. I had an amp already so I just went with the dongle.

Don selleck · Nov 30, 2017

thanks, so I can use a phone as a so called head unit makes sense, i rather use a phone that is not in service, reason why, i own my business some days phone rings all day. My cars are my escape from the nonsense, I would be jamin and cut to phone ringing, cool I used to be the radio guy back then, new tech is amazing, I'm just not updated on all the cool new stuff, thanks for the idea, will be looking for an appropriate size screen on a used cell phone

RobP · Nov 30, 2017

I bought and installed this over last winter:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UTXQL74/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I mounted it up under the parcel shelf (hidden) and it has a wired controller that I used double sided tape to attach to my seat near the bottom on the console side. It's completely stealth and uses my phone as the head unit. The controller has play/pause volume +- and skip forward/reverse. Works great!!

Don selleck · Nov 30, 2017

way cool thanks!

YY1 · Nov 30, 2017

I've been looking for something like this for my home stereo.

A 12v DC adapter should make it work.

I can't believe there's not something like that affordable already.

MUCH cheaper and easier to simply use an old PC, but the boot time and foot print are issues.

RobP · Nov 30, 2017

YY1 said:
I've been looking for something like this for my home stereo.

A 12v DC adapter should make it work.

I can't believe there's not something like that affordable already.

MUCH cheaper and easier to simply use an old PC, but the boot time and foot print are issues.

I use this to connect my phone via bluetooth to my home audio system. Very easy.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/google-chromecast-audio-black/4532100.p?skuId=4532100

Don selleck · Nov 30, 2017

learning all kinds of cool stuff! thanks guys!

wsutard · Nov 30, 2017

YY1 said:
I've been looking for something like this for my home stereo.

A 12v DC adapter should make it work.

I can't believe there's not something like that affordable already.

MUCH cheaper and easier to simply use an old PC, but the boot time and foot print are issues.

I would go this route. https://www.amazon.com/Proxelle-Bluetooth-Connector-Portable-Wireless/dp/B01944DUWM. Not sure about this one specifically but there are tons out there.

69L48Z27 · Nov 30, 2017

PRND21 said:
Good idea! If you scroll down the amazon page, it shows a 400 watt micro amplifier. Would that be sufficient to run 2-4 speakers? I’m not familiar with modern electronics. Thanks.

400 watts is enough to run 4 speakers for sure.

PRND21 · Dec 1, 2017

69L48Z27 said:
400 watts is enough to run 4 speakers for sure.

I guess what I’m really asking is can this small of amp actually be putting out 400 watts? I know for the most part you’re probably never going to using 400 watts.

YY1 · Dec 1, 2017

A lot of the max power ratings are bridged to mono with a 2 ohm load.

69L48Z27 · Dec 1, 2017

PRND21 said:
I guess what I’m really asking is can this small of amp actually be putting out 400 watts? I know for the most part you’re probably never going to using 400 watts.

I would think so. I'm not sure what the quality is but the numbers these manufactures use are just that. I can have a 100 watt premium amp out perform a cheap 400 watt amp. Its all about cleanliness when it comes to amps. As YY1 said you need to look at how they came up with that number.

wsutard · Dec 1, 2017

PRND21 said:
I guess what I’m really asking is can this small of amp actually be putting out 400 watts? I know for the most part you’re probably never going to using 400 watts.

This Bluetooth dongle is not an amp and shouldn't be used as one, no matter what the specs say. Trust me, I own it and I drink beer.

Audio Without Touching the Original Radio

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