signalsparks
Active Member
So here's what's available to do for tunes in your classic ride these days:
1. Have your original radio rebuilt, starting around $300
2. Buy a Retrosound unit, starting around $400 (and they sound about as good as the original)
3. Hack up your dash
4. Tuck a modern single-din unit under the dash and hope no one pries it off with a crowbar while you're grabbing a hot dog at the car show
5. Go full bump-trunk seismic disruptor with a high-amp electrical system, amps bigger than your air cleaner, a modern head unit, and subwoofers everywhere. Park and play some tunes at the car show, your battery goes flat with the first bass drop.
6. Grab a portable bluetooth speaker and put it somewhere. Forget to charge it, it goes dead in the middle of your favorite song.
What if there was another option? Here's what I want:
1. Use stock speaker location(s) with new/modern speakers that fit
2. Sounds about as good as a rebuilt original radio
3. FM radio capability using your existing antenna (for the drive-in movies!)
4. Bluetooth and line-in connectivity for music off your phone, etc.
5. Easily hidden or removed for show n' shines
6. Low current draw for stock or nearly-stock electrical systems
7. Runs off accessory power, but has its own backup battery so you can park, chill and listen to tunes without burning up your ignition points
8. The whole unit plugs in with 4 wires (mono dash speaker +/-, 12v accessory power +/-)
9. About the size of a catering truck burrito (or smaller)
10. COSTS ABOUT $50 OR LESS
I don't see anything on the market that fits that bill.
On election night, instead of causing myself angina by watching the news, I went all mad scientist with my soldering iron, hacksaw, and some bits and baubles I had lying around. I came up with a prototype.
Would anyone else be interested in such an item?
1. Have your original radio rebuilt, starting around $300
2. Buy a Retrosound unit, starting around $400 (and they sound about as good as the original)
3. Hack up your dash
4. Tuck a modern single-din unit under the dash and hope no one pries it off with a crowbar while you're grabbing a hot dog at the car show
5. Go full bump-trunk seismic disruptor with a high-amp electrical system, amps bigger than your air cleaner, a modern head unit, and subwoofers everywhere. Park and play some tunes at the car show, your battery goes flat with the first bass drop.
6. Grab a portable bluetooth speaker and put it somewhere. Forget to charge it, it goes dead in the middle of your favorite song.
What if there was another option? Here's what I want:
1. Use stock speaker location(s) with new/modern speakers that fit
2. Sounds about as good as a rebuilt original radio
3. FM radio capability using your existing antenna (for the drive-in movies!)
4. Bluetooth and line-in connectivity for music off your phone, etc.
5. Easily hidden or removed for show n' shines
6. Low current draw for stock or nearly-stock electrical systems
7. Runs off accessory power, but has its own backup battery so you can park, chill and listen to tunes without burning up your ignition points
8. The whole unit plugs in with 4 wires (mono dash speaker +/-, 12v accessory power +/-)
9. About the size of a catering truck burrito (or smaller)
10. COSTS ABOUT $50 OR LESS
I don't see anything on the market that fits that bill.
On election night, instead of causing myself angina by watching the news, I went all mad scientist with my soldering iron, hacksaw, and some bits and baubles I had lying around. I came up with a prototype.
Would anyone else be interested in such an item?
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and listen to the old lady yack
