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Who builds a good radio?

chalet2506

chalet2506

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Looking for a single disk cd player that will last a while in a full convertible, offroad, topless environment. Nothing fancy, but I've figured out that cheap ones don't last. I had a Panasonic "heavy duty" one they market for commercial trucks one time and it only made it about a year as well. I've kicked around the idea of a marine type one with the cover, but that would look pretty stupid in my dash. I'm not an audio guy so I could use some input.
 
The actual marine rated decks are more than just having that little plastic flip shield. Water resistant faceplates, coated circuit boards, uv resistant are just a few of the properties that seperate a true maring radio from a normal car deck. Being a full convertible owner myself I've though a lot about this subject also. Ideally I would like to have mine inside a nice console like a tuffy but probably would still look at marine decks just because even the console would be exposed to the elements. Here's some choices to look at, all decent equipment but comes down to what options you want your stereo to have(IPOD, satellite, aux input, etc.)

http://www.crutchfield.com/g_215950/Marine-Stereos.html

clarion_cmd4.jpg
 
Another good possibility for the full vert guys is to get one that only has a faceplate exposed. The rest of the electronics could be mounted in the glove box so they would receive a lot more protection there. Just an idea.
 
So what's the #1 enemy of cd players - dirt or vibrations? I always kind of figured that getting jostled constantly by a Mack chassis was what killed the Panasonic.
 
Is Jensen's stuff anygood? After digging around on the web it looks they've got a pretty good selection of hard use type stuff.

http://heavydutyradios.com/all_products.html


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It is probably time to think about a non-CD based solution.

In an offroad truck, you have dirt and vibration. Neither of which is all that great for a CD player. The gritty film that gets all over the dash is also on your CDs and inside the player before very long. Not sexy.

Why not take advantage of the technology that exists now? Do some kind of MP3 player that can either attach your iPod or even play music off a small USB thumb drive... No moving parts (in some cases) and a lot more immune to the bouncing and vibes of an offroad truck.

Plus, no worries about someone reaching in and stealing a huge CD collection when you're not around.

Personally, I'm going to run my iPod though a simple pre-amp (for external volume control) and hide it in a lockable center console. It will sound great and there won't be anything visible to tempt thieves.


:usaflag:
 
JBL and Prospec electronics is building just what you are talking about for all the new Malibu boats, but i have one of their setups, and it pretty much sucks. Its a "black box" you hide away, then control with various remotes. Except the ipod part never works, the screen is small, and the button repsonse is slow. But the idea is right....no cd player, internal hard drive, usb thumb drive/ipod/aux/sattelite raiod compatable.

But i'll sell you one if you want.......and i'll upgrade to that sony setup.
 
Thanks for the offer......I think? :rotfl:

I've already got all the equipment I'll need to do it, just need to get to that phase of my build. Shouldn't take much more than another year or so...


:usaflag:
 
I run my ipod in my dd through the stock player. I don't like the clutter created by the extra power cord out of the dash and the cord out of the ipod back to the radio. Seems like the kids are tripping over it all the time. It looks like a lot of the radios now come with rear inputs for auxillary devices. Maybe I'll just try and find a good AM/FM with rear auxillary's and hard wire some sort of docking station out of the way in the driver side area. thanks for the input fellas.
 
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If you go that route, look for a cable that taps into the iPod using the bottom connector (Line-Out) instead of the simpler headphone jack. The sound quality will be better and you should be able to keep the iPod charged too, since the power comes through that connector also. Depends on the specific cable you end up buying, of course but it could help de-clutter things a bit more.


:usaflag:
 
think I'm going to go this route.

4401-0046-Jensen-MSR3007-Marine-AM-FM-CD-iPod-Sirius-Satellite-Ready-Stereo.jpg


http://www.cbxmanmotorcycles.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=4401-0046&affid=4

I'll get the ipod plug and 4 of the MSX60RV 6.5" all weather speakers. I've already got holes that size in the door, and then probably mount the other two somewhere around the rear seat. My dash was previously hacked, so I ordered one of those aluminum repair bezels from Mekdad over on 69-72 chevy. Just need to figure out where and how to mount the Ipod. A 12' cable seems a little long, I might try and find a shorter one. Ought to be about $300 total shipped, which doesn't seem unreasonable. Any input before I drop the dough next week is appreciated. I know its not the most secure setup, but I'm not too concerned about theft.
 
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you can buy a cable that connects to the bottom of the ipod, it has 2 rca's for audio and a connection for power to keep your ipod charged. you just run the rcas to your amps with an inline volume knob and your set.

another way is to run from the ipod to a equalizer preamp then to your amps.

i dont even use the cd player n my truck anymore, i have all my cd's on my ipod. i was tired of cd's getting all effed up plus if you have a bunch they take up alot of room.
 
got the radio, a couple of the speakers, and a 7.5' ipod cable on the way. The cable is a little long, so I figure I'll run it out of the dash, under the carpet and down the transmission hump so that it comes out behind my center console. That way its out from under my feet, I can stick it under the seat when not in use, and also it will reach the back seat so the kids can use it. I'll post up some pics and give a report when its installed. Should be about 2 weeks by the time I get everything here and put together.
 
Seems like you already ordered it but Jensen isn't much of great brand, Pioneer and Alpine are the best hands down but can be costly, pioneer is the best bet on a budget. Sony's are also terrible for whoever suggested them, I've seen so many sony's with their internal amps fried it's pathetic. As far as marine decks go , Kenwood is the best brand I saw on that list... As far as decks go sticking with name brand is important compared to speakers and subwoofers and amps where theres alot of un-known quality products...
 
Shoulda asked Ryoken what he sees installed most often, and what holds up the best in boats, since he works on them and all... :dunno:

Hindsight... 20/20 and all that... :thinking:

Actually, I'm planning on an all-weather setup at some point as well. I'll definitely be consulting with him when the time comes. :D
 
Hey fockers, this thread has been up for over two weeks - it's a little late to come in with the negative input on my setup.


































:D J/K. We'll see how it works. I'm not looking for anything spectacular, just a decent system that will reliably pump out a little twang when I'm bouncing down a dirt road.
 
:haha:

Actually, I'm glad you brought it up, because I wouldn't have thought about asking Ryoken otherwise.

I'm surprised this isn't brought up more often, seeing as how many of the trucks on CK5 get very wet, dirty or both.
 
lol, I'm sorry if I rained down on your system wasn't the intention of the post, mostly made it for future reference of other members reading this thread. That and I was kinda disgusted when sony was suggested... I'm an installer at a car audio shop and Sony radio are most common to have problems and second inline is Jensen, keep in my mind the only other radios I really see for the most part at the shop at Pioneer, Alpine, JVC, Kenwood, Panasonic and Dual all of which I favor better listed from top to least... Jensen makes a decent product especially for the price, best of luck with your new deck.
 
I was the one who reccomended sony, Mainly cause i have been looking into that waterproof setup they have.

I know lots of ppl have bad review's on sony's, but i've had 4 or 5 of them, and never had any issues. They seem to have the features i want, and controls i liked. Only issue i had was an FM antenna tuner dying after about 7 years of abuse. Now, the older ones had better EQ setups, the newer 3band setup they use sucks.
 
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