best stereo

[opelgtboy70]

Im gonna go with secret audio. Ive heard these units and they are good.

Karl

[74Opel1900]

Bill, You make some valid points. I listened to the Retrosound head unit using the same speakers as some other head units I tested and thought it sounded horrible compared to the others. The reason why I like the Kenwood better is the price and I can adjust the settings (including volume) of the subwoofer from the head unit. Any subwoofer will need it's own amplifier but being able to control the settings from the head unit is a big plus for me. It also has a preamp specifically for a subwoofer. When I want to add a powered subwoofer like the Bazooka BTA6100 all I do is wire it to the head unit. I don't need anything else to make it work (it has a built in amplifier). I can also adjust each speaker so that it does the job it was specifically designed. My midrange speakers will not try to produce bass allowing them to produce better sound. If you are going to use an iPod the Kenwood is also better. You can control the device from the Kenwood head unit and it will display the song and artist and it will also charge your iPod. The Retrosound head unit can not do this. Retrosound only has an aux in to connect your iPod so forget using the remote either which I find is a great feature. I never had a radio in my Opel so the dash was getting cut either way. Ease of installation was never an issue. Now I have a standard single din installed which also has it's advantages. If the head unit ever breaks then finding another one is no problem. I'm not stuck using the same brand again either. Please read the specs carefully there are even more advantages the Kenwood has over the Retrosound and for less than half the price. 6 EQ preset (plus midrange and subwoofer settings), 3 band equilizer and high and low pass filters. Sat radio ready, HD radio ready and it has bluetooth. Who knows what technology you will want to use in the future. At least with the Kenwood head unit you'll be ready. Oh and if one of you friends has a cool new CD you'll be able to play that too.

[Bill Hoffmann]

OK, peace. Understand that I wasn't questioning your Kenwood choice. Just that when the ipod came out was when I stopped carrying tapes or CDs with me in the car. It seemed to me there was a market for a 3-hole AM/FM unit that could accept an auxiliary input, and the Retrosound appeared to be the answer. If the price was lower I would probably have bought one by now. Also, if they offered HD radio & bluetooth, I would be more interested.

It is possible they had a good idea but poor execution. I will have to look for a stereo shop that has one on display to listen to.

Bill

[74Opel1900]

They have a good idea but the execution is half baked. I took a serious look at Retrosound before going with Kenwood. I couldn't justify purchasing a head unit with limited features and mediocre sound for that price. Don't get me wrong, the sound isn't that bad. It's just not as good as other head units that are cheaper. For the price it's horrible though You would be better off using a USB thumb drive than an iPod if you decide to purchase it. At least then you could use the included remote (or head unit controls) to scroll through the directory structure and it will display the artist and song title. It is limited to 999 songs but that should be more than enough for the average listener. One more thing to add. You will find the sound quality very different between using aux in and directly connecting with the iPod cable. The main reason is that aux in is using a jack that is designed for a pair of headphones. I don't want to get too deep into why it's difficult to produce high quality sound that way.

[Mahoney]

I am going all out for a stereo in my car and i am planning on using an allpine head unit and then allpine speakers with planet audio amps with 2 12" treo subs for it my dad and my uncle are car stereo installers and one of them is an authorized allpine dealer so that seems the best way for me to go i think

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by Mahoney ... is an authorized allpine dealer ...

Alabama version of Alpine? Sorry, couldn't resist!

Harold

[Jeepsbeme]

Originally Posted by hrcollinsjr Alabama version of Alpine? Sorry, couldn't resist! Harold

Could they be a subsidiary of KenWOOD?

[opelwasp]

This is going in my Manta!
Boss BV8970 In-Dash DVD Players (with monitor) In-Dash Car Stereo Receivers and Head Units Car Audio and Video - Sonic Electronix

http://images.sonicelectronix.com/im...big/bv8970.jpg

These prices are amazing!

[74Opel1900]

Opelwasp, is there enough clearance for that head unit? Looks like it will be a tight fit.

[Mitch Manta]

guys: I have been mulling this over for awhile, experienced Brian's sound system at the T.O.O. gathering, and have been weighing the pros and cons of old skool shaft style units frequently available on Ebay. One can find unused, little used and refurbished "no extra holes" units, and at reasonable prices. Add a power amp, and your good to go. Any experienced installer can probably at an external imput for your ipod, cuz all these old stereos have only cassette (although, I still got plenty of product on cassette). I'm not sure it really "hurts" the value of our Opels to cut a larget hole in the dash, but I want to keep mine period looking nevertheless, and I think I can piece together a pretty good sounding experience. I really wish there was some kind of vintage car stereo guide........

Mitch Manta

[neuropel]

I originally installed an Alpine DIN unit in my Manta, and I cut the dash opening myself for the install. It had never had a radio before. To each his own, but I never gave it a second thought. My rationale was:
1). It's an Opel, not a Ferrari. How am I going to "hurt" the value of the car? Is anyone REALLY not going to buy it down the road because it has a radio? I mean, we all love these cars, but they're not flying across the Barrett-Jackson stage quite yet. If they were, I wouldn't have one.
2). I bought the car to enjoy, and part of the enjoyment comes from having a nice radio in the car.
3). I considered one of the units designed for the retro look, but quite honestly the sound quality of the ones I looked at didn't come anywhere close to the Alpine.
4). I didn't want to fool with hiding the deck. The cost:benefit ratio didn't appear to be in my favor. Plus I like seeing the unit in the dash, especially at night, where I can turn the knobs and press the buttons. I'm shallow like that...
5). If the Opel miraculously becomes a rare car and ascends enough in value that I could sell it and retire, I'll spend the $1000 and have Just Dashes refurbish the dash and close the opening.

For me, the beauty of these cars is that they're an affordable way to enjoy the nostalgia of driving a classic. A nicely prepped Opel will turn heads in a manner similar to cars costing 10x more, and customized touches such as stereos do very little to hurt their value. Make it the way YOU want it, and don't concern yourself about value. You lost money on it the day you bought it...

[74Opel1900]

Mitch, only the people at the TOO meet and maybe a few others know that I am the Brian you are speaking about. Please tell them how good just those two 4 inch speakers sounded

Neuropel, you are the voice of reason and I agree with everything you stated 100%.

[BQS4]

I'm gonna have to wade in on this one, but, not to stir things up, but, just offer my point of view. OK, everybody's tastes in stereo equipment is different, there are those who want "concert hall" sound, there are those who want to rattle the windows for blocks, there are those who just want to be able to hear their music, be it cassette, CD, MP3 XM, yadda yadda. Ok, We have some here who don't want to sink a ton of $$$ into an Opel, because of the cars value, or lack there of, or they just don't want to invest that kind of $$$ just to get it stolen. Here's my idea, and this may get ones like Mitch "off the fence" First, go old school, get an old, 2 shaft, cassette Pioneer, Alpine, Blaupunkt, Sony, whatever floats your boat, but, for grins, lets try this:
eBay Motors: Sony ES-R11 AM/ FM cassette shaft stereo, 12v radio (item 330325593008 end time May-03-09 09:35:59 PDT)
OK, this is cheap, fits the Opel dash, no one gives it a second look, and you still can get good reception. As it has been stated, get a good pair of speakers, either hide them, or make them as unnoticeable as possible, then you get one of these:
NEW CAR CASSETTE TAPE ADAPTER FOR MP3 IPOD NANO CD MD - eBay (item 230336626337 end time May-11-09 09:26:16 PDT)
With this you can run your MP3, and CD, still dirt cheap, but, makes good sound. This is what I have done in my Sportwagon. To me, works great, if I want to listen to news or talk radio, just turn it on. Want to listen to that Oldies station? Just turn it on. Now, you want to listen to YOUR stuff? load up your MP3, or burn a few CD's connect to the cassette adaptor, and cruise!!

[Redskinsjbs]

I guess that I'll give my two cents on this subject.

If I can have Concert hall acoustics in a car, I'll take it.
If I can have Rock Concert noise in a car, I'll take it.
If I can have a radio for the price on my lunch, I'll take it.

The thing here is everyone wants all three of those qualities inside of a package that fits thier aestetic preferences.

In my opinion, these are old cars without a hint of design time devoted to the reduction of ambient interior noise.
One---It just wasn't too high up in the list of priorites of the times.
Two---This is a reletively inexpensive car, so the gains from the investment would never be sufficient.
Three---At the time, (sorry old timers), people could never expect to have a stereo system at all like those we have today even on the cheapest of cheap cars. This was simply because speaker technology was hinderred by the reletively rudimentary magent technology. Rare earth magnets hadn't even been invented! Let alone the processes developed to make them cheap enough for use in car speakers.

Everyone, of a certatin age and me because my Uncle insist his 35 year old stereo can't be beat by todays tech, remembers the massive floor speakers that were required in a home stereo setup in order to develop a good sound with both depth and range. Nowadays there are stereos like that Bose thing that is the size of 10 LPs and is makes both better and more sound than that of your cherished set of floor speakers of the past.

This is where I think comparing the quality and quantity of sound for a certain price loses its value. Because of the cars initial situation in the stereo department. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the car came with 1 speaker and an AM radio. ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING shy of no stereo at all better than that original system.

It is true that you need a good amp to deliver good sound, but you also need good wires, good speakers, a properly designed enclosure, proper materials, and a good reduction of the car's ambient noise.

In order to get lound sound you need a big amp. Its just physics with the whole consesrvation of energy thing.

I think that the best investment for a good stereo is taking the time to really identify the goals which they would like to achieve with thier stereo. ANYTHING can be had for a price, BUT many things can be dona on a budget.

What I plan to do with my stereo is to get a old style shaft stereo that has a quality amp inside, get some middle of the range speakers and some good wire. I'm not after Concert hall or Rock hall sound. I simply want to be able to hear Radar Love as I cruise in my slick GT.

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by Redskinsjbs I guess that I'll give my two cents on this subject.

I do not like digital anything in old cars. That being said if you want to upgrade much you don't have any other option!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the car came with 1 speaker and an AM radio. ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING shy of no stereo at all is better than that original system.

There were stretches of road I traveled between college and home, many years ago, that had NO reception for my factory Dodge AM radio. That's why I upgraded to an AM/FM 8-Track.

It is true that you need a good amp to deliver good sound, but you also need good wires, good speakers, a properly designed enclosure, proper materials, and a good reduction of the car's ambient noise.

Amen!

In order to get loud sound you need a big amp. Its just physics with the whole conservation of energy thing.

Having it doesn't mean you have to use it. Just because you're too stupid to care about YOUR hearing doesn't give you the right to try to take everyone with you. When I'm in a modern car with the windows up and I can't hear my music for yours', IT'S TOO LOUD! I listen to mine a little too loud because I am hard of hearing.

I think that the best investment for a good stereo is taking the time to really identify the goals which they would like to achieve with their stereo. ANYTHING can be had for a price, BUT many things can be done a on a budget.

I believe the Army backs you up on this one with it's 6 P's. Something about "Prior Planning Prevents P*$$ Poor Performance.

What I plan to do with my stereo is to get an old style shaft stereo that has a quality amp inside, get some middle of the range speakers and some good wire. I'm not after Concert hall or Rock hall sound. I simply want to be able to hear Radar Love as I cruise in my slick GT.

Retrosound has a slick setup. The tuning knobs are attached by wires allowing for almost any spacing. It is in a Hemmings write up in the June 2009 issue.

Harold

[74Opel1900]

Harold, get the Retrosound head unit already Frankly I hope you do and you bring it to Carlisle. I'd like to see how it looks and sounds in an Opel instead of a showroom.

There are a lot of good ideas and differing views on this thread which I think is a good thing. Anyone having a tough time making a decision on what to do should find it helpful. I just want to add to what BQS4 suggested and say that instead of a cassette adapter you can also use an FM transmitter.

[RETROSOUNDUSA]

Hi all,

Thanks for the discussion about our product, the Retrosound Model One! RetroSoundUSA.com - 1959-65 Porsche 356 & Model One B or C Radio w/ USB input, & 2 Aux inputs, Remote control

We just found out that our new 356 Porsche solution will work nicely for 68-73 Opel/Opel GT cars.

The face of our radio is 3.5" W x 1.5" high and this solution has a new gasket to fill the remaining portion of the opening in the dash. We are new to your community and appreciate the thread, please let us know if you have any questions.

Please note that our radios come in both a chrome control face and a black control face, and all radio solutions ship with metal knobs, something that we're really proud of.

This radio is unlike any other in the market, the body of the radio is very compact, as we use a double sided PCB to cut down on size, the electronics of our radio are comparable to the entry level japanese units out there, we do sell to Crutchfield and they've been selling our unit since early last year when our first generation unit started shipping.

Because our shafts are infinitely movable and our brackets can be adjusted and trimmed to your needs to make the installation perfect. here's an install gallery that we've created so you can see how our radio looks in other customer's vehicles: Collection: Retrosound Install collection

I think that's plenty for now, please let me know if you have any questions

Many thanks,

Michael Robbins
Product Manager
RetroSoundUSA.com - Classic Radio Systems, Speakers, and Accessories
888-325-1555

[tomking]

I like it. I havent put a radio in my restored 70 GT. And I will be needing one to install in the 69 rallye kadett which is currently being restored. Maybe this one.

[bellamy]

Originally Posted by Mahoney I am going all out for a stereo in my car and i am planning on using an allpine head unit and then allpine speakers with planet audio amps with 2 12" treo subs for it my dad and my uncle are car stereo installers and one of them is an authorized allpine dealer so that seems the best way for me to go i think

I'm not really sure how you would even go about making a radio entirely out of wood, but I guess pine would be cheap and easy.