Car Audio Recommendations. Let's hear them...

[Carmine]

Pun intended.

Anyways I have two scenarios, both of which could apply to C-bodies, although in my case they will be applied towards B and DX bodies.

Qualifiers: I'm not "into" car audio, just looking to solve problems. I like an authentic vibe in my cars so this will be about factory radio/head units.

1) My T-roof Magnum still has a functioning AM/FM 4 speaker unit that I'll soon swap to AM/FM/CB. For now, I'm not concerned about making the CB work. However the stock speakers have surely seen better days and the no-roof effect requires more power to be heard.

I would like to purchase an amplifier with at least 6 outputs that takes input from the stock radio and would also server as an "isolator" to preserve old radio guts from the demands of modern/louder speakers. I can't be the only person in such a boat.

Then I need recommendations on speakers. I think they're 3" in the dash, 6x9 in the shelf and I plan to hide two door speakers behind the factory carpet on the door panel. Probably 6". You'll never know they are there.

I could see this same plan working well for many C's. I'm not interested in any upgrades for the head units.

2) Someone with experience on "modern" 1999-ish, higher-end Mopar systems... Good replacement for factory door/a-post/liftgate speakers in a Dodge truck. I notice the ones in my Ramcharger sound pretty crappy now, even for AM talk use.

 

[DocMcNeedy]

I'm gonna love this thread and looking forward to the forum members responses and experiences...All or some of my Imperials will likely get an audio enhancement next year depending on their other issues...it's low on the list. I would like to get a great sound without changing the stock dash...that is, hide everything possible in trunk, under seat, etc...

 

[Carmine]

@DocMcNeedy

New Avatar noted

 

[Ripinator]

Pun intended.

Anyways I have two scenarios, both of which could apply to C-bodies, although in my case they will be applied towards B and DX bodies.

Qualifiers: I'm not "into" car audio, just looking to solve problems. I like an authentic vibe in my cars so this will be about factory radio/head units.

1) My T-roof Magnum still has a functioning AM/FM 4 speaker unit that I'll soon swap to AM/FM/CB. For now, I'm not concerned about making the CB work. However the stock speakers have surely seen better days and the no-roof effect requires more power to be heard.

I would like to purchase an amplifier with at least 6 outputs that takes input from the stock radio and would also server as an "isolator" to preserve old radio guts from the demands of modern/louder speakers. I can't be the only person in such a boat.

Then I need recommendations on speakers. I think they're 3" in the dash, 6x9 in the shelf and I plan to hide two door speakers behind the factory carpet on the door panel. Probably 6". You'll never know they are there.

I could see this same plan working well for many C's. I'm not interested in any upgrades for the head units.

2) Someone with experience on "modern" 1999-ish, higher-end Mopar systems... Good replacement for factory door/a-post/liftgate speakers in a Dodge truck. I notice the ones in my Ramcharger sound pretty crappy now, even for AM talk use.

I think I would call the people at Crutchfield and discuss what you want to do. I know they want to sell you stuff, but I think they would be pretty straight with you.

 

[Carmine]

I think I would call the people at Crutchfield and discuss what you want to do. I know they want to sell you stuff, but I think they would be pretty straight with you.

I'm reading their website right now. If I figure anything out, I'll share.

 

[Dobalovr]

I upgraded my 79-300 8 track to a more modern Infinity CD from a late 80's 5th ave. Same mounting points as every Mopar since 75. Early 90's Ram units are also the same and have the equalizer and decent sound. The dash speakers are available through Crutchfield but as for amps I am no help. I am running a Pioneer 100W mounted in the truck from 1985 that is the size of a FSM. Nowadays they pack that power into a thumbdrive size amp lol.

 

[GBsPanhead]

I was in the same spot. Needed to add tunes to my 69 'vert. Was going to put some underseat bluetooth speakers and use phone to control. Ended up using a Monster rockin' roller 4. Portable 100 watt self contained audio system controlled by my cell phone. Seriously rocks! Put in back seat. Get to where I'm going and can easily pick up and store in trunk or where ever. Works out great. Sam's club had a sale normally 190, got it for 100 bucks.

 

[Carmine]

I was in the same spot. Needed to add tunes to my 69 'vert. Was going to put some underseat bluetooth speakers and use phone to control. Ended up using a Monster rockin' roller 4. Portable 100 watt self contained audio system controlled by my cell phone. Seriously rocks! Put in back seat. Get to where I'm going and can easily pick up and store in trunk or where ever. Works out great. Sam's club had a sale normally 190, got it for 100 bucks.

And I like that idea as opposed to hacking anything up. But I don't "rock". I listen to AM news on the way into work and Rush (Limbaugh, not the horrible band) on the ride home. I just want to add volume to the factory radio. I don't want to use my cell to operate anything. My cars are all daily drivers, and I'm not any fun.

 

[rapidtrans]

I upgraded the sound system on a few of my brand new 80s Mopars. Kept the head unit, added an amp/equalizer and replaced all the speakers. I'd just set the eq. and hide it up under the dash. I found the name brand of speaker not important as long as they could handle the power of the amp. Just new speakers alone didn't improve the factory radio much.

 

[Carmine]

I upgraded the sound system on a few of my brand new 80s Mopars. Kept the head unit, added an amp/equalizer and replaced all the speakers. I'd just set the eq. and hide it up under the dash. I found the name brand of speaker not important as long as they could handle the power of the amp. Just new speakers alone didn't improve the factory radio much.

Yes, yes, like this.

 

[Turboomni]

What is the sound quality of using say Pandora through your phone and via Bluetooth to your amplifier compared to a CD with no Bluetooth.? Is the phone + Bluetooth just a poor quality compressed sound?
I am not going to hack anything on my Fury. Thought of upgrading the guts of my stock am to am/fm with an auxiliary input or Bluetooth.
I had thought about re-creating my old days with a couple of 6 by 9's in the rear deck with a good sized amp/preamp with Bluetooth located under the seat. Could even run radio stations from my phone through it. I donno....I still enjoy listening to the other stereo in my Fury...the 440 dual exhausts!!

 

[traintech55]

Pun intended.

Anyways I have two scenarios, both of which could apply to C-bodies, although in my case they will be applied towards B and DX bodies.

Qualifiers: I'm not "into" car audio, just looking to solve problems. I like an authentic vibe in my cars so this will be about factory radio/head units.

1) My T-roof Magnum still has a functioning AM/FM 4 speaker unit that I'll soon swap to AM/FM/CB. For now, I'm not concerned about making the CB work. However the stock speakers have surely seen better days and the no-roof effect requires more power to be heard.

I would like to purchase an amplifier with at least 6 outputs that takes input from the stock radio and would also server as an "isolator" to preserve old radio guts from the demands of modern/louder speakers. I can't be the only person in such a boat.

Then I need recommendations on speakers. I think they're 3" in the dash, 6x9 in the shelf and I plan to hide two door speakers behind the factory carpet on the door panel. Probably 6". You'll never know they are there.

I could see this same plan working well for many C's. I'm not interested in any upgrades for the head units.

2) Someone with experience on "modern" 1999-ish, higher-end Mopar systems... Good replacement for factory door/a-post/liftgate speakers in a Dodge truck. I notice the ones in my Ramcharger sound pretty crappy now, even for AM talk use.

Carmine,
I have done this on other "B" body based cars in the past. The dash speakers are 2 1/2" diameter, and the rears are 5X7". You can find good speakers for the rears, and the dash are the same as most GM'S. They can take more amps than the factory Chrysler one, but you have to be careful with the magnet size or the speaker will not fit back into the dash pad. (One of the things you find out working for GM, and driving Chrysler's).

 

[Big_John]

Basically, what you need is a 4 channel amplifier that will take the "high" output from your head unit. I have this one in my 300, but I use the "low" preamp output from my converted head unit. Polk Audio PA660 4-Channel Class A/B Car Mosfet Amplifier 600 Watts 747192120719 | eBay

I always thought that it loses quality doing it that way and would rather get the signal from the pre-amp side, but YMMV.

You can go cheaper or better amplifiers.. Your choice.

I know you don't want to hear this, and may call me a dick, but IMHO, doing the digital conversion like this AM/FM Stereo Conversions for old car radios will do everything that you are looking for without any add on amplifiers or equalizers. I would suggest having the preamp outputs because that does give some flexibility if you wanted to do more, but that's not really necessary. I've done this in both cars and use my XM radio tuner or a thumb drive for music. The 300 has a powered sub woofer and a 4 channel Polk amp to drive the speakers. The Barracuda is just using the converted head unit, although I may add a powered sub woofer in the future. Even without the added amplifiers, the sound is fantastic and blows away the sound from the stock radio.

I'm a little limited in speaker choice because I want to just use the stock locations without cutting anything. I use two Polk speakers for the front and a dual coil Retro brand 6x9 speaker for the rear on the 300. I use dual coil Automatic Radio brand 6x9 speakers in the Barracuda. One in the dash and one in the right rear side where the accessory rear window defogger would be. The Automatic Radio speakers sound better to my ears, but my hearing is pretty damaged, so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[Carmine]

I know you don't want to hear this, and may call me a dick, but IMHO, doing the digital conversion like this

I would not do any of those things because I see you have good intentions. The reasons I won't do it are as follows:

1) I'm too cheap.
2) I'll never spend the time (or dime) compiling a music collection.
3) I like using the era-correct radio. It makes the time machine more authentic.

 

[Jon O.]

It can't solve any volume problems, but anyone looking to play their own music, and NOT cut into the original radio:
https://www.amazon.com/Doosl-Univer...qid=1533841856&sr=8-9&keywords=fm+transmitter
Buy one of these. I did for my Newport. It works great, and you can use a cell phone, tape player, walkman, anything really. And the best part is NO CUTTING! Was one of the best 15 dollar investments I have done.

 

[Dobalovr]

It can't solve any volume problems, but anyone looking to play their own music, and NOT cut into the original radio:
https://www.amazon.com/Doosl-Univer...qid=1533841856&sr=8-9&keywords=fm+transmitter
Buy one of these. I did for my Newport. It works great, and you can use a cell phone, tape player, walkman, anything really. And the best part is NO CUTTING! Was one of the best 15 dollar investments I have done.

I use my phone and a bluetooth speaker in the 70 sitting on the back package tray. Plenty loud enough and no messing with 50 year old wiring. You can stream any radio station AM/FM you like or play your own stuff.

 

[commando1]

Not making this up. I'm 1/2 deaf and I couldn't understand what was coming from my truck radio over the ambient noise in the cab.

I mounted this on the dash and everything then broadcasts crystal clear.
PA horns are designed to clip the low and high sound frequencies that come from noise. It keeps the midrange only which is perfect for talk radio. It was the first time I could hear the vocals to Led Zeppellin.

Yah, it would look pretty dorky in your car, tho...

 

[live4theking]

Not making this up. I'm 1/2 deaf and I couldn't understand what was coming from my truck radio over the ambient noise in the cab.

I mounted this on the dash and everything then broadcast crystal clear.
PA horns are designed to clip the low and high sound frequencies that come from noise. It keeps the midrange only which is perfect for talk radio. It was the first time I could hear the vocals to Led Zeppellin.

Yah, it would look pretty dorky in your car, tho...

View attachment 204841

That sure is function over form there good buddy.

 

[commando1]

That sure is function over form there good buddy.

What? Speak up....

 

[The Goose]

I use my phone and a bluetooth speaker in the 70 sitting on the back package tray. Plenty loud enough and no messing with 50 year old wiring. You can stream any radio station AM/FM you like or play your own stuff.

That just might be the ticket. I got one of them when I had to upgrade my work phone. My daughter immediately stole it. She used it one time we drove the convertible and wanted to listen to music off her phone. Not sure exactly how that all works but this thing is louder and clearer than any of the pep boys radios I've ever installed. Works perfectly no wires & it's chrystal clear and way louder than you'd actually ever need. Just turned it on and threw it in the backseat. Worth a look...