Any thoughts/advice on aftermarket radios out there. Tons of them. Really don't want to go original. I thought this one looks close to original for my 71 era. Don't know about its quality. Any out there? Here is the linc.

https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...oduction-68-76

 

I use oem radios, it's the music of an old car I'm after. If I had to have modern tech in my stereo I would look into those conversions using the old radio housing and face plate and update it. Nothing spoils the look of a dashboard in a classic car like a newfangled LED radio. Maybe it's just me but any non stock radio becomes immediately apparent.

 

I had the original radio but no speakers. Once I edited all the stupid out of the wiring I found it still worked fine.I look at it this way - if it's been there 48 years and still works why take it out? I can use a break from poking that stupid iphone too.

At some point I intend to make a much more powerful 'standalone' unit that will just sit in the back compartment and only draw power from the car. Then it's back to the 'entire music collection in a pop-tart' bluetooth

In the meantime after some searching I contacted Greg at turnswitch.com and ordered replacement 10 ohm slimlines for the missing factory kick panel speakers. Very helpful. He does offer a few conversion units that might be worth a look that are similar to what you are looking at. They seem pricey but I don't think they are imports - might give you some recourse if there is a problem.

The advantage of the radio you linked to is that you can use more commonly available modern 4 ohm speakers. Also, it says 'smaller body for easier installation' - could be. It's like stuffing 10 lbs of s**t in a 5 lb bag in there

 

Let me back up here. I never had original radio in car when I got it. What in now is also an aftermarket vette radio, but really cheap. As stated just looking for alternatives.

 

Didn't realize that & didn't find any reviews on the unit you linked.

I'd still check out turnswitch, although they are offering conversions for original units. No idea if they sell them outright. Only reason I mentioned them is I had a positive experience with them

 

Sounds like you have either a Custom Autosound or Ken Harrison radio in the car now. These are the ones with cassette players and "CORVETTE" in 1/4" tall letters across the face. The early ones were conversions of Kenwood and Pioneer radios, and were pretty good quality, but now they both make their own radios, and the quality is not as good.

The radio in the link looks a lot like the original radios, but has a digital face. When the radio is off, the face is blank, and when on it has a digital readout. I have one customer that has that radio in their 71. I know he was happy with it when he bought it a few years ago, and I guess he still is.

There are some very expensive ($625) reproduction radios available, that look and operate just like an original radio, but use modern components. These radios have the correct face, *****, and even have working stereo lights, combined with modern features like RCA jacks and Bluetooth. I have no experience with their Corvette radios, but two customers have bought the reproduction 69 Camaro radios, with mixed results. One worked perfectly from day one, while the other took two or three tries, and multiple phone calls, to get it repaired and working properly.

In you'd like to have a CD player, and don't mind changing your center gauge bezel, there is a replacement gauge bezel available, designed to take a modern DIN CD radio. The bezels are actually converted reproductions of the 69-76 bezel, and sell for about $225, but allow you use any DIN radio available from your local audio store, Best Buys, etc.

 

Gbvette good review. Yep. Auto Sound in now. Not looking for a din radio but thanks. Turnswitch.com push button conversations start at $385 then xtra for inputs, Bluetooth etc. But thats supplying a working radio.

 

Original radios are out there, but are getting harder to come by. It use to be that you could pick them up for $75-$100, but now they seem to be running $150-$300, in original, unknown condition.

I have a couple green face 68-71 radios, but I don't know if either of them work.

 

It's not just radio power head if I'm not mistaken. Is there a transformer or booster with orig radio??

 

Just purchased a new radio from Ecklers, has the corvette bezel, an AUX connection and fits perfectly. Cost was a little over $200 and the sound is excellent. I replace the original dash speakers, and added kick panel speakers for additional sound. Love it!!!

 

hey vettesic,

i bought the exact unit you are asking about. It sounds like crap in my car, even after adding new dash speakers, kick panel speakers, and an amp. I am ready to try another unit in the dash to see if I can improve the sound. Glad to sell you mine if you want to try it in your ride.

don

 

jim t,

Thanks for the info. please send details on the exact unit you are recommending. Sounds like what I need. thank you,

don

 

After researching what was available, I went with the CustomAutosound 300 watt version. I have an hidden external amp for the hidden subwoofer.
It looks stock, with the Corvette badging, and has USB music port integrated into the location that used to house an ashtray. This area also has a USB charge port, and remote function and indicator for the Passport radar detector.
As far as quality, it's as good as you will find in an upgraded stock looking head unit.

Also note, your stock speakers were 10 ohm I believe, and just about everything fir car audio today is 4 ohm, and it does make s difference

 

The radio unit is a Custom Autosound Concours series USA-230.
It has electronic volume and tuning, 50 watts pwr (enough for me). Look at ecklers site to get the full description.

 

68-76 OEM radios has separate final audio outputs due to space limitation behind the cluster. They amount to D-501 transistors in a heat sink. One transistor for mono.



Two for stereo;



Common installation:

 

Not a vette but I bought a custom autosound radio for my dad for his Chevy pickup.

It works great and sounds 100x better than the old aftermarket 80s radio that was in he truck, but I was less than impressed with build quality. Whoever assembled our radio left one of the nuts loose, so while trying to adjust depth it spun and tore some wiring.

 

Patro...I believe that's the USA 630 model.

 

ok....that clears it up. I was trying to figure out where the external amp mounts. Will orig radio work without the amplifier?

 

You will get no sound to the speakers without the final audio.

 

I was a little disappointed when I bought my 69, somebody had cut the center dash piece to add a slide in stereo. I got a better head unit, added a 4 ch amp, sub and new separates for speakers, without cutting up the car. I bought a new center dash piece, for when it's time to go back to stock, or sell it with the car.