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I’m considering putting a new sound system in the Vette. Looking for your opinions. I want a vintage look and decent sound but on a budget. Maybe around $500 -$600 total. What do you think?
The radio and rear speakers in there now are from the ‘80’s
I cant attest to the quality of the speakers but I'm sure that someone else here has experience with them. I'm interested too since I have a set sitting in my cart right now.... debating....
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Whatever you find, just get a good amp and subwoofer and it will make the head unit sound better at higher volume. I havent heard too much good abut the newer "old" head units. There is a company out there that puts digital guts in old cases. Not sure of the quality though. Good luck
I have a Custom Autosound USA-230 in the box ready to install when I get some time. The stupid slidebar on my Custom Autosound Slidebar version broke a month out of warranty. Wouldn’t recommend that type based on my experience but there are probably 100 people that will say theirs has worked out fine. I too wanted a vintage type.
another vote for some sort of a bluetooth equipped device.
i still have an original looking radio in the dash, but bought a kenwood bluetooth amp, mounted up under the dash, connected to updated Polk speakers.
plays from my phone/tablet great.
i had a custom autosound unit, went in the bin when the mp3 input wouldn't work.
bought another 600$ unit, still had problems with it, but left it in the dash for looks.
+1...get an amp with bluetooth that can stream from your device and some good speakers. I went with 4 Infinity coaxials - two 4x6" in the dash and two 6x9's in the back.
I’m considering putting a new sound system in the Vette. Looking for your opinions. I want a vintage look and decent sound but on a budget. Maybe around $500 -$600 total. What do you think?
The radio and rear speakers in there now are from the ‘80’s
Here is what my system consists of. It's not what I would describe as Hi Tech but it's more than what I need in this car since I like to balance the sound between this and the Sidepipes!, Front Dash 4x6's are by Infinity the rear 6x9's are Alpines powered by decent Memphis amp mounted on the rear speaker box. The head unit is by custom autosound.You can hook up an Ipod, USB flash drive, mini jack connection ,Stream from phone Via bluetooth as well as hands free calling. The bluetooth unit is separate but will connect to rear of head unit. I 'm guessing the amp and speakers is what makes all the difference in the world cause it can get really nice and loud when I want it to.
It's like Ken74 said, if you stay stock you won't be happy, the trouble is you cut up stock and the bottom line won't be happy. So for what its worth try an Ipod/ smart phone tethered to a carefully hidden good quality amp and replace your speakers with a top quality set, this way you're stock appearance stays intact but you can listen to your fav tunes as loud and proud as you like.
I think I'm going middle of the line... This is what I'm getting.... I'm not as concerned about stock/vintage as the OP... I also dont need something super highly powered.... I just want something I can hear while cruising down the road....
Wiring Kit
Inexpensive sub (powered)
Bluetooth header
4 channel amp
The PO already had relatively decent speakers installed so I'm going to see what they sound like before buying more....
EDIT: Changed some items.... Was looking at too much power for the low- mid end sound system I need....
I've been running a Bose SoundLink II bluetooth from my phone/ipod/pandora. rides on the dash real nice. Great sound.
now, it's not a 1000 watt powered subwoofer with quad speakers and component tweeters ...
but it's small ... portable ... sounds great.
no disturbing the original system which plays but doesn't sound good (my '71 anyhow)
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That's how I'd do it. That $200 brick, actually sounds very good (and I'm an antique audio guy - JBL 4315. And (gotta add this); with a speaker box in back, there's no way, the T-Tops fit any longer (at least in my experience). 26" of horizontal space, is all you have and bravo to the excellent systems and suggestions here.
PS: My little b*tch of a car, hated the sound system and it only worked once, just once!
Is there a dash kit available if someone wanted to install a single din headunit? I have an alpine CDE-149HD that was supposed to go in another build but plans changed. So if I wanted to put this HU in my 68, do I need some sort of dash kit?
The factory radio is long gone, the PO had some early 90s tape player in it which I removed.
Many of the supporting vendors sell a gage cluster replacement panel that accepts a single DIN radio setup to save you cutting up the original. There is a post out there where a member uses a single DIN with a motorized 7" screen, seems to work well.
I used Custom Auto Sound in my Nova and would not use the again. Buttons didn't work right. Since it was a two year project it was out of warranty and they wouldn't do anything. I bought it thru Summit along with a bunch of other stuff so they actually sent me a replacement.
On my C3 project I used Retro Sound. You need a good amp and sub to support the radio.
Keep in mind if you buy on of the old radio chassis with a new radio inside. The radio inside is more than likely Custom Auto Sound or Retro Sound.
Sound system??
