View Full Version : Car audio classics..
It's hard to find info on retro car stereos so I was wondering people have experience of good sounding car stero of the 80/90s (i.e. Anything that is probably at throw-away prices now).
I found a 87 Sharp 7050 which is incredibly basic without even radio presets but actually sounded pretty good by my reckoning.
Next to try is a National something or other which looks very 80s with small LED display.
Cassette only (no CD please), can anyone recommend any headunits or even amps from yesteryear?
I guess these days you can just mount a class-d effort to a front plate with a front mounted input into some small 8 ohm speakers..
Ali Tait
08-10-2012, 18:12
I remember the Blaupukt stuff was very good sounding.
I've a nice Blaupunkt from one of my Dad's old company cars... their code security features are a killer. Forget the code or loose the security card and it's not worth the effort unfortunately, might as well find something else. :(
Once had a nice Kenwood that a friend sold me but the amp section died. In retrospect it was a bit fussy and too full of functions with a crowded facia.
I wonder if there have ever been 'audiophile' less-is-more type units?
Look what I've just found:
http://thoraudio1.elitecaraudio.org/photo3.html
Afew good photos of stuff on there.
Looking at some of the 80's early CD headunits I've changed my mind!
Unless you have a really quiet car like a Roller attempting to get a truly hi-fi sound is a bit pointless IMO. More important than the head unit are the loudspeakers and where they are placed. Sticking them down low in the doors like most manufaturers do - 'cause it's easy - is not a great idea. I once wired a girlfriend's car up with some wedge shaped 3 way speakers fixed to the rear parcel shelf - a much better solution.
I alos like those set ups where the tweeters fire into the curvature of the windscreen in order to spread the sound. That's a great idea.
Beechwoods
08-10-2012, 18:37
I love the way the Nak came with the same NAAC Azimuth Control found in the Dragon!
Beobloke
08-10-2012, 18:52
Personally I've always fancied a Panasonic CQ-TX5500. Gold finish plus glowing valve and VU meters on the front! I even used to have a car that took a double DIN sized unit...
Beechwoods
08-10-2012, 20:13
That is classy!
That is classy!
Haha.
I'm not so sure...
Unless you have a really quiet car like a Roller attempting to get a truly hi-fi sound is a bit pointless IMO. More important than the head unit are the loudspeakers and where they are placed. Sticking them down low in the doors like most manufaturers do - 'cause it's easy - is not a great idea. I once wired a girlfriend's car up with some wedge shaped 3 way speakers fixed to the rear parcel shelf - a much better solution.
I alos like those set ups where the tweeters fire into the curvature of the windscreen in order to spread the sound. That's a great idea.
I know what you mean. My girlfriend's car's speakers are in the door and it is always disappointing to listen to. My speakers are in the dash and I think reflecting off the windscreen is a better idea for the car, seems to fill the car more in a stereo way. So much more detail when the drivers are higher up.
I'm some original B&W LM1s (late 70s?) which are designed to be used on a rear parcel shelf. Has dual crossovers that you switch between, one setting for the car and another for your home/caravan. Don't have a parcel shelf though as I left it in Nottingham once, leaning against a lamppost :doh:
I'm some original B&W LM1s (late 70s?) which are designed to be used on a rear parcel shelf. Has dual crossovers that you switch between, one setting for the car and another for your home/caravan. Don't have a parcel shelf though as I left it in Nottingham once, leaning against a lamppost :doh:
what's the motor? If it is not rare or new then get down to a scrapyard and get one out of a wreck. Shouldn't be more than a tenner. If it's a Skyline or something then you are probably stuck with making a new one out of plywood :)
anthonyTD
09-10-2012, 08:39
Alpine...
A.
what's the motor? If it is not rare or new then get down to a scrapyard and get one out of a wreck. Shouldn't be more than a tenner. If it's a Skyline or something then you are probably stuck with making a new one out of plywood :)
Just a lowly Mk2 Astra ... being a hatchback, the annoying thing is having to lift that parcel shelf up with the boot lid. Will have to be bolted to the shelf.
Alpine...
A.
If you mean this style of Alpine then yes ! :
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z121/Filterlab/alpine7274.jpg
The later ones with turquoise buttons seem a bit too flashy to me.. Did they sound good though?
Picture/linky no worky!
Marco.
Rare Bird
13-10-2012, 12:50
Motorola 8 Track with press button track change wire remote :eyebrows:
My old rover 45 used to have a blaupunkt stereo in which was very good, that and the faux walnut trim were the best things about it.
anthonyTD
13-10-2012, 19:19
If you mean this style of Alpine then yes ! :
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z121/Filterlab/alpine7274.jpg
The later ones with turquoise buttons seem a bit too flashy to me.. Did they sound good though?
Hi Nat,
The Radio/Cassette decks [and also the seperates they did] from late seventies through to the early 90's were realy good, and the early CD players also very good, however, i feel they lost the edge later on.
A...
Picture/linky no worky!
Marco.
Odd.. I copied the image location from the website I listed before. Maybe the original hosting service doesn't allow direct access somehow?
http://imageshack.us/a/img812/8852/alpine7274.jpg
i copied it and stuck it on imageshack.
anthonyTD
13-10-2012, 22:27
Odd.. I copied the image location from the website I listed before. Maybe the original hosting service doesn't allow direct access somehow?
http://imageshack.us/a/img812/8852/alpine7274.jpg
i copied it and stuck it on imageshack.
:)
http://www.hifigear.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/components-1-300x225.jpg
The Grand Wazoo
16-10-2012, 18:02
http://discretemusic.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/s_welk.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JfmYtoWg4vU/SU0T29fBseI/AAAAAAAAF84/CKP5d9TGA4o/s400/1.jpg
http://discretemusic.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/s_welk.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JfmYtoWg4vU/SU0T29fBseI/AAAAAAAAF84/CKP5d9TGA4o/s400/1.jpg
Does it come with the gloves?
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