Modern Receiver/CD Changer

[Space Cowboy]

Hey all,

I'm looking to upgrade my stereo in my 68 since I'm doing a major restore. I want to keep the original bezel, so that limits my choices. I know I don't want to go with Audiovox or Sanyo crap (sorry if I've offended), but I'm very picky when it comes to my sound products. I definitely have to have a unit that has pre-amp RCA connection as well as a CD Changer Controller.

I've seen the "USA-5" unit, but I have no idea what quality it is or even who makes it. I've seen some posts pertaining to it and some technical issues. I also don't know if the disc changer will fit in the middle rear compartment for that matter.

I've also seen the Kenwood 601. I like Kenwood, but it looks like it doesn't have a CD Controller. Bummer, because I like Kenwood products.

What options have you guys found? I'm assuming some of you have attempted what I'm doing.

Thanks

 

[81 Corvette]

You could store the orginal bezel, and buy an after market bezel to chop on. Ecklers and I'm sure others, sell the USA system adn a kenwood cassette system that will fit without modding. If it was me, i'd go the first route.

I had an alpine head unit with pioneer 6x9's and 4x6's that sounded pretty good.

 

[bossvette]

you can use an aftermarket bezel that is made to fit a modern CD or the USA-5

I have a Custom Autosound I don't remember which model, but it is the one without the cassette and my only complaint is the numbers are hard for me to see, but then I use the CD changer the most and just let it cycle. I have had it 5 years now.

 

[dfw81shark]

I bought a new bezel from Midamerica and used a dremel to cut out the correct sized hole. You save a bunch not buying the crappy stereo that comes in the package "deals". I have a Sony Mobile ES Receiver. It is junk too- stay away from it. I hear the JVCs are nice. No problems there...

http://webpages.charter.net/pmquick/vettestereo.jpg


Don't make fun of the uglyass red interior..

 

[81 Corvette]

looks better then my interior. I'd be willing to bet, i have one of worst on any of the forums.

 

[68Roadster]

dnewton,
I have an original 68 center bezel that has had the bottom portion where the radio goes hacked off for the installation of an aftermarket radio. I'd be willing to let it go cheap (considering I had to spend 355. to get one that wasn't hacked off). Notice in my fiberoptic post pictures that my car was delivered with no radio.
My wifes uncle tried to put a stereo in it as a kid, guess he didn't like his Dad ordering a Vette with no radio.
I'll post a pic later, might be something you want to try rather than hacking up yours.

 

[dfw81shark]

looks better then my interior. I'd be willing to bet, i have one of worst on any of the forums.

The cinnabar color is a very late 70's color. The interior is in good shape, the shade is a little, disco. It's the only cinnabar I've ever seen. It does go good with the beige though. I've seen a bunch of black oyster and even blue interiors since I've gotten my car that would easily pass as much more modern and attractive. It's like a 70's magnetic red instead of torch red. I'll stop now.

 

[81 Corvette]

looks like the thread has been jacked. I've got a dark blue interior. but the rear compartment doors are both busted, the shifting consoul is tore up. SOmeone put some screws threw it to hold the heater/ac controls. and the bezel has a corner missing from the ass that took my cd player. Not to mention, tears in the seats, adn a really bad carpet job. oh, and that passenger door handle doesn't connect at the front of it.

we now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

[Space Cowboy]

To the last two folks.... please get your own thread!

Geez guys... whatever happened to attempting to keep the original look of the car you have. I'm not looking to hack my baby up. Several of you have mentioned getting a new bezel, but have you seen what they're charging these days for one?!? The money is not the main point anyway... I would rather keep the original look and go with a stereo unit that is of good quality and has everything I need such as the CD Controller and RCA pre-amp connections.

Who of you have done this, which brand of unit did you get, and how pleased are you with the quality?

Thanks!

 

[Culprit]

The only thing I am aware of that fits what you're looking for is the USA-5 by Custom Autosound (not sure if it has pre-amp outputs or not).

I don't personally have one, but a friend of mine has one of the USA models in his old Impala and it sounds pretty good - he hasn't had any complaints with it.

 

[lnirenberg]

I just took a custom auto sound 2 out of my car and put in a replacement bezel that would take a modern unit. I am told that if you run the custom auto sound systems through a decent amp you can get acceptable sound but it won't be the same as a modern unit. The amp and cd player will take up a bit of room in the back and not be stock if that is your goal as I assume you want it out of the way. There is another thread going about high quality speakers that fit into dash and kicks thats worth a look as this is also an important part of the equation.

Unless you are going for Bloomington Gold or NCRS flight I would (and am) go the modern route and store the original bezel. You'll save money and get better sound. At 75+ with the t-tops off and the back window stored you need some serious tunes to hear anything!

To the last two folks.... please get your own thread!

Geez guys... whatever happened to attempting to keep the original look of the car you have. I'm not looking to hack my baby up. Several of you have mentioned getting a new bezel, but have you seen what they're charging these days for one?!? The money is not the main point anyway... I would rather keep the original look and go with a stereo unit that is of good quality and has everything I need such as the CD Controller and RCA pre-amp connections.

Who of you have done this, which brand of unit did you get, and how pleased are you with the quality?

Thanks!

 

[76okievette]

I had a link to a site thats sells a replacement bezel for the C3 that looks just like the orginal but the space for the radio has been changed to accomadate the modern radios. So far I have not been able to find it but if you search the web I am sure you can find it. This is the way I am going the new bezel will allow you to install a new modern CD player and still keep the orginal look with out cutting up anything, you can just save the old bezal to reinstall if you ever want to go back to 100% orginal.

I will keep looking and if I find the site I will post it.

 

[76okievette]

Found one its not just the bezel it is a CD unit that appears to meet your requirements and comes complete with a new bezel. Its expensive but are't they all.[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Blaupunkt Stereo CD with Gauge Bezels [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]http://www.corvetteamerica.com/main.cfm?function=LearnMore&CategoryID=1&PartNo=44799&LearnMoreID=1906&OrderBy=Description&CFID=2336012&CFTOKEN=88075444[/font]

 

[lnirenberg]

I had a link to a site thats sells a replacement bezel for the C3 that looks just like the orginal but the space for the radio has been changed to accomadate the modern radios. So far I have not been able to find it but if you search the web I am sure you can find it. This is the way I am going the new bezel will allow you to install a new modern CD player and still keep the orginal look with out cutting up anything, you can just save the old bezal to reinstall if you ever want to go back to 100% orginal.

I will keep looking and if I find the site I will post it.

I just bought a "modified" bezel and installed it this past weekend. I got it from
www.vettespecialties.com
The 1st one came shipped broken as the bezel is very thin near the top where the air vents go. They gladly sent me a new one. The original (?) I took out of my car was broken in the exact same place. My only problem with the replacement piece is that I had to grind the back of the bezel a bit as it was hanging up and not letting the seatbelt light reset button work-no big deal and it wasn't cheap--$249.95 + shipping! I said "modified" because all they did was take a repro original style bezel and chop it up and insert a radio modification kit which they also sell as a stand alone for $65. I'm not sure why dnewton is so hung up on leaving his "original" bezel(are you really sure its original?) original. You can save some $ now and modify the bezel yourself and in the far distant future if you or your heirs want to restore the bezel to stock you can buy a new repro then. My unit is being installed by a friend who owns a high end custom auto tunes shop and he is a dealer of these pre-made setups by custom auto sound including the blaupunkt units and he says they are junk. Add that to the fact that they sell at a premium and I think you have better options--Clarion and Kenwood make some awesome units and you can get players that play all the different formats MP3 etc. In the end you will have to pick your poison.

 

[dfw81shark]

Found one its not just the bezel it is a CD unit that appears to meet your requirements and comes complete with a new bezel. Its expensive but are't they all.[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Blaupunkt Stereo CD with Gauge Bezels [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]http://www.corvetteamerica.com/main.cfm?function=LearnMore&CategoryID=1&PartNo=44799&LearnMoreID=1906&OrderBy=Description&CFID=2336012&CFTOKEN=88075444http://www.corvetteamerica.com/main...rBy=Description&CFID=2336012&CFTOKEN=88075444[/font]

You can buy that same stereo from Crutchfield for about $120. Add the bezel and your are up to $220. $440 is way too high.

Sorry about the 'threadjack' again. I didn't realize you were only looking for tape players or 8 tracks. I just had to interject the above info in case you (or others reading this) decided to molest your center console.

I really couldn't find a good place to put a cd changer in the car, so for me, in the cd age, it made perfect sense to buy a new bezel and put an in-dash unit in.

No hard feelings man.. Seriously!

 

[red70vette]

If the quality of the Autosound USA 5 is anywhere near my USA 3 don't waste your time or money. I bought it and used it for 1 year and was happy to rip it out. The only thing it did was fit the bezel. Sounded like junk.

Since my bezel was broken I cut it and installed a Pioneer. What a difference!!!

 

[Space Cowboy]

dfw81shark... Man, I don't know where you see I was looking for 8-track... far from it, hence the title of the thread. No hard feelings.

76okievette.... BINGO! Not on the link that you put, but they also carry a new Kenwood system as well. I know more about Kenwood then the other. However, I will consider what dfw81shark is suggesting and go to crutchfield and see what the unit costs there and by the bezal from somewhere else. This way I can keep the original bezel and save it for a rainy day on another project.

Thanks for the info all.

 

[Culprit]

The amp and cd player will take up a bit of room in the back and not be stock if that is your goal as I assume you want it out of the way.

A fellow CAC'er (69myway I think) hid the amp under the passenger seat. Just a thought.

 

[76okievette]

Hope it works out, let us know what you end up with, upgrading the radio in my 76 in in the plan, although the orginal AM FM that came in my car almost 30 years ago still works great but a CD player would be nice. Good luck