Thinking about car stereos...

So I spent this evening daydreaming about little projects for my new to me 91 Saab.

That daydreaming led to the idea of a car stereo, and I found myself in a quandary.

Mind you, I have no intention of installing a "system", whatever that even is these days. So no big amp, subwoofers and the like.

This is what I have now, as stock as can be. Although I don't know if the cassette player works (I'm having a little trouble finding cassettes locally):

The first option would be to leave the stock one in there and install a pre-amp type thing that I could plug my phone into and play it through the speakers. Like what EvanB suggested in this thread HERE

The second option is to buy something new and fancy, and have it be a direct replacement.

The third option is to find something 90s vintage, even though it may or may not be better than stock. I'm thinking a working ebay special like this:

Whatever it ends up being, it will mostly be just for looks and/or long drives. I think I've turned the stock radio on twice in the last two weeks.

What would you do?

If its just for looks you will have great difficulty finding anything 'modern' that doesn't clash like crazy with the looks of the rest of the dash. A 'period piece' would be neat but it's also a lot of effort for someone who makes it sound like they actually don't care about the stereo at all?

There were early 90s aftermarket units similar to the Alpine in the photo that had front panel line-in jacks. That would be the way to go.

Are they that hard to install? I guess I've never tried one of the "fancy" ones without two knobs. It would get used from time to time, but not very often.

And I agree, anything new just wouldn't fit there.

@johnnie: I don't remember those! I stopped caring about that stuff about the time you could start your Lamborghini from anywhere in the world with your bag phone

If you can verify that the cassette deck works, all you need is one of these to listen to your phone:

I keep looking at this for my saab's radio

ebay linky

I forgot about these things! Great thinking!

Tom_Spangler wrote: If you can verify that the cassette deck works, all you need is one of these to listen to your phone:

That's pretty cool. Have you researched the brand at all?

mad_machine wrote: I keep looking at this for my saab's radio ebay linky

paranoid_android74 wrote: Are they that hard to install? I guess I've never tried one of the "fancy" ones without two knobs. It would get used from time to time, but not very often. And I agree, anything new just wouldn't fit there. @johnnie: I don't remember those! I stopped caring about that stuff about the time you could start your Lamborghini from anywhere in the world with your bag phone

I knew I hung on to my bag phone for a reason!

Any Alpine AI-Net or M Bus receiver can have an aux-in through the CD Changer, and can run an aftermarket bluetooth/MP3/USB device.

You can use the Anycar adapter on a whole host of factory and aftermarket radios to add modern line-in conveniences http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-SD-Bluetooth-Adapter-Alpine-Ai-Net-CDA-TDA-9812-Freisprecheinrichtung-MP3-/251279940049?hash=item3a817399d1:g:lOsAAOSwBLlVZIXI

http://www.ebay.com/itm/APS-Bluetooth-module-for-ALPINE-KCA121B-AI-NET-CD-AUX-cable-Input-Adapter-/191579925055?hash=item2c9b0daa3f:g:N2QAAOSwFNZWwsp8

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLUETOOTH-CAR-ADAPTER-MUSIC-CD-CHANGER-MP3-GPS-CHARGER-FOR-ALPINE-M-BUS-/151742713818?hash=item2354920fda:g:0vkAAOSwMmBVnJ5O&vxp=mtr

I used to would have gone to the audio/electronics shop and said "Gimme a head unit with USB and bluetooth" and he'd throw something my way for $100ish.

Then I realized that junkyards pull aftermarket headunits and usually have a stack of them on the shelf and they are cheap enough that if they don't work, you're not out much money.

Some stock head units too... that SAAB looks like regulation 1/2 height DIN which a lot of other OEs also used. Ford especially, although on a lark I had a Yugo tape deck installed in my T-bird, because I thought it was hilarious. (And it was $2 at a Hamfest)

If the stocker work, keep it and get the tape adapter.

IIRC I learned of this technology from an in-store display. I can't find an image of it. But this is pretty close:

johnnie wrote:

paranoid_android74 wrote: Are they that hard to install? I guess I've never tried one of the "fancy" ones without two knobs. It would get used from time to time, but not very often. And I agree, anything new just wouldn't fit there. @johnnie: I don't remember those! I stopped caring about that stuff about the time you could start your Lamborghini from anywhere in the world with your bag phone

I knew I hung on to my bag phone for a reason!

Crutchfield tells me the stock radio is a 2" tall DIN style. That is a pretty standard aftermarket size, no?

Knurled wrote: I used to would have gone to the audio/electronics shop and said "Gimme a head unit with USB and bluetooth" and he'd throw something my way for $100ish. Then I realized that junkyards pull aftermarket headunits and usually have a stack of them on the shelf and they are cheap enough that if they don't work, you're not out much money. Some stock head units too... that SAAB looks like regulation 1/2 height DIN which a lot of other OEs also used. Ford especially, although on a lark I had a Yugo tape deck installed in my T-bird, because I thought it was hilarious. (And it was $2 at a Hamfest)

In the OP's picture of the Alpine unit, there's what looks like a rocker switch under the E in ALPINE. The two choices are "LOUD" and what looks like "RMONI." I Googled "RMONI" and discovered that it's either a time and temperature announcement service in Belgium (those crazy Belgians–no watches and no openable windows either, apparently) or a wireless sensing system for environmental variables. What was it for Alpine? Did it make your music extra mellow or something? Anybody know?

Stealthtercel wrote: What was it for Alpine? Did it make your music extra mellow or something? Anybody know?

it's for listening to the Ramones.

How much does sound quality matter to you in this case? The reason I ask, is that choosing a set or two (front pair/rear pair) of very good to excellent quality speakers, with a high enough RMS input capacity to prevent any distortion (even with a low powered OEM head unit) will make a far more dramatic improvement than ANY head unit, OEM or aftermarket. Be advised, high end speakers are not cheap, and cannot be found at any box store; you will need to go to a high-end car stereo shop.

as an aside, if you want to add gages to your 900. There is a factory kit that puts them in the radio's position. The radio then goes down to that little cubby in the console where it fits perfectly

I mention this every time a thread like this comes up, but they make bluetooth cassette adapters now, so you don't have to have that cord hanging out. There is also the old school option of using an FM modulator.

R.MONI = Remote/MOno Input. Switches to a mono line signal when you are starting to get out of range of the station you are listening to, so you can listen to it for a few more miles.

This is where I found the image I used: Old school radio

I haven't actually found that exact unit for sale yet. And much to my chagrin, the pull out radios I've seen so far don't come with the cradle they slide into. They are fun to look at though.

Woody used one of Blaupunkt Adelaide in his Miata . I'm planning to get one for my C900 once it serves more purpose than holding snow up off the ground.

Just noticed it's down to $80 now .

with a high enough RMS input capacity to prevent any distortion (even with a low powered OEM head unit)

That's not how it works. The distortion you're thinking of usually comes from the amp, not the speakers, and speakers with very high power ratings usually have lower efficiency than other speakers and require more amp output to deliver the same volume level. If you never wanted to hear distortion on the stock head unit amp you would probably look for speakers with very high efficiency and ignore their max power ratings, because all of them will be rated higher than what the stock head unit can put out.

In reply to Vigo:

You got me, I'm mixing up my terms, but efficiency is what I was thinking of. Which you'll need high-end speakers to get anyway. I've been out of the serious car stereo sound quality hobby for some 15 years now, so I'm knocking the dust off with this conversation!

Believe me, I am too!

I'm not opposed to installing some decent speakers as long as they are a direct fit. I haven't seen any yet that don't require "some" modification, but I haven't looked real hard yet either.

WildScotsRacing wrote: In reply to Vigo: I've been out of the serious car stereo sound quality hobby for some 15 years now, so I'm knocking the dust off with this conversation!