Since Custom Audio Sound = Crap, what about Retrosound?

jerry S

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Sep 3, 2003

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52.22N 5.12E

May 27, 2008

#1

• May 27, 2008

• #1

Does anyone know if these are good units or not? I just love the looks of the CAS 66 radio but I have read too many horror stories on the different boards. The Retrosound USA units look nice but I am wondering if anyone has any first hand experience with them.

 

BarnStang

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Mar 2, 2001

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Hagerstown, MD

May 27, 2008

#2

• May 27, 2008

• #2

http://www.virginiaclassicmustang.com/catalog/shop/item.asp?itemid=RD961
Saw this in the new Virginiac Classic Mustang catalog, can't tell who makes it, but the USA radios are usually marked as such. I still need a decent system for my project too and was considering this one.

Edit: Oh, it looks just like the USA-66...probably is.

Found a couple links on the retrosound:
http://blog.sounddomain.com/gadget/2008/02/retrosound-mode.html

Geez, that was hard to find! Here is the link
http://www.retrosoundusa.com/

 

jerry S

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Sep 3, 2003

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52.22N 5.12E

May 27, 2008

#3

• May 27, 2008

• #3

the radio you linked to at VA mustang is a CAS. I love the look but the reputation of CAS precedes it and I am hesitant to buy.

 

C

chromedog

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worlds center for speed

May 27, 2008

#4

• May 27, 2008

• #4

im not sure about the quality, but the face just looks too modern for me... you are right about the CAS, they are like holding an empty case, just too chinzy. i bought one for my stang, and just couldnt bring myself to install it. i sucked it up, and bought a used jvc off ebay, (dont ask what i paid) the fellow i bought mine from digs the units up, and refurbishes them, and i have no problems what so ever with the one i bought. the other option is to find a ken harrison unit, which, i think uses a kenwood chassis adapted to fit the mustang dash.

 

J

jamison42166

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Jun 13, 2006

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May 27, 2008

#5

• May 27, 2008

• #5

that radio looks half decent from the inputs and outputs but given my experience I would never buy it. that and their claim of 200 watts is BS.
if they used RMS ratings say 10-30 watts it would be more believable.

 

C

chromedog

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worlds center for speed

May 27, 2008

#6

• May 27, 2008

• #6

good point! power = transformer= weight! CAS does the same thing claiming high power output, which is total bull. my jbl amps are older (early 90's) when the mfg. used rms, not peak to peak ratings for power. the big one is 75 watts per channel, and the small one is 50. add the total together for 400 watts. hardly worth the trouble of building a mount, reengineering the trunk lift mechanism, etc... until you hear the results! im sorry, but sound equipment is one area where ill take my chances with used stuff before i shell out big bucks for "new" technology (square speakers, for cryin' out loud!)

 

iskwezm

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May 24, 2005

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May 27, 2008

#7

• May 27, 2008

• #7

I would never buy any type of "retro" stereo.Not worth the money IMO.You can get almost anything nicer for the same or less and stick it in the glove box with a infared repeater so the door can stay closed.I dont know why its modern looks have abything to do with it, unless is a concours restoration a "stock" looking stereo will do nothing for the value.

 

T

truck90278

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Jun 4, 2006

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Redondo Beach, CA

May 27, 2008

#8

• May 27, 2008

• #8

As iskwezm said, you could put it in the glove box. We are using a Kenwood unit, but mounting it below the dash in a subpanel due to the limited glovebox due to the Classic AC unit behind the dasy

 

BarnStang

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Mar 2, 2001

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Hagerstown, MD

May 27, 2008

#9

• May 27, 2008

• #9

I wanted to fill up the hole in the dash. Think it would look nicer. I knew the USA stuff is junk. Wasn't sure about the Retro stuff. Maybe it would be easier and cheaper to clean up a junk AM radio and bolt it in the hole, and put the real stereo in the glove box, but also have the Classic Air kit too. So am space limited in what CLassic calls a glove box...

 

jerry S

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Sep 3, 2003

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52.22N 5.12E

May 27, 2008

#10

• May 27, 2008

• #10

iskwezm said:

I dont know why its modern looks have abything to do with it, unless is a concours restoration a "stock" looking stereo will do nothing for the value.

Click to expand...

The heart wants what it wants.

 

B

bnickel

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Aug 21, 2002

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lubbock, texas

May 27, 2008

#11

• May 27, 2008

• #11

there are places that do conversions on old factory radios to bring them up to modern specs. they can install amps, digital FM capability, RCA outputs, AUX inputs etc. i think i will send one of these places an AM/FM radio to convert for my cougar or use one the newer Ken Harrison radios, some of which are pretty cool.

 

M

markandjay

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Mar 31, 2009

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Apr 19, 2009

#12

• Apr 19, 2009

• #12

i have been working on it for a couple of years (a.d.d./ o.c.d.) but I have an 8track player that is gutted with rca output and inputs from headphone on mp3 I have to run amps and rca splitters but all this will be easily hidden and the nice thing about it is you can shove the inagaddadavida in the slot and load said track on the mp3 player that is some nice nostalgia. As far as the amps in something like this a couple of 250RMS amps will be plenty for average joe not big or hard to hide and dont have a real bad drain on the electrical. and when you want new music you can have 300 plus choices at a time with no bulk!

 

K

Kman

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Apr 22, 2009

#13

• Apr 22, 2009

• #13

I have the USA 66 retro Am/FM in my 65 and like it very much. The fit is excellent and the installlation was easy and I have had no issues with it. The claimed 200 watt output is not believable but it sounds fine to me through my (2) 6x9's in the rear deck and 2 cone dash speaker. All depends on what you are looking for and the original look was important to me as my car is a pretty much a stock restoration.

 

B

Blu-Steel

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Waynesville, MO

Apr 27, 2009

#14

• Apr 27, 2009

• #14

Kman said:

I have the USA 66 retro Am/FM in my 65 and like it very much. The fit is excellent and the installlation was easy and I have had no issues with it. The claimed 200 watt output is not believable but it sounds fine to me through my (2) 6x9's in the rear deck and 2 cone dash speaker. All depends on what you are looking for and the original look was important to me as my car is a pretty much a stock restoration.

Click to expand...

Me too; I have the USA 66 retro AM/FM in my 66 and I really like it. It is built a lot better then the other CAS stuff; the body is all metal and it sounds good enough to me with my 6x9 pioneers in the package shelf and the 2 cone dash speakers. Before this I bought the USA 6 and it was a piece of crap! Cheap plastic body (and cheesy looks) and poor sound quality. The USA 66 retro AM/FM is really a lot better, it looks great and sounds very good. If you are looking for these qualities I would recommend it but if you want killer sound then I would go with some of the other suggestions posted here.