Stereo Head Units

skywalker · Dec 21, 2008

Just doing some research here...

Given that my experience with Custom Auto Sound has been poor and the opinion of it that I have heard have been poor, I wanted to ask (especially for owners of '65-'66 cars):

What do you want out of a head unit? This is an open ended question. What features do you want/need? How important is not cutting the dash to you? How much are you willing to pay for a quality head unit?

rbohm · Dec 21, 2008

my feeling is that if the din style head units had been around in the early 60's ford would have used them in the mustang. the only reason i would avoid cutting the dash is because i can still find radios that can fit the stock opening with little or no modification, and still look reasonably stock. as for the custom auto sound units, they sell plenty of them, and it seems the ones that have problems are the low end units. but i am not spending the money for a high end unit since i am going to build a console for my stang, and i will hide a new style unit in there.

suki243 · Dec 21, 2008

I kept the original radio in place and installed an aftermarket head unit underneath it. I am planning on making a custom center console and hide the aftermarket one in there. I like the mp3 playing capability, hd radio and aux hookup.

jlangholzj · Dec 21, 2008

depends on what you want... I've just got my iPod wired directly to an amp that powers the back speakers...works pretty well...everything looks stock... I'ma happy! lol.

skywalker · Dec 21, 2008

jlangholzj said:
depends on what you want... I've just got my iPod wired directly to an amp that powers the back speakers...works pretty well...everything looks stock... I'ma happy! lol.

That's kind of what I'm getting at: what DO people want?

2nd Mustang · Dec 21, 2008

I like driving my Mustang with both windows down and just listening to the lumpy cam and headers. My radio is never turned on. Why drive a hot rod if you want to listen to music?

coolblue65 · Dec 22, 2008

I cut my dash a long time ago to make a standard DIN radio/CD player fit in there. I dont regret it one bit. I don't turn it on that much except for long road trips or maybe sitting in Chicago traffic.

Here is pic:

rbohm · Dec 22, 2008

2nd Mustang said:
I like driving my Mustang with both windows down and just listening to the lumpy cam and headers. My radio is never turned on. Why drive a hot rod if you want to listen to music?

cause sometimes you just gotta crank up "born to be wild" while cruisin

jlangholzj · Dec 23, 2008

rbohm said:
cause sometimes you just gotta crank up "born to be wild" while cruisin

i love....LOVE just cruizing around...and playing some beach boys and other music from the era...idk...WHAT it is...its just...awesome...

I guess, I left the stock radio in, and left it hooked up to the front speaker so i can listen to news when i want to. but for the most part, (i've got ~7K songs on my iPod) I've got the music i want to listen to, so since I'm annoyed by the radio adds, Just having an amp hooked up to 2 6x9 full range speakers does it for me. plus, since its just wired in with a headphone jack, you can :lug in Sirus/XM radio :: and when i do get the urge to listen to radio, i've got a little portable guy that i can plug in.

also, If you want more than just 2 6x9 , get a 4.1 channel amp, 2 6x9 in the tray, 2 4's in the kick panels and 1 sub.

i guess, after all that babbling, i jsut realized your probably going to need an amp no matter what.. ::duh::

so for me, i'm content with just wiring in my ipod...simple enough

have fun!

Blu-Steel · Dec 24, 2008

I want original looks with modern features and decent price which is why I went with the Custom Autosound 66 AM/FM. It has 200 watts, aux input jacks and RCA output. I'm quite happy with it and it is a lot better than the cheaper Custom Autosounds units, which I hated. Since the car is noisy anyway I did not see the need to spend a lot of money on a high end system that I would need to figure out how to install. The Custom Autosounds is fedinately not the best in sound quality but it is good enough for me, especially since I don't use my Mustang as a daily driver anymore.

thekid760 · Jan 5, 2009

2nd Mustang said:
I like driving my Mustang with both windows down and just listening to the lumpy cam and headers. My radio is never turned on. Why drive a hot rod if you want to listen to music?

Thats my plan also, but not all parts of the country can drive around all year long with the windows down.

If radio's were important to me I'd want aux MP3 hookup, rca's, reliable and long lasting, great sound quality, in a package that looks stock because there's no way I'm cutting my dash(My mustang has sentimental value, it was my grandfathers. He bought it right off of his Hadley ford semi hauler, and his name was Harold Ford).

Although I have toyed with the idea of building a custom enclosure in the glovebox, that way when it's closed it looks completely original.

woodsnake · Jan 6, 2009

The dash in my 69 Cougar was ruined when somebody tried to break in and steal a cheapy radio.

So, I went ahead and cut it for a DIN style. Best money I've ever spent. I got a 'medium' level Pioneer, 125 W, 4 channel with ipod/mp3 hook ups and rca's.

You can still get a shaft style radio, with inputs and outputs for a reasonable amount of money, and then bump it up with an amp or something.

The bigger question is what do YOU want out of your stereo? Do you play a lot of CD's? Do you have an IPOD?

You can leave the stocker in, and get a 'hidden' sytem too.

It's your car, do what ever you want, except put a chevy motor in it.......

rip-cord · Jan 6, 2009

I just went through this thought process. I didn't want to cut the dash so I am putting it in the glove box and running the aux input down to the console for my ipod. That way when the glove box is closed I still have the original look. With remotes you don't need to have it out in the open anymore (assuming it is a good remote). I was thinking of hiding it in the trunk since it is mp3 but I would have to run the radio antenna a long way if I wanted radio. I got a basic head unit with good sound as it will be hidden anyway.

thekid760 · Jan 6, 2009

Please post pics of the glove box install once you get it finished.

Cobra6 · Jan 7, 2009

I liked this one - so I bought it.

The Custom Autosound units are junk ...

I ordered this one - I have not installed it yet - but I have read good stuff about it....

RetroSoundUSA.com - NEW! CLASSIC SOUND RADIO FOR 1964-66 MUSTANG

RetroSoundUSA.com - Classic Radio Systems, Speakers, and Accessories

USB port, etc.

rip-cord · Jan 15, 2009

It is still a work in progress but I got the mounting all in and the wiring done I just need to connect it up and slip it in along with the modified glove box. I created a plywood board to go under the case and screwed to the existing two holes that were for the glove box. I was going to attach the back to the heater box if needed but the front provides enough support so the back just rests on the top of the box.

cavboy78 · Feb 4, 2009

I'm also looking into stereo options. I have found that IR remotes don't work well for a receiver that is not line of sight (i.e..glovebox, trunk, etc...). You can get an IR extender that is basically an eye that mounts somewhere unobtrusively, within LOS of the remote, and is hardwired into the receiver itself. RF remotes, however, do not require LOS. Just some food for thought. I am debating on whether or not i could create a "faceplate" with an old Philco AM radio to place over a dash mounted DIN-sized player. I have a 70 sportsroof, which would be more feasible than a 65/66 dash. Anyone with any experience with this?

suki243 · Feb 4, 2009

Also if you're good with soldering and dont care about warranty; i saw a few people wire the faceplate only to a ribbon wire and mount it on the driver side visor, the rest of the unit can go anywhere, like under the driver's seat or in the back somewhere, or in the glove box.
I've seen it done before, one company does make a detachable/ mountable faceplate but of course they're expensive. I've seen it done custom and i think its awesome if you can do it right. I tried on an old head unit and it worked, but my soldering skills aren't very good so eventually it fell apart. it was just a test run though.
Food for thought.
Edit: just search radio faceplate relocation in google and some results should come up

Stereo Head Units

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