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Thought I'd share my stereo solution in case anyone else wanted some easy portable music in their classic.
I wanted something non-invasive, removable, sounded good, bluetooth, not expensive. I'll be taking the truck out a few times a month just the 3 blocks to the beach so I didnt want to cut up the dash or doors to add speakers. The UE Boom is one of my favorite bluetooth speakers..nearly indestructible, sounds great, long battery life, great bluetooth capabilities. So I went ahead and designed a bracket which I printed in a very rigid resin via SLA backed by 180 lbf of N52 neodymium magnets. Power is supplied via USB from the fuse box on ACC but the speaker turns off automatically in 15 min after I leave. Sounds awesome in the truck and is removable for when I get to the beach! Tested it this evening and very happy with the results, will be even happier once I get all my sound deadener in the cab.
Total cost: $59 including new UE Boom from Amazon. Could redesign to screw the brackets into the firewall but this method works fine for the 3 lb speaker.
I have a JBL charge 3, same idea. It has a 20 hour battery life and charges like a cell phone, it’s also water proof. The more recent blue tooth speakers sound great and are easy to use. It’s a great solution to add tunes to a classic. I find myself using mine all around the house and garage.
Gotta love modern tech in ancient trucks! I was toying with the idea of putting a repro modern stereo in the factory location, but $600 is a lot to spend on that, particularly when it would drive the one 6x9 that goes in the factory location. I also may keep the truck as 6V and didn't want to futz with voltage converters.
I had resorted to using my waterproof Bluetooth speaker behind my head on the bench (it's small and rectangular and sits on top of the bench perfectly) and using my phone to drive my Pandora. Perfect setup, and the truck remains unmolested. It's 100% original 1950 goodness, and want to keep it that way, or at least keep it looking like it's all original with replacement parts.
Looks good so I ordered one. $59.99 for the red refurbished unit.
Later!
Mr. Ed
Let me know if you want the printed brackets.
Originally Posted by ReForder
Gotta love modern tech in ancient trucks! I was toying with the idea of putting a repro modern stereo in the factory location, but $600 is a lot to spend on that, particularly when it would drive the one 6x9 that goes in the factory location. I also may keep the truck as 6V and didn't want to futz with voltage converters.
I had resorted to using my waterproof Bluetooth speaker behind my head on the bench (it's small and rectangular and sits on top of the bench perfectly) and using my phone to drive my Pandora. Perfect setup, and the truck remains unmolested. It's 100% original 1950 goodness, and want to keep it that way, or at least keep it looking like it's all original with replacement parts.
Exactly, I didn't want to modify the original setup to fit a modern stero...but some music would always be fun.
just my iPhone. SiriusXM app, some songs are downloaded if I want to listen to something random I use YouTube. Most radio stations have apps too.
Chris
Yes there would be little gain in using higher quality sources when using a single bluetooth speaker . I have a Bose bluetooth - HD music device and it is quite amazing but not to the quality of a system .
I agree on the music, acl. Always need good tunes, even on a short drive.
Where does your speaker sit with those brackets? Do you just plop it on the dash with the magnets? Probably a bit safer than having a speaker resting on the back of my bench seat, lol
I will admit that under full chuff, the sounds in my un-insulated and un-soundproofed cab drown out the sound of the music, even when it's right behind my head. It's more for when I'm sitting at red lights or stop signs, lol
