I'm an idiot
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Southern California
I'm an idiot
when it comes to stereos. All I have in my Aerostars now are the original AM/FM cassettes. Both vans have the rear speakers with rear controls.
Now that I'm older, I'd like something more pleasing to the ears for my collection of classical music CDs. What should I do? Please note that I'm past the age of rocks and raps and whatever young folks call musics these days
What level of power can the existing speakers tolerate? Will a 50Wx4 CD player be good enough and not blow the speakers? If so, what brand do you gentlemen recommend?
Thanks
Now that I'm older, I'd like something more pleasing to the ears for my collection of classical music CDs. What should I do? Please note that I'm past the age of rocks and raps and whatever young folks call musics these days
What level of power can the existing speakers tolerate? Will a 50Wx4 CD player be good enough and not blow the speakers? If so, what brand do you gentlemen recommend?
Thanks
New User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7
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From: Lumpu
Change the speakers....they are junk, even with the "premium"system.
You will probably have to rewire too.
Check with BestBuy or Circuit City...or check some independent shops...you can get some good deals if you shop. But beware of the "free install"...sometimes the only free part is them taking it out of the box...everything else will cost you big time.
I hit 2 small shops...they wanted way too much.I hit Ciruit City and BestBuy( they're right next to each other here).Circuit City was about 200 bucks total...as opposed to BestBuys 380$$( for the same Pioneer cd receiver and 4 sony speakers
You will probably have to rewire too.
Check with BestBuy or Circuit City...or check some independent shops...you can get some good deals if you shop. But beware of the "free install"...sometimes the only free part is them taking it out of the box...everything else will cost you big time.
I hit 2 small shops...they wanted way too much.I hit Ciruit City and BestBuy( they're right next to each other here).Circuit City was about 200 bucks total...as opposed to BestBuys 380$$( for the same Pioneer cd receiver and 4 sony speakers
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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I agree, first speakers, that will probably be all you need since you are not trying to blast yourself out of the vehicle.
But you said you want to listen to CDs, this is the problem. If you replace the head unit you are better off starting from scratch. No aftermarket stereo will work with the rear control.
Only other option, buy a CD changer with an FM modulator. The CD changer can be mounted anywhere and will come with a remote control. You can put the remote whereever you want. The FM modulator sends out a radio signal that you can tune the current radio to (example: 92.3FM). Only problem here is clarity, some FM modulators are prone to interferance, just like normal radio stations, but the higher end units are very clear.
So here are what I think the two options are:
- Replace entire system, head unit, wiring, speakers and lose your rear control
- best sound but high price and lots of modification
or
- Replace speakers and install a CD changer with a FM modulator.
- maybe less quality but you retain the stock configuration
But you said you want to listen to CDs, this is the problem. If you replace the head unit you are better off starting from scratch. No aftermarket stereo will work with the rear control.
Only other option, buy a CD changer with an FM modulator. The CD changer can be mounted anywhere and will come with a remote control. You can put the remote whereever you want. The FM modulator sends out a radio signal that you can tune the current radio to (example: 92.3FM). Only problem here is clarity, some FM modulators are prone to interferance, just like normal radio stations, but the higher end units are very clear.
So here are what I think the two options are:
- Replace entire system, head unit, wiring, speakers and lose your rear control
- best sound but high price and lots of modification
or
- Replace speakers and install a CD changer with a FM modulator.
- maybe less quality but you retain the stock configuration
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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your stock speakers probably only handle 15 to 30 watts, so any new deck will be too much. if your not planning on going big remember to match your speakers and deck for power, dont expect to run speakers rated at 300 w with a 50wx4 deck. you wont get the volume you want. and turning the deck all the way up will give your "dirty" power=bad sound quality. rewire for speakers as the stock wiring harness is desgined to handle only what the stock deck puts out. check chrutchfield. when you buy a deck from them they supply, at no extra charge, wiring harness adaptors, mounting kits and step by step instructions for the amature. i have seen many incorrect installs from local owned shops and many many botched jobs from circut city. check reputations if you are going to have someone install them. i used to do high end installs(fabing panels, fiberglass, custom boxes) and saw to many fire hazards installed by other shops. if your doing it yourself soldier and tape all connections, crimp connectors are easy but dont hold well. any install questions dont be afraid to ask. good luck
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Mitchell, SD
Originally Posted by copper_90680
Now that I'm older, I'd like something more pleasing to the ears for my collection of classical music CDs. What should I do? Please note that I'm past the age of rocks and raps and whatever young folks call musics these days
What level of power can the existing speakers tolerate? Will a 50Wx4 CD player be good enough and not blow the speakers? If so, what brand do you gentlemen recommend?
Thanks
Thanks
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 242
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From: Westerville, OH
My van had a Kenwood cassette deck when I got it. It sounded great with the stock base model rear speakers, and $15 Wal-Mart chrome coated paper junk speakers from Wal-Mart.
When I put in the OEM-style Ford cassette deck, quality went to crap, speakers sound distorted, and I lost the right rear channel.
I suck at stereos, too, but obviously the stock Ford decks put out very few watts. My Nightwish sounds like a children's choir.
When I put in the OEM-style Ford cassette deck, quality went to crap, speakers sound distorted, and I lost the right rear channel.
I suck at stereos, too, but obviously the stock Ford decks put out very few watts. My Nightwish sounds like a children's choir.
New User
Joined: Jan 2005
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Originally Posted by copper_90680
when it comes to stereos. All I have in my Aerostars now are the original AM/FM cassettes. Both vans have the rear speakers with rear controls.
Now that I'm older, I'd like something more pleasing to the ears for my collection of classical music CDs. What should I do? Please note that I'm past the age of rocks and raps and whatever young folks call musics these days
What level of power can the existing speakers tolerate? Will a 50Wx4 CD player be good enough and not blow the speakers? If so, what brand do you gentlemen recommend?
Thanks
Now that I'm older, I'd like something more pleasing to the ears for my collection of classical music CDs. What should I do? Please note that I'm past the age of rocks and raps and whatever young folks call musics these days
What level of power can the existing speakers tolerate? Will a 50Wx4 CD player be good enough and not blow the speakers? If so, what brand do you gentlemen recommend?
Thanks
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2000
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back in 1998, I replaced the existing radio with a Grundig Radio/Cassette unit with CD changer. Works great with the existing speaker system, even the rear control works (volume control, not radio scan). The quality is good, I don't listen to loud music while I'm driving anyway.
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: North Jersey, New Jersey
I think it would be possible to make the back controls work with a new stereo with a little modification maybe soldering the wires for lets say the tuning control on the two contacts for the radios tuner and so on.
Basically its just like making another switch on the radio in the back I still will have to work out if both people press the button at the same time it may send a double surge of current into the radio I'm going to have to make some kind of a current switch so only 1 button can be used at a time. I will be replacing my stock system wiring and speakers soon so I'll let you know how it goes.
But of course it wouldn't be plug and play.
Basically its just like making another switch on the radio in the back I still will have to work out if both people press the button at the same time it may send a double surge of current into the radio I'm going to have to make some kind of a current switch so only 1 button can be used at a time. I will be replacing my stock system wiring and speakers soon so I'll let you know how it goes.
But of course it wouldn't be plug and play.
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Southern California
Thank you gentlemen for the helpful responses. I also think that the rear control should work partly, at least the on-off button for the speakers should work. As for the tuning from the rear, I don't really care for it too much. Don't want the kids to have access to that function anyway, right?
I'm looking at the Alpine CDM9821 on sale at Circuit City for $120, and I'll probably go with the stock speakers for now, until I find out how they do with this unit. If they prove inadequate, then I'll change the speakers too.
A few more questions from an outdated old guy. What's XM radio and do we need a subscription like satellite radio to access those stations? Some of the units I saw even had built-in TV tuner. TV tuner????????? Now, I feel really really old and useless.
Krankshaft: If you ever figure out how the whole rear control works, can you post your result here?
Thanks again everyone.
I'm looking at the Alpine CDM9821 on sale at Circuit City for $120, and I'll probably go with the stock speakers for now, until I find out how they do with this unit. If they prove inadequate, then I'll change the speakers too.
A few more questions from an outdated old guy. What's XM radio and do we need a subscription like satellite radio to access those stations? Some of the units I saw even had built-in TV tuner. TV tuner????????? Now, I feel really really old and useless.
Krankshaft: If you ever figure out how the whole rear control works, can you post your result here?
Thanks again everyone.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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with xm radio you do need a subscription, like $10 or less a month and it does give you hundreds of digital quality channels, but think of xm like a cell phone. no reception no signal. you would need a screen to use the tv tuner. most laws state it cant bee seen by the driver or if it can must be disengage when the vehicle is on and not in park
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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your stock speakers are a fiber/paper cone. switching to an aftermarket speaker will give you a composite cone and a seperate tweeter. the cone handles mids and lows and the tweeter handles the highs. basically two speakers in one giving you a much higher quality as all all three frequencies are not trying to come out of one.
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Yeah, you really aren't risking anything. If you try the stock speakers, and they are adequate, great. If not, then replace them. Either the work and ou'll save money, or they won't and you get something better,