Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Stereo Upgrades
| Stereo Upgrades [message #186839] |
Wed, 10 October 2012 08:10  |
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JBO
Messages: 65
Registered: August 2012
Location: South Western Ontario
Karma: 0
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Howdy GMC Faithful,
I recently read a reply by Mark in Mesa, AZ, concerning an updated stereo system he had installed in his 78 Royale. It had me wondering what others have done in this regard. I’m basically dreaming for the future as I need to take the tire plunge first.
I have had a few really nice system in a couple classic cars I have restored. The thing about old classic cars though is they usually have nice big trunks (well the ones I end up with anyways). These trunks are the perfect place for subs and amps of course. I always tried to keep the stereo stuff stealth in the passenger compartment of these classics. I would hide the head unit in a glove box with speakers hidden under factory type grills.
I look at the 78 Royale and marvel how little room there appears to install something tastefully without cutting everything apart.
When I first brought it home I naïvely thought I could make do with the factory 8-track for a year or two anyway. I actually came by a whole leather case full of near mint condition 8-tracks,some were brand new still in the cellophane wrapper. No one really wants 8-tracks and I bought the whole case for 20 bones.
After our first camping trip this fall, I now totally recall why I couldn’t wait to replace the 8-track in my 72 Plymouth Satellite with a cassette deck way back in 1979 when I was 16.
I could almost live with the mid-rangy narrow sound band. I could almost handle the sound of every tape mimicking Alvin and the Chipmunks due to the slight faster tape speed. I was prepared to live with the songs ending in mid stream only to start again after the big click.
I guess where it all fell apart for me and the 8-tracks was due to the fact, I don’t really have many left after that first trek out. In a two hour drive out I think we lost 6 tapes. I believe we lost another 6 or 7 on the way back!
Yep! The dreaded 8-track eating player. Well quite a few tapes were toast before they even had a chance to be consumed. Even a few brand new ones must have been exposed to heat or something as they were playing multiple tracks at once. The Player soon put them out of everyone’s misery though and ate them but good!
So please tell what you have done in the realm of hi-fi to your coaches.
Jim Owens,
78 Royale,
Out skirts of Kitchener, Ontario
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| Re: Stereo Upgrades [message #186842 is a reply to message #186839] |
Wed, 10 October 2012 09:10  |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
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I have a nice 50w pr channel kenwood that has an AUX input for my MP3 player or my Sirius radio and a USB input that takes a USB stick with all my songs on it.
It also has Blue tooth so I can use it to make phone calls.
I have 4 6" round speakers, one behind the driver one behind the passenger and the other two in the living area.
I also have a Subwoofer with 2 10" in a box under the couch with a 200w amp.
It's loud, clean and has lots of options.
I thought I had pictures...
Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Stereo Upgrades [message #186851 is a reply to message #186842] |
Wed, 10 October 2012 10:47 |
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ljdavick
Messages: 3548
Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
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The dash has room for most single din head units - be careful about the depth, though, I understand some units are too deep and I’ve seen a few decks that are bumped out a bit from the dash. The sofa pedestals are the ideal place for subwoofers. The cockpit factory speaker location doesn’t give you a lot of options if you want to keep the dome light, but if you replace it with a gooseneck lamp, or similar, you can replace the whole panel with a nice speaker set up. I like the additional speakers in the overhead console that someone installed.
My head unit has an aux input so that we can pipe the audio from TV through it, though we’ve never done it. It seems that television is the last thing on our minds when we’re out in the coach.
I’d like to hear what you come up with.
Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, CA
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Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
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| Re: [GMCnet] Stereo Upgrades [message #186865 is a reply to message #186839] |
Wed, 10 October 2012 12:47 |
ChrisW6ATV
Messages: 26
Registered: September 2005
Location: Hayward, California USA
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Jim-
My first change was to modify the dashboard hole to accept modern
("DIN") stereos. In my 1974 coach, I just had to cut off most of the two
"ears" that held the old stereo's shafts, and bend the remaining parts
flat if I remember right. I also modified the dashboard cover plate so
that it could be removed without removing the stereo first. That meant
making the hole in it big enough so the trim piece from the stereo fits.
I have had two or three different stereos in the coach since I got it in
2005. The current one is an old Sony CD/radio unit from my old car, with
front/rear and subwoofer line outputs, and a line input. The line input
goes to a switch box allowing me to hear either a portable digital music
player (Samsung Galaxy Player in this case), or an add-on HD Radio tuner
that I installed because the stereo itself does not include HD Radio.
The front and rear line outputs go to an amplifier that feeds two
four-inch speakers installed in the panels below the driver and
passenger sliding windows (for midrange/treble) and an eight-inch woofer
(for bass) mounted in the dinette seat compartment behind the passenger
seat. The stereo itself has settings to split the bass and
midrange/treble to the front and rear this way. I did not want to use
any of the original speakers (the left front one is only inches from my
head). The design of the GMC's cab makes music have excellent stereo
sound with the speakers in those locations.
Chris Musselman
'74 Sequoia
Hayward, Cal.
On 10/10/2012 6:10 AM, Jim wrote:
>
>
> Howdy GMC Faithful,
>
>
> So please tell what you have done in the realm of hi-fi to your
> coaches.
>
>
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| Re: Stereo Upgrades [message #186889 is a reply to message #186839] |
Wed, 10 October 2012 16:25 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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| JBO wrote on Wed, 10 October 2012 09:10 |
Howdy GMC Faithful,
<snip>
So please tell what you have done in the realm of hi-fi to your coaches.
|
Jim,
You need to look at:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/speakers/p35249-where-i-put-new-speake.html
carefully.
Imagine you are lying on your back with your head toward the windshield.
Those are 4ea 4*6 Pioneers that were the best 4*6 you could buy at the time. I know that these are out of production, but I hope there is something good out there. The placement is such that it is lick wearing headphones, but you can still have a conversation in the cab. Base could be better, but I can hear bass just fine and this works well for everything up from there. The center speakers are cut into the overhead, and since it is a '73, I had to pull four pair up there for the speakers.
The dash unit is a Pioneer radio/cd and the cd player will play anything cd shaped that has audio on it (mp3, WMA & etc). It doesn't have USB, but I'm not sure I care. It also has an the optional (added later) auxiliary 3.5mm stereo plug that can connect to my MP3, my phone or my computer that is working my music storage drive.
Using the smartphone as both the enroute entertainment and the navigator is interesting. When the navigator has something to say, it ramps the music down, says what needs saying, then ramps back into the music just where it left you.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] Stereo Upgrades [message #186957 is a reply to message #186839] |
Thu, 11 October 2012 14:01 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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OK, you will find a one height DIN mount wikl fit exactly where the Delco was if you bend the two mounting ears the shafts went through back to thwe total width of a DIN mount. Now, you can stick and afterm,arket which will fit in a DIN mount in the dash for merely opening up the hole in the plastic. I used a Kenwood unit with an outboard HD adaptor. I believe by '78 GM had dropped the common ground and ran two wires to each speaker, but you'll hafta check. I had to pull new wires. Amazon had some GM size oval speakers for the rears and some 4 inch round for the fronts. I will probably go back and hang a pair of 8 inch Radio Shack all - range opnes under my cabinets, the Norris cabinets have a dead space (false bottom) for wiring and stuff where they will fit flush. Although the Amzon ones alone ain't bad. The don't quite catch the tympani in DeFalla's Three Cornered Hat but I don't play it on the road much anyway, it gets lost in the
road noise. My kid gave me the Ray Charles box set for Christmas, it sounds just fine... as does the Grand March (Verdi) and The Essential George Jones. I also throw in the double ETC and a bunch of 60s - 70s rock, and I can run a couple of days to a show and not repeat. Almost every town of any size has an FM running TOC, it does fine as well.
Â
Here's how I done it:
Â
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g5814-new-sound.html
Â
johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
From: Jim <jbowens@golden.net>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 9:10 AM
Subject: [GMCnet] Stereo Upgrades
Howdy GMC Faithful,
                     I recently read a reply by Mark in Mesa, AZ, concerning an updated stereo system he had installed in his 78 Royale. It had me wondering what others have done in this regard. I’m basically dreaming for the future as I need to take the tire plunge first.
I have had a few really nice system in a couple classic cars I have restored. The thing about old classic cars though is they usually have nice big trunks (well the ones I end up with anyways). These trunks are the perfect place for subs and amps of course. I always tried to keep the stereo stuff stealth in the passenger compartment of these classics. I would hide the head unit in a glove box with speakers hidden under factory type grills.Â
I look at the 78 Royale and marvel how little room there appears to install something tastefully without cutting everything apart.Â
When I first brought it home I naïvely thought I could make do with the factory 8-track for a year or two anyway. I actually came by a whole leather case full of near mint condition 8-tracks,some were brand new still in the cellophane wrapper. No one really wants 8-tracks and I bought the whole case for 20 bones.
After our first camping trip this fall, I now totally recall why I couldn’t wait to replace the 8-track in my 72 Plymouth Satellite with a cassette deck way back in 1979 when I was 16.
I could almost live with the mid-rangy narrow sound band. I could almost handle the sound of every tape mimicking Alvin and the Chipmunks due to the slight faster tape speed. I was prepared to live with the songs ending in mid stream only to start again after the big click.
I guess where it all fell apart for me and the 8-tracks was due to the fact, I don’t really have many left after that first trek out. In a two hour drive out I think we lost 6 tapes. I believe we lost another 6 or 7 on the way back!Â
Yep! The dreaded 8-track eating player. Well quite a few tapes were toast before they even had a chance to be consumed. Even a few brand new ones must have been exposed to heat or something as they were playing multiple tracks at once. The Player soon put them out of everyone’s misery though and ate them but good!
So please tell what you have done in the realm of hi-fi to your coaches.
Â
--
Jim Owens,
78 Royale,
Out skirts of Kitchener, Ontario
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Stereo Upgrades [message #186970 is a reply to message #186965] |
Thu, 11 October 2012 16:51 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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In case anyone is interested, a vendor at Amazon sells 4" speakers that should fit in the OEM spot for about $5 each. Wal-Mart used to have them, but they are no longer stocked.
My order is at home, on the front porch, delivered well after leaving for he International Rally. We shall see.
Tom,
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: Stereo Upgrades [message #186973 is a reply to message #186839] |
Thu, 11 October 2012 17:54 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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What I did is send a Delco 70s AM FM Cassette pushbutton radio with exact factory fit to http://www.classicautoradioservice.com/
in Florida. They keep it looking stock up but update the internals and give you a line in on the back. You use an external switch to trigger the line in mode. I can then put my iPod in my ashtray location and feed the radio that way. Face still looks stock and the AM FM works as does the cassette. Power output is also increased.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] Stereo Upgrades [message #186977 is a reply to message #186975] |
Thu, 11 October 2012 18:39 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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Handling strong winds. Slow down, hold the steering with both hands, turn
off the cruise control, be sure the underwear you have on is equal to the
"pucker factor" of the wind. Long term, eliminate all the play in the front
and rear suspension. Pay special attention to rear ride height, a little
low is ok. Large flat sided vehicles are affected more than sleek low slung
ones in strong winds.
Jim Hupy who drives the Columbia Gorge in crosswinds.
Salem, Or.
78 GMC Royale 403
On Oct 11, 2012 4:25 PM, "Jim" <jbowens@golden.net> wrote:
>
>
> Sounds like some excellent ideas everybody!
>
> Next post topic...How to handle a strong wind!
>
> No kidding, just took the Ole Royale down the very windy 401 today...kinda
> SCARY!
>
> Safe and sound at Rondeau Provincial Park now though!
> --
> Jim Owens,
>
> 78 Royale,
>
> Out skirts of Kitchener, Ontario
> _______________________________________________
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| Re: Stereo Upgrades [message #186981 is a reply to message #186839] |
Thu, 11 October 2012 20:38 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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Be glad you are not in a square Winnebago or another Some Other Brand
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: Stereo Upgrades [message #186999 is a reply to message #186839] |
Fri, 12 October 2012 07:23 |
WayneB
Messages: 233
Registered: July 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
Karma: 0
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Explorer used the Delco Gold CD head unit out of the 1996 Corvette in the GMC II Explorers.
Sounds pretty good.
I mistakenly re installed a restored GM factory 8 track in a 1971 Trans Am I had, even when I was using new NOS cartriges it sounded terrible compared to current sound systems.
They seemed to sound so good in the 70's as well.
1976 23' GMCII By Explorer
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| Re: Stereo Upgrades [message #187002 is a reply to message #186839] |
Fri, 12 October 2012 07:59 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| JBO wrote on Wed, 10 October 2012 06:10 |
... I recently read a reply by Mark in Mesa, AZ, concerning an updated stereo system he had installed in his 78 Royale. It had me wondering what others have done in this regard. I’m basically dreaming for the future as I need to take the tire plunge first. ...
|
A few thoughts:
If the primary time your system is listened to is while you are on the road, I wouldn' t be to concerned with super high quality sound... to much road noise to worry about it.
If you are putting in a roof mounted center console in the cockpit, with speakers, you might concider driving the center console speakers (both) with the right speaker outputs and driving the speakers in the outboard (OEM) positions with the left outputs. Then both front seats should have good stereo sound. You could even put the driver on the "front" speaker outputs and the passenger on the rear.... THEN, with the fader, both sides could have thier own volume levels.
These days, I would not buy a head-unit that does not have a USB input. A thumb drive is better than any CD changer. Some head-units actually do NOT include CD drives at all, so they have no moving parts... to bad they are not "big name" brands.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Stereo Upgrades [message #187047 is a reply to message #186981] |
Fri, 12 October 2012 18:20 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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I used to have to tack into the breeze with my SOB (Itasca). My GMC isn't bothered by it much. The bow wave off a semi is noted, but it doesn't throw the coach off its path.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
From: John R. Lebetski <gransport@aol.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 9:38 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Stereo Upgrades
Be glad you are not in a square Winnebago or another Some Other Brand
--
John Lebetski
Chicago, IL
77 Eleganza II
Source America First
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Stereo Upgrades [message #187053 is a reply to message #187047] |
Fri, 12 October 2012 20:59 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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well the GMC isn't completely imune.
I came out from behind a group of trees to a HEAVY gross wind, I was doing about 60.
O swear I heard a slap as the wind hit me and blew me sideways across the centerline. Shocked the heck outta me.
But compared to a SOB? They are like sailing!
Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Stereo Upgrades [message #187065 is a reply to message #187053] |
Fri, 12 October 2012 22:00 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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G'day,
I agree even a GMC can be a handful in a windstorm.
When Helen and I were heading due north to the International Peace Gardens in Dunseith, ND we crossed Wyoming. There were 90 degree
cross winds gusting to 45 MPH. I was VERY glad that I had a completely rebuilt front and rear suspension systems and Dave Lenzi's
relay lever, Idler lever, and offset upper control arms as it made the task of staying on the right side of the road much easier.
However, at one point I heard a noise I had NEVER heard before; it was a dull thud kinda. I looked in pax mirror - nada! I looked in
the drivers mirror and noted that the awning was out and flapping in the wind. I slowed down cautiously and pulled off the road to
figger out what to do. As I was figgerin' a Wyoming State Trooper pulled up and asked me if we needed help. I explained what the
problem was and that I had it under control. He noted "yeah, we find those things all over the road!" "This is just a little breeze
here in Wyoming!"
Regards,
Rob M.
-----Original Message-----
From: Keith V
well the GMC isn't completely imune.
I came out from behind a group of trees to a HEAVY gross wind, I was doing about 60.
O swear I heard a slap as the wind hit me and blew me sideways across the centerline. Shocked the heck outta me.
But compared to a SOB? They are like sailing!
--
Keith
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: Stereo Upgrades [message #187341 is a reply to message #186839] |
Mon, 15 October 2012 13:32 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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Sorry for the late reply, but I just got back from the house-building trip in Mexico (also attended / managed by High School Pastor Dave, aka 59ona64). Great trip, great results, and a great use of my GMC (it served as the "project management office" as well as a shelter for me and my wife, and for some "temporary refugees" from our group when their tent blew down in a wind storm). Dave's still looking for that elusive GMC coach that will allow him to have a dedicated motorhome for future Uthbuild Mexico house-building trips (cheap, roadworthy, and preferably a rear bath configuration).
I am WAY behind on taking "project photos", but here's one of the Mexico trip photos that captures the KLH speakers I mounted under my cabinets (look just beside the control panel).
http://www.habcycles.com/100_2790.JPG
The "monitor speakers" are small (5"?) squares with a pivoting tweeter housing (normally on top, but I mounted them upside down in my coach). Two "cheapie" 8" subwoofers, a couple 2.25" ports, and a small amp under the rear-facing dinette seat provides adequate low end. A single-DIN in-dash unit with about 20 watts x 4 channels drives the monitor speakers nicely (on two channels, while the other two channels drive the "cockpit speakers" and the "bedroom speakers", which I've balanced at a much lower output). All in all, the system sounds really, really nice given the low investment (under $250 all-in). It's a little short of disco-level dramatics, but is more than loud enough for actually listening to music, whether driving or stationary... and is very clean.
I'll take more photos when I get the time.
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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| Re: [GMCnet] Stereo Upgrades Speakers [message #187551 is a reply to message #186970] |
Wed, 17 October 2012 10:27 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Front Overhead Replacement Speakers for GMC.
I received my replacement 4" speakers for the GMC. Brand name is Boss Audio Systems, Model BRS40. Specs are; Polypropylene Cone, 50 Watts Peak, 25 Watts RMS, Freg: 100 Hz to 18 kHz, Impedance 4 Ohms, and Mounting Depth 1 3/4 ".
Labeled as; 4" Dual Cone Replacement Speaker. Very heavy construction, seem well made. Made in China (so what else is new?). $5 or so, not including shipping.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
[Updated on: Wed, 17 October 2012 10:32] Report message to a moderator |
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