Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach?
| Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274042] |
Fri, 20 March 2015 05:30  |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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The recent speaker wire discussion brought the question to mind.
Head unit, amps, speakers?
Size, placement, power?
What do you listen to, and how well does your system work with the config?
Torn between 4" coax in the stock ceiling and sub in the seat base, or just adapting a home theater in a box speaker setup using the small satellite speakers on/ in/around the dash and the sub behind the seat. Not wanting to hack up the interior just yet.
And then there is the dash system & separate coach system vs integrated one system for the whole coach...
Thoughts?
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
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| Re: Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274049 is a reply to message #274042] |
Fri, 20 March 2015 08:54  |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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A Kenwood dash mount stereo/dvd player. And a set of coaxial speakers I got from Amazon which fit the existing holes, both up front and in the back. I need to mount the HD receiver/converter someplace and hook it up. Somewhere on my list is wiring an outside connection box, perhaps beside the step. It will have a 110 duplex, house 12Vbanana jacks, video outlet and speaker plugs. Take a look at the photo site and you can see the speakers I used.
I poked through the CDs, and found they range from the complete Merle Haggard, essential George Jones, through Springsteen The Rising, ETC, kd lang, Merilee Rush, Dr Hook, Ray Charles box set, Lyle Lovett, Jon-Luc Ponty, PJ Harvey, to a set of marches and choruses from grand opera. Someplace in there is the Kapp recording of Roger Voisin playing some Baroque stuff. Etc. Can you say "Eclectic tastes"? One year I used the Grand March from Aida for the dog's entry into the ring in single file, and the Anvil Choruus when the awards were made. The Judge loved it.
Planned upgrade is a set of 8 inch drivers I got from Radio Shack some years ago, I'll put them in the false bottoms of the cabinets on either side. If I can find a pair for cheeep, EV-100s sound fairly good, and they're rugged as hell. Either of these will want some sort of external amplifier. For the true head - banger, put a set of Genelec near-field monitors on either side of the drivers' and passenger's seats, and a sub in the middle on the hatch. Wouldn't run you more than about 2 Large 
I see no real sense in going to any extreme in the coach - or any vehicle for moving listening. While you're sitting in a campground, turn up a good home system and situate it for listening in the seating area. I'm not going to get into discussing specific speakers beyond noting most Klipsch stuff is too big for a GMC, and JBL makes pretty good systems.
--johnny
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] Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274051 is a reply to message #274049] |
Fri, 20 March 2015 09:17 |
Kingsley Coach
Messages: 2691
Registered: March 2009
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Karma: -34
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Senior Member |
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Where's the 'Soul', brother ?
Mike in NS
On Fri, Mar 20, 2015 at 10:54 AM, Johnny Bridges
wrote:
> A Kenwood dash mount stereo/dvd player. And a set of coaxial speakers I
> got from Amazon which fit the existing holes, both up front and in the back.
> I need to mount the HD receiver/converter someplace and hook it up.
> Somewhere on my list is wiring an outside connection box, perhaps beside the
> step. It will have a 110 duplex, house 12Vbanana jacks, video outlet and
> speaker plugs. Take a look at the photo site and you can see the speakers I
> used.
>
> I poked through the CDs, and found they range from the complete Merle
> Haggard, essential George Jones, through Springsteen The Rising, ETC, kd
> lang,
> Merilee Rush, Dr Hook, Ray Charles box set, Lyle Lovett, Jon-Luc Ponty, PJ
> Harvey, to a set of marches and choruses from grand opera. Someplace in
> there is the Kapp recording of Roger Voisin playing some Baroque stuff.
> Etc. Can you say "Eclectic tastes"? One year I used the Grand March from
> Aida for the dog's entry into the ring in single file, and the Anvil
> Choruus when the awards were made. The Judge loved it.
>
> Planned upgrade is a set of 8 inch drivers I got from Radio Shack some
> years ago, I'll put them in the false bottoms of the cabinets on either
> side.
> If I can find a pair for cheeep, EV-100s sound fairly good, and they're
> rugged as hell. Either of these will want some sort of external amplifier.
> For the true head - banger, put a set of Genelec near-field monitors on
> either side of the drivers' and passenger's seats, and a sub in the middle
> on
> the hatch. Wouldn't run you more than about 2 Large :)
>
> I see no real sense in going to any extreme in the coach - or any vehicle
> for moving listening. While you're sitting in a campground, turn up a good
> home system and situate it for listening in the seating area. I'm not
> going to get into discussing specific speakers beyond noting most Klipsch
> stuff
> is too big for a GMC, and JBL makes pretty good systems.
>
> --johnny
>
>
>
>
> --
> '76 23' transmode Norris upfit
> Braselton, Ga.
>
> "Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring when I think about my
> dirty life and times" --Warren Zevon
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Michael Beaton
1977 Kingsley 26-11
1977 Eleganza II 26-3
Antigonish, NS
Life is too short to hold a grudge; slash some tires and call it even !
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| Re: [GMCnet] Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274054 is a reply to message #274051] |
Fri, 20 March 2015 09:44 |
Daniel DeLuca
Messages: 120
Registered: June 2014
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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The space in the original speaker locations mid and aft on my 78 eleganza was very tight, the new speakers I bought were much too deep to fit in. I spent an inordinate amount of time creating enclosures for the new speakers to make them fit when I redid the interior last summer. While it’s looks fine and sounds okay, if I knew then what I know now I would not put the speakers in their stock locations. I’m sure the experts here have some great ideas on better places to locate them.
Dan
78 Eleganza
Central Jersey
> On Mar 20, 2015, at 10:17 AM, Kingsley Coach wrote:
>
> Where's the 'Soul', brother ?
>
> Mike in NS
>
> On Fri, Mar 20, 2015 at 10:54 AM, Johnny Bridges
> wrote:
>
>> A Kenwood dash mount stereo/dvd player. And a set of coaxial speakers I
>> got from Amazon which fit the existing holes, both up front and in the back.
>> I need to mount the HD receiver/converter someplace and hook it up.
>> Somewhere on my list is wiring an outside connection box, perhaps beside the
>> step. It will have a 110 duplex, house 12Vbanana jacks, video outlet and
>> speaker plugs. Take a look at the photo site and you can see the speakers I
>> used.
>>
>> I poked through the CDs, and found they range from the complete Merle
>> Haggard, essential George Jones, through Springsteen The Rising, ETC, kd
>> lang,
>> Merilee Rush, Dr Hook, Ray Charles box set, Lyle Lovett, Jon-Luc Ponty, PJ
>> Harvey, to a set of marches and choruses from grand opera. Someplace in
>> there is the Kapp recording of Roger Voisin playing some Baroque stuff.
>> Etc. Can you say "Eclectic tastes"? One year I used the Grand March from
>> Aida for the dog's entry into the ring in single file, and the Anvil
>> Choruus when the awards were made. The Judge loved it.
>>
>> Planned upgrade is a set of 8 inch drivers I got from Radio Shack some
>> years ago, I'll put them in the false bottoms of the cabinets on either
>> side.
>> If I can find a pair for cheeep, EV-100s sound fairly good, and they're
>> rugged as hell. Either of these will want some sort of external amplifier.
>> For the true head - banger, put a set of Genelec near-field monitors on
>> either side of the drivers' and passenger's seats, and a sub in the middle
>> on
>> the hatch. Wouldn't run you more than about 2 Large :)
>>
>> I see no real sense in going to any extreme in the coach - or any vehicle
>> for moving listening. While you're sitting in a campground, turn up a good
>> home system and situate it for listening in the seating area. I'm not
>> going to get into discussing specific speakers beyond noting most Klipsch
>> stuff
>> is too big for a GMC, and JBL makes pretty good systems.
>>
>> --johnny
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> '76 23' transmode Norris upfit
>> Braselton, Ga.
>>
>> "Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring when I think about my
>> dirty life and times" --Warren Zevon
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Michael Beaton
> 1977 Kingsley 26-11
> 1977 Eleganza II 26-3
> Antigonish, NS
>
> Life is too short to hold a grudge; slash some tires and call it even !
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274055 is a reply to message #274054] |
Fri, 20 March 2015 09:58 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I went for loud vs quality since the coach is pretty noisy.
I have 4 6" round speakers, 2 in the cab 2 in the house.
Then a Subwoofer under the couch. 2x12" power by a 100watt or so amp.
It is plenty loud and actually sounds pretty good, especially playing the Sirius radio.
the Sirius is awesome, especially on the road, it's just always there and sounds great
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: Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274056 is a reply to message #274042] |
Fri, 20 March 2015 10:00 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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I've done a lot of high-end automotive and pro sound systems over the decades, but stayed pretty pragmatic (read "cheap") on my GMC sound system, and couldn't be happier with the result.
A Kenwood in-dash unit with four speaker outputs, as well as RCA jack outputs for the subwoofer does a nice job, includes an HD radio tuner, a USB and aux. input, and a remote (which actually makes sense in a motorhome, though not in a typical car install). Four used KLH mini-monitor speakers with "steerable" tweeters under my "living room cabinets" do a great job filling that part of the coach with sound, and the tweeters can be pointed toward open windows if I want to listen to something outside the coach. A set of decent two-way speakers replace the (not too impressive) original speakers overhead in the cockpit, and I left the 6x9 speakers in the rear bedroom as-is (don't really listen to them back there, and the PO was nice enough to include switches to cut them off). I wired the speakers with the four "living room speakers" on the front channels, and the rest on the rear.
A cheap 200 watt amp and two 8" drivers mounted under the rear-facing dinette seat adds the bass that won't be there without bulky speakers, and is more than adequate for anything short of disco-level sound (there's not much dancing room in a GMC, so that's not a real problem). 
As I recall, I have well under $300 all-in on this system, and it's loud and good enough to entertain a bunch of high school and college age kids who ride down to Mexico with us a couple times a year to build houses.
Here is a link to a few photos of the install: http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/electrical/p46286-stereo-installation-in-my.html
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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| Re: [GMCnet] Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274057 is a reply to message #274042] |
Fri, 20 March 2015 10:07 |
Rob
Messages: 651
Registered: November 2013
Location: Victoria, BC
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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Nothing very special about my system - but I thought I'd mention I added 8" sub under the driver's seat:
http://www.retrosound.com/product-p/hot-sub-8100.htm
Very easy to fit and It made quite a difference. My head unit is a middle of the road Pioneer connected to newer speakers in the stock locations.
Rob
Victoria, BC
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath
On 2015-03-20, at 3:30 AM, Joe Weir wrote:
> The recent speaker wire discussion brought the question to mind.
>
> Head unit, amps, speakers?
>
> Size, placement, power?
>
> What do you listen to, and how well does your system work with the config?
>
> Torn between 4" coax in the stock ceiling and sub in the seat base, or just adapting a home theater in a box speaker setup using the small satellite
> speakers on/ in/around the dash and the sub behind the seat. Not wanting to hack up the interior just yet.
>
> And then there is the dash system & separate coach system vs integrated one system for the whole coach...
>
> Thoughts?
> --
> 76 Birchaven - New engine, trans, aluminum radiator, brakes, airbags, fuel lines, seats, upholstery, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were
> really thinking about us second hand owners...
> Columbia, SC.
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Rob -
Victoria, BC -
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath
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| Re: Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274062 is a reply to message #274042] |
Fri, 20 March 2015 11:34 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Soul? Lessee - Righteous Bros, Ray Charles (box set), Booker Jones. First three I found in the bag.
--johnny
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: Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274063 is a reply to message #274042] |
Fri, 20 March 2015 11:53 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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If you add subs up front that is a start, but there will still be a hole in the low mids between the sub and what the 3" speakers can do. Depending how high the sub goes, say a hole from 125 to 400 or so. Though you don't normally boost that range at home, you need enough energy there to compete with drivetrain and road noise. The 4x10s in back are slightly better but only at low levels before they distort. Linear cone motion is poor in a 4x10. I'm thinking of installing something full range in the seat bases in lieu of the OEM doors. Maybe bass reflex with a tuned port. I upgraded the 4 stock speakers but the location will drill the drivers L ear in short order. That's why I need to wash front area with sound from a better location and the upward angle of the bases might help and give bass conduction as well.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274064 is a reply to message #274042] |
Fri, 20 March 2015 11:55 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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Well, I have an answer that has worked very well for traveling. <= Note the conditional
This is where our speakers for the Pioneer stereo are:
It has the advantage that we don't really need to drive the 4x6 tri-axials that hard so conversation can be pleasant when underway. They are almost like wearing headphones. The base response could be better, but we aren't regularly listening to things where the baseline is most of the entertainment. My hearing isn't all that great anymore, but I am still very sensitive to the apparent audio center of the program content.
They are connected so the passenger side is the rear pair and this works out real well. When need be, the rear can be shut down so the navigator does not have to deal with the QRM. This can be done with the remote you see velcrowed to the overhead.
The only inconvenience is that the separation goes bad when we are not on the bridge. If needed, I can slew the controls to shut down the inboard pair and then it is OK. I have a plan afoot to put in switching so the outer two at the front pair and the rear (a future project) become the rear. It's a 73 remember, so I will have to pull 2-pair all the way aft to do that. The new speakers are in a box in the barn.
Short caution: If you are using your smart phone simultaneously as both a hotspot and a music source, it will need a good power source and may be pretty hot if you pick it out out the holder.
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: Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274112 is a reply to message #274042] |
Fri, 20 March 2015 20:36 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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I wouldn't call myself an 'audiophile', but I do like my music and so does my wife. She asked for a new stereo for the coach for her birthday a few years ago and I was happy to oblige. I bought a Kenwood head unit with a CD player, a USB port and an aux input, Bluetooth, remote, etc. Having replaced the small cockpit speakers shortly after we got the coach, and since they were buzzing badly all of a sudden, I sought some guidance from Jim Bounds at the Co-op. Jim is an expert on both the GMC Coach and audio systems and said he had some speakers that were a perfect fit in the original locations. He also suggested I add a pair of 6" speakers in the side panels near our knees, and 'crosswire' them, since the coach is so wide. He also stated that he could supply me with the 6" speakers.
I went with Jim's suggestions and speakers, pulled new speaker wire and hooked everything up, including the PO added 6 X 9 speakers on the bottom of the cabinets mid coach. I also bought speakers for the rear cap from Jim but gave up on running the wires back there (for the time being) and set them up with the four front speakers on 'Front' and the mid and rear (yet to be installed) speakers on 'rear' We couldn't be happier with the results.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274136 is a reply to message #274042] |
Sat, 21 March 2015 17:09 |
Terrasmak
Messages: 40
Registered: December 2014
Location: Las Vegas
Karma: 0
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I'm looking at just a pair of 6x9's in custom boxes just outboard of the front seats, a set of 6x9's in the bedroom out back, all 4 off 2 channels of an old Punch 240.4 amp I have. Then bridge the other 2 channels to a single 10 under the dinette seat.
Len Novak, 76 Eleganza II, Las Vegas
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| Re: Audiophiles - what do you run in the coach? [message #274303 is a reply to message #274047] |
Tue, 24 March 2015 20:36 |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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Bob S. wrote on Fri, 20 March 2015 08:37Joe, I'm no expert either, but we have found that the best sound in our coach comes from a couple of Martin guitars and a Gibson banjo. (lol).
Heh. Can't argue with that. However, that is a little beyond my budget...
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
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