Re: Radio options
 

If you don't want to get "that much into it", the grey wire that goes outside of the AM radio case and travels to the light bulb holder in the back of the case is powered on when the radio is turned on. You could tap into that wire to power your bluetooth amplifier, and just tuck the bluetooth amplifier up into the dash somewhere hidden and leave it on and set to whatever max volume you are comfortable with. Set the volume on your phone when playing through bluetooth. The radio on-off control would give you the ability to instantly turn off the amp instead of fumbling around for your phone. For bluetooth amps that have aux input, the aux input works when there is no bluetooth device connected. You could tap off the center terminal of the volume control on the car radio, and send that signal into the aux input of the external bluetooth amp, and have a functional and modern AM radio.

Re: Radio options
 

I got one from Amazon but rather than ruin an AM radio I am mounting it in an existing hole above my brake lever and wiring it into the fuse box a few inches away for power... See my 68 Suburban thread for more info:https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=822994

Re: Radio options
 

I got one of these to play with, $10 on the River
Going to leave the AM unit unattached for the moment, but I'd like to wire up the 2 4Ω in series(8Ω load) on an alternate switched circuit so I can still use it once in awhile

Re: Radio options
 

I got the amp installed and put in a pair of Blaupunkt 200watt speakers in the stock speaker position.

Re: Radio options
 

Well since I already used the space for the radio as the home for my switch panel, I thought, "What could be more 70's than mounting the head unit under the dash?" So, that's what I did. I still listen to cds. ****, I still dust off my cassette tape collection from time to time. Still sounds a damn sight better than streaming over Bluetooth. This radio is Bluetooth capable, but I prefer the USB or AUX ports and stored media, as the sound quality is much better. Then the signal is ran to a skar 500w 4 channel amp. The heft of the signal is handled by the 5.25" speakers on the doors. I couldn't justify spending $90 on a couple pieces of plastic to mount the woofers in the kick panels just to be... well..... kicked, so I fabbed my own damn mounts. The next two channels drive a pair of DS18 3" super tweeters mounted in place of the ball vents either side of the dash. Finally, in an effort to increase the width of my sound stage, the head unit is driving a couple 2.5" speakers I yanked from a surround sound system that i mounted in the center of the dash. Overall, it sounds pretty good considering i threw it together with **** i had laying around. It could use a sub. All in due time.

Yea, just goes to show, when it comes to these trucks, all that limits what you can do is your budget and your imagination.

Re: Radio options
 

I added a couple of Kenwood 6x9s in boxes under the back seat to give it a full surround sound and to keep it a secret audio "so to speak".

Re: Radio options
 

I got those same speakers. Specs say they go down to 70Hz, and they do sound nice and full. Way more than I need for the inside-of-an-oil-drum listening environment of my cab

Re: Radio options
 

Hello, I have a question. I would like to just run an Amp like that Rockville and Bluetooth it to my phone.
I have 4 speakers going in to in the rear and to in the doors.
So , is there anyway to adjust the Speakers for front to back and side to side ?
I like the look of the radio delete, so something hidden is the way I would like to go.
Thank you,
Dan

Re: Radio options
 

Not the cheapest but I like to keep things simple. Sent my Original AM Radio with perfect chrome for a refit with the Aurora Design Conversion. Conversion gives u AM/FM Bluetooth so hands free calling and music streaming from my phone. I used a RetroSound Dual cone speaker up front. Gas tank is out of the cab so put a 6 x 9 speaker in each corner. I am very happy with the result.




https://www.retromanufacturing.com/c...r-conditioning


https://www.tech-retro.com/aurora-design/home.html

Re: Radio options
 

No Dan there is no way to control balance left to right or fade front to rear. It only has on/off volume knob.

Re: Radio options
 

Nice . How did you mount the front speaker?

Re: Radio options
 

Point of clarification. I have a Kicker 4 channel amp. 4 channel means it has 2 stereo amps, and each pair of channels has a gain control. That is essentially a volume control for each pair of speakers. So, fading from front to back is hidden and on the panel of the amp by adjusting the gains. I don't know about the features of all Kicker amps or any Rockville amps, I will admit. So, your mileage may vary.

Regarding balance left to right, that control is in the settings of my iPhone. I'd be surprised if that were not a feature of Android as well.

Something you can buy nowadays, and they are coming down in price, is a digital sound processor. That feeds into your amp and gives you control over every aspect of your audio, so if you want to completely geek out, get one of those. I have no experience with them, just read about them.

Re: Radio options
 

I thought you were talking about my bluetooth receiver.

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A bracket comes with the speaker and actually had someone install it and they said went in no problem but my glove box lines and A/C vent hoses were out of the way.

Re: Radio options
 

I appreciate the response. Usually a radio will control the speaker functions and the Amp was used just for additional power.
With the Amp with Bluetooth I guess all the sound is equally disributed to the 4 speakers . I haven't purchased anything yet, and did not know a phone could control some of the speaker functions ?
I recall back in the day adding a fader switch to a stereo system, but this is different without the radio.
Hopefully someone has done something like i'm wanting to do.
Thank you

Re: Radio options
 

OK, Years ago I put a pair of speakers in my old '67 Stepside but all I did to mount them was put screws down through the speaker grille to hold them up against the grille. I had a carpet dash pad that covered the top of the dash and pad and you couldn't see the heads of the screws.

Re: Radio options
 

you could use the Memphis audio SMC2A bluetooth "headless unit" it is a Bluetooth receiver, AM/FM tuner, AUX in and weather band tuner. 50 watts x 4 and 6 RCA preamp outputs.
it gives you an equalizer and fader/balance control using the app to control the receiver

Re: Radio options
 

I will check it out. Appreciate the reply !

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I would post a picture of my setup behind the seat. but I don't know how to.
I have the head unit, 2 farad capacitor and 5 channel amp on a board next to a 12" subwoofer box all hidden where the OE fuel tank used to sit.

are you in Gardnerville NV Dan?

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Yes I am

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I was just out there a couple weeks ago. my son lives out there in the ranchos.

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Cool, I live pretty close just off Centerville. Small world

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Finally got a wiring diagram done for my layout:
4Ohm load from the BT device wired in parallel
8Ohm load from the AM radio wired in series(hence the jumper from pin 6-9 at the switch)

I used kicad(for Mac) to make this diagram ICYGAS

Re: Radio options
 

A tip for anyone installing speakers. For the best performance and sound quality. You always want to seal the front of the speaker from the back. Leaving the grill open around the speaker or leaving air holes around the mounting baffle will kill mid and lower frequency's. Many car speakers are meant for "open baffle" Meaning they need no enclosure or a large one. Understand that sometimes people do not have the means for that and there will be a compromise. The front of the speaker still needs to be separated from the back for best sound quality.

Re: Radio options
 

Have one of these and mentioned this several posts back.