Stereo questions...

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RustyRatRod

RustyRatRod

I was born on a Monday. Not last Monday.
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So, I was able to get the little original radio working ok. But it's not long for this world I am sure. It's just nasty as all hell on the inside. I blew it out with compressed air but it's still bad. SO I have a really nice Kenwood AM FM auto reverse cassette. Yeah. It's old, but in almost new condition. I think I want to use it. Here's my question. I know everybody's goin to stuff like bluetoof, flash drives and all that hoorah, but that's not for me. Does someone make something where I can attach a remote CD changer on what I have?
 
Yes, FM modulator thing you tune to a preset station . It plugs into the antenna iirr. if you have rca even better.
 
MOPAROFFICIAL said:
Yes, FM modulator thing you tune to a preset station . It plugs into the antenna iirr. if you have rca even better.
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It has RCA outputs. Which brings up yet another question. It's a four channel radio. It has both high and low level (RCA) outputs. BUT, it only had TWO RCA outputs VS four high level. What's the deal there? Can I somehow convert it to a four RCA output? Or do I need to? It seems if I use an amp then I wouldn't have front to rear fader ability with only two RCA outputs.
 
run the RCA outs to an amp for the rear sub boxes. Run the fadeable fronts and rears on high level. Usually these head units have pretty decent power for stockish car speakers, ie 5.25 rounds and 6X9 rears. Those FM modulators suck. In a pinch they work but you'd be year ahead buying a later model with a CD interface and the matching CD changer. Whats the Kenwood model number?

There is a Sony 10 disk changer for .99 on Ebay right now. SONY CDX-705 CD CHANGER 10 DISC UNIT INCLUDING HARNESS AND MOUNTING BRACKETS | eBay

and the Sony $20 cassette/CD changer head..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SONY-XR-C5...284086?hash=item48e42521f6:g:Y7IAAOSw3TNepiVp
 
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RustyRatRod said:
It has RCA outputs. Which brings up yet another question. It's a four channel radio. It has both high and low level (RCA) outputs. BUT, it only had TWO RCA outputs VS four high level. What's the deal there? Can I somehow convert it to a four RCA output? Or do I need to? It seems if I use an amp then I wouldn't have front to rear fader ability with only two RCA outputs.
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It has 2 sets of RCA outs?
One for a 4 channel amp for your mid bass 2 ways -articulation-you wanna get those..and the other set of rca for the sub behind the back seat so that exhaust doesnt drown out the bass.
 
MOPAROFFICIAL said:
It has 2 sets of RCA outs?
One for a 4 channel amp for your mid bass 2 ways -articulation-you wanna get those..and the other set of rca for the sub behind the back seat so that exhaust doesnt drown out the bass.
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no. It has one pair of RCAs. Red and white. That's all. But it has four channels of high level outs. You know, just speaker wires.
 
RustyRatRod said:
no. It has one pair of RCAs. Red and white. That's all. But it has four channels of high level outs. You know, just speaker wires.
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Well if you pair it up and run it direct for two ways that are low wattage like some of the entry level jbl's they're reasonably priced but loud and clean sounding then you can run an amp to the sub if you care to or you could just run it to a 4-channel and Power for two ways on that
 
In my wagon I have a Clarion CD player that I run deck power to 4 Polk two ways and then I run the RCA's to a Boston amp that powers a JBL 12in in an enclosure in back. It's way loud, and clean if I tune the sub tighter
 
MOPAROFFICIAL said:
In my wagon I have a Clarion CD player that I run deck power to 4 Polk two ways and then I run the RCA's to a Boston amp that powers a JBL 12in in an enclosure in back. It's way loud, and clean if I tune the sub tighter
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I just want something that sounds decent. I plan on running two 6x9s on the rear deck and two 3.5s where the stock speaker was. I may just use the conventional speaker wires. If I could figure out how to make the fader work with just two RCA cables, that would be nice though.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I just want something that sounds decent. I plan on running two 6x9s on the rear deck and two 3.5s where the stock speaker was. I may just use the conventional speaker wires. If I could figure out how to make the fader work with just two RCA cables, that would be nice though.
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They sell an adapter you can get at AutoZone https://m.autozone.com/stereo-speak...ss-integrate-output-line-converter/208157_0_0 for instance, where you can run your for high inputs into your amplifier... then you'll be able to fade it at the deck no problem. Many amps already have high level inputs.. but then again many dont, like my MBquart 4 chan in my pickup.
 
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I think I have a cd deck I'll never use again, not sure if it will run a cd changer.
 
No one has mentioned a cassette adapter for the CD input.

yes, they suck too partly because they spin the cassette mechanism even though there's nothing to spin.

Not sure about now, but back when they were regular use items, finding a portable CD player that didn't skip in a moving vehicle was the main problem.

If you had a separate car audio CD deck with 1/8" or RCA out, that would work but kind of hard to find back then, probably harder now.

I agree even the digitally tuned FM broadcasters suck. The analog ones are GOD awful.

Your least expensive, least troublesome solution is probably to go get a $35 wal mart stereo with a CD player.

I've been buying Pioneer 44/4400 models off ebay for my classics because I like the USB menu and want to standardize.
 
I gave up on cd’s since i can carry my entire music collection in my phone. I picked up a bluetooth receiver that plugs into my aux input on my deck.

Not what you want to hear,i know. You need to get a little newer deck that at least will play a cd. And aux input.then you can add a cd changer.
 
Tooljunkie said:
I gave up on cd’s since i can carry my entire music collection in my phone. I picked up a bluetooth receiver that plugs into my aux input on my deck.

Not what you want to hear,i know. You need to get a little newer deck that at least will play a cd. And aux input.then you can add a cd changer.
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Exactly what I was thinking.
Pretty much everything is on my phone now, and I have wireless transfer to my phone from my computers or tablet.
Awhile back I got a nice little Pioneer unit from Wally World for right at 100 bucks for the Wife's car.
4 channel, balance/fade, Blue tooth, USB, and CD/CDR/CDRW/MP3 disc player.
WAY more functions that she will ever use, but some really convenient ones that she will. (Like caller ID on the stereo face and the ability to use it as a hands free phone on the move)

I watched a review on a Sub unit for around 50 bucks that has the amp built into the box from WW also.
Power the box and connect speaker wires to it, and it filters everything but the bass out of the channel to the sub without messing with the original 4 channel output from the stereo.
The guy said it was a good unit for the average person that wanted a sub to supplement a system and well worth the 50 bucks.

I can't imagine fighting an old unit these days when amps are so inexpensive and plentiful.
(Phone, amp, speakers is all thats really needed when it comes right down to it.)
And there are so many online radio stations it's ridiculous.
 
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I'm not hacking this dash all to pieces. As it is now, I'm going to have to cut it a little to get the Kenwood unit init, BUT the stock original face plate will still cover that up, so I won't have really hurt anything. I have a smart phone now, believe it or don't, but I am 1) not savvy enough to use it "like that" and 2) I want what I want and keepin music in a smart phone "AIN'T IT".
 
RustyRatRod said:
I'm not hacking this dash all to pieces. As it is now, I'm going to have to cut it a little to get the Kenwood unit init, BUT the stock original face plate will still cover that up, so I won't have really hurt anything. I have a smart phone now, believe it or don't, but I am 1) not savvy enough to use it "like that" and 2) I want what I want and keepin music in a smart phone "AIN'T IT".
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My music is stored in the phone, backed up on my laptop and on the cloud.
 
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