Custom Autosound Stereo Review and Question...

[bmartin9122]

Originally Posted by stepside454

Im glad I looked at this. Would an amp help ? Ive been thinking about getting one of the units that doesnt have a cassete player. Ive got a 2 channel amps & a pair of 6x9s mounted in custom corner boxes. Do you think these USA units would sound good through an amp. Ive got a 30 yr old craig AM/FM cassete in it now, hoping the Autosound unit would be a big improvemt.

The key is to find one as cheap as possible. They look the part, but the quality if not even close to Sony-Alpine-Pioneer standards.

If I had it to do over again, I would probably go with the Sanyo MAR-B1021. They make a solid, reliable head unit that fits in our dash opening and a much better price. They are not nearly as big either. Here is a link to the Owner's Manual.

[bmartin9122]

That Sanyo is apparently out of production now, but you can get this Dual XC4100 through Crutchfield for $40. No digital tuning though. Or maybe you can still find a Kenwood KRC-2007.

[jimmydean]

Check ebay. You can score a solid 2 post deck for about $50 that's 100% better than that Dual.

[bmartin9122]

Originally Posted by jimmydean

Check ebay. You can score a solid 2 post deck for about $50 that's 100% better than that Dual.

Agreed! You are better off with a gently used Alpine than any Dual - even brand new out of a box.

[KFreddy]

Although post/shaft style radios can still be found on ebay, yard sales, flea markets and swapmeets . The most important information to have on hand is the dimentions of the stock radio for fitment. Distance between knobs and the actual size of the rectangular opening in the dash. I believe that the center of knob to the center of knob is 6.25" and that the opening is 4.5" by 2.25", someone help me here I'm going by memory.

For the most part any old school name brand shaft style radio; Alpine, Sony, JVC, Kenwood, Sanyo, ect is going to out-perform any of the USA radios. If you are planning to install an amplifier be sure that the replacement radio has at least one set of preamp outputs or at very least speaker-level inputs. If you have neither you will have to use a line output converter, to install an amp, and this will only deteriorate the oversound quality.

-Fred

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by KFreddy

Although post/shaft style radios can still be found on ebay, yard sales, flea markets and swapmeets . The most important information to have on hand is the dimentions of the stock radio for fitment. Distance between knobs and the actual size of the rectangular opening in the dash. I believe that the center of knob to the center of knob is 6.25" and that the opening is 4.5" by 2.25", someone help me here I'm going by memory.

For the most part any old school name brand shaft style radio; Alpine, Sony, JVC, Kenwood, Sanyo, ect is going to out-perform any of the USA radios. If you are planning to install an amplifier be sure that the replacement radio has at least one set of preamp outputs or at very least speaker-level inputs. If you have neither you will have to use a line output converter, to install an amp, and this will only deteriorate the oversound quality.

-Fred

Any good 2 shaft radio from a major manufacturer has adjustable shafts. There is a nut that holds the shaft to the body and you can slide it in and out to adjust the width to fit the dash opening.

I think the center opening is standard, but I'm not 100%.

[stepside454]

Originally Posted by KFreddy

Although post/shaft style radios can still be found on ebay, yard sales, flea markets and swapmeets . The most important information to have on hand is the dimentions of the stock radio for fitment. Distance between knobs and the actual size of the rectangular opening in the dash. I believe that the center of knob to the center of knob is 6.25" and that the opening is 4.5" by 2.25", someone help me here I'm going by memory.

For the most part any old school name brand shaft style radio; Alpine, Sony, JVC, Kenwood, Sanyo, ect is going to out-perform any of the USA radios. If you are planning to install an amplifier be sure that the replacement radio has at least one set of preamp outputs or at very least speaker-level inputs. If you have neither you will have to use a line output converter, to install an amp, and this will only deteriorate the oversound quality.

-Fred

fred...with a decent amp & speakers do the USA srereos do ok, or are they still crap.. I want to be able to use an IPOd in mine , thats partly why Im interested in the USA units...I dont care for cassete at all. John

[MacCoug]

I'm curisous about it too. I posted a similar question in the review forum to see some more opinions...
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=234671

[Billy Ol' Blue]

year one has a stock setup for $150 with bulit in cd and mp3 plugin and for $200 more sub and amp for a 5 speaker setup sound great slips wright in to factory posts. need pic's I will be more than happy to post them.

[stomper]

B.O.B. Please post pix!

[KFreddy]

John,

To answer your question, I am currently using a older 4x60 Rockford Fosgate amp.Two of the channels are running the Tweeter and 6.5" seperates two are bridged mono at 4 ohms for the 6" bazooka located in the stock jack position and the USA-6 is powering two 4" custom autosound speakers in the dash. For what it is it sounds reasonable. Part if the issue is the placement of the speakers combined with road noise, even with the addition of a bit of dynomat the interiors of our truck are basically "hard" materials. They really don't lent to sound quality. I am hoping to replace the current amp with another that has a bit more power, maybe 100x4 that might help a bit I donno. I'll keep you all posted.

-Fred

[MacCoug]

I don't know how much of a difference it makes, but the USA-6 was bumped up to 240 watts last year.

[Barney Rubble]

good work Ryan.

[All Biz]

My custom box with JL 13TW5 power by a JL 500/1 man this thing SLAMS HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!