AD Audio Ideas...

[bmnk]

I filled the original stereo dash slot on my 52'.....so I'm looking for ideas for where to mount a stereo.

I've though of a couple ideas such as creating a center console coming down from the center of the dash. I've also floated the idea of using the glove box area -- sorta like this:



But as of now I'm leaning towards using the Secret Audio....

Has any of you used the Secret Audio? Decent Sound Quality?

Anyone have some photos of what they did for the mounting location for a standard modern head unit.... dash, center console, or glove box?

[OrrieG]

I'd be interested in opinions of the sound quality of Secret Audio. Custom auto sound units in the past have not gotten a lot of good reviews for sound quality.

[MMM...BRAINS...]

Id like to see ideas too.
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[BigJock]

I don't want to cut up my dash or lose the glove box either.

Here's a couple of ideas i've seen.

Street Rodder mag did a nice install a few years back on an AD.
They mounted the head unit behind the speaker grill and opened one of the slots for the CD to pass through.
The face of the head unit was mounted remotely in a small roof console just above the windshield.(sorry no pics.)

Another option is to fit the head unit under the bench seat into the seat riser.
Most decent units can be bought now with remote controls.

Just my 2c.

[dnights]

I was thinking about mounting a box for the cd player to sit in but it would be on a swing arm. So when you are driving, you still have good access to the stereo but when you are at shows, it would swing back up under the dash so noone would see it. This way you dont lose your glovebox and can still keep the clean look of a shaved dash. Plus if you do it right, noone will ever know it was there unless you told them. You could even use another set of glove box hinges to use as the arm. The only issue I see would be where to run the speaker wires but that is completely dependent on where you are going to mount them and what interior you will have in the truck.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

I copied this over to the "truck audio" section of the board for ya.

[PurdueSD]

The best method I've seen is the speaker grill door. A couple hinges and a magnetic push button popper and you never know its there. Best part is you don't loose the glove box!

[blitz'd]

In most of my hot rods I just use an IPOD/mp3 connected to an amp under the seat. Ive also ran a CD player with remote inside the glove box.

[chevy_man5]

Originally Posted by PurdueSD

The best method I've seen is the speaker grill door. A couple hinges and a magnetic push button popper and you never know its there. Best part is you don't loose the glove box!

PurdueSD, do you have any pictures of this? Is it the speaker grill in the top of the dash?

[PurdueSD]

No, the speaker grill is in the center of the Dash right beside the glovebox door and ash tray. I cant find the thread where i saw it. I know it was somewhere on hamb.

Here's a pic i found that is similar to the one I cant find. (Not an AD truck though)

[chevy_man5]

Sorry PurdueSD!

I was thinking 60-66, and didn't catch the AD (Advance Design) I assume.

That looks like a very cool idea.

[AceX]

The best way I've seen to do some secret audio work, and also how I plan to tackle the system in my own '54 GMC is to use an iPod as the main source. From Fred Lynch from Arc Audio:

Originally Posted by Fred Lynch

We have done quite a few systems with the use of a IPOD of IPAD as an interface....


The most important thing here is to not use the headphone jack as the audio out on the system. We have exclusively used some parts from PAS/Peripheral company to accomplish the best sound out of these applications.....

We use a part called IS-76 which uses the 18 pin cable on the bottom of the Ipod or Ipad..... then we use another piece called the LC-1 which is a inline RCA based level control..... ... Then typically we will use an item line a XEQ or KEQ7 processor so we can have some tuning for the system and also to bump up the voltage into the amplifier since the Ipad and Ipod's only have milivolts of power to provide as signal power..

Then right into the amplifier...

He and I talked about this a little while ago. The guys at Arc know what they're doing when it coems to most things visual, and all things audible.

[jimmydean]

I just use a headphone to RCA cable either into the amp or into the crossover. Yes, the input voltage is low, but the amp never seemed to mind.

[AceX]

Only issue I could see with going straight into the amp is some serious clipping, and the fact that you won't have any equalization other than what's on the iPod, but in my experience, thats never really enough to do a proper job.

My reasoning is this: If you're spending all this money on the truck, and plan to spend alot of time in the truck, why not take it that extra step and make it that much better. You don't have to spend thousands of $$$ on amps and speakers and what not, but $500-700 on a stereo is very easily doable and can yeild great results and make the fruits of your labor much mroe enjoyable...

[jimmydean]

I had about $1000 into my last big stereo and it ran awesome off my MP3 player. Best part is I can go from my truck to my motorcycle without missing a tune.

I was running it into a crossover, not straight to the amp. But I have run it straight to the amp in the past without issues. I will have a single amp setup and have promised pics of my system when I get it all done. It will likely be MP3 player run until I decide what I am doing for the long haul (mac mini or built pc).

[stich626]

if your worrying about the look, and not cuttung the dash,
get a old cb and gut it and install the head unit in it.. It'll mount under the dash, and the cb face can flip down to get to the unit..