Need some advice on audio set up...

[arminyack]

So I am at the audio set up phase of my car's rebuild/reassembly right now, and my plan is to follow what some of you out there have done....hook up your vintage Becker/Blaupunkt/etc. to a blue to tooth input (isimple or something of that variety, then to an amp which would feed my 4 speakers. My question lies in the output of my Blaupunkt Essen head unit: it has only one speaker output. How would one feed this only output to the input of a 4 channel amp to drive 4 speakers correctly? I've never been into the whole car stereo set up thing before....so I am goin in kind of blind to all the nuances and finer points of correctly setting this up. Would any of you have some advice or be able to point me in the right direction?

 

-TIA!

[jrhone]

Hmmm...so it's a mono output??  Well you can split that mono signal into 4 channels and run that....but...that's not ideal at all.  Stereo sound has different information in the left and right channels.  Putting the same sound out of the left and right channels has the possibility of cancelling out certain frequencies therefore reducing sound quality...ALOT.  It's called phase cancellation and even stereo systems do this with lots of speakers but splitting a mono signal into 4 channels is a recipe for phase cancellation.  Also you have to take a stereo output of the Bluetooth and convert that to a mono input on the head unit.  If that's not done properly you will have phase cancellation at the input stage, then again at the output stage.  Mono is not simply mixing stereo signals.  If it were me, I would find a stereo head unit.  That would make life MUCH easier.  You are spending money on a decent system, why compromise sound quality at the head unit.  Plenty of vintage stereo Blaupunkts and Beckers out there that have a stereo input.

[TobyB]

 

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[Vicleonardo1]

It does say stereo on the face. Can't find the specs that state it is a stereo unit. If you sign up to this site, you can download the schematics. 

 

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/blaupunkt_essen_21_7641052010.html#b

Essen 21 7.641.052.010 Car Radio Blaupunkt Ideal, Berlin, sp.html

[arminyack]

Here is the back of the unit. I've got 2X banana plugs for one speaker. Mono. Ugh,

 

Edited March 23, 2017 by arminyack

[jrhone]

Interesting. It looks like a stereo input but only one speaker out. It may do the heavy work if converting stereo into mono internally. It may have been designed for one speaker. 

[Tsingtao_1903]

Interesting indeed.  Can you pull out the two banana plugs and take close up pictures of the receptacles and the banana plugs?  Most of the radios of this vintage have tiny custom audio connectors.  Why use big honking banana plugs?

Edited March 23, 2017 by Tsingtao_1903

[jrhone]

Unless I'm missing something that was designed to drive one speaker. I would look into something else to run an amp and 4 speakers. Something that's 2 channel gives you true stereo. Something that has 4 channels gives front and rear adjustability. 

[jrhone]

.

Edited March 23, 2017 by jrhone

[dlmrun2002]

That head unit is Jurassic. If you want to "rebuild" your audio system, I would look for a head unit that will give you more options and better drivability. There is sooo much out there today.  Jason (screename Eurotrash) has some nice upgrades. I would reach out to him if.

 

http://boltonbliss.bigcartel.com

 

dlm ny country

[arminyack]

Since these vintage radios are just for show anyway, why not use a bluetooth amp? I only use my phone for music anyway, and I can hook the radio up to a center console speaker when i want to kick the AM in! =)

[drinksomewhiskey]

Since these vintage radios are just for show anyway, why not use a bluetooth amp? I only use my phone for music anyway, and I can hook the radio up to a center console speaker when i want to kick the AM in! =)

Did you find any good Bluetooth amps?


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[2002Scoob]

Here's my recommendation as to what I did with mine-

 

I too installed a vintage headunit, 'Bavaria' that runs the single speaker, which is nice for that original look/sound.

 

However, I then have on a switch a Focal Ibus 2.1, which is a combo powered subwoofer/2 channel amplifier. This is connected to an aftermarket bluetooth receiver module, and drives a set of Focal 6.5 inch component speakers. The tweeters are wired up on the dash, and the midbass drivers are in the parcel shelf. 

 

1 hour ago, drinksomewhiskey said:

Did you find any good Bluetooth amps?

I haven't found anything on the market yet that fits this bill. The receiver module I'm using works just fine, but I'm looking for a better option. It doesn't pair automatically to my phone when turned on, and it's got a kinda annoying "paired" sound when you link to it that I wish could be turned off (It can't). I'm searching for an option that can pair automatically, and quietly.

 

I hear people say never to split up components etc... but in all honesty it sounds great. There's no need for any more midbass or treble, even buzzing along at 150kph on the autobahn, and with some tweaking it's very nicely balanced. 

 

Bonus- splitting the components in this way gives you a stealth install that doesn't involve cutting up door cards!

[arminyack]

9 hours ago, 2002Scoob said:

Here's my recommendation as to what I did with mine-

 

I too installed a vintage headunit, 'Bavaria' that runs the single speaker, which is nice for that original look/sound.

 

However, I then have on a switch a Focal Ibus 2.1, which is a combo powered subwoofer/2 channel amplifier. This is connected to an aftermarket bluetooth receiver module, and drives a set of Focal 6.5 inch component speakers. The tweeters are wired up on the dash, and the midbass drivers are in the parcel shelf. 

 

I haven't found anything on the market yet that fits this bill. The receiver module I'm using works just fine, but I'm looking for a better option. It doesn't pair automatically to my phone when turned on, and it's got a kinda annoying "paired" sound when you link to it that I wish could be turned off (It can't). I'm searching for an option that can pair automatically, and quietly.

 

I hear people say never to split up components etc... but in all honesty it sounds great. There's no need for any more midbass or treble, even buzzing along at 150kph on the autobahn, and with some tweaking it's very nicely balanced. 

 

Bonus- splitting the components in this way gives you a stealth install that doesn't involve cutting up door cards!

Thanks for the input! I wound up going with a Kenwood bluetooth amp, with the head unit as a placebo for right now. I have no antennae in the car right now, and I dont think I am up for drilling a hole in the A arm to install it..

The bluetooth amp works and sound great. It connects automatically to my phone, no weird no or static either. It has a wired remote that I ran from the amp (located under the rear seat) to right next to my ebrake. 

[abe2002tii]

Let me also add that there is someone on this site that make a custom fiberglass box that fits the contours of your rear seat and you can add a subwoofer to your system.

Abe