Audio amp for CT- Advice needed!

[eventyr]

Hi all,

I'm looking to mount an audio unit in our CT, but dont have a huge amount of room for it. We dont need a CD / DVD player, but it must have Bluetooth connectivity, and ideally AM/FM radio and linein.

Most head units are really "deep" but where I'm mounting it, the deaper it is, the more it will eat into cupboard space. I would have thought that the depth for most standard head units is from the CD/DVD player.

Must have:
* Blutooth
* AM/FM radio
* Reasonable speaker power
* as "flat" as possible

Nice to have:
* Line-in
* both front and rear speaker outputs
* Sub output

Anyone have any advice / any examples of what they have done?

Cheers!
James

[Rumpig]

Maybe something like the Fusion stereo fitted in our KK? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/322136134801?lpid=107&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F705-139619-5960-0%252F2%253Fmtid%253D1797%2526kwid%253D1%2526crlp%253D40593704497_573061%2526itemid%253D322136134801%2526targetid%253D91828832737%2526rpc%253D0.00%2526rpc_upld_id%253D0%2526device%253Dm%2526mpre%253Dhttp%25253a%25252f%25252fwww.ebay.com.au%25252fitm%25252flike%25252f322136134801%25253flpid%25253d107%252526chn%25253Dps%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D1000339%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D184043497%2526adgroupid%253D8467825417%2526rlsatarget%253Daud-147373715799%253Apla-91828832737%2526gclid%253DCLzxnanh49ECFUZxvAodVYkMDw%2526srcrot%253D705-139619-5960-0%2526rvr_id%253D1159763340952&lpid=107&chn=ps&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F705-139619-5960-0%252F2%253Fmtid%253D1797%2526kwid%253D1%2526crlp%253D40593704497_573061%2526itemid%253D322136134801%2526targetid%253D91828832737%2526rpc%253D0.00%2526rpc_upld_id%253D0%2526device%253Dm%2526mpre%253Dhttp%25253a%25252f%25252fwww.ebay.com.au%25252fitm%25252flike%25252f322136134801%25253flpid%25253d107%252526chn%25253Dps%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D1000339%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D184043497%2526adgroupid%253D8467825417%2526rlsatarget%253Daud-147373715799%253Apla-91828832737%2526gclid%253DCLzxnanh49ECFUZxvAodVYkMDw%2526srcrot%253D705-139619-5960-0%2526rvr_id%253D1159763340952&ul_noapp=true

[eventyr]

yeah they are waterproof and therefore cost nearly double a standard head unit. I dont need waterproof.

 I did look at them and they are good, but would prefer to spend less on the head unit and more on the speakers.

[eventyr]

This one http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Product/Fusion-Digital-Media-Player-with-Bluetooth-CA-ML500BT/405581?menuFrom=1021692 has good reviews and is only 118mm deep... hmmm still more than the marine one which is 100mm deep https://www.fusionentertainment.com/marine/products/stereo-units/ms-ra70 andis $150 more expensive ... however that also has DAB which the non marine one does not.

[GeoffA]

Maybe use the one in the car??

[gronk]

I've spent 4yrs thinking about this.......and whenever we go camping, the rare times we want music, we turn the 4wd stereo on for an hr or so.....and radio, we have a small portable ( size of a ciggie packet ) one that gets reception sometimes in remote places.
Most times, I give it a thought....put another log on the fire and then go and get another beer !!
The more things that run off 12V, the more battery power you'll need....and the more chance the beer fridge goes warm !! 

[boobook]

James bear with me on my answer. I looked for  a similar spec for my stereo in the camper. I like to crank it up when no one is near. I had a couple of systems that kind of worked ok, but in the end they all had a common problem in that they are designed to work on 13.8V with the alternator going.

Running a stereo in a camper has 2 issues that are not present in a car that is driving. AH capacity and Voltage.

A normal car stereo is a class B or AB this works ok but is not efficient and starts to distort when the batteries get below about 12.5V if the volume is up.
The BEST stereo for a camper is a class D amp, these are very efficient ( use less power) and will work well down to about 11V.

The only one I can find in a standard single DIN fitting head unit is the Sony XB 100 BT It came out about a year ago. It's a ripper.

It has Aux in, Bluetooth, USB in, sub woofer out. Also it is 40W RMS ( 100W / channel) out per channel. EVERY other head unit is 25W RMS per channel ( 50W/channel)

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-qK7THIOtvRW/p_158XB100BT/Sony-MEX-XB100BT.html

Thats a US site but it is available here.

If you add one of these for the sub woofer you'll  be making some big, undistorted noise.

https://www.elite-electronics.com.au/In-Car_Entertainment/Amplifiers/Multi-Channel/Nakamichi_NGTD4_1000W_Max_4_2_Channel_Amplifier

[Bird]

Ipod and dock although with the stereo in the GU now I don't need anything else to piss off people 800mtrs away

[eventyr]

Thanks for the helpful suggestions. And for those not so helpful ones, please remember everyone is different. I love listening to music / the cricket while camping, and most of the time we are off grid way out the back of Burke where my quiet tunes aint gonna annoy anyone other than the occasional emu ... I understand that you might not like listening to music / sports ... congratulations, good for you but your input here is not exactly helpful.

Boobook, that is a spectacularly good post. Thank you. I am not after "Big" I'm just after something small that I can hear within the inside of the Camper. Interesting to know about the voltage thing! Wow never thought of that! So why doesnt your car stereo go Shit when you turn the engine off ... or are my ears not "audiophile" enough to pick it up

I'll probably spend a bit of time deciphering what you've written!!

Cheers

James

[GeoffA]

I'm confused. Who wasn't helpful?

[KeithB]

This stuff may be of interest. It's especially made for RV's and seems reasonably priced.
https://www.caravansplus.com.au/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=RV+media

[eventyr]

This stuff may be of interest. It's especially made for RV's and seems reasonably priced.
https://www.caravansplus.com.au/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=RV+media

thanks keith! will take a look.

[gronk]

I'm confused. Who wasn't helpful?

??.........only leaves 2 people out of the thread........you and me.........unhelpful so & so's.........

[GeoffA]

??.........only leaves 2 people out of the thread........you and me.........unhelpful so & so's.........

It would seem so Gronk.....

[Troopy_03]

Unless you're competing in an audio system sound-off, a standard car stereo from the likes of Supercheap or similar will work just fine, just get a decent brand. You won't have too many issues with rail voltage sag unless you start pulling some some big amps, through some heavy duty base at a very loud level. And by that time' you will have already been chucked out of any shared camp sites. 


I hope that was helpful... 

[glenm64]

Ive got the Fusion one in the Supercrap site link. I plug in phone for my music and keeping it charged, and use aux input if we ever watch the tv inside for surrond sound. With a decent set of speakers it is more than enough, and I love my music. The only thing that would be handy is a remote control that some stereos have. When you want to skip pause turn up or down etc you can do it from outside.
I know its lazy, but if your going to have creature comforts, may as well have good ones.

Cheers Glen

[muzza01]

For camping I use a UI boom portable Bluetooth speaker connected to my phone that has about 40Gb of music. The speaker lasts at least 5 hours with out a recharge but I normally just have it connected to the CT on 12 volts via its USB, never goes flat. No radio though

But to answer your question I have a pioneer stereo that I think I bought at least 12 months ago (probably longer) it is a normal DIN size at the front but is only about 3 inches deep which is much smaller than normal stereos. Obviously at that short a size it doesn't play CD's but I use it for Bluetooth connection. It does have AM and FM radio and automatically connects to my phone to play music as soon as i get in the car.

[fazza81]

Axis brand do a shallow single din designed to go into ag equipment, no cd player just AUX in and FM. Google that one

[Bird]

Plenty of no DVD/CD players that would suit

from when I looked few years ago
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=25098.0

[kylarama]

I put a mechless Pioneer head unit in my daughters car. Bluetooth, USB, AUX, rear RCA's and all the jazz.  From memory it was only about 80mm deep. Maybe 110mm if you included the wiring plug.  $120ish on special from Super Cheap.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[gronk]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/351557214920?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Actually interested in this one....only 31mm deep.

[GrantR]

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121431311442
Few different stereos similar to this

[eventyr]

Thanks all,

ended up with the Fusion one, cost me ~$100 and sounds good! will put some photos up later

[gronk]

I ended up with the Axis one. The very light head unit appealed to me !

[The punter]

https://www.pioneer.com.au/shop/car/mvh-295bt-2/

Not bad, I added a powered Sub and that lifted the sound quality