Wiring for stereo

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sweetaswesty
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Wiring for stereo

Post by sweetaswesty »

I've had the dash out and I'm replacing the stereo but the wiring at the moment is an untidy mess poorly connected directly to the 16 pin plug that goes in the back of the old Kenwood unit.
The new Alpine stereo came with a 16 pin to ISO harness and so I'm thinking of tidying up the wiring and attaching the cables neatly to ISO connectors rather than cut off the ISO sockets from the harness and attach the wiring from the van directly to the 16 pin plug that goes in the back of the stereo.
However I'm just a bit anxious there won't actually be room for the ISO adapters underneath the dash and/or behind the unit when i replace the dash.
Does any one know?
Thanks for any advice!
1991 Westfalia California Hightop1.9tdi

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Robsey
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by Robsey »

A standard style of radio will be too deep for the dash anyway.
Even in standard configuration, it was often necessary to have a 10 or 15mm thick spacer between the dash and the radio facia.

The adapter cable should be able to dangle below or to the side of the radio, and so not increase the useable depth of the radio.
1983 Tin Top with a poorly DF and 4 speed DT box.
1987 Electrics and a DJ engine.
Maybe one day I might get it finished

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sweetaswesty
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by sweetaswesty »

Thanks! That's just what I needed to know.
1991 Westfalia California Hightop1.9tdi

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Robsey
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by Robsey »

Glad to help.

I would like to have a "period" radio to suit the age of the van.
But by modern standards, they are at best dated, and at worst obsolete.
Three long wave channels are not much use these days.
Aux-In adapted radios are crazy expensive.

You can get "deck-less" or "mech-less" head units, with most of the modern media storage functions.
(SD card, USB stick, bluetooth etc...).
These are very shallow front to back, so would easily fit the limited space behind the van dash.
Sadly, I haven't seen any that I like the look of.

A reasonable solution is to find a happy medium.
Possibly a late 90s cassette radio with remote cd multi-changer. Pioneer, Kenwood and Alpine were always highly regarded in the day.
1983 Tin Top with a poorly DF and 4 speed DT box.
1987 Electrics and a DJ engine.
Maybe one day I might get it finished

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sweetaswesty
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by sweetaswesty »

Thanks again!
I actually bought a mechless Alpine but it's deeper than the Kenwood CD player it's replacing (which did just fit in the dash). There's only a fractional difference in depth so it should be OK I think but I don't mind fitting a spacer if I need to.
1991 Westfalia California Hightop1.9tdi

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Robsey
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by Robsey »

The dash has a "practical" work vehicle appearance rather than being based on beauty and aesthetics,
so fitting a radio spacer should not make the dash look any more ugly / clunky or generally appear out of place.
1983 Tin Top with a poorly DF and 4 speed DT box.
1987 Electrics and a DJ engine.
Maybe one day I might get it finished

Will89
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by Will89 »

I've installed a JVC X-561DBT mechless stereo (£123) which fits perfectly in the limited space. It provides all the required modern features I wanted, such as:
  • USB charging + audio (iPod/iPhone etc)
  • Bluetooth streaming + Handsfree
  • DAB+
  • FM/AM
  • Minimal appearance and good UI
So many single-din units have pulsing LEDS, tonnes of buttons and their UI is very clunky thanks to the rubbish screens. I personally think this unit looks rather smart  8) . I used a FM splitter to get DAB+ signal and it's proven to work rather well! This is the head unit that was fitted before  :shock: :
Image

And this is what the new head unit looks like installed:
Image
Image
Image

I'm really chuffed with it  :ok
 
St Albans, Hertfordshire. 1984 'A' Reg T25 Pop-Top: 1.9 DG, 4-Speed manual.

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sweetaswesty
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by sweetaswesty »

Looks great!
1991 Westfalia California Hightop1.9tdi

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Robsey
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by Robsey »

That is definitely a head unit that the wife would have.
She loves her gadgets.

Useful function to have the rear camera option too.
The DAB+ function also gives a future proofing element... for whenever they finally pull the plug on analogue radio.
1983 Tin Top with a poorly DF and 4 speed DT box.
1987 Electrics and a DJ engine.
Maybe one day I might get it finished

keynsham1
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by keynsham1 »

I use one of these:



Image

Just plug it into the cigarette lighter and away you go! Bluetooth music and phone, two USB ports, one of which reads USB sticks for MP3 file playback, micro SD card slot, and auxiliary 3.5mm input socket. Just tune it to a free FM station. I was sceptical but the sound quality is excellent and with digital tuners these days the reception never strays like it used to years ago with manual tuning. All for the princely sum of £11.19

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Robsey
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by Robsey »

I have tried cheap and tacky chinese import fm transmitter units in the past.
Never had much luck with them.

But if it works for you, then it is all good.

On my Cavalier mk3, I use an original cassette player with the aux-in cassette adapter.
It works well, and looks original.
I then use an old Samsung Galaxy S2 for an mp3 player.
1983 Tin Top with a poorly DF and 4 speed DT box.
1987 Electrics and a DJ engine.
Maybe one day I might get it finished

JeffRoo
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by JeffRoo »

Will89 wrote: 26 Apr 2021, 15:04 I've installed a JVC X-561DBT mechless stereo (£123) which fits perfectly in the limited space. It provides all the required modern features I wanted, such as:
  • USB charging + audio (iPod/iPhone etc)
  • Bluetooth streaming + Handsfree
  • DAB+
  • FM/AM
  • Minimal appearance and good UI
So many single-din units have pulsing LEDS, tonnes of buttons and their UI is very clunky thanks to the rubbish screens. I personally think this unit looks rather smart  8) . I used a FM splitter to get DAB+ signal and it's proven to work rather well! This is the head unit that was fitted before  :shock: :
Image

And this is what the new head unit looks like installed:
Image
Image
Image

I'm really chuffed with it  :ok


Thanks for this, I bought one on your recommendation and it’s really neat. Plus for me was the rear camera input, really tidies things up!
84 Caravelle 1.9DG

Will89
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Re: Wiring for stereo

Post by Will89 »

JeffRoo wrote: 09 May 2021, 08:26
Will89 wrote: 26 Apr 2021, 15:04 I've installed a JVC X-561DBT mechless stereo (£123) which fits perfectly in the limited space. It provides all the required modern features I wanted, such as:
  • USB charging + audio (iPod/iPhone etc)
  • Bluetooth streaming + Handsfree
  • DAB+
  • FM/AM
  • Minimal appearance and good UI
So many single-din units have pulsing LEDS, tonnes of buttons and their UI is very clunky thanks to the rubbish screens. I personally think this unit looks rather smart  8) . I used a FM splitter to get DAB+ signal and it's proven to work rather well! This is the head unit that was fitted before  :shock: :


And this is what the new head unit looks like installed.

I'm really chuffed with it  :ok

Thanks for this, I bought one on your recommendation and it’s really neat. Plus for me was the rear camera input, really tidies things up!

I'm glad you like it! It seems like the ideal candidate if you want/need single din yet want all the modern features. Most single-din units look really naff which puts me off straight away. I still think this unit looks rather smart and relatively in keeping with the rest of the dash.
St Albans, Hertfordshire. 1984 'A' Reg T25 Pop-Top: 1.9 DG, 4-Speed manual.

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