Official Stereo Suggestions Thread

[ProspectiveOwnergon]

[jimf909]

[joetiger]

I like the look of the Jensen one. There is also a non-CD version, stubbier and probably easier to mount:

https://www.my12voltstore.com/ProductDetails.asp?P...WoQAvD_BwE
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[jimf909]

Thanks for that tip. I agree, I like the non-CD version because the buttons don't get squeezed into smaller spaces. Unfortunately, It looks like they're all 6 7/8" - 7.4" deep so no new found space for something new under the ashtray (like secret switches, hidden usb bus, etc.)

It turns out there are a few Jensen HD options. Interestingly, they don't list a CD version on the Jensen site.
https://www.jensenheavyduty.com/products/stereos.html

Some of the key differences that I can suss out include (not inclusive of all key differences - corrections welcomed). Naturally, since I'd want bluetooth and pre-amp outputs I want the most expensive unit.

MSRPs for price ladder reference only, street price is typically a couple hundred less.

1635 BTB, W/ Pre-amp outputs, W/Bluetooth, $414 MSRP
WITH Green or Blue phone button at 10:00 at the volume knob
https://www.jensenheavyduty.com/jensen-am-fm-wb-ipod-iphone-ready-siriusxm-bluetooth-stereo.html

Edit: There are two models, 1635BT and 1635BTB, BTB stands for Bluetooth Blunt wire harness in that it comes with a wire harness. As I understand, 1635BT does not come with a wire harness because the commercial/construction vehicles it's often installed in already have the harness with correct plug, i.e. look for the BTB version if you want the wire harness.

e-Trailer has the best specs and a video showing the 6 1/4" mounting depth which is about 1/2" shorter than the CD version...
https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Stereos/Jensen/JHD1635BTB.html


1630 BTB W/ Pre-amp outputs, NO Bluetooth, $322 MSRP...
NO green or blue phone button at 10:00 at the volume knob
https://www.jensenheavyduty.com/jensen-heavy-duty-am-fm-wb-ipod-iphone-siriusxm-stereo.html

1640 BTB, NO Pre-Amp Outputs, W/Bluetooth $246 MSRP
WITH Green or Blue phone button at 10:00 at the volume knob
https://www.jensenheavyduty.com/jensen-am-fm-wb-us...-1198.html

Plain Jane - looks pretty nice... $209 MSRP
https://www.jensenheavyduty.com/jensen-heavy-duty-am-fm-cd-stereo.html

Here's a link to a good spec page for the unit with a CD player, model #JHD36A
https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Stereos/Jensen/JHD36A.html

Not heavy duty but simple with BT, CD and two knobs:
https://www.amazon.com/ASA-JDVD1500-AM-FM-Radio/dp...;psc=1[/b]
_________________
- Jim

[ProspectiveOwnergon]

Is there a CD player unit that doesn't break the bank and can fit without heating/crushing the heater box? Just getting the metal V out of the way

[SyncroHead]

[vwwestyman]

At the totally opposite end of the spectrum...

I was on a road trip in my Eurovan this week, and frustrated with the old stereo's bluetooth not connecting with my phone.

So I swung into WalMart and bought this thing. Sound is fine by me, though not spectacular. I'm not really sure what speakers are in there, other than newer than OG.

But, bluetooth connected and I was able to easily listen to podcasts along the way! It's certainly cheap enough to give a try!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Dual-Electronics-XDM17B.../223451013
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[Merian]

a good separate amp can solve a lot of sound quality problems in cheesey head units

once you have music ripped to FLAC (CD quality) you just need a decent DAC and pre-amp in the head unit
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....

[vwwestyman]

That's probably true. But when traveling, I'm listening to 90+ percent podcasts, so music quality isn't a concern.

Ease of connecting to my phone, is.
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[mterpstra]

Hey all,
I picked up a Jensen Heavy Duty radio based on the recommendations here. I pulled the PO's stereo and have questions (my first foray into wiring). Detailed post here:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=

I could use your experienced eyes on this.
Thank you!

Mike

[jimf909]

I think I've been looking for a replacement head unit for years. I have a single din Boss with a double din touch screen. The screen allows me to use my back-up cam on the head unit screen but the rest of the Boss device is not awesome (touch screen is grumpy, it looks cheap with lousy resolution, etc.).

If I felt like spending $450 I'd install the Blaupunkt Bremen because it looks great and offers the modern BT features...but I don't feel like spending that much. The Jensen commercial units look decent but are still $250. The Continental (orange screen)/VDO (blue screen) units mentioned here look good but I'd need to add a line out converter ($30, one more component) to convert the signal to send to my amp.

Marine radio design criteria doesn't seem to require a million tiny buttons and ugly screens soI've been looking there. The leading candidate is this MB Quart BT head unit. It's not hideous, it has only nine regularly shaped buttons and a big plain bluish-white screen and it has pre-amp outputs! At $130 I may order one soon.

- I only wish it had a rotary knob for the volume control.
- It is a marine radio so apparently it doesn't come with the din sleeve and may need screws or 3M VHB tape to secure it.
- According to the Mb Quart site it has a Weather band radio but Crutchfield doesn't mention that.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_049MDR20/MB-Quart-MDR2-0.html?tp=96441

An unrequired/unexpected bonus is that it's the same brand as my MB Quart speakers and amp.
_________________
- Jim

[howler9]

Hi all, I got the jensen JHD1635BTB and I'm having trouble installing the sleeve. What does it actually mount to?
_________________
1984 1.9L Westy

[jimf909]

I finally installed the MB Quart marine radio (sold for boats, no marine specific radio functions other than being "waterproof").
- Bluetooth connection for streaming music but it doesn't have a mic so no phone calls which is fine for me.
- Mechless so it's about 3" deep
- Doesn't come with a mounting sleeve (it's designed to screw in) so I just used the sleeve from the previous radio.
- Simple button and screen layout
- This wasn't important but it's MB Quart (a once great German audio brand, since trashed by Rockford-Fosgate among others) so it matches my German-made MB Quart component speakers (at least in name).
- Wish it had a knob for volume and tuning but that's a small price to pay for a head unit that isn't hideously ugly (the Blaupunkt Bremen is a higher price to pay).

I've been swapping electronics frequently (usb plugs, head units, rear view cams, etc.) so I cleaned up the wiring and added a busbar that has four flavors of power: always hot, key-in hot, key-on hot and dimmable dash lights. This should make it easier to add/delete/experiment with stuff).

_________________
- Jim

[Rorke]

Jimf909,
That stereo looks super clean, especially compared to the laser lightshow that is my Kenwood.
How dim can it go while playing tunes?
Rorke

[SyncroHead]

[erste]

[jimf909]

[jimf909]

[SyncroHead]

[ProspectiveOwnergon]

Can you explain how this busbar works? Do you hop off the main panel for dc services that already are "always hot, ign-hot, keyed-hot"?