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Yabbadubbadoo
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2012
Posts: 914
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 Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 4:15 pm Post subject: Retrosound digital radios for type 3 |
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Was looking at the Retrosound digital radios with USB and Bluetooth as a nice modern option for a type 3 without going fully modern.
There's the nice looking 'angular style' faceplate that it comes with but was wondering if any of you guys can confirm if the dimensions of the knob distance and screen/buttons area would fit in the other Saffire radio style faceplate shown below. I don't have a Saffire radio mounting plate that I can measure.
Please see diagram for dimensions of the retro sound radio.
Need this opening size and distance between buttons if any of you guys know?
It's probably standard DIN size but I can't be 100% sure what they did fifty years ago.
This is the Style plate it comes with. Its a nice looking faceplate in its own right but you need to find the plain black style metal mounting plate to put it on which can be a little difficult to locate.
Dimensions of underlying radio.
They do optional analogue markings on screen protector for when it's switched off. I don't know if they've done a VW or Saffire one yet.
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Sydney, Australia.
66 Type 3 Fastback |
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W1K1
Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2004
Posts: 4921
Location: Southern AB
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Yabbadubbadoo
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2012
Posts: 914
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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| W1K1 wrote: |
| mine is 40mm x 95mm for the center section and the posts are 130mm center to center |
Thanks. Looks like the push buttons and screen area will fit with 1mm-2.5mm clearance and knobs are right on the money.
Nice to have a retro looking option. As much as I want the modern connectivity I just can't warm up to the idea of a modern looking radio on the dash or having one squatting like a fujitive in the glovebox. This unit is the best I've seen apart from the guy who gutted an original radio and stashed his custom Rasberry Pi setup inside. "Ain't nobody got time for that".
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Sydney, Australia.
66 Type 3 Fastback |
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Bobnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 22422
Location: Kimball, Mi
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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I bought a hacked radio mounting plate, and just installed my CD player/ FM radio in it. I'm using a Pioneer Super Tuner III in my Notch.  It's powering a pair of 6 by 9 dual cone Kenwood speakers. It's nothing special, but it does work. 
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120
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pitargue
Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2006
Posts: 232
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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Let's see some pics after you install this bad boy. I was thinking of going the same route, but my notch didn't come with a radio nor speakers.
I have no idea what could be done wrt speakers without hacking any metal. Searched on this forum, but nothing resulted that I would be happy with. Any suggestions? |
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Jack square
Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2014
Posts: 36
Location: New Zealand
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 10:47 pm Post subject: |
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ever thought of a hidden bluetooth module and 4 channel amp rockford fosgate make both or you can use any a module to add bluetooth to head units like i did bit of mucking round but you dont need a head unit that way
only works if you dont want real radio aka use internet radio |
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Tram
Samba Socialist
Joined: May 02, 2003
Posts: 22727
Location: Still Feelin' the Bern- Once you've felt it you can't un- feel it.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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I did have to file the opening for the radio/ cassette face plate just a little.
I got this from a seller on eBay- the original AM dial is lightly engraved in the glass but invisible when the radio is on and the digital lights up.
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| Bryan67 wrote: |
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Yabbadubbadoo
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2012
Posts: 914
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| Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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Tram that is a sweet setup. Exactly what I was picturing.
I'm way off buying one just yet. Just figuring it out since see these radios pop up on my eBay feed a lot so I thought I'd see if they fit original mounts.
Yes I've looked into hidden Bluetooth modules. In fact I have one for my home stereo that is tiny and runs off usb (5v) power so that's not a problem if I just wanted to play my own iPod library. I just like the original looking radio and think it finishes the dashboard nicely in an authentic way so was looking for that middle ground; an authentic looking radio with modern connectivity.
Would be very keen to hear from people who have one.
I have a set of front fiberglass "Volkommennart" speaker kick panels for the footwell area so I'm going to run front speakers behind carpet and some period style speaker grills with a suitable material stretched over them. In the rear boot I'll probably make up a sub box in a leather suitcase facing the rear seat so speaker cone is not visible from the rear trunk lid.
Overall I like stereos or radios to look subtle, not invisible, and sound decent. No massive speaker boxes or obvious signs of modern electronics if I can help it.
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Sydney, Australia.
66 Type 3 Fastback |
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W1K1
Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2004
Posts: 4921
Location: Southern AB
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:26 am Post subject: |
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I definitely like the looks better of the retro sound system.
my pioneer just too a crap, and I'm working on a new console so it may be time to change to something period correct looking.
| Quote: |
| I have no idea what could be done with speakers without hacking any metal. Searched on this forum, but nothing resulted that I would be happy with. Any suggestions? |
If you're handy you can make some fiberglass housings or kick panels
I did these for my square
or some 6" like these actually work well, you just need to anchor them so they don't roll around. I have some elastic straps attached to the rear of the housing that keeps them in place.
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1965 squareback 1500E
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Erik G
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Joined: October 16, 2002
Posts: 13278
Location: Tejas!
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Yabbadubbadoo
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2012
Posts: 914
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:14 am Post subject: |
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Eric G, there nothing like the look of the original Blaupunkt. The link you posted was an eye opener and yes it's pricey but I have to agree it's a great hack. Tip my hat to those electronics gurus who can pull that off.
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Sydney, Australia.
66 Type 3 Fastback |
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Erik G
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Joined: October 16, 2002
Posts: 13278
Location: Tejas!
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:04 am Post subject: |
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if it helps, I got my Blaupunkt Emden on ebay.de - I also see a lot on ebay UK
I had to buy kind of a junky Blaupunkt to get the early soft underdash too, but a '66 would have the one like Tram posted and those are easier to find (and more likely to be in good shape)
this junker wasn't cheap (also ebay germany), but included the rear deck speaker, which seem to go for big bucks to the Porsche guys
None of it is installed yet either. I'm waiting on the dash speaker, It is the first thing that has to be installed, the radio and all that really need to come out to have the room, and I have that underdash parcel trey too
plus it's 100F in my garage and I'm LAZY 
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Tram
Samba Socialist
Joined: May 02, 2003
Posts: 22727
Location: Still Feelin' the Bern- Once you've felt it you can't un- feel it.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:24 am Post subject: |
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| Erik G wrote: |
I have never heard anything good about the retro-sound radios. They break, quit working, don't want to do warranty work, etc
Personally, I bought a nice used period blaupunkt and am going to use a din plug in the back. Jacin (Hoss) sent me a used crumbly stock dash speaker, I'm trying to get it repaired/re-coned. Probably use this other one on the back deck too
also, do check this post out from the bus forums. Pricey, but probably the best.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=609702&highlight=radio |
I've bought several "retrosounds" from "woodyscustomshop" on eBay. The owner is a 356 guy and he seems to pick and choose what he carries. There are two different levels of VW radio- the one pictured above is the better hi- amp one. It came with an MP3 adapter cable. This seller also sells a very nice repro- as well as sometimes genuine- Hirschmann blue and red tip antennas. He knows VW Type 3 better than most eBay sellers, too.
If you want to go OE, Mathias Klassen at http://www.oldtimerradio.de/shop/ is the man. He can supply adapter cables for DIN plugs, too, and willingly sells/ ships to USA.
I've also bought quite a few radios from this seller for Mercedes restorations:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/herold3000/m.html?item=201...7675.l2562
He goes through and refurbs them- in probably 10-12 W111/113 "thin face" radios I've never had an issue.
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| Bryan67 wrote: |
| Just my hands. And a little lube. No tools. |
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