Retro Style Head Unit?

[**Ewie**]

Hi all, I'm looking at updating the factory stereo in my 92 Pearlie but I'm "trying" to keep the interior looking as near to original as I reasonably can. Does anyone know of any companies that do modern audio gear with an 80's-90's retro look?

I dont need all the fancy touch screens etc, just want a good quality sound and option to connect to my iPod etc.

[Green1995SVX]

You may try a newer subaru unit. In one of my previous svxs, i had a unit from a baja, and it matched the interior very very well.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/Green1995SVX/24256.JPG

[**Ewie**]

Yeah, I thought about that but then that wouldnt be much better quality sound than the factory unit.

It still works fine, CD, Tape and all.. definately getting new speakers all round but I don't have any cassettes any more and havent bought a CD for a couple of years now since everything is digitized these days and I have my entire music collection, including all my CD's, on my iPod. Just wish I could connect it to the factory system.

[Chuckls]

Get a cassette adapter..or an FM transmitter

[michael]

Mcintosh makes a nice double din unit, a little pricey but nice and retro.

[LetItSnow]

Get a cassette adapter..or an FM transmitter
Stop that, right now.

[Stevebsy]

I've seen on NASIOC where they have figured out how to make an aux-in port by tapping into the CD player audio line, and then playing a CD full of silence.

I would think we could do the same with some research on the SVX, since we have a fairly similar system.

[Chuckls]

Stop that, right now.

:lol:
:cool::cool:

[B 4 You]

i have my ipod plugged directly into the back of the stock cassette unit. :D

[Chuckls]

i have my ipod plugged directly into the back of the stock cassette unit. :D

Details?

+10 characters

[B 4 You]

I wasn't thinking to take pictures at the time or save any research, but a friend of mine (an electrical engineer) found some radio diagrams from old subaru legacy's (svx could not be found anywhere), and tapped into the 13-pin DIN connector on the back of the tape deck. We put in 5 separate wires:

1. Switch on
2. Switch off
3. Ground
4. Left channel
5. Right channel

Whenever I turn the switch on, I am "fooling" the tape deck into thinking it is the CD player. Now, I have no clue where to find it, and I can't remember which 5 of the 13 pins I used... I guess you could use trial and error? Just do some deep searching and you should find it. It is possible though. Sound quality is CD quality (of a 1992 CD player), but it sounds just as good as any cheap head unit you'd buy nowadays. No annoying hiss from the cassette adapter. :) Then just buy some wire and a 3.5mm headphone jack from radioshack or something and you should be good. Be careful soldering the pins, they are VERY close together. Over thanksgiving break I'll probably take it apart again, because the right channel seems to be a little quieter than the left.. :mad:

Edit: just found this: http://www.itsayellow.com/girls/subaru.audio.html
I don't know if that's the website mine is based from, but I think it's similar. If you fry your radio, it ain't mah fault!

[Lookin4SVX]

If your going to be playing mostly Ipod... Why not just get a cheap newer deck like one these with ipod control, aux jack, and usb on the face for $100.
http://z2-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0042X96II.01.PT03._SX500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V196321431_.j pg
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-CDXGT550UI-MP3-Player-Receiver/dp/B0042X96II

Then pick up one these DIN pockets for the were the cdplayer was. So you have a place to stick your ipod.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_120988999/Dash-Pocket.html?tp=3121

[Sean486]

If your going to be playing mostly Ipod... Why not just get a cheap newer deck like one these with ipod control, aux jack, and usb on the face for $100.
http://z2-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0042X96II.01.PT03._SX500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V196321431_.j pg
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-CDXGT550UI-MP3-Player-Receiver/dp/B0042X96II

Then pick up one these DIN pockets for the were the cdplayer was. So you have a place to stick your ipod.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_120988999/Dash-Pocket.html?tp=3121

+1
My thoughts too.

[zavikan]

because really... in the end... the question has to be asked...

what kind of IDIOT designed the aesthetic side of these units? Or even considered the actual physical usability? Because they are UGLY, and hard to read.

[Green1995SVX]

Most aftermarket headunits are SOOO ugly. If a company came out with one that is subtle and stock looking, they'd sell tons of them.

[dbarnblatt]

I've always liked the look of the Nakamichi car audio systems... high quality and grown up. Almost a 1980's Blaupunkt look. I installed one to get a single din unit in my STi so I could get a 3 gauge install in the other din section.

It looked great.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/4178614883_533def9012_z.jpg?zz=1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/45500763@N05/4178614883/) IMG_6050 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/45500763@N05/4178614883/) by dbarnblatt (http://www.flickr.com/people/45500763@N05/), on Flickr

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/attachments/mobile-audio/7107d1207769373-aftermarket-car-stereo-going-way-dinosaur-nakamichi-400-.jpg

[Lookin4SVX]

The old Nakamichi 6 disc cd player was high end stuff back then!
But with lack of mp3 support, today it would feel dated.

Yes, most head units are ugly and not well laid out.
Most people just use the remote, that is why they come with one.

The biggest issue your gonna run into is trying to get a deck with a knob that will fit with the radio door cover closed.

[Chuckls]

The biggest issue your gonna run into is trying to get a deck with a knob that will fit with the radio door cover closed.

UNLESS, yours is broken, and won't close...

Problem solved.

[dbarnblatt]

The old Nakamichi 6 disc cd player was high end stuff back then!
But with lack of mp3 support, today it would feel dated.

The Nakamichi CD-500 has MP3 support... and they all have an AUX in.

http://images.productwiki.com/upload/images/nakamichi_cd_500-600-600.jpg

[Green1995SVX]

The Nakamichi CD-500 has MP3 support... and they all have an AUX in.

http://images.productwiki.com/upload/images/nakamichi_cd_500-600-600.jpg

I love that

[B 4 You]

Most aftermarket headunits are SOOO ugly. If a company came out with one that is subtle and stock looking, they'd sell tons of them.

strongly agree.

i hate every single new head unit on the market, that's the only reason i won't spent money on one. the only decent looking ones are 110% touchscreen, which costs half the price of the average SVX and breaks in a few months. if there were some way to get the "face" of the stock unit onto a new unit, i would buy it in a heartbeat.

[Sean486]

strongly agree.

i hate every single new head unit on the market, that's the only reason i won't spent money on one. the only decent looking ones are 110% touchscreen, which costs half the price of the average SVX and breaks in a few months. if there were some way to get the "face" of the stock unit onto a new unit, i would buy it in a heartbeat.

Wow, you guys are way to picky. I am pretty happy with my simple $100 Pioneer with the Auxiliary input. (I hate the touch screen unit.) It is so much better than the skip happy OEM unit I took out. It doesn't look stock, but it also doesn't stand out either. The door closes too and most of the time I leave it shut, even when the music or audiobook is playing. Having the pocket available for my ipod and sunglasses is also a big plus.