Hello all, first post, my convertible is almost done, some last minute items, the stereo, can anyone offer advise please. I am looking at the RetroSound M4 with a SUB8100 - anyone Like, love or dislike? Next is speakers, what to put in the doors? any great suggestions? Has anyone used the RetroSound speakers? Has anyone tried speakers in the trunk as well as doors? Please advise if you have something that works or that you love. Just a FYI for me personally I don’t want to cut up the rear side panels or mount them in the back seat. Oh the RetroSound 2 channel dash speaker, any one try it?
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The answers to your questions depend on whether you want to have a custom setup that breaks windows as you drive by, or something that looks right in a car from 1970 but doesn’t sound like it is being pushed through a Campbell’s Soup Can. I’m going to answer based on… “looks like it belongs in your car, but performs better than a stock Philco”, and then add my roundabout weird take on it from my experience, and advice from an old man who loves his car.
When I bought my Cougar she had a Jensen stereo and head unit that had been cut into the dash with a hacksaw to make it fit. They rigged up two speakers in the doors that were oversize and it looked very modern, but sounded worse than a soup can banged by a ladle. I ripped out all the aftermarket bits, bought a used and rather beaten stock XR-7 dash bezel and installed a Retrosound head unit which fits well, wires in with only a few relatively simple modifications and uses tap connectors that didn’t make me cut the factory harness. My under dash wiring is a mess in some places because of prior owners, which has caused a host of ignition, lighting, etc issues, and finding a decent harness that hasn’t been hacked is getting near to impossible, so please resist making a cut anywhere, ever.
My Retrosound has USB, phone voice, etc, which I have actually never used, and it sounds good with a couple door speakers that fit under the stock speaker covers, and if I added speakers to the package tray it would probably sound like most modern stereos.
That being the case, for my usage, I now wish I’d been patient and shopped for a working stock Philco unit from 69 to make my center dash look original. When I’m driving my Cougar I never think, “hey, I’d like to hands free call my wife” (Do not call “SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED” and tell her I said this), respond to work calls, or deal with any damned thing in the world that these new things offer…I only want to hear the engine, the road, and enjoy driving. You may want these things, so the Retrosound is a good option to make them available…but I think you may be missing why you are climbing into the driver’s seat of your Cougar if you are making things like this a priority.
My next modification may be a stereo blank out plate and capping off the antenna on the fender. Nothing on the radio is more interesting than the purr of my gal.
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I’m in the same boat, as my 1970 XR-7 convertible has an aftermarket system from the 1990’s (?), that cut into the XR-7 bezel. I don’t know how I’m going to source an XR-7 bezel.
I think I will get Retrosound, as the interior shops seem to prefer it. My car came originally with AM, but incorrect aftermarket speakers have been placed in the doors. I’ll replace these with stock appearing. Should I put a speaker in the dash to supplement the door speakers? There’s also two speakers cut into the rear interior panel. I’ll remove these and seek to repair the panel. Do I need speakers in the back somewhere?
My 69 convertible sound system is a Cleveland, a 5 speed manual transmission, and a pair of Borla mufflers.
My car had a Jensen head unit and a pair of dinky speakers in the dash. I made a block off plate from some black ABS sheet and pulled the speakers when I replaced the heater core.
I just use a blue tooth speaker and my phone. Easy to transfer to a differant car. I used to worry about putting a stereo in my car, but with multiple cars it could cost a lot.
This one is in about the same shape as the one I bought. With touchups it would be serviceable.
Just my 2 cents, get a bluetooth speaker (good one) leave your old am radio in the hole
and don’t have to cut anything wire anything and you can have access to every song you ever thought of, and it’s mobile for the beach picnic, etc..and no drain on your battery
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I agree with Rktman70. I’ve got my factory AM radio to listen to news or the ballgame, but it would take a lot of money and mods to my car to make 70’s rock n roll sound as good as it does on a high quality Bluetooth speaker.
Thank you all for the feedback. I have had the car since I was a kid, bought it when I had my first job after I graduated from high school, it was in OK shape, it was complete and I had big dreams of restoring it. 40 years later and big thanks to a buddy who has a shop it is done. Complete disassembly and full rust removal, took him years to cut it all out and replace it, it looked like a skeleton at one point. I honestly had my doubts it would ever get back together. Comes now with a wee bit of resto mod with the engine and interior. Purists wont like it, but its for me, not others. Cleveland, cranked up a wee tad with EFI. Its an XR7, the interior I had redone same as the original in leather and vinyl sides, looks fab!.
When I bought it I installed an alpine stereo that probably caused a large part of my hearing loss today, speakers in the doors and back seat. I didn’t cut anything up to get it installed, I have all the parts from the original factory install. I think I am going to go with the Resto sound, their sub and a 2 channel dash speaker with a couple of door speakers that best fit. I will let you all know how it goes. By the way, as mentioned above, the Cleveland sound system sound amazing. Memories, I had so much fun with and in that car when I was younger, now I will have a different kind of fun, I am so glad I was able to keep it and eventually have it restored to my initial big dreams. I will post a pic when its buttoned up if anyone cares to see it, it shouldn’t be too long.
Thanks for the help and advice.
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Sounds like a nice Cougar, looking forward to some pics! Did you have a custom upholstery shop replicate the leather insert seats, or did you buy replacement seat cover sets? I’m considering both options for my own 70 XR7 convertible.
Hey Calicat, I had a upholstery shop custom replicate the original leather with vinyl sides. The reproductions you can buy from what I could find were all vinyl, that is why I had them custom made. I picked some nice material, they are so nice!
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To add to your options for consideration: these guys cover dozens of makes & have real leather for our cars. from those i’ve heard that used them for Vettes & couple other cars, they were very pleased. let alone the low pricing compared to repro vinyl, leather or local trim shops. They even have add-on options/upgrades available with some covers.
That is the scammiest web site. No physical address. Driver8 do you have personal experience with this site?
Personal with my own cars, no. but as i mentioned, there were a couple guys who used them for Vette covers and they documented the package arrival and installation process and comments along the way. The early C4 Corvette Sport seats are quite complicated, and the finished result looked very nice. I’m not here to promote or defend the company. When i saw this comment on seat covers, just remembered this from a while back and thought I’d put it out there.
I sent for a sample of their leather, and it was nothing like genuine XR-7 seats. It’d turn out horrendous.
Instead, we’re going to have our seats and interior done at this place, because they really give confidence that they’ve done it before. It’ll be around $3,000 for the two front seats.
Auto Upholstery | Expert Car Interior Upholstery Repairs for all Vehicles
Found something new on the radio front, looks real nice, Custom Auto Sound USA-850. it has some pretty cool features.
Hi, was planning to check in here on Custom Auto Sound. I’m 100% happy with my USA-740. The BT sync with the phone has been great, as well it is nice to have the hand’s free phone feature which came with an external mic too. is somewhat similar to my new car, not as seamless but least its there, as I try to keep my phone put away in console or under the mat when I drive. The 740 & 850 models have more power, are full featured for customizing the sound output and the display. hookups are there for any future aux devices and/or an amp.
The people at Classiccarstereos were both great. Once i installed mine, i realized there was an issue with the rear knobs which control alot of functions, mine were deeply sunk in and not accessible. I called them and they asked if I had the center console option, said yes and they sent me out a custom pair of deep seat ‘68 console knobs for free.
I used the modified, ready to go kick panels for 6.5” round speakers. Shot them in some SEM Landau black to match up with all the newly restored interior parts. Picked up a set of 4 speakers on ebay, 6.5 front, 6x9 oval for rear package shelf. I didn’t add any amp so far but for cruising around, so far the FM radio, bluetooth music off the phone really sound good and these 4-way Pioneers have nice range, just needed to adjust all the radio sound settings first.
Custom Autosound Radios - Classic Car Stereos
Pioneer TS-A6978S 6" x 9" 650 Watts 4 Ohms 4-Way Car Audio Coaxial Speakers | eBay
Pioneer 6.5" 4-Way 350 Watts Max 4-Ohm Stereo Car Audio Speakers 6-1/2 | eBay
Thank you. I have decided on a path, I found a dealer close by, going to order the USA-850. For speakers I am thinking on trying dual channel dash speaker, new speakers in the doors (my car came factory with them). If possible I will add 2 of the undercover 2 subs, I am going to see if the will fit behind the rear seat close to the power top hydraulic pump, I will have to go check it out on tuesday, my car is a few hrs away and I don’t remember how much room is in there. Anyway the radio decided for sure. Thanks again.
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By the way, those kick panels look great, did you modify them yourself?
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