240 sound system

gavinh

Hey guys just wanting to know what people have in the 240's for the best sound, been contenplating about a system form a v70 as the one we have is great in the 1998 V70XC. So much better than some modern cars. I know the speakers are gonna be a different size, i want to keep the original casette head. There was a guy in vic which converted them to play mp3 via usb? Any body had experience of the finished product.

Cheers

Gav

familyman

I thought a V70 would have a 2-DIN stereo. So I looked at some online photos... Not sure if you meant you plan to keep the original 240 or v70 deck. Not sure how you'd fit the V70 one - but you also mentioned the mp3 vic guy - so maybe you mean you plan to keep the original 240 deck - and just use the v70's speakers.

Anyway...

I'm still trying to decide what I'll do for a stereo too. I currently have two options:

1. Install a single-DIN CD/MP3 player that has bluetooth. I already own a 'GPS suction-cup mount' on my windscreen from Aliexpress, that is made specifically for my phone. (So I could use the phone as a GPS.) So I could pair the two together, and play music from the phone through the stereo.

2. This: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0053NADTC

It's screen 'plugs in' and hangs downwards over the aircon vents. But it does tilt back so you can insert a disc. The screen can be removed and put in the glove box, because it doesn't retract inside the unit - only tilt. Nearly all single-DIN motorised units with retractible screens open upwards. Which won't work in a 240, because they hit the dashpad. Well, unless it's fitted down near the shifter. But then you have to move that forward to use the stereo. Because it runs Windows CE... I *think* I can install GPS software onto it. Which would mean I no longer have to fit/remove the phone in the windscreen mount. Would prefer something Android based though. Then I *know* I could install free GPS software.

I think there is a 1-DIN Pioneer unit with a retractable screen, that would come CLOSE to missing the dash lip. But if I buy it and it doesn't clear the dash, then I'd have to get the dashpad modified. Not sure I want that hassle. Especially if Pioneer don't make a replacement unit in years to come.

If you're one of those folks that stream music on your phone from the internet, there's this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J7YD98?psc=1

That tape deck for mp3 is an option I guess, but when you can buy things for < $15 delivered... Aliexpress have lots of cheap car mp3 options. Wired is are better than wireless. (I have an FM one. It's ok but the signal strength is low, so there's constant hiss on the FM radio. Maybe the newer bluetooth wireless ones are better though? Read the reviews before you buy.)

e.g.

http://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-car-mp3-player-module.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-car-mp3-player.html (there are actual stereos a few pages into this one)
http://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-car-mp3-player-bluetooth-fm-transmitter.html

240

If you want to keep your original cassette head, then it's just a simple matter of getting a tape aux adapter, like this
http://www.dicksmith.com.au/mobiles-wireless/belkin-cassette-adapter-dsau-cn2320
That will give you the option to play your phone, ipod etc through the stereo.

Then all you need to do is put decent speakers in. My 240 came with pretty good 5.25" speakers in the front, and 6x9" ones in the rear parcel shelf - and it sounds really good.

Depending on which cassette head unit you have, I think there was also an option in 240s to have an amplifier installed with it - I believe there are various amplifiers which will work, such as the one from a 740 I think. If you don't already have one, it may be worthwhile, if you put good speakers but keep the original head.

familyman

Or pay one-tenth:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/3-5mm-AUX-Car-Audio-Cassette-Tape-Adapter-Converter-for-MP3-IPod-iPhone-CD-MD/32441244368.html

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/3-5-MM-for-iPod-video-nano-MP3-CD-MD-Audio-Car-Cassette-Tape-Adapter-Converter/32330876668.html

$-)

Not sure how good a sound it would give though. Anyone owned/used one before? Probably the same quality as a tape I guess?? Personally, I'm sick of having loose wires in the car.

240

I wouldn't pay the one-tenth option - I watched a video on Youtube a while ago where a guy pulled a few of them apart (different brands) and found they weren't all created equal. So it's worth paying a bit more for a better one.

I haven't actually used one but from what I've read, the quality isn't quite the same as a CD because it's still using a tape head to read the audio, but it's still fairly good apparently. Better than a tape, I think.

egads (she/her)

Was a step up from an FM transmitter to my slightly shit ears.

familyman

BTW Gav... I have not experienced the conversion, but it would be putting a 'perfect' signal level into the magnetic tape head, rather than the inefficient method of playing a real cassette. So it SHOULD sound very similar, if not slightly better than - what a cassette currently sounds like on your system.

familyman

Yeah, good for a test though, instead of blowing $20 and finding you hate the idea. It would also give some idea what the vic conversion would turn out like. And who knows, it might turn out to be fine. Because a lot of the stuff sold is the same. i.e. Someone designs a product - has it manufactured - the buyer picks up his order - the factory steals the design and sells it cheaper.

The FM mp3 player I bought was less than $5 I think. I'd seen one an electronics store for about $27. Once I'd owned it for a while I noticed that store marked theirs down to about $14 - and because I'd used mine for a while, I realised it wasn't just like it - it was exactly the same.

paul0075

familyman;64181 wrote
http://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-car-mp3-player-module.html
http://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-car-mp3-player.html (there are actual stereos a few pages into this one)
http://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-car-mp3-player-bluetooth-fm-transmitter.html

I was thinking of one these decoder boards, found one recently with handsfree for the phone, and an 2x20W RMS amp and a switch on the dash to flick between the AM 8 track and this. Thoughts?

gavinh

Cheers for all the inputs, about the v70 side of things, I wouldn't be using the head unit just the amp and speakers, primarily cause if you find a guy wrecking one,you'll probably get it for next to nothing and all you would need are the plugs and the rest can be soldered. I'm not to keen on having anything hanging from the 12v cigarette lighter or any additional fm transmitter. I have something similar to the grom which can be tucked away under the dash.

Ex850R

May as well buy an amp and speakers to suit car as v70 spkrs are mostly near death , paper cones do that and the amp is an Alpine one anyway but the outputs are to suit the weirdly wired - in series combined with in parallel too , in the wagon , to suit the 4ohm and 8ohm loads.
You may get Dynaudio branded spkrs from a C70 or the rare occasion they were specced in a sedan or wagon , not likely as were an expensive option . The STD spkrs were made by Dynaudio too but not for longevity.....
Some nice jbls!

gavinh

Interesting, see your point. May's well just fork out on a complete system and swap out the head unit. Cheers.

familyman

paul0075;64197 wroteThoughts?

Dunno - have you got a pic/link? I'd find the model number anyway, put it in a search engine with the word 'review'?

gavinh

Famliyman do like the idea ofhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J7YD98?psc=1, kind of what I want but I'm greedy I like the old school tape deck as well

familyman

I noticed that one at the bottom of the page when I was cut & pasting one of the other links. But looking at it again, I might have misled you... I think it receives Pandora via satellite - not internet.

I've used Pandora on my phone through the house WiFi... You sign up, it plays songs, you give a thumbs up or down, it quickly learns what music you like. You can pay to have no ads, but the free version only has short ads. It's still less of pain than the screaming infantile adverts on commercial radio.

So if you already have a phone and the data to spare, you could fit a single DIN head unit with bluetooth. Then stream Pandora (or mp3 files) from your phone. I believe you can leave the phone in your pocket, and change songs from the stereo. What I'm getting at is, you'd probably find you wouldn't use the tape deck much then. Especially if using something like Pandora (there's one or two others I think).

I like my tape deck too - it's hardly been used. But I plan to convert tapes/LPs to digital one day. I wish 240s had had a 2-DIN slot! I can MAKE it into one - if only I could figure out a way/where to move the aircon vents. I don't want to ruin the car, but at the same time, would love a larger-screen Android/stereo/DVD/GPS/Bluetooth/reversing camera - LOL!

If only I could get this but with Android instead of Windows: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0053NADTC

You've probably already thought of it, but if you want to keep it original, some people fit stereos in the glove box, under the seat, up under the dash... Some different options in those links anyway.

familyman

http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PLD34MUB-Receiver-Equipped-Bluetooth/dp/B00PAJL7DK/
http://www.amazon.com/BOSS-BV7949B-Single-DIN-Touchscreen-Detachable/dp/B00TKGSMJ6/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundstream-1348-VR-345B-Single-Din-Bluetooth-3-4-Inch/dp/B00CD921TE/

Last one doesn't ship here though. Would have to find it elsewhere.

Vee_Que

I would not bother with a stock unit. Buy a nice jvc, alpine or pioneer unit, jaycar make good qaulity kevlar cone speakers, they do have a big magnet but they are good.

paul0075

If you decide to go the whole head unit route with Bluetooth, get one with the external mic, as it offers better sound quality than the ones with the mic mounted on the front of the head unit

familyman

Been reading reviews on those product links I posted. Anyone looking to buy, make sure you read them first [sigh].

gavinh

There's a pioneer out can't remember the product code but it comes with out a cd player, supposed the easiest to like with blue tooth retailing around $100, will fond the link and post it up