I am in the market for a stereo for my car (71 convert). Which is a better stereo of these two. It appears that the retrosound comes with more bells and whistles, but that does not make it better. Any advise. comments, reviews or other choices would be appreciated . Thanks, Kevin

Custom Autosound from what I've heard is not the greatest....I have no experience with them yet, but my local supplier says it's crap as far as sound quality. I myself am thinking about buying an old unit and having it rebuilt with quality components rather than buying something I'm unsure of, then having to have it rebuilt with those same quality components.

Haven't heard of retrosound....

I have a retrosound radio

Fit: ok
Sound: ok
quality: ok

I needed to hook up an amp to get better sound.. Does the job though and no cutting..

I changed the knobs, these were crappy looking..
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/RODZSS/IMG_1305.jpg

i have custom autosound in two cars both fit nicely in the dash. http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/el%20camino/004-4.jpg knobs were changed out for more of a stock look. here is a sound clip of the radio http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/el%20camino/th_001-26.jpg (http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/el%20camino/?action=view&current=001-26.flv) it is playing though a two channel amp and then to two 6.5" speakers in the kick panels http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/el%20camino/002-16.jpg

I've had both. Agree they both fit well. The sound quality (or lack of it) of the CA unit is well-documented. The RetroSound unit is a bit better.

However (and it's a big one), I had two RetroSound units go south on me soon after installation. After #1 died, I contacted RS and they promptly send a new one, even before receiving the bad one back. Then #2 died. Called again. Their concern and honesty was most admirable. They confided in me that they've had problems in certain GM "A" bodies (I have a '70 El Camino). I have no idea how/why this could be, and neither do they. They refunded my money before I even returned the unit. I was also told that a "Generation II" model was due sometime this year and with this model the problem would be resolved.

Because of their superior customer service and honesty, I'd try the RS unit again if they told me the Gen II was available. I've got the CA unit back in the car and will live with it for a while longer.

My suggestion...if you go with a RS unit, consider buying it directly from RS. If a problem occurs I'd rather deal with RS than retailer/distributor. You might have to get them to be more competitive with their price, however.

I just put a Ken Harrison radio out of Texas in my Chevelle and so far everything is ok but it has not been in very long for me to judge it. They only have distrubitors they sell through one is National Parts Depot. Good luck.

I've looked at the Ken Harrison and CA units side by side, along with the instruction/installation unit. They are identical. I don't know what bthe deal is, but I suspect both KH and CA might be distributors.

My vote would be to restore an OEM radio if you have it or can get one. I had my Am/FM/8 track rebuilt with current electronics in it including an input for my I-pod and it works, looks & sounds fantastic with 45 watts per each of four channels.

I have not owned an 8-track tape in well over 30 years but the player was rebuilt and when I find an OEM 71 Chevrolet GM starter tape, it will be great at car shows. Playing Dinah Shore " See the USA in your Chevrolet " off my I-Pod this past summer was great.

Contact Mike Hagen at Antique Auto Radio Repair in Fairless Hills PA at (215) 547-7145, you will not be disappointed.

http://chevelle.ogleonline.com/jim.htm

I love to give home made gifts, which one of the kids would you like?

Jim

A.C.E.S. # 4996 ( aces member id kinda matches my 496 stroker )


Frame off red 71 Chevelle SS496 (balanced, blueprinted & decked 454 block, bored .060 from 4.25 to 4.31 & stroked from 4.00 to 4.25, ported & polished edelbrock aluminum heads, 10.2:1CR, solid roller Crower 286/580 290/573 cam, eagle crank, true fulcrum roller rockers, billet double roller chain, airgap intake, demon 850dp with no choke, MSD 6AL, jet coated super comp hookers, flowmaster 40’s, TH400 with extra clutches, shift kit & 3000 stall) Convertible with white stripes, top & interior loaded with factory options: TH400, cowl induction, power windows, locks, cruise, tilt, top, trunk, 12 bolt 373 posi, A/C, AM-FM 8 track, power drivers bucket seat, mirror map light, trunk, hood, glove box lights, on the wheel GM air pressure gauges, Delco Jac Pac 175 (under hood vacuum powered air compressor) with under dash Delco air pressure controller/regulator, complete with Jac Pac 175 air shocks.



1952 Chevrolet 4 door Deluxe Sedan with a 216.5ci in line 6 with the last RAJO (RAcine JOe) Power Cylinder Head that never went to production, designed by grandfather in the 1940's. Joe bought the car new in June of 1952, passed away in October of 1952 and has been in the family ever since. Joe designed, built & sold all over the world performance heads during the 10’s, 20's, 30's & 40's starting with an OVERHEAD VALVE CONVERSION HEAD for the Model T Ford flathead. Joe drove in the FIRST INDY 500 in 1911 as car # 8 & was known worldwide in racing circuits as "The Flying Dutchman".

Watch for my SS496 Chevelle as a pace car at Indy in 2011 (100 years after Grandpa Joe) IF THEY WILL LET ME !

It looks like your in luck. Im an autosound specialist(MECP Certified) first of all DONT CUT ANYTHING! You can use ring templates on the doors or custom kick panels.


Here is how you make a custom kcik panel
the first thing you need to do is get a piece of wood, I like to use a 1x6
place it from the floor to the bottom of the dash, next to the kick panel,align it with the dash board top to bottom, make sure you can open the glove box otherwise, you will have to trim it. the next step is making a template out of cardboard, match the contour, from your block of wood all the way to the fire wall and up it then back to the block of wood, after you do this and it fits you can take the template and transfer it to a piece of ABS plastic. its easy to cut and you can reshape it using a propane torch. will get to that shortly. The next thing you need to do is staple the plastic to the side of the block of wood. After that figure out where you want to place the speaker. after you figure it out, draw an outline on the plastic. Next, shape the angle you wantusing a torch and just bend it while applying heat to the plastic. The next thing you'll need is a ring to mount the speaker to, after you mount the ring to the panel coat the intire panel with foam use some type of glue to get it to stick. after this step, you need to wrap it in leather or vynil and staple it tight and you will have a custom kick panel and after you do the drivers side they will look like they came with the car and they really are'nt hard to make so dont be intimadated!

Should anyone be interested, just this morning I received an email message from RetroSound USA advising that their second generation unit has arrived. They tell me the problem I mentioned in an earlier post has been corrected. Might be time for another look-see.

I think i am gonnna go for the Retrosound unit. I hoping it will sound decent. We will see......

Thanks

custom autosounds customer service is pretty horrible and the sound quality is sub par, for that i will not be using them again

custom autosounds customer service is pretty horrible and the sound quality is sub par, for that i will not be using them again

x2

Then again, I have the 59 Elky-----not a lot of options here at all

Should anyone be interested, just this morning I received an email message from RetroSound USA advising that their second generation unit has arrived. They tell me the problem I mentioned in an earlier post has been corrected. Might be time for another look-see.

what's the difference between units?

I just got in my new RetroSound radio today. The new model can't help but have a few internal improvments. But the better external improvement is to move the USB connection to the rear. You can see the front port in the picture above. Not sure when it will get installed. Too cold these days.

I bought a custom autosound and returned it the day after I installed it. ZERO bass. And the display is pretty bad, the fake dial on the front makes it pretty hard to see what's really gonig on. I"d restore the original before getting another one of those. I have yet to get my money back from that too, and I returned it 3 months ago!! When I call, I get some asian dude that I can hardly understand.

I've been waiting two months for the Retrosound 2nd generation radio to be released to the general public.
But for $300, I might should have just cut the dash! :rolleyes:

I just got in my new RetroSound radio today. The new model can't help but have a few internal improvments. But the better external improvement is to move the USB connection to the rear. You can see the front port in the picture above. Not sure when it will get installed. Too cold these days.

I bought a custom autosound and returned it the day after I installed it. ZERO bass. And the display is pretty bad, the fake dial on the front makes it pretty hard to see what's really gonig on. I"d restore the original before getting another one of those. I have yet to get my money back from that too, and I returned it 3 months ago!! When I call, I get some asian dude that I can hardly understand.

I've been waiting two months for the Retrosound 2nd generation radio to be released to the general public.
But for $300, I might should have just cut the dash! :rolleyes:

Good luck with it. Hopefully they added more watts/rms to this radio. either way it does the job.

If you still have your original radio, look at my post in chevelle tech section about just getting my radio back after conversion to all digital components...jonh1373

Does anyone by chance have a pic of the retrosound installed in a 66-67 Chevelle or El Camino? I think the dash opening in those years is a little bigger than the face of the retrosound. Just wondering how it would look installed in that style dash.
Thanks!

I bought a custom autosound and returned it the day after I installed it. ZERO bass. And the display is pretty bad, the fake dial on the front makes it pretty hard to see what's really gonig on. I"d restore the original before getting another one of those. I have yet to get my money back from that too, and I returned it 3 months ago!! When I call, I get some asian dude that I can hardly understand.


i know what you mean. the left right fader doesnt even work on mine. but you have to move it all the way right or all the way left or you cant hear the vocals!! but it has no efect at all with the changing the left/right volumes, horrible radio...i am probably going to do a Retrosound radio for a customer of mine that has a 66 mustang, they are a little pricey tho

I did not make the purchase yet. I see there is still some more feedback coming in. BB Mike let me know when you get that installed. I'd like to get your opinion. The choices are limited here. I don't have an original radio to restore and my car is not an all original anyway. I just want the radio to look like it fits the car. (no knock on the dash cutters)

Thanks for the feedback. Keep it coming........

I bought a 200 Watt Ken Harrison with their "premium" dual front speakers...I have nothing nice to say so I won't say anything at all. :mad:

I'll try and get that radio in ASAP. I plan to run new dash speakers (already there) and I have some of the new kick panels with speakers holes as well. Just have to put them in still.

I will post up my review when I get it in. I also have another thread that I started back in September-ish. I just kept holding out for that rear usb i/o

I bought a 200 Watt Ken Harrison with their "premium" dual front speakers...I have nothing nice to say so I won't say anything at all. :mad:

I may have noted this earlier, but the Ken Harrison units are EXACTLY the same as the CA units. They would be a good buy at $50.00.

Neither are very good IMHO. Maybe you could install a decent system in the trunk, I have a control for mine in the console with an Alpine stereo and amp in the trunk.

ive used custom autosound in two of my chevys- after fixing the dash on my truck cause some bozo cut the dash to put a crappy sony unit in- but anyway ive had good luck with them... i helped my buddy install his retro- what a pain in the arse! my custom autosound radio installs were a breeze- sound quality.. about the same/ features about the same- but i know custom autosound looked better and has been around a lot longer something like 30 years- soooo thats all i got for you

This thread is almost 3 years old, any reason for bringing it back?

"i helped my buddy install his retro- what a pain in the arse!

Really? :confused:...I'm very happy with my Retro Sound "model 1" unit...It went in without any problem, you just have to take your time!...I'm using it in conjunction with a Ken Harrison custom dual front speaker and two 6"x9" MTX units in the rear. :thumbsup: Here are some pics below...I know, I know...I changed ALL the dash knobs for some chromed '67 knobs 'cause I didn't like the original "rubber-coated" ones that '71-'72's have...:rolleyes:
and
This thread is almost 3 years old, any reason for bringing it back?
So what? :wacko:

Claude. :wavey:

just curious, some of the original posters do not frequent the board.
I just installed a RetroSound Model One in my Nova. Install was easy and it sounds great. I like the external pod that accepts an SD card, USB or 3.5 jack. Just have not picked a place to mount that yet.

just curious, some of the original posters do not frequent the board.
I just installed a RetroSound Model One in my Nova. Install was easy and it sounds great. I like the external pod that accepts an SD card, USB or 3.5 jack. Just have not picked a place to mount that yet.

Yeah, I also like the USB pod. It was one of thew reasons why I chose the Retro Sound...The Custom Auto sound unit did not have that feature if I recall corectly. :rolleyes: I mounted mine inside the glove box. No need to carry cd's anymore! :noway: All I have to do is to plug in my flash drive clost the door and go into the radio's menu and select "USB" and it starts playing. :thumbsup:
One other neat features is the artist's name and title of the tune which is displayed!...;)

Claude. ;)

The RetroSound Model 1 is great. I put one in my '69. Fit perfectly and looks very clean. I have it hooked up to an amp and four Kappas. Sounds great to me! You get what you pay for.

The RetroSound Model 1 is great. I put one in my '69. Fit perfectly and looks very clean. I have it hooked up to an amp and four Kappas. Sounds great to me! You get what you pay for.

Pardon my ignorance...but what's a "Kappa" ? :confused:

Claude. :clonk:

Oh sorry its the model name of a speaker made by Infinity. In my experience, they're the best bang for the buck.

Yep infinity kappas are top notch


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I started this thread way back. Kappas are speakers made by Infinity. And for anyone who cares, I bought and installed the Retrosound Model 1. All went smooth, but it is way underpowered. It is a small unit that gives it a universal fit, but needs more power. Looks like at some point an amp will need to be installed. That is a little over my ability to do it right. I also will have to find a good spot for it.

I started this thread way back. Kappas are speakers made by Infinity. And for anyone who cares, I bought and installed the Retrosound Model 1. All went smooth, but it is way underpowered. It is a small unit that gives it a universal fit, but needs more power. Looks like at some point an amp will need to be installed. That is a little over my ability to do it right. I also will have to find a good spot for it.

I think that the Retro Sound Model 1 has provisions on the back for an auxiliary (usually trunk-mounted) amplifier...:yes:...That might be the best solution for you! ;)

Claude. :thumbsup:

Yea, the RetroSound unit has four RCA jacks coming off the back, exactly to hook up an amp.

Do a search on how to install an amp in your trunk. I did an install as a complete novice 15 years ago without the Internet and just using the manual. Very simple. I've since forgotten the specifics, but if I could do it then without problem, I could do it now with a quick study.

The Retrosound Model One is a great unit. The SD card/USB feature is fantastic. I used to have an Alpine Ipod controller and used to have to hide the Ipod away in the glove box, remove and reapply the head face each time -- it was a pain in the butt. Now, I just turn on the stereo and have my songs. I have about 2,000 of them set up in about 10 subfolders. It's not as elegant as navigating an Ipod, but if you absolutely have to, you can just plug your Ipod into the AUX. I usually just have the SD card on the shuffle setting.

With a modest amp in the trunk, two kick panel speakers, and two package tray speakers, the Retrosound has great sound. After it was first installed, it didn't sound that good. But after playing with the settings I got it to the sweet spot. Just turn off their equalizer settings, turn the treble all the way up, and the bass at about "2".

The RetroSound in my 66 sounds 10x better than the CAS unit in my 59.
Thinking about getting a RetroSound for the 59 soon.

I am of the notion that if one spends 2-300$ for a unit, it should not have to be hooked up to an amp to sound decent.

The cheapo Kenwoods I have in my Ranchero and the 82 Dodge pu sound waaaay better than the Custom Auto Sound ever thought of sounding.

None of my vehicles have an auxiliary amp

Why not get a real deck with a cd player? Put it under mount in the glove box or just cut the dash. I'm installing a new stereo in my 76 c10 here are some picks
Before
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/scotthuffaker/99e6f8a9.jpg
After
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/scotthuffaker/c2452cad.jpg
Still need to fab a piece to cover where the original radio was
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v498/scotthuffaker/ff2ba40e.jpg
5 channel amp and xm sat radio receiver

Still need to install the 4 speakers and build a custom box for the sub


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Why not get a real deck with a cd player? Put it under mount in the glove box or just cut the dash.

I mounted my very first under dash unit in the Ranchero this summer.
Hate it there, does not belong there, and will eventually be replaced with an indash unit that FITS the dash.

Mounting a stereo in the glove box just seems wrong to me.
Too hard to get to to adjust anything---can't see the clock on the display---glove box is used for other crap.

cutting the dash:
Not everyone has a desire to hack up their car to make a decent stereo fit in the stock location and ultimately look like a crappy afterthought.
DIN stereos just look out of place in a car that has holes molded or punched to fit the radios the factory used.
I even went so far as to make brackets for the Ranchero to fit existing factory holes under the dash for the aftermarket DIN stereo.

The Dodge stereo looks a bit out of place, but it is mounted in it's own little adapter that screwed into the original radio holes using original screws.

Some of us are just not willing to make it look foreign.

To each their own. To me it's just metal and plastic nothing that can't be fixed. I prefer good sound and features rather than the aftermarket trash that fits in the factory holes. Pretty much everything I own gets the factory crap ripped out and high quality aftermarket stuff put in. From my 67 camaro to my brand new 4 wheeler


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To each their own. To me it's just metal and plastic nothing that can't be fixed. I prefer good sound and features rather than the aftermarket trash that fits in the factory holes. Pretty much everything I own gets the factory crap ripped out and high quality aftermarket stuff put in. From my 67 camaro to my brand new 4 wheeler


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Not trying to argue----but just want to point something out.

You have a 76 Chev pu----
I notice from the pic that you have 81+ tach, instrument bezels, and AM/FM cassette.

This stuff does not look out of place on an 81+ truck, but in my opinion, looks a little odd in an 80 or older. Granted, 99% of the population would not even notice, but I have been driving my 79 now for almost 33 years and I know what the differences are.

It is a "to each their own" thing, and that is the reason these specialty stereo shops exist.

Yep it started out as a 76 and I took elements I liked from different years to build a truck for me.

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