Recent experiences with Custom Autosound???

1966_L78 · Feb 10, 2015

Anyone have any RECENT experience with Custom Autosound quality? Just thinking ahead, and I like the "hidden" type of system.

I searched, but almost all the comments were from 2007 and older (some from 2011)...

I am not an audiophile, and my car will likely be pretty loud (at leats for a few years until I can get the interior done)... I was actually looking at the latest Ground Up catalog, and saw the system in there, and started thinking...

I have previous hid a stereo in my glove box, but with out a remote, its hard to access... I am NOT putting one in the dash...

Thanks...

JChilders · Feb 10, 2015

I don't have recent experience, mine was probably one of the older posts, but there is probably a reason that you don't see many peope with them. My solution was to put the head unit in the trunk. I got one that is bluetooth compatable and I control it with my phone. It streams my phones music and I still have a original looking unit in the dash.

Cam · Feb 10, 2015

JChilders said:
I don't have recent experience, mine was probably one of the older posts, but there is probably a reason that you don't see many peope with them. My solution was to put the head unit in the trunk. I got one that is bluetooth compatable and I control it with my phone. It streams my phones music and I still have a original looking unit in the dash.

... and at shows you can tell people it is a dealer-installed Delco reverb unit. Just find an old housing...

757driver · Feb 10, 2015

IMHO, you can always do better with an off-the-shelf head unit from one of the big manufacturers. I have a Retro-Sound unit in my Chevelle, and its OK, but I put a Kenwood unit ($105) in my Ford Expedition, and it is far superior. It has Bluetooth, Pandora, USB, etc., and has much better sound quality and features. If your're hiding it in the glove box, why not? You can get a head unit, amp, and speakers for less than a top of the line Custom AutoSound unit.

busterwivell · Feb 10, 2015

I'm probably one of the 2011 posters........I have no more recent info, because I learned my lesson with Custom Auto Sound. I don't need to learn it again.......

Coppertop · Feb 11, 2015

On another message board I frequent, there is a gentleman who restores classic car radios for a living as well as work with aftermarket vendors for fm/stereo conversions and other product lines and has done so for quite some time. He made the comment a few years ago that he did see promise in some of their "hidden" (I believe it's called Secret Audio) stuff as far as quality being "turned around" and seemingly more robust then their 'fit-in-the-dash' models. The biggest issue for me (and others) is the fact that CAS did nothing for so many years with customer dissatisfaction and inferior product design that it left a bitter taste for so many that it is now hard to discern what is a viable product they now sell vs. disgruntled testimony that may be from the past or the present. I could see if I can contact him and ask if he has any more recent experience (or feedback). Do you have a model number more specific then just the "hidden" line....?

1966_L78 · Feb 11, 2015

Coppertop said:
...comment a few years ago that he did see promise in some of their "hidden" (I believe it's called Secret Audio) stuff as far as quality being "turned around" and seemingly more robust then their 'fit-in-the-dash' models. The biggest issue for me (and others) is the fact that CAS did nothing for so many years with customer dissatisfaction and inferior product design that it left a bitter taste for so many that it is now hard to discern what is a viable product they now sell vs. disgruntled testimony that may be from the past or the present. ...Do you have a model number more specific then just the "hidden" line....?

Thanks.

I have a friend with an older "Secret Audio" in his '66 Chevelle. He doesn't seem to have complaints, but I don't think he uses it too much...

As I said, I am NOT an audiophile, but I do like to play my rock-n-Roll pretty loud, moreso since my car will likely be loud...

I guess I'll look into what other offerings there are for "remotes"... I have previously installed stereos in my glove box, but as I get older, it's harder to reach across to change CD/radio, etc...

I will be running a "radio delete" setup in the dash (excuse me, the I believe the proper term is "radio blockoff"

)

I don't have a part number. I was just looking at the Ground Up catalog and saw they offer the system. Most likely the "non-Bluetooth" setup, IF I went that way...

My past few stereos have been base models ($130-$200 from Crutchfield), nothing fancy...

I WAS planning on building my own "cube"; a box that would house the receiver and maybe a small set of speakers, and fit on the hump between the bucket seats (no console in this car)... I figured amps and speakers could be hidden, and when I arrived, I could unplug the "cube" and hide it in the trunk... But that's far from ideal...

Thanks

Geoff1200 · Feb 12, 2015

At first I was VERY disappointed in my Autosound head unit...untill I installed a Crutchfield amp and WoW!!! I'm not a "sound junkie" but I do enjoy the tunes now.

70 nialator · Feb 13, 2015

The head unit internals verses the low level, line out may be a huge factor in what you’re experiencing. Having an external amplifier (doing the work) may make all the difference in the world. Going for a factory look and being able to “hide” things may be the common denominator here.

EDIT: and I believe the appropriate term is audiophile… and YES, I am one.

Recent experiences with Custom Autosound???

1966_L78

JChilders

Cam

757driver

busterwivell

Coppertop

1966_L78

Geoff1200

70 nialator

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