I modified a 70s am mono radio by fitting a bluetooth module which switches the signal when it detects sound from the phone. It is only visible by looking right up under the dash as I fitted it in an external box. It is neat having it switch between am radio and gps navigation directions
Back in the 90s I did alot of vintage installs. A couple my favorites were this 69 corvette by modifying a kenwood 3 hole+ cd changer controls to fit in the factory metal bracket without modifying the car. I did a really nice glovebox install in a Studebaker pickup and moved the IR sensor to hide in the instrument cluster. The electronics do not need to remain inside the factory housing to still function if done correctly. By taking it apart and spreading the parts out inside the dash and other hidden spots you can get ALOT more sound without modifying anything in the car and remaining completely hidden.
I not against hiding equipment, that's fine by me. Don't know if your warranty would have been valid though but that would probably have been something I would have done, if the need arose and I had even though about it! 👍
Years ago a friend had an old Wolseley with the original valve radio. It was amusing having to wait for it to warm up before any sound came out of it. She loved those old English cars, had a Humber Super Snipe as well at one stage.
The phone/bluetooth option is a non-runner in the UK/Ireland where handling your phone, for any reason while driving, can earn you points on your licence and a fine, and, in the case of anyone who has held their licence for less than 2 years in the UK, an outright driving ban. This option would only work if there was hands free access to the radio controls via the phone.
Same here in Norway. About 550USD if you get caught and 3 points on the license. Bye bye to licence after 8 points. Each point takes 3 years to be removed. I'm one of those the strongly dislike bluetooth stereo things as sound gets so flat. And I can't stand listen to music with bass to it, hence why I absolutly hate those small bluetooth speakers. Thankfully my classic car is from the late 70s and those was made up to 86'. By then there was some decent sterio equpment on the market. When I bought a head unit for my car some years ago I bought one that had a vintage feel to it. As my car has green lights in the instruments, my headunit also had to feature green lights as well. It has knobs but do have a USB port along with a cd player. I plan on fitting my car with vintage Pioneer stuff when it is road worthy again.
Same in California. And police in California are here to raise revenue for the Government, so fee generating offenses are first priority. Even if they are only imagined. I'd have to say any cell phone/ bluetooth solution is a solution for a vehicle with a passenger, not one for a vehicle with just a driver.
My favorite thing to do is with 70s 80s and 90s cars is to find a aftermarket stereo from that time period with a aux input and hook a Bluetooth dongle up to it also those FM transmitter things that go in the cigarette lighter are usually pretty decent I've also just hid those in the dash and just used the factory stereo
Another option to listen to radio with a Bluetooth speaker is if your phone has a built-in radio antenna (mine does). Similar to the speaker you were showing, you need to plug in a pair of headphones or phono wire to provide the antenna. So you can use the wire to connect your phone to the speaker (hence now having an antenna) and then use your phone to select the radio stations on your screen and control the volume. Best of both worlds. No data used and a screen to select the station. You can even have preset stations just like a real car stereo.
I used a round marine radio that isn't much bigger than an oil pressure gauge and that has bluetooth capability and I mounted it in the ash tray of my 1946 Buick Super that didn't come with a factory radio. You can't see it unless you open the ash tray door and I was able to hide the speakers too. It has AM/FM and can play music from my phone over bluetooth and has a USB jack that I can use to charge my phone or play music stored on a thumb drive. I don't have an antenna so I can't hear FM very well but I use it mainly to stream music from my phone so I don't miss it. I do like your bluetooth speaker idea. I might try that for an old truck that I have.
I agree about the bluetooth speaker. I’ve been using a bigger Bluetooth speaker in my older cars that don’t have a stereo or only have an AM one speaker radio
The Treblab speaker has just the same features as a "soundbar" sold by Poundland in the UK for £8 (11USD). The power bank feature delivers a lot less than that claimed 7000 mWH, but the circuitry appears to be identical, including the poor control of which FM station is playing..
I quit listening to the radio shortly after using my TV as a lead receiver 22 years ago for exactly what was coming out of your speakers. I prefer vinyl anyway with a vintage tube amp.
Hi Steve . Great information as always ! You've had the Jensen for some time . Is it an SP? I noticed the louvred bonnet . These are becoming very sought after of late in the UK market . If you were to return it a standard car it would probably make $75 k + Thanks Steve .
You forgot to mention a disadvantage of the upgraded factory radio. They cost ten times what the other methods costs. But they are the only option for people that are required to use hand free devices.
Handy to know. That new speaker would be ideal for my motorcycle fairing. It has a radio set up but that speaker would fit right in as a replacement and give me modern functionality. My bike is a 1978 Yamaha XS1100 with a Vetter fairing and Cyclesound audio unit. Happy days!
I have to agree with you Steve, you wouldn't have found a CD player in a vintage car because obviously they weren't invented. So unless you are customising the car don't put modern technology preminetly in the vehicle. Your portable speaker is the answer. Great video Steve.👍
I modified a 70s am mono radio by fitting a bluetooth module which switches the signal when it detects sound from the phone. It is only visible by looking right up under the dash as I fitted it in an external box. It is neat having it switch between am radio and gps navigation directions
Back in the 90s I did alot of vintage installs. A couple my favorites were this 69 corvette by modifying a kenwood 3 hole+ cd changer controls to fit in the factory metal bracket without modifying the car. I did a really nice glovebox install in a Studebaker pickup and moved the IR sensor to hide in the instrument cluster. The electronics do not need to remain inside the factory housing to still function if done correctly. By taking it apart and spreading the parts out inside the dash and other hidden spots you can get ALOT more sound without modifying anything in the car and remaining completely hidden.
I not against hiding equipment, that's fine by me. Don't know if your warranty would have been valid though but that would probably have been something I would have done, if the need arose and I had even though about it! 👍
Years ago a friend had an old Wolseley with the original valve radio. It was amusing having to wait for it to warm up before any sound came out of it. She loved those old English cars, had a Humber Super Snipe as well at one stage.
I am so happy I found your channel. Your format is perfect. Your subjects are interesting. I learn something from every video. Thanks.
The phone/bluetooth option is a non-runner in the UK/Ireland where handling your phone, for any reason while driving, can earn you points on your licence and a fine, and, in the case of anyone who has held their licence for less than 2 years in the UK, an outright driving ban. This option would only work if there was hands free access to the radio controls via the phone.
Same here in NSW.Austalia.
Same here in Norway. About 550USD if you get caught and 3 points on the license. Bye bye to licence after 8 points. Each point takes 3 years to be removed. I'm one of those the strongly dislike bluetooth stereo things as sound gets so flat. And I can't stand listen to music with bass to it, hence why I absolutly hate those small bluetooth speakers. Thankfully my classic car is from the late 70s and those was made up to 86'. By then there was some decent sterio equpment on the market. When I bought a head unit for my car some years ago I bought one that had a vintage feel to it. As my car has green lights in the instruments, my headunit also had to feature green lights as well. It has knobs but do have a USB port along with a cd player. I plan on fitting my car with vintage Pioneer stuff when it is road worthy again.
Same in California. And police in California are here to raise revenue for the Government, so fee generating offenses are first priority. Even if they are only imagined. I'd have to say any cell phone/ bluetooth solution is a solution for a vehicle with a passenger, not one for a vehicle with just a driver.
That Jensen is stunning, you get your hands on some very special cars.
My favorite thing to do is with 70s 80s and 90s cars is to find a aftermarket stereo from that time period with a aux input and hook a Bluetooth dongle up to it also those FM transmitter things that go in the cigarette lighter are usually pretty decent I've also just hid those in the dash and just used the factory stereo
Another option to listen to radio with a Bluetooth speaker is if your phone has a built-in radio antenna (mine does). Similar to the speaker you were showing, you need to plug in a pair of headphones or phono wire to provide the antenna. So you can use the wire to connect your phone to the speaker (hence now having an antenna) and then use your phone to select the radio stations on your screen and control the volume. Best of both worlds. No data used and a screen to select the station. You can even have preset stations just like a real car stereo.
I used a round marine radio that isn't much bigger than an oil pressure gauge and that has bluetooth capability and I mounted it in the ash tray of my 1946 Buick Super that didn't come with a factory radio. You can't see it unless you open the ash tray door and I was able to hide the speakers too. It has AM/FM and can play music from my phone over bluetooth and has a USB jack that I can use to charge my phone or play music stored on a thumb drive. I don't have an antenna so I can't hear FM very well but I use it mainly to stream music from my phone so I don't miss it.
I do like your bluetooth speaker idea. I might try that for an old truck that I have.
I agree about the bluetooth speaker. I’ve been using a bigger Bluetooth speaker in my older cars that don’t have a stereo or only have an AM one speaker radio
exact same situation, it works but i want to upgraded to a proper stereo
Thanks for this video! Ordered the treblab.
Sorry, I don't understand why you would listen to the radio when you can listen to a JENSEN INTERCEPTOR
Love this vid, Steve. Gave me lots of ideas/possibilities for my, set ups.
This channel deserves WAY more subs... shared..
Plays the news ok. How does music sound on those systems?
RUclips doesn't let you play music from the radio in your video that is why I cannot feature it playing music.
How about a look at the Interceptor some time
The Treblab speaker has just the same features as a "soundbar" sold by Poundland in the UK for £8 (11USD). The power bank feature delivers a lot less than that claimed 7000 mWH, but the circuitry appears to be identical, including the poor control of which FM station is playing..
I quit listening to the radio shortly after using my TV as a lead receiver 22 years ago for exactly what was coming out of your speakers. I prefer vinyl anyway with a vintage tube amp.
i would like to see more on the Jenson interceptor
what brand of bluetooth amp did you go with?
What car are you standing next to?
What kind of car is that, thats so sick
very neat options.
Bring it on ill take all you got. good stuff
What ever happened to the jag?
What car is that in the first bit?
More .....Jensen....show us more. Please.
Hi Steve . Great information as always ! You've had the Jensen for some time . Is it an SP? I noticed the louvred bonnet . These are becoming very sought after of late in the UK market . If you were to return it a standard car it would probably make $75 k + Thanks Steve .
You forgot to mention a disadvantage of the upgraded factory radio. They cost ten times what the other methods costs. But they are the only option for people that are required to use hand free devices.
I don't know about all phones but an iPhone can be used entirely hand free using Siri commands to play what you want to hear.
This Week With Cars: "modern headunit"
Shows an Alpine single DIN CD player.
If I could have any car it'd be an Interceptor.
Handy to know. That new speaker would be ideal for my motorcycle fairing. It has a radio set up but that speaker would fit right in as a replacement and give me modern functionality. My bike is a 1978 Yamaha XS1100 with a Vetter fairing and Cyclesound audio unit. Happy days!
Bluetooth is a godsend.
I have to agree with you Steve, you wouldn't have found a CD player in a vintage car because obviously they weren't invented. So unless you are customising the car don't put modern technology preminetly in the vehicle. Your portable speaker is the answer. Great video Steve.👍
If I touch the phone ,in the car ,I will be done by the coppers .
Where’s the JAG?
Lol to the background radio news report about Biden planing a withdrawal from Afghanistan… That aged well 😬
Do you really need a radio? Your phone a and a small Bluetooth speaker - with built in fm - works perfectly
😎👍
Huh! Speaker has a cancer warning, but only in California, so you should be safe.
Its against the law to use the phone ,when driving .
Using your smartphone is not vintage
Uggghhh, NPR
I had to turn it to a talk station otherwise RUclips would flag my video if I played popular music on those radios.
NPR is great lol