Stereos with more of a factory look!!

Hi all, so I currently have a kenwood head unit in my Sportline. Its a decent head unit but just looks well a bit too bling bling. I was wondering what others have that look a bit more stock/ OEM. I was thinking of buying a Gamma V head unit but I have just spent £150 on some kicker front and rear speakers so need there to be a decent watt output and the gamma V is 20W only vs current head unit of 50w-60W so dont want to be under powering the speakers or sound quality wont be worth the investment in the upgraded speakers. Is there a head unit that benefits from all the new technology but looks a bit more stock out there?

There are some 'classic' style head units out there but they're probably too old looking for a golf.

If you're worried about power than a small in line amp could be the answer. Alternatively a Becker type unit may be what you're looking for.

They make radios for high end cars generally. Such as Merc, Ferrari etc

for example https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Becker-BE7925-Indianapolis-CD-Navigation-Head-Unit/292892274796?hash=item4431bd706c:g:pwcAAOSws2RcJOmP:rk:2:pf:0

Otherwise look for older Alpine units as Alpine was around in the 90's so you could have a period 'upgrade'

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alpine-Ipod-Car-stereo-CDE-9882Ri/163459382701?hash=item260ef03dad:g:yygAAOSwikBcKTP6:rk:12:pf:0

Especially if you can find the ones that light up green. I did in the end but I can't remember the model number. It's in my build thread somewhere!

Ian

Thanks pal. The alpine looks too much like I have now. The beckers a bit more 'bland looking' so fits in better. Whats your suggestion if I went the gamma V route as it doesnt have an aux out can you turn the speaker outs in to aux I believe to power a small amp. Question is I only want to power 4 speakers so would only want a really small amp in size and output. Do these exist. Quick search of ebay and the cheaper ones are big ones for the boot? I only want a tiny one for under glove box or seat.

You can buy converters to er, convert, speaker to line level output - like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Speaker-Converter-High-Line-Level/dp/B004UA753G

Regarding amps, you need to be careful when comparing outputs - a lot of manufacturers will state something like 50W, but this is actually peak. Proper amp figures should be RMS. e.g. 20W RMS (explained better here: https://www.kicker.com/app/misc/support/tech/tech_papers/docs/PeakVsRMS.pdf)

So, whilst your unit may say 50W, it's probably not RMS. Worth bearing in mind when comparing amps. You can get some pretty small units these days (have a look on Amazon) and you may be able to fit one under the seat.

The Pioneer DEH-P77mp is quite a retro looking stereo with good sound and good power for a stand alone head unit. Early on in my stereo build I had one of these. It has a gun metal coloured brushed anodised aluminium face plate and the illumination is white which looks really simple yet classy. It has Burr Brown dacs and pre outs for fronts, rears and sub, just in case you wanted to add an amplifier to any or all of your speakers. as I remember the pre outs are all 6v too which is high, giving better sound quality than units with a lower pre out voltage.  If you can find one now it would be worth a look.

Cheers all. Will have a bit more of a look in to this as I have bought everything I needed for the golf now… and so im board hence the look in to the headunit. The stereo i currently have got great reviews and is a good one just looks like im on blackpool seafront when its turned on lol!! Any advise on a small amp as I really am attracted to the gamma headunit and the above link for the speaker pre outs is perfect. All im looking to power is 2 front door speakers rate 120watts (peak) and rears at 150watts (peak) i think.

The pinoeer above is a bit too retro as its a 1992 cab so a factory black face is more in keeping

I had a nice Sony unit back in about 1993 - cassette only mind - it wasn't too bling. not sure what the CD ones were like, it's going to have a bigger display, but it may not be as bling as they ended up going.

Or something like this:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blaupunkt-Alicante-CD30-CD-Radio/173685205455?hash=item287071e9cf:g:RrwAAOSwGMJa0kdB

(I'm not helping am I!)

I know there are a few sound pros on here so what's the thought on this little unit, looks like it would do what i needed it (boost an older standard units power output) is there a risk in using something like this, i.e. popping speakers or damaging headunit ect? They seam to get great reviews everywhere. Im no pro so all im trying to do is fit something like a gamma headunit thats a bit more 'factory looking' but need to boost the power output as they are only 20watts and my new speakers are higher rated so dont want to have bought good speakers and then fit them to a low powered headunit!!

https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-alpine-ktp-445a_p-26445.htm
 

That item is designed to plug and play with Alpine units, one review mentions a universal one, but it's not on the site. This however would do the job (and it will take speaker level inputs).
https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-pioneer-gm-d1004_p-32858.htm?refSrc=26445&nosto=productpage-nosto-2
Pretty compact, you could probably fit it on the tunnel behind the lower centre console….
You won't damage headunit or speakers provided you wire it up correctly. I spent many an evening fitting headunits, speakers (even used to make up MDF parcel-shelves for folk that wanted decent 6x9's in the back) in my late teens. All work was done for beer and Marlboro's. I think I did a few for my mates older sisters friends - they were FOC of course  

paceman said

That item is designed to plug and play with Alpine units, one review mentions a universal one, but it's not on the site. This however would do the job (and it will take speaker level inputs).
https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-pioneer-gm-d1004_p-32858.htm?refSrc=26445&nosto=productpage-nosto-2
Pretty compact, you could probably fit it on the tunnel behind the lower centre console….
You won't damage headunit or speakers provided you wire it up correctly. I spent many an evening fitting headunits, speakers (even used to make up MDF parcel-shelves for folk that wanted decent 6x9's in the back) in my late teens. All work was done for beer and Marlboro's. I think I did a few for my mates older sisters friends - they were FOC of course  

Good idea on mounting behind tunnel would have to have a measure up also price is good. It needs a constant 12v supply than an ignition 12v, where would you get the constant 12v from cig lighter or would that circuit not be up to the 'load'  I have found the apline universal one whats the pros and cons between the 2 in your view as the alpine one is very compact so would defo fit anywhere in car?

ajc1984 said

I know there are a few sound pros on here so what's the thought on this little unit, looks like it would do what i needed it (boost an older standard units power output) is there a risk in using something like this, i.e. popping speakers or damaging headunit ect? They seam to get great reviews everywhere. Im no pro so all im trying to do is fit something like a gamma headunit thats a bit more 'factory looking' but need to boost the power output as they are only 20watts and my new speakers are higher rated so dont want to have bought good speakers and then fit them to a low powered headunit!!

https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-alpine-ktp-445a_p-26445.htm
 

That's exactly the one I was going to recommend. My mate runs https://www.carelecderby.co.uk/products/4581743495 and they use loads of them for exactly what you're trying to do.

As the wiring loom input is designed for Alpines you may need to do a bit of unpinning and re-pinning of the terminal block to make it work with another head unit but totally do-able.

Give them a ring and have a chat. Tell them Ian (Jezs mate ) told you to call.

Otherwise there's something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bluetooth-Vintage-Car-Radio-MP3-Player-Stereo-USB-Classic-Style-Car-Stereo-Audio/113203657303?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CASSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D55148%26meid%3D64a2c1d5f4b14e958bb63bb1d98fb0d7%26pid%3D100505%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D113203657303&_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226 but I think it's a bit 'old' personally.

Ian

Cheers Ian, they do a universals one as well as an alpine specific. Will weigh up the 2 options. Looking at the wiring video on utube seems very easy even on the universal one just need to spice the speaker wires. and tap the power.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VDO-RADIO-USB-MP3-WMA-12V-Car-TR711U-BU/163003624736?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140107083358%26meid%3Db51464fc5bf3458cb179a25312b28b30%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D163253887989%26itm%3D163003624736&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Continental-tr7411u-or-Car-Radio-12V-with-RDS-System-MP3-USB-AUX-Berlin/162792749767?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140107083358%26meid%3Defc033915e1a4471b604fc834cbc714a%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dlo%26sd%3D163253887989%26itm%3D162792749767&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

got one in my r129 and sounds good, it fits right in as well, the ado one suits the golf obviously, shame the backlighting isn't green though