Stereo question

[FairlyRandom]

Sorry if this question has a simple answer, I'm not at all a stereo guy. My 72 had a Custom Auto Sound 630 in the dash when I bought her (I know those don't have the best reputation). Also installed by the previous owner are 2 kick panel Kenwood 6" reference  and 2 Blaupunkt 6x9s in the rear package tray. There are still 2 dash speakers present as well, which I'm sure are the stock units. Given that the Kenwood and Blaupunkt speakers are decent quality, I'm shocked by the pitiful output. The sound volume is adequate I suppose, but the sound quality is garbage. It's very tinny and thin. No bass at all.

I remember reading or hearing somewhere that in the 70s, many car stereos were "common ground", where there was basically just the positive coming from the radio. If that's the case with the MC, and the dash speakers are still wired that way, would that impact the rest of the speakers? You could easily convince me that, if we weren't in a car, the tinny quality Im hearing is coming from speakers with their polarity reversed. 

How should I troubleshoot? Really hoping I don't have to pull the dash to get to those speakers...

[cbolt]

having had and hated the custom auto sound system, the 630 if memory serves, I would venture to guess the sound quality lands squarely on that unit. I had a Sony xplod amp in mine so i was able to make it sound somewhat better, but it never was a quality stereo in my opinion. 

It may be fairly simple to remove that CA 630 because it is significantly smaller than the factory unit and at least check it out using other speakers, or plug something else in, if you have something lying around, and compare the sound quality. 

 

The dash is very easy to remove. A few Phillips screws around the instruments and two inside the glove box and it pops right off. 

 

Also, do you have sound from both the in dash speakers and the kick panel speakers?

[Scott S.]

Mixing factory and aftermarket speakers never works out for the good.... 

The technology and quality 50 years ago doesn't handle the new stuff.

Plus the materials used have seen 50 years of wear and tear as well. 

[1970mcss]

They also use different OHMs for the speakers

[Scott S.]

Ohmmmmmmm..................... Ohmmmmmm.............. Ohmmmmmmm......

[stangeba]

Info from my 71: 

I think I remember 3 wires going to the two rear speakers. One ground, one for left and one for right.

In 1996, I replaced my original AM/FM stereo with a new Radio from Custom Autosound Kenwood 800 Radio $422.94 from Classic Car Radio Co. Speakers from Best Buy $60.34 Front, I think. I also replaced the rear speakers but can't find the info for them. I did NOT have to cut open the dash to make it fit, it fit great. The sound is not great but I like having a CD player in the trunk so I don't have to listen to commercials. I here there are fancier radios available now that hook up to your cell phone. Here is my original radio.

 

[DragCat]

I have a CA unit (PO installed it) and let's just say I'm not impressed, even with the amp in the back.  Contrary to some I do like the kick panel speakers, altho you need to massage the e-brake pedal Glen told me to pull it for weight reduction since I don't use it but it hasn't made it to the "to do list" 🤣

As mentioned how technology has changed over the years, in some of my past Suburbans the version of my usb thumb drive with music wouldn't work. 

 

[Scott S.]

20 hours ago, DragCat said:

I have a CA unit (PO installed it) and let's just say I'm not impressed, even with the amp in the back.  Contrary to some I do like the kick panel speakers, altho you need to massage the e-brake pedal Glen told me to pull it for weight reduction since I don't use it but it hasn't made it to the "to do list" 🤣

As mentioned how technology has changed over the years, in some of my past Suburbans the version of my usb thumb drive with music wouldn't work. 

 

I was told that happens depending on which "language" you copied the music in...... Some stereos don't read some older formats. 

[DragCat]

3 hours ago, Scott S. said:

I was told that happens depending on which "language" you copied the music in...... Some stereos don't read some older formats. 

It wasn't the music, version of the USB was the issue. On the CA unit it may have been the amount of music on the drive. I never troubleshot further on the CA. 

[Scott S.]

Kind of like how some cell phone chargers don't work on some cell phones.

[Leghome]

I’ve got a Retro Sound and the quality isn’t the best but have not looked to hard for replacement but I should so I have something to do this winter

[1Bad454]

Too bad Kenwood, Alpine or Pioneer don't make old school decks.

[DragCat]

2 hours ago, 1Bad454 said:

Too bad Kenwood, Alpine or Pioneer don't make old school decks.

I have a Sony with a single CD player in the Cougar 🤣

[Joselk1]

IMG_1077.heicIMG_4135.heicI have this radio from antique radio. It looks great and sounds ok.  I’m going to add an amp this winter and see if it improves. I have kicker 4x6 dash speakers and I’m not crazy about them. The rears are 6x9 alpines and they sound decent.