whats every body using.. looking for a new stereo head unit

My truck had a Custom Autosound unit in it when I bought it. Hated that thing, the display light was the brightest damn Christine style green and wouldn't dim at all at night. Literally blinding. Plus it didn't have bluetooth so I had the annoying cord run up to my phone



Debated for a couple years what I wanted to do, originally wanted to keep the original look but none of these stock looking radios put out any decent power and the buttons suck and the knobs stop working well eventually. Plus I have no plans to sell the truck, so I cut the dash and bought a modern single din bluetooth Pioneer. Much happier now

My 76 I have a Sony AM/FM/tape head unit I got at a garage sale for $5. I don’t believe it had ever been installed in a vehicle before.

I added a FM modulator and then a Marine Bluetooth receiver controlled by the same toggle. Set radio to correct freq, hit switch, blocks the antenna and pipes in via Bluetooth my phone. Been approaching 10 years like that.

Turn switch off and tune to a radio station if not using Bluetooth.

On the subject of floating single dins and touch screen head units, I put a cheap one ($130 if I recall) in my 2nd gen, it’s pretty much an android tablet that runs car play/android auto. Don’t have to wire it to the park brake or anything. Being an android tablet it has the play store on it. So one could watch YouTube or whatever if desired.

In theory if I have a hotspot I could be bombing doing 95mph and browse Facebook marketplace at the same time on my radio.

legopnuematic said:

My 76 I have a Sony AM/FM/tape head unit I got at a garage sale for $5. I don’t believe it had ever been installed in a vehicle before.

I added a FM modulator and then a Marine Bluetooth receiver controlled by the same toggle. Set radio to correct freq, hit switch, blocks the antenna and pipes in via Bluetooth my phone. Been approaching 10 years like that.

Turn switch off and tune to a radio station if not using Bluetooth.

On the subject of floating single dins and touch screen head units, I put a cheap one ($130 if I recall) in my 2nd gen, it’s pretty much an android tablet that runs car play/android auto. Don’t have to wire it to the park brake or anything. Being an android tablet it has the play store on it. So one could watch YouTube or whatever if desired.

In theory if I have a hotspot I could be bombing doing 95mph and browse Facebook marketplace at the same time on my radio.

Click to expand...

Your second gen will go 95?

Frankenchevy said:

Your second gen will go 95?

Click to expand...

I've had it up to 90+ passing before. At least with the roads around here I wouldn't want to cruise at that kind of speed.

But with the 3.55 gears and 35s (34.5 true diameter) 95 is only 2300rpm so there is a fair big of headroom as far as rpm is concerned, about 130 would be at 3200rpm.

Well, I could use some advice for my 90 Crew...I just want it clear sounding and simple.


My thoughts:
Retro 1.5 din in dash. No cutting needed since it's a 90
6x9's in rear corners.
5" or 4x6 in each door(4 total)
3.5 in front corners
1-2 of those self powered retro sound subs under rear seats

Is that too many speakers?
Do I need an amp, what kind?
What about a center speaker?


I've tried crutch fields catalog but it only recommended 4 speakers total and local stereo shops want me to spend $10k and install a bunch of subs

Bennyt said:

Well, I could use some advice for my 90 Crew...I just want it clear sounding and simple.


My thoughts:
Retro 1.5 din in dash. No cutting needed since it's a 90
6x9's in rear corners.
5" or 4x6 in each door(4 total)
3.5 in front corners
1-2 of those self powered retro sound subs under rear seats

Is that too many speakers?
Do I need an amp, what kind?
What about a center speaker?


I've tried crutch fields catalog but it only recommended 4 speakers total and local stereo shops want me to spend $10k and install a bunch of subs

Click to expand...

My biggest question for that setup would be, how do you properly wire in that many speakers? Splitting the channels doesn't work very well, correct?

Bennyt said:

Well, I could use some advice for my 90 Crew...I just want it clear sounding and simple.


My thoughts:
Retro 1.5 din in dash. No cutting needed since it's a 90
6x9's in rear corners.
5" or 4x6 in each door(4 total)
3.5 in front corners
1-2 of those self powered retro sound subs under rear seats

Is that too many speakers?
Do I need an amp, what kind?
What about a center speaker?


I've tried crutch fields catalog but it only recommended 4 speakers total and local stereo shops want me to spend $10k and install a bunch of subs

Click to expand...

Chat/email with crutchfield support and they help you figure out what you need and make sure it will all work.

Once you know what equipment chat gpt is great at stuff like this. It will tell you how to wire it up the best way. As well as estimates on questions like is that too many speakers.

I'm going to use this in my truck. It's essentially a tablet with carplay.


Going to preserve the original radio unit as is. I have after market ac below that so no room for double din really.

Plus the radio location is quite low, so i like the top mount positioning of the car tablet.

Edit: maybe not. I need to look at the dash again and see. Might save me some finangling to just use a single din unit that has the screen floating in front of the dash.

TotalyHucked said:

My truck had a Custom Autosound unit in it when I bought it. Hated that thing, the display light was the brightest damn Christine style green and wouldn't dim at all at night. Literally blinding. Plus it didn't have bluetooth so I had the annoying cord run up to my phone

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Debated for a couple years what I wanted to do, originally wanted to keep the original look but none of these stock looking radios put out any decent power and the buttons suck and the knobs stop working well eventually. Plus I have no plans to sell the truck, so I cut the dash and bought a modern single din bluetooth Pioneer. Much happier now

You must be registered for see images attach

Click to expand...

Just for more info, here's the glow I was talking about lol. Our '76 shop truck has the same radio in it. I HATE these things

TotalyHucked said:

Just for more info, here's the glow I was talking about lol. Our '76 shop truck has the same radio in it. I HATE these things

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You must be registered for see images attach

Click to expand...

Yeah, nope! That damn thing would have to get cardboard or something over it at night. What brand was that again? I need a radio for my Suburban and really don't want to cut the dash, but if the retro type stuff is still all overpriced annoying garbage, I may have to.

Nevermind, I see you said Custom Autosound.

Thanks for posting that picture. I was looking at them or Retro Sound. If there is no option to dim that display then I will find something else.

@totallyhucked Not sure which model radio you have but see the instructions, page 11, for Custom Autosound radio. It shows there are 7 brightness levels. Instructions

I can't wait to start working on my audio.

I was thinking Retro AutoSound. Mostly because my dash is uncut and I have a big hole there. If I had a dead stock unit I'd go with a blueTooth marine amp. If it was cut I would stick a DIN unit in there or maybe a double.

At some point, the last generation of squarebody Suburbans (around 90?) had a big GM opening for the stereo in the dash. In my mind I was thinking that would be cool to swap out with mine but I guess there's simply no fitting that onto a 74. That had enough room for a DIN and a half DIN EQ, which was always my favorite setup.

At one point (back in the 90's) I had a Nakamichi TD1200 which was a really high end 2-shaft cassette deck. I was hanging on to it if I ever got a classic car. I decided to sell it (did you all have The Recycler paper?) and boy did my phone blow up for that. A guy drove straight down from east LA with a lowered Impala, cash in hand.

Honestly, I'm not sure I would've still wanted it but they're sure worth a lot of money now.

legopnuematic said:

I've had it up to 90+ passing before. At least with the roads around here I wouldn't want to cruise at that kind of speed.

But with the 3.55 gears and 35s (34.5 true diameter) 95 is only 2300rpm so there is a fair big of headroom as far as rpm is concerned, about 130 would be at 3200rpm.

Click to expand...

Only full size diesel I’ve had over 90 was when I was 20years old following someone up I-25 CO to WY. They were in a 2004 or 05 6.0 Ford Excursion and I was in a 2001 7.3 Ford Excursion. I was following them pegged at 95mph. Seemed to be the governed top speed of both the 7.3 and 6.0 Excursion.

Not sure I’ve been faster in a 3/4 to 1 ton truck than that. Plenty faster in/on other vehicles.

bucket said:

Yeah, nope! That damn thing would have to get cardboard or something over it at night. What brand was that again? I need a radio for my Suburban and really don't want to cut the dash, but if the retro type stuff is still all overpriced annoying garbage, I may have to.

Click to expand...

Yeah, it's AWFUL. I would drive with my hand blocking it some nights. I'd thought about cutting a piece of window tint to go over it but never did. Might try that for the shop truck.

With the console build, I seriously mulled over just leaving that unit as a dummy in the dash and hiding a receiver elsewhere or mounting a double din in the console. Ultimately I decided I didn't like either idea and just cut the dash. With all the other mods to the truck, who cares if the dash is cut?