Cheap mini amps - opinions? Kenwood content

[BenzBoy]

I was thinking about putting some sort of sound system in my car. I'm not after anything fancy - just something that emits sound from my iPod.
I don't use the radio, my CD's have long been consigned to the same dusty corner as cassettes, so I was thinking about sacking off the head unit completely. In any case, I don't have anywhere to put one.

So, I looked at these cheap mini amps on eBay.

Now, I know you get what you pay for. I know that the outrageous claim of 500W output is laughable - I fully expect just a few watts per channel. But if it works and gives reasonable sound that'll be enough for me.
I did think it would be neat to just tuck it out the way somewhere and hook my iPod up to it. No head unit to consider, and nothing valuable left on show in the car.

Has anyone used a similar set-up? Any experience of these amps? Any alternatives to what I'm thinking?

[DirtyBit]

SeventyNine's got a nifty setup like that in his mx5,
retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=93128&page=1
its about half way down the first post

[racingdave]

what about chopping up an i-pod docking station? scope for an i-pod dock/adaptor on the dash or in the centre console? most are quite loud and cheap now. bonus is they tend to run on 12v dc via a transformer, hence chop off the plug and away you go. another plus is that it'll keep your 'pod charged.

[swollen]

I seem to remember cobblers had a thread where he got one of these off ebay and it wasn't that great a quality I think he got his money back because it didn't do what it said on the tin output wise.

Can't find the thread now...

EDIT: Comments here about in car ipod/amps:

retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=print&thread=82868

EDIT2: I previously used an amp out of a sierra, it was something like 20W per channel and the size of a few fag packets, was a couple quid from the scrappy. hidden up in the dash with a hidden line-in for my portable CD player (it was the 90's!).

[BenzBoy]

Thanks for the comments and links! That unit that Cobblers got looks the same as the ones I've been looking at. I'm not all that bothered about loudness or even sound quality, but the Bond is pretty loud especially at 50 - 60 mph, so I'll need something that won't be drowned out too much!

[bmboy]

I bought one of these just to see what they were like. They are fine on a moped standing still in a quiet place, but they won't fill a car with sound. Get yourself a reputable second hand amp or a cheap cd player.
I had one of these ;

cgi.ebay.co.uk/car-cd-player-beat275-mp3-usb-/190516786995?pt=UK_Audio_TV_Electronics_In_Car_Entertainment_GPS_In_Car_Audio_Players_PP&hash=item2c5baf7733#ht_500wt_1156

and it was great. Alternatively get something like this;

cgi.ebay.co.uk/amplifier-/180643453435?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Terminals_Cabling_ET&hash=item2a0f3059fb#ht_500wt_1156

cheap and far better sound all round.

[BenzBoy]

Hmm, I am leaning towards getting a cheap 2nd hand branded amp now. I'm not after massive power but it seems that the engine noise would drown out one of those mini amps.
Alternatively I could get a head unit with an Aux input and mount it out of sight - I'm keen to keep things looking "period" in the car.

I used to use one of those tape converters but the sound from them isn't the best, and it's not a very tidy solution.

[elmotheewokking]

I was going to use one of those tape converters in the Alpine deck I got from here a little while ago, but agree that the quality is pretty shocking (even for sounds in a car...)
Instead I'm now planning to hook up one of those Dension Ice Link things to it instead...
Basically an FM modulator that plugs directly into the aerial of the car...

Might work for you?

[BenzBoy]

I've tried an FM modulator and didn't get on with it at all - never got a decent sound from it and constantly got interference from radio stations etc, especially driving in cities. Maybe higher quality ones are different - mine was from Halfords bargain bin, and was the type you stick in the cig lighter socket.

[tome30]

Search 'Fatman I-tube' on Ebay, very cool looking, but not sure you could convert it to 12V

[Mystery Machine]

My suggestion....something like this:

cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fortune-RS-888-aka-Sharp-Vintage-Ghettoblaster-/160565047598?pt=UK_CE_Portable_Audio_Portable_Stereos_ET&hash=item25626c312e

Sit it on the shelf or back seat, most have some kind of input (twin RCA's or microphone input or both), can be powered off 12v most of the time and certainly fits into the retro look. Cheap too if you pick one up at a car boot sale etc....

You know it makes sense

[BenzBoy]

Funny you should mention that, Bruce! I've got a few 80's ghettoblasters, maybe one could be converted. I also have a 1960's Dansette... Hmm... ;D

Mar 29, 2011 20:35:54 GMT tome30 said:

Search 'Fatman I-tube' on Ebay, very cool looking, but not sure you could convert it to 12V

Those look really cool! Beyond my meagre budget though unfortunately!

[elmotheewokking]

Mar 29, 2011 20:35:20 GMT BenzBoy said:

I've tried an FM modulator and didn't get on with it at all - never got a decent sound from it and constantly got interference from radio stations etc, especially driving in cities. Maybe higher quality ones are different - mine was from Halfords bargain bin, and was the type you stick in the cig lighter socket.

I also have one of the bargain basement ones that plugs into the fag lighter, it was alright in my van, but still a bit meh and different from what I meant...

The Dension One I was talking about is wired into the car and then plugged directly into the aerial socket in the back of the head unit, then connects to an iPod via the plug on the bottom...
I'm not even going to have an aerial for mine, but it auto switches between inputs, either taking it direct from the iPod through the aerial socket or the aerial itself if you do use one...

Trying to find a review now that isn't full of waffle.

[greenbeem]

I am loving the blaster! It's gotta be the way forward.

[BenzBoy]

Mar 29, 2011 20:48:07 GMT elmotheewokking said:

Mar 29, 2011 20:35:20 GMT BenzBoy said:

I've tried an FM modulator and didn't get on with it at all - never got a decent sound from it and constantly got interference from radio stations etc, especially driving in cities. Maybe higher quality ones are different - mine was from Halfords bargain bin, and was the type you stick in the cig lighter socket.

I also have one of the bargain basement ones that plugs into the fag lighter, it was alright in my van, but still a bit meh and different from what I meant...

The Dension One I was talking about is wired into the car and then plugged directly into the aerial socket in the back of the head unit, then connects to an iPod via the plug on the bottom...
I'm not even going to have an aerial for mine, but it auto switches between inputs, either taking it direct from the iPod through the aerial socket or the aerial itself if you do use one...

Trying to find a review now that isn't full of waffle.

Ahhh I understand now. Yes that sounds like a much better set-up.

[elmotheewokking]

I'm scouring e-bay at the moment to find one to have a play with.
However if you were after new, it may well blow apart the "Cheap" part of what's written above...
Actual product.
www.incaripod.com/Brand/Dension/Dension_ice_Link_ONE_FM_iPod_Car_Adapter

Can't actually find a review for it now. Typical.

[super66]

I am looking to go for the same kind of thing in the imp. not much room and would like to keep original. ATM i've got it mounted in the glovebox, but it's too big when the front is on so the glovebox has to be open when it's on, NOT cool!
I've also been lookign at speakers, has anybody got any experince of using thse shallow speakers? sound quality etc?
www.caraudiodiscount.com/speaker-speakers-sxt6-240-watt-way-coaxial-thin-shallow-speakers-p-16730.html

[BenzBoy]

I've seen people mount the head unit in the glovebox on Heralds, but the glovebox is the only place I have to keep all my junk! It's always full of random tat.
I haven't even thought about speakers - I might borrow the ones out of the Benz for mine.

[stealthstylz]

The problem with amping straight off an Ipod/Mp3 player jack is that you're limited in volume by how loud the Ipod will go. IIRC the older Ipods aren't too bad, but the new ones are curse word as the EU brought in max volume laws to stop people going deaf.

Matt

[skamanfrank]

Noel- I had shallow mount 6.5" (I think) JBL speakers in FAF and they were really good. Also- fabricated a new glovebox and just retained the original door, so that the stereo would fit easily.