Community Forums

ear-doc2 · 06-26-2007, 10:32 AM

I bought my 05 Challenger used. Yesterday I replaced the radio, which I hated because it was hard to manipulate, the cd skipped with the slightest bump and it sounded lousy. The installer said that the radio we took out, a Jensen, was an aftermarket item and he thought it was 4 or 5 years old. Just wondering what was standard equipment with the Ford chasis or is that an item that Damon adds?
I put in a Pioneer and added Sirius sattelite radio. This unit sounds much better.

ear-doc2 · 06-26-2007, 10:32 AM

I bought my 05 Challenger used. Yesterday I replaced the radio, which I hated because it was hard to manipulate, the cd skipped with the slightest bump and it sounded lousy. The installer said that the radio we took out, a Jensen, was an aftermarket item and he thought it was 4 or 5 years old. Just wondering what was standard equipment with the Ford chasis or is that an item that Damon adds?
I put in a Pioneer and added Sirius sattelite radio. This unit sounds much better.

4gone · 06-26-2007, 03:37 PM

I believe that any manufacturer uses whatever they can get a lot of cheap. I have seen different brands, on the lot in new units of the same year. Sitting here, for the life of me, I cannot remember what my coach has.

Hurricaner · 06-26-2007, 05:24 PM

Damon installs the radio. I had the dealer change mine shortly after taking delivery and I just changed it again for a unit with an MP3 input jack. Very nice, our entire 400+ CD collection in a cigarette pack size container. I also changed the front speakers which made a big difference.

Sam

Redapple · 06-26-2007, 07:22 PM

My 06 came with a low end Pioneer. I plan on upgrading later this year to a higher quality unit with an Aux input for my ipod as well as a new set of speakers..

Bill

E Z Livin · 06-27-2007, 07:21 AM

My 05 came with Jenson. Sounds lousy but does have a MP3 jack. I also changed the front speakers but it still does not sound good.

I use my MP3 running off Cambridge Soundworks that is plugged into inverter. Sounds great.
This is a bass 110V with two small speakers made for computers.

John-D · 06-27-2007, 11:05 AM

Standard equipment with a chassis for the radio is: NOTHING. It is not a chassis part.

Radios are added by the body builder. Mine too came with a pioneer. Damon most likely buys these things by the truck load and uses whatever they get a good deal on. Frankly, save for the occasional "lemon" there is not a lot to recommend Pioneer over Jenson over Kenwood over Panasonic over JVC over __________.

There usually is a whole lot to recommend any of the above, including _____ over what FORD sells under it's labels.

(NOTE: Same applies to GM by the way) since car makers don't put nearly as much effort into radios as do radio specialists

My rig came with a lot of Pioneer (A major name in entertainment electronics) in the Radio/CD-DVDE/Home theater area, Toshiba for the TV's (one since replaced with a Samsung LCD) Winegard for the RF-Video control/antenna and a Piece of ... Ferterlizer Zenith VCR (Zenith, where the quality went OUT when the Lucky Goldstar name went on) Zenith is now a Lucky Goldstar product. Korean made .... Refuse

Used to be a top line company too.

kuldaddy · 06-27-2007, 02:16 PM

Ear-Doc2,
Mine had a basic pioneer with AM/FM/CD. I pulled it out and installed a higher end model Pioneer and added integrated XM Radio, an iPod interface and steering wheel controls.

The nice thing about sticking with Pioneer is that I did not have to rewire anything, the connector blocks on both models were the same, just unplugged one and plugged the other in, done!

Matt B · 06-28-2007, 04:19 AM

One of the reasons most of the installed radios sound like you know what is that there is no resonant cavity under them. If your coach is like mine the back speakers sound great because the rear cabinet provides a resonant cavity behind them. I replaced my front speakers with cheapy box (KLH from Best Buy, $29.00 a pair) speakers and they sound a lot better than the factory installed speakers. Nice thing about having an acre of dashboard. I don't even notice them when I am driving.

John-D · 06-28-2007, 05:23 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by kuldaddy:
Ear-Doc2,
Mine had a basic pioneer with AM/FM/CD. I pulled it out and installed a higher end model Pioneer and added integrated XM Radio, an iPod interface and steering wheel controls.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree, Plug and Play is nice, The Pioneer in my rig is a DEH-P3700MP (I have the manual close at hand, in fact just under my Right hand (Where the hard drive sits in this laptop)

If I want to add XM, There is a jack on the back, plug it in, Adding an input for a (Yuck) I-pod, I already plugged in that one, (I use it to feed a Sony mini-Disc player in) adding a multi CD-player, same jack, (Pioneer IP buss)

Very nice hardware

The Kenwood in my car has the same feature. I just plug whatever I want in the aux-in jack on the back. Pioneer did a better job of it though because I can daisy an Aux-audio in (I-pod or Mini Disc) Multiple CD deck and XM receiver and the dash will control all but the Aux-in (Since that is a one way device, no feedback to the player) The Sony player has its own remote.

max49 · 06-28-2007, 05:03 PM

Mw '05 daybreak came with a Jensen. It's the worst radio I have ever had and the damon replaced it with the same radio and it was no better, but I don't think it is the radio. I had the exact same radio in my Winniebago class C and it was a fine radio.
Maybe part of it is the speakers but I don't think these fiberglass boxes help with the reception.

ear-doc2 · 06-29-2007, 03:19 AM

The radio situation reminds me of tire jacks in cars. They asked why they put a $10.00 jack in a $50.000.00 car?
They couldn't find any $5.00 jacks!

John-D · 06-29-2007, 03:50 AM

I like that jacks compairson. Actually the Pinoeer radio in my rig is quite nice.

As for the fiberglass resonator boxes on the speakers. They do not affect RECPTION in the least, not one bit. However they may well affect what you hear as speakers are designed to be put in a chamber of some sort and properly adjusted.. A chamber that is too big, too small or has other features that are wrong will "Bother" the speaker and distort the sound.

Also some companies try to feed a 20 watt speaker with a 100 watt amp, (not good) or improperly adjust an amp (Note good) I do have a 150 watt power amp in my rig between the radio and the speakers.. Just where it is I don't know, but I have the manual for it and thus assume it's there somewhere.

TCayer · 06-30-2007, 04:13 AM

I think the "Fiberglass Box" he is referring to is his enire COACH! I think 7 times out of 10 the problem is poor speakers. The rest is low wattage on the unit...

"Couldn't find any $5.00 jacks..." ROFL