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Old 08-28-2019, 08:12 AM   #1
mike657894
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Default hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

I want to put a radio in my A. Iam converted to 12v. I have thought of a box I make with a pair of 6x9's pioneer head unit and a handle to ride in the rear footwell that is removable. I was thinking maybe I could make a wood box to conceal the head unit and hang it off the dash lip with a support from the fire wall. I have a usb mp3 pioneer head unit in my modern that is slightly smaller and lighter as it doesn't have a cd player. I use a usb stick packed with classics. air play radio seems to only pay for so many songs and repeats are nonstop these days. And I lost all my good oldy stations in the last few years. I dont want to have to charge something so I want a mounted auto stereo.



looking for pictures or ideas on how I should go about mounting and hiding a radio.
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Old 08-28-2019, 08:41 AM   #2
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

You will need to deal with the static from the Model A's ignition.
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Old 08-28-2019, 08:47 AM   #3
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

hopefully not on a usb data drive. The 50s 60s 70s station went to "80s 90s whatever" everything else is some commercial for beer, debauchery or annoyance disguised as a song. ugh that radio is getting bad.


I feel I should point out Im 35 and cant listen to any station on the radio. And I would wager anyone more advanced in the years than me has a harder time. I guess I dont buy much so I dont make up the masses they speak to.
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Old 08-28-2019, 09:21 AM   #4
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

A radio is very hard to hear in an A. At road load you will have to turn the volume way up.
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Old 08-28-2019, 09:42 AM   #5
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

Headphones?
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Old 08-28-2019, 11:00 AM   #6
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

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My wife plays music on her iPhone to her Bluetooth hearing aids.
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Old 08-28-2019, 11:08 AM   #7
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

Hardly any music I like on the radio, so another project will be to install a player for my huge CD collection. Yes, my A is 12V.
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Old 08-28-2019, 03:36 PM   #8
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

Look into the Bose mini. It's plenty loud and Bluetooth, there may be a jack input also, I can't remember.
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Old 08-28-2019, 05:11 PM   #9
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

Anteek29 you can fit all your cds on a usb drive. I used to have a lot of cds



as for volume a decent head unit will go louder than reasonable. my car isnt too loud you can have a conversation at a little louder than talking while flat out.


the bose is a good unit I was sitting around a fire listening to one the other day. but I want mine mounted so that I can push the buttons without having to look at it. And of all the things I have heard no speakers perform for the cost like 6x9s kenwoods or pioneers.




I imagining something wood dyed black with a flip up front cover.
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Old 08-28-2019, 05:38 PM   #10
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

Forget the radio and just listen to the wonderful sounds of the Model A........


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Old 08-28-2019, 05:47 PM   #11
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

AS a Classic country music fan I only listen to the three local stations that play my kind of music but I realize not all areas play the sort of music that everyone likes. I don't like new country only classic. But my radio is not on it someone else is in the truck with me, we actually talk.
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Old 08-28-2019, 08:26 PM   #12
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

I wanted to post this to show how cheap they are selling this 50watt x 4 "media" reciever. since there is no cd player it is only 3 to 4 inches deep and light as a feather. $42 Ive been using one for a few years now in my modern. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-Blu...IAAOSw0w5dXFzl
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Old 08-28-2019, 08:40 PM   #13
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

We run a small Antec bluetooth speaker in my diesel truck and run it off the cell phone. Sirius XM has a plan that lets you use your phone to broadcast via data. I despise commercial radio after an hour or two. Too many repeat commercials and self advertising.
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Old 08-28-2019, 09:48 PM   #14
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

Blasphemy,12v and music in a model a..why next you'll be hopping it up,running 16" wheels and overdrive..
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Old 08-28-2019, 10:49 PM   #15
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mike657894 View Post
I want to put a radio in my A. Iam converted to 12v. I have thought of a box I make with a pair of 6x9's pioneer head unit and a handle to ride in the rear footwell that is removable. I was thinking maybe I could make a wood box to conceal the head unit and hang it off the dash lip with a support from the fire wall. I have a usb mp3 pioneer head unit in my modern that is slightly smaller and lighter as it doesn't have a cd player. I use a usb stick packed with classics. air play radio seems to only pay for so many songs and repeats are nonstop these days. And I lost all my good oldy stations in the last few years. I dont want to have to charge something so I want a mounted auto stereo.



looking for pictures or ideas on how I should go about mounting and hiding a radio.
About the only place to hide a radio in an A and still be able to work it without a complicated remote is between the seats and I have my 2 way business radio mounted there.
I just mounted my music radio in a conventional position under the dash. The mid range and tweeters are in the front kick panels and the low profile woofers are on the back wall. The antenna is mounted on the light bar next a headlight.
The 2 way antenna is on the trunk lid.
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Old 08-28-2019, 11:13 PM   #16
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

I honestly do not see the point of putting a modern radio or any modern musical appliance in a Ford Model A.

On the other hand, if you want to remain strictly period, I like the solution offered in the opening scene of the Laurel and Hardy film "Busy Bodies".

https://youtu.be/ZujoJaR2ERY
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Old 08-29-2019, 03:45 AM   #17
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

I used an arduino micro, a tiny MP3 for arduino, 2 MOSFETS for an amp and some small speakers from a TV. Mine run from a single 18650 cell but you can use other power sources. (don't use 5 volt for the MP3, it dies, 4.5 is better)
Hidden speakers. A few hidden buttons on a remote for the controller (built in volume has 30 volume level settings).

The bass could be better, but it's remarkably good for it's size.
If you want i can post the code, but i haven't finished the navigation code yet.

Remote hidden under the seat most of the time. It's on that short cord in the picture so i can pull it out when i want & hide it when i don't.
Alternatively you could put a bluetooth expansion board on it, it'd still fit on a credit card, & connect it to a fancy phone if you wanted to, i've never coded that but children can so....
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Last edited by dumb person; 08-29-2019 at 03:52 AM.
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Old 08-29-2019, 07:44 AM   #18
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

Home Depot speaker - rechargeable for under $10 and has magnets on the back. Very
good sound for the price. With Pandora on my phone I listen to Dion and the belmonts
free no commercials. The speaker is not hard on the battery maybe once a month and
charged with your phone charger USB... I got no clue what blue tooth is but this is
for computer / phone dummy's like me= works for me.......................
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Old 08-29-2019, 10:51 AM   #19
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mike657894 View Post
I want to put a radio in my A. Iam converted to 12v. I have thought of a box I make with a pair of 6x9's pioneer head unit and a handle to ride in the rear footwell that is removable. I was thinking maybe I could make a wood box to conceal the head unit and hang it off the dash lip with a support from the fire wall. I have a usb mp3 pioneer head unit in my modern that is slightly smaller and lighter as it doesn't have a cd player. I use a usb stick packed with classics. air play radio seems to only pay for so many songs and repeats are nonstop these days. And I lost all my good oldy stations in the last few years. I dont want to have to charge something so I want a mounted auto stereo.



looking for pictures or ideas on how I should go about mounting and hiding a radio.
This sounds like a bit of work to make a 'boom box'. If youre thinking of an all in one unit that can be portable. Just get a ready made player. If you can find a place to install some speakers inconspicuously you may want to look into the 'secret audio' devices that are out there. They are a bit pricey though compared to what you posted.
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Old 08-29-2019, 01:10 PM   #20
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Default Re: hidden radio ideas or just slighty out of sight. wood hide door?

What if you got an old suitcase and put a complete system in it? Kinda like a boom box. Then it would only need power going to it and it would be portable. Just an idea.
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