Date:         Thu, 17 Feb 2005 20:27:36 -0500
Reply-To:     Marc Perdue <marcperdue@ADELPHIA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marc Perdue <marcperdue@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Radio recommendations for '88 Vanagon?
In-Reply-To:  <1944231705021716404b1d0440@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

John,

It's been a few years, so the models are probably different, but I put a
Kenwood KDC-4015 in mine.  It's a CD-MD-Changer control, 45 W x 4, and
has enough power to drive the OEM Blauplunkt speakers, which are
actually fairly efficient, has a removable face plate and a remote
control.  It was too early for playing MP3s though . . . :^(  There
still wasn't enough bass with those little 3.5" speakers though, so I
mounted an 8" Bazooka just behind the passenger seat and that does
pretty well.  Another thing that worked wonders was to put some sound
dampening material (Dynamat) in the doors.  That stuff is amazing!  I've
only finished the passenger door at this point, but it makes the
difference between sounding like you're hitting a metal garbage can and
that gratifying thunk of closing the door of a fine German automobile.
If I had to pull my dash out again, I would put some Dynamat in there
because the sound of the falling rain is pretty loud on the front of the
van.  Hindsight . . .  Doing the Dynamat is a pain in the butt.  If
you're contemplating doing it, consider this . . . the plastic sheet
behind the door panel will be tricky to put back on and seal correctly.
It's important to do so, else you'll get water leaking in and damaging
your door panels.  You'll need to clean the metal really well and there
are a lot of places that you can't see and will need to do some guessing
about accurate placement.

BTW, a lot of the stereo configuration charts, i.e., Crutchfield's,
specify a certain depth and eliminate a number of head units that would
actually work.  I talked to the guys at Crutchfield (I'm near
Charlottesville, VA, their HQ) and their measuring is not the most
scientific or accurate.  I don't remember the exact depth of my unit,
but I could find out if you need me to.

Marc Perdue

John Graham wrote:

>My current radio has failed, so I'm ready to 'upgrade'.  The Vanagon
>is not the vehicle that most radios seem to be manufactured for, so
>I'm looking for recommendations.
>
>Here is what I want to have in the dash unit:
>- AM/FM obviously
>- CD player - be nice if it played MP3s
>- Remote control would be nice
>
>Have 4 speakers.  Don't need to play to the neighborhood or compete
>with teenie booper in next lane who's car is going BOOMPH, BOOMPH,
>BOOMPH at the stoplight.  But we do need enough power to hear the
>music over the Vanagon cruising noise level - you know what I mean.
>
>So - What have you put in that you like and would recommend?
>
>TIA
>
>John Graham
>'88 Westy
>Charlotte NC
>
>
>