Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 12:11:02 -0800
Reply-To: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Radio and Speaker Insall
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Reporting a success and a minor mystery, maybe someone can explain it.
First I'd like to second (or third or fourth) the recommendations on the
Vanagon lists about buying from Crutchfield for radios and speakers.
Instant service, more than enough support in the package shipped, and no
charge for the wiring adapters that it turned out not to be needed in my
situation.
I just finished installing a new radio/CD player and new front speakers in
my '90 Westy. Purchased from Crutchfield and they included a bunch of
adapters and printed instructions. The instructions were generic but
provided all the info I needed. None of the adapters were needed but might
have been if my Vanagon had been older. And would have been needed for the
radio if I had had the original OEM radio. But a PO had replaced the
original radio with a Kenwood w/cassette player. It was working fine but I
wanted a CD player. I have been using a cheap CD 'Walkman' type CD player
and a cassette adapter Velcrod to the dash. That has worked great and sound
quality now is not that much better than with the CD player and the cassette
adapter. BUT the big difference is from replacing the front speakers (rears
to follow). I had ordered the radio and speakers before leaving for BBTB
last month but had not had the chance to install before leaving. While at
BBTB I did install the front speakers and they really made a difference as
noted above. BTW, after the install I read the instructions, will have to
go back in and install the crossovers later. The wiring was plug 'n play
otherwise. Major difference in volume and quality.
For the radio, figuring out the wiring was easy. I just made careful notes
(which I didn't really need) before cutting anything then matched new wires
to old (same color coding, the previous installation had matched to the VW
color codes).
Now comes the mystery. The new radio has separate ground wires for each
rear speaker, the old one didn't. No place to match up and connect the rear
grounds for the new radio. BUT the rear speakers are working just fine!
Apparently, somewhere in the rats nest of wiring, that had been taken care
of in the previous installation. I may go into the rear speakers and start
doing some tracing but really don't want to try stringing new ground wires
to the rear speakers.
Another BTW. I did a search of the vanagon.com archives and did find some
very good info on the rear speaker grounds from a couple of years ago.
Anyone interested should search on 'speaker grounds'.
So, if anyone has an explanation on the grounds for the rear speakers, I'd
like to hear it.
--
Loren Busch
"I ordered a feast in the hope that you would come."
"I came in the hope there would be a feast."
(From "Monument" by Lloyd Biggle Jr.)
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