Hello all,Not sure if this is right place to post but thought I would stRt here since its my first post.I am a part time rv'er but this year will change that as I will be spending more time and trips in 5th wheel. So looking to upgrade OEM stereo and speakers to more quality and features. Right now it has a ESTone 8550ex radio dvd combo. Basically its a POS, horrible sound and functionality, but i get it, its OEM stuff no biggie.So looking to see what folks have done, been reading through posts but not finding definitive on replacements. Speakers pretty5 easy, I have 4 ceiling ones in main coach, 2 in bedroom, 2 outside. I am looking for a radio upgrade that has bluetooth, external/front inputs HD/satellite radio. Searching the net, this will put me in of course car audio category, so is this a big issue? Don't care if it plays dvd/bluray or not as I have already added a stand alone bluray player. Just good audio and possibly passive subwoofer output. With one of my A/C units directly overhead of entertainment system need so sort of balance.Is it a pain to rip these OEM's out and replace with good quality car stereo or is there a medium/high end RV audio place to buy better units?Thanks in advance.....

Not knowing exactly what your OEM radio looks like or the size of it, I imagine some fabrication of the mounting location will be necessary. As for wiring, the OEM will likely have a wiring harness (plug and play) like most car stereos have today. Each wire should have a tag on it for what it's for so if you do buy a car stereo to replace the radio you have it won't be too difficult to wire it up. I replaced all of my speakers with Polk speakers and the sound difference was dramatic. I had a crappy Jensen OEM radio and replaced it with a different crappy Jensen radio but at least now I have bluetooth and it was the same footprint so I had no fabrication to do. I also got rid of the silly FM antenna that's provided and now have it hooked up to the rooftop TV antenna. If you do anything like that, just make sure you turn the antenna toward the city the station is located to get good reception.

I have the same dilemma, my stereo is beyond bad. Seriously ridiculous.I've wondered if installing much better car audio speakers would do much good.

Thanks for the replies! Mine is a standard double DIN stereo....so hopefully if I pick a good quality one this will be a big difference....just not 100% on which way to go...

ScottG wrote:I have the same dilemma, my stereo is beyond bad. Seriously ridiculous.I've wondered if installing much better car audio speakers would do much good.My stereo has a great sound, inside, and outside. I don't even know the brand, but says touch audio on it. Yes, if you are smarter than I, many many things can be done using touch screen. I can handle most of the remote functions. It is a home theater using DVDs, and has many ports in/out. Sadly we rarely use it. The speakers are marine type speakers, don't remember the brand. I remember reading about them, and they are good quality. It seems there are many good quality marine speakers out there, and may be what you folks should consider.BTW, my FM is connected to my Omni antenna, and works well. Omni and TV, not so much, unless close to tower source.Jerry

If I get one with a dvd player in it, will I have to get a adapter to bypass parking brake safety so it always thinks its in park, I amnot 100% on what that feature is on those car dvd models, so it will play..

Keystone Cougar audio upgrade | Good Sam Community

SkiSmuggs
Explorer
Jan 07, 2018
I wanted to upgrade as well and found very little out there. I eventually got a small Sony BluRay player and a Yamaha ATS-1060 soundbar with built-in subwoofer and bluetooth. So I no longer use the OEM stuff at all.
twinstick
Explorer
Jan 05, 2018
I was trying to post a picture but can't.

I to was tired of the crappy radio on my Laredo. I put in a Samsung soundbar with sub hooked to the tv. It sounds great, and will fill up the camper with sound. You can also Bluetooth to it. I left the 4 ceiling speakers in place and just don't use them.

For the outside, I haven't done this yet, but I have one in my boat, and a good friend good this to his open range.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00VV6Y7O2/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1515167897&sr=8-3π=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=gauge+boss+radio&dpPl=1&dpID=51zWKCWw0TL&ref=plSrch

Put this radio in just inside one of the outside compartment doors. Then replaced the crappy outside speakers with Polk audio speakers, and rock out. It really sounds good. For satellite radio, I'm guessing you would have to get it on your phone then Bluetooth with these options. When I'm camping I usually listen to Pandora it my Google play music account.
RobWNY
Explorer
Jan 04, 2018
I guess that decision would pretty much be determined by how much you go camping and how often you would be taking it in and out. That can be a pain too. We only go 6 times a summer so it's not a big deal for us.
Paully33
Explorer
Jan 04, 2018
Thanks Rob!!! Yeah I have a portable Sirius radio that I used to have in my 79 Bronco, but now the Bronco is in my shop getting rebuilt so I have the portable in my shop. Just wanted to use it in camper and deciding whether or not to permanently mount satellite antenna somehow on 5th wheel or just take it in and out as I use it
RobWNY
Explorer
Jan 04, 2018
Range Maggot Bob wrote:
RobWNY wrote:
Not knowing exactly what your OEM radio looks like or the size of it, I imagine some fabrication of the mounting location will be necessary. As for wiring, the OEM will likely have a wiring harness (plug and play) like most car stereos have today. Each wire should have a tag on it for what it's for so if you do buy a car stereo to replace the radio you have it won't be too difficult to wire it up. I replaced all of my speakers with Polk speakers and the sound difference was dramatic. I had a crappy Jensen OEM radio and replaced it with a different crappy Jensen radio but at least now I have bluetooth and it was the same footprint so I had no fabrication to do. I also got rid of the silly FM antenna that's provided and now have it hooked up to the rooftop TV antenna. If you do anything like that, just make sure you turn the antenna toward the city the station is located to get good reception.

Yeah, OEM replacement is high on my list. So you went with the Jensen as opposed to a home-type setup. And that's working ok? Speaker and receiver replacement is high on my list, and so is Polk Audio. Have always been impressed with Polks since I first bought a pair back in the '70s. How do you like them? Did you have to buy some kind of brackets to fit them on the ceiling? I also did the antenna thing for FM, and lo and behold, I now can get some FM stations. As far as satellite radio, I have a separate system for that; I bring my portable from home w/ antenna and tune it to the same frequency as my crappy receiver and it plays through the speakers. I would like to have satellite built into my receiver, but I'd probably have to pay more money for their service, and that ain't gonna happen.

Yes, so far so good with the new Jensen. It's model JWM6A which coincidentally is also no longer offered but I got it through Amazon. It was a direct fit and I use the bluetooth feature all the time. My Polk speakers (both interior and exterior) fit the cut outs perfectly but I did have to screw them in at different locations as the mounting holes didn't line up with the previous crappy speakers. If you're thinking about Satellite...I have a Sirius portable unit that I take with me. I can use it with headphones and go for a walk, or i can put it in the base unit and just point the antenna to the Southern sky. Works great. Then when I get home, it's back to it's normal location in the house.
Paully33
Explorer
Dec 31, 2017
First attempt
Paully33
Explorer
Dec 31, 2017
Have an ok pic of radio....just how do we post on here...sorry newb
Paully33
Explorer
Dec 31, 2017
Its a 2014 keystone cougar

I think I do will check phone. But its a EStone 8550ex
Paully33
Explorer
Dec 31, 2017
Yeah I like the polk audio very much, my 6 speakers in ceiling I believe are 4 1/2 or 5 in (camper is stored on base storage lot for winter) and this is one of the first things I wanna do this spring before heading out.

I been looking at crutchfield at a couple nice head units so may give them a call abd see what techs say because when I called Keystone they were little help. I found this out the hard way when I called about satellite prep for bedroom...thats a whole other issue....

So my gameplan, 6 new indoor speakers, soundbar and passive sub (so I dont have to have dedicated power) new head unit that has passive sub hookups...I will use my portable Sirius unit to plug in nust have to figure how to run antenna if I want to make the antenna mount perminent. Then the head unit, just have to figure which one I will go with, and best bang for the buck without crazy mods or losing any functionality....
goducks10
Explorer
Dec 31, 2017
My junk Jensen 965 has made it through 5 camping seasons. We don't do a lot of DVD, s but do use it for Pandora and XM if no cell signal. Also use it with the Sat dish for tv. I keep waiting for it to take a dump but it just keeps on giving.
When it does stop working I'm going sound bar. Right now the sounds pretty decent. I replaced the 4 living room speakers with some cheap 3 ways. The originals were 1 way paper cones. My 5er did come with a nice wired sub woofer. It will rock pretty good on Pandora.
The best way that I would go is a sound bar and BluRay player. We don't use the out side speaker very often or the bedroom ones either. I have a Flip that I can use in remote areas that works pretty good.

It still amazes me that the RV business is so far behind the audio world. They just now offering Bluetooth with their stereos. I had to wire in a Belkin HD BT B17 so I could play Pandora through the stereo and not have my phone cabled to the Jensen.

Anyway to the OP's issue. Soundbar.

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