Cheap Crummy Stereos and speakers!
Gee the stereos they put in the RV's are sure P poor! And the speakers! Makes my music sound like 2 tin cans on a string..... OK, I come from a background of loving music. I was a DJ in a radio ...
Forum Discussion
I'm feelin' for 'ya Bob, the RV stuff is some of the worst of the poor. I know you're selling the rig you're in so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to upgrade what you have. Maybe you can grab a boombox on your next trip home.
Some upgrade tips: The speakers is the final thing we hear and you could have many $$$ into the electronics but if the speakers are crap, that's what you'll still have. I build and repair speakers so I know where to source individual drivers. Most of the stuff sold at Crutchfield or Best Buy is still crap. Hifi suppliers is where you should be looking. Most mobile sound systems are set up for 4 ohm impedance speakers. If you buy 8 ohm drivers, they will work but you'll be giving up loudness to the resistance of the driver.
Without good electronics to deliver the level or quality of the signal to the speaker, you can spend $$$ on speakers and it will still be crap. The rv stuff like Criterion or Jensen is terrible. If you wish to replace your 12V electronics, there are many choices for head unit replacements that are better than original. Shop for name brands like Pioneer, Sony, Alpine, JVC, etc. Here is where you can buy from a reseller like Crutchfield or Best Buy and get some quality. Aim for higher end in the major brands.
The next step up in mobile sound is to install an amplifier to really move some watts at the issue. Most folks won't go there so I'll spare the info on that.
A different route and the one I took is to use a 120V system. I had all the necessary things on hand and would be powering my TV at the same time, in most cases, so it was a no-brainer. I use a NAD stereo receiver, a Yamaha disc player, and have two pairs of speakers to spread the sound presentation around. In most cases, a single pair of small bookshelf type speakers is more than adequate. If you're looking for great quality, steer clear of wireless speakers. The technology is too immature to find a great pair of wireless speakers. Most folks don't need great and simply good may be enough. In that case, audition some wireless speakers and make a decision.
Hope this helps.
Some upgrade tips: The speakers is the final thing we hear and you could have many $$$ into the electronics but if the speakers are crap, that's what you'll still have. I build and repair speakers so I know where to source individual drivers. Most of the stuff sold at Crutchfield or Best Buy is still crap. Hifi suppliers is where you should be looking. Most mobile sound systems are set up for 4 ohm impedance speakers. If you buy 8 ohm drivers, they will work but you'll be giving up loudness to the resistance of the driver.
Without good electronics to deliver the level or quality of the signal to the speaker, you can spend $$$ on speakers and it will still be crap. The rv stuff like Criterion or Jensen is terrible. If you wish to replace your 12V electronics, there are many choices for head unit replacements that are better than original. Shop for name brands like Pioneer, Sony, Alpine, JVC, etc. Here is where you can buy from a reseller like Crutchfield or Best Buy and get some quality. Aim for higher end in the major brands.
The next step up in mobile sound is to install an amplifier to really move some watts at the issue. Most folks won't go there so I'll spare the info on that.
A different route and the one I took is to use a 120V system. I had all the necessary things on hand and would be powering my TV at the same time, in most cases, so it was a no-brainer. I use a NAD stereo receiver, a Yamaha disc player, and have two pairs of speakers to spread the sound presentation around. In most cases, a single pair of small bookshelf type speakers is more than adequate. If you're looking for great quality, steer clear of wireless speakers. The technology is too immature to find a great pair of wireless speakers. Most folks don't need great and simply good may be enough. In that case, audition some wireless speakers and make a decision.
Hope this helps.
