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Bose now offers a wireless mobile speaker.  I can Bluetooth my mp3 player and set this speaker on the jump seat.  It weighs 3 lbs and is 5" x 9" and is totally mobile.  Sound is typically Bose.

No wires no antenna no under dash mounting and I can take it with me wherever I go.

1957 Vintage Speedster

 

 

 

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Originally Posted by Terry Metz:

Bose now offers a wireless mobile speaker.  I can Bluetooth my mp3 player and set this speaker on the jump seat.  It weighs 3 lbs and is 5" x 9" and is totally mobile.  Sound is typically Bose.

No wires no antenna no under dash mounting and I can take it with me wherever I go.

Link to product?

Troy--I have a radio but don't use it much.  On long trips I use an I Pod with noise cancelling ear buds which are sensational.  I have a lot of music on the I pod and on the way to Carlisle I listened to Bill O'rielly's book, "Killing Lincoln".

 

If you have a place to stick a jack on your radio you just need to fine an adaptor that fits.

For example, an adaptor to let your ear bud jack fit into the radio.  I'd suggest Best buy as a source.

 

Nothing like rolling diown the road listening to a book.  I have "The French Revolution" loaded for my next trip.

 

The way I listen to my radio on the road is to use regular foam earplugs then turn the radio way up so you can hear it. I caj't explain it but this works.  The key is to have the volume turned  way up. 

I think we are all pretty much aware that it is illegal, so is speeding.  Now, back to my question and Jack's reply.

Radios don't come with a headphone jack like iPhones do and that is probably because of what Theron just posted.

Some radios do have RCA output jacks, but they are are not the correct impedence to allow headphones to be plugged in.  Trust me, it's not a simple Best Buy purchase.

 

 

This subject was covered in previous posts.

 

Earbuds are not illegal in all states.  They are very small and almost invisible so I am very happy to take my chances to have entertainment on long drives. Personally I am extremely safety conscious and use a third brake light and an air horn.  I drive like I was riding my motorcycle ---constantly checking my rear view mirror and being aware of other vechicles

in my vicinity and never changing lanes without a head check as well as using my fender mounted rear view mirrows.  I spent the $$ with Stoddard to get an actual right side rear view mirror too, rather than depend on the two left side mirrors fitted to a lot of these cars.

 

If anyone is afraid of having a problem using ear buds  ---don't use 'em!

Troy, Kramer electronics might have something that works for you. We use them a lot for speciality signal conversion in our commercial A/V jobs. It is not 12volt based but, for what you are wanting to do I don't know of any type of 12volt solution. You could always wire up a little inverter and stash it somewhere and that would take care of the AC/DC (back in black) problem. Just a thought! 

 

Good luck!

 

-Chase

Troy, 

 

What is the make and model of your radio?

 

Is there a plug on the back that allows you to connect a set of external speakers?  If so, figure out (usually the owner's manual can be helpful, here) which of the wires go to which external speakers.  Maybe you are using just the front, but the rears are free.  If you have a free pair, I wonder that you might connect those wires to a headphone female connector and plug in your headphones.  You'll most likely have to tone down the audio a bit, but it should work, even with a mismatch.  You could even mount the female connector right in the dash.  I did that for an iPod connector in my F250 - got the cable with the female connector off of Amazon.  You could mock it up first to see if it works, but I believe it should.

I'm with Mr. Nuckles on this one. The iPod is a no brainer. You're jumping through hoops to use antiquated technology. Why the desire to use the head unit?

 

  •  The iPod holds more music than a CD.

 

  •  The iPod holds more music than a digital media head unit.

 

  •  With an iPod you don't have to physically change out a CD if you want to change artists.

 

  •  With an iPod you can make personalized playlists without burning a CD (which is becoming harder to do since optical drives are going the way of the floppy disk).

 

  •  With an iPhone* you can still tune in to radio stations, if listening to commercials is your thing.

 

  •  With an iPhone you can also tune in to internet radio stations, giving you exponentially more options than a normal head unit.

 

  • With an iPhone if you want to listen to music you don't yet own, you just download it wherever you are and THEY WILL YOU SEND YOU THE SONG/ALBUM FROM OUTER SPACE. With a CD player, you have to find a local music store (which will be difficult without an iPhone), drive there, go inside, and hope they have the album in stock. Oh you just wanted a single song? Well it's $.99 on iTunes but you'll have to buy the entire album in a store.

 

  •  With an iPod/iPhone when you leave your car, you bring all your music with you in your pocket. With a stereo and CDs, you leave a small case of dozens (if not hundreds) of items that cost you ~$15 each in a car without locks that is already tight on storage space.

 

  •  With an iPod/iPhone you can still listen to music if your stereo gets stolen.

 

  • With an iPod/iPhone you can run the headphone cord under your shirt. This helps to hide it from police.

 

  • When an iPod/iPhone breaks or becomes outdated, it's very simple to replace. With a head unit, you have to take the car to a stereo installation place or do it yourself. Either option is a pain in the a$$ compared to simply plugging the iPhone/iPod into the computer and instantly having all your music put on the new one.

 

  • With an iPod/iPhone, you can continue listening to music while getting out of the car to pump gas or whatever. Turning the engine off does not stop the music and walking around is not an issue, as the iPod/iPhone fits in your pocket.

 

 

 

If you insist on using headphones, there are probably a slew of additional reasons to use portable media over a stereo head unit. Don't forget that any decent stereo that isn't outdated will have have a usb port on the back so you can charge the iPod/iPhone while driving. Again, why are you trying to use headphones through the stereo rather than an iPod etc?

 

 

 

 

 

*I'm assuming you have an iPhone or comparable. I would never make the rude assumption that you may not actually have one by third quarter 2012. I cannot stress this enough, I would never behave that rudely (I would insert a smiley face emoticon here to indicate that I'm obviously joking, but the emoticons on the new site are so horribly childish and feminine that I'm afraid if I use one I will no longer be able to satisfy my girlfriend). If by some chance you do not yet own one, I would highly suggest saving the money you're hoping to spend on the small 12 volt preamp that can be connected to the RCA jacks which the car stereo shops don't seem to carry because it may or may not exist and instead allocating this money towards an iPhone. In addition to full iPod functionality, you also get internet access, email access, gps, turn by turn driving directions, radio, internet radio, YouTube, a digital camera, a video camera, the ability to pinpoint its location if lost/stolen, the ability to download music/applications on the go, the ability to record a conversation with a potentially abusive police officer if you get pulled over (I have an awesome story here), and of course a telephone. All in the palm of your hand. For $200. Umm, duh.

I have Bose from a corvette in the Speedster D and I love the clarity and base.... I want a bose system for the 72 beetle  but with my stock style radio/ so as not to draw theaves ATT.

 

And most important with the built in audio range contol in the 4 amps your not left tone def after a few songs. I am intersted in that remote speaker

 

but what i want is a bose base like that to go under the dr. side rear seat and some small mid range+tweater pods for under the dash.. that would would be perfect...

 

 

Last edited by oldyeler

PLEASE!!!!  Just indulge me!!!   Almost all of the recent comments are a bunch of wasted typing effort.  I didn't just quit using AOL yesterday, I didn't just get my first iPod yesterday, I didn't just get a Smart Phone yesterday, I created an Internet radio station that has been online and broadcasting for over ten years (KVAN All Van All the Time...check it out if you're a Van Morrison fan).  I have a radio in my car and I want to listen to it (not CDs or MP3s or anything else) on headphones.

 

Gordon.  I can fade my stereo from front to rear speakers and I don't have rear speakers, so you might have a solution there.  I'll look into that.  Thank you.

 

Collin.  Thanks for all the time you took to type that response and add your *footnote.  I know you are trying to help and I appreciate it.

Troy, I think Gordon gave good advice. Just make sure that the stereo you are using has a common ground output. Many newer radios have floating ground amps that cannot be connected together. Obviously headphones are common ground as there are only three conductors on the plug. There is a floating ground adapter available however from any car radio shop, etc. Buy yourself that adapter if necessary and a hardwire in-dash female jack and you should be good to go. The high impedance of the headphones shouldn't be a problem for your stereo, it will only reduce the volume. But the amount of power needed through headphones is extremely small, you should be able to blow the headphones off your ears with almost any car stereo!

 

P.S. I use my Android and Plantronics Backbeat Bluetooth headphones.I am sure you saw the phone dock in my Spyder. The headphones are small, black, and the wire goes behind your neck, so nearly invisible, especially with the headrest blocking the rear view. There is also a VERY small set from Outdoor Technology available, which my girlfriend likes for walking. There should be a bluetooth adapter available that will accept either speaker or preamp output and then bluetooth it to wireless headphones. Just another thought....btw I don't care if it's legal. I can hear the engine over the headphones, as well as almost all ambient noise. The headphones don't have to be cranked all the way up!

ROBlack - While I've never tried hooking headphones up to a head unit, using that piece likely won't work because of the impedance issue Troy mentioned.

And yes, the one you pictured is the exact opposite of what he'd need. He'd be looking for male RCA and a female headphone jack. They definitely make it and I'd bet money he's already tried it.

Everyone - Not trying to rain on anyone's parade but please please please do some research before buying anything Bose. In the audio world, it is referred to as Blose and is an anagram for Buy Other Sound Equipment. If you're happy with your Bose purchase, awesome. I have no horse in this race. I just don't like seeing people spend extra money on a poorer product simply because it's well advertised.

Wow ! I can't believe I started such a debate.   The reason I presented this topic was to share something I came up with.   Colin's bullet points are exactly why I went with a mp3 player.   The new Bose soundlink solved all my problems and the Bose speakers are guarranted not to blow.  I tried using earbuds with the mp3 player with the bluetooth and didn't like the distraction of the wires.   So, like each one of us and our cars, it's all about what YOU like.

 

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