Alternative Radio/Music solution

[Barney]

Has anybody a suggestion for an alternative to the traditional dash-mounted radio/CD or tape installation?

I think there must be something to use your phone with decent (Bluetooth?) speakers, but the only such speakers I see are portable speakers or single (mono) speakers for phone use. Are there any pros & cons to this approach?
I would like to have fixed, but discreet speakers, not portable speakers that can easily "walk". The car is a soft top and any goodies on display are attractive to some. I know myself, I will forget one day to stuff them in the boot when parked up somewhere.

I'm getting to a stage where I need to decide upon keeping the radio slot or to fill in the slot and opt for an alternative solution.

Examples would be great!

P.S. my eyes glaze over as soon as people say "App" so no tech speak please.

[The Veg]

If I'm reading between the lines clearly, you'd rather just have a Bluetooth receiver driving speakers and no radio in the dashboard, right?

[Craven]

How about Bluetooth ear buds, I have some B&O pretty good on volume and quality with noise cancelling.

[Fred Talmadge]

In America the wearing of headphones and I assume earbuds is illegal while driving.

[mbell]

In America the wearing of headphones and I assume earbuds is illegal while driving.

I think it's varies state by state but wearing headphones while driving is a bad idea even if it's not illegal. Especially in that you need to be fully aware of all the idiots around you with no concern for your safety.

On the original question, as stated there are lots of Bluetooth amps available that can be fitted to the car and drive car speakers. Then you can play anything your phone can.

[john.p.clegg]

I use one of these,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_dmd= ... &_svsrch=1

if you've a Plus2 there are two voids either side of the passenger footwells, and a thin carpet will hide the speakers and not degrade the sound too much..

John

[Andy8421]

I use one of these,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_dmd= ... &_svsrch=1

if you've a Plus2 there are two voids either side of the passenger footwells, and a thin carpet will hide the speakers and not degrade the sound too much..

John

That is unbelievably cheap. You are getting tens of thousands of transistors, embedded software, all for less than the price of a couple of pints of beer. I will order one just to see.

I have a graph somewhere illustrating the decline in the price of transistors over time. To all intents and purposes, these days they are free.

[john.p.clegg]

I'd take the 100W with a pinch of salt , as they say , as they are designed for 9 to 24Volts ...

John

[billwill]

It's not clear whether those devices can receive the audio signal via bluetooth. {which would let you use the radio in your phone, or a music player playlist)

Otherwise you still need a tuner or usb media player etc.

Also read the following topics:
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=51231&hilit=radio

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=48873&hilit=+bluetooth

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=1848&hilit=radio

[john.p.clegg]

Plays music from my phone...

John;-)

[Craven]

Before those that have never tried out ear buds condemn the idea consider their advantages when used in conjunction with a mobile phone. All audio streaming services available, Radio, unlimited, almost, CD library, your favourite tracks stored in phone memory.
Ear bud functions, gives hand free phone by in built microphone and touch take call.
Usually multi-mode operation by tap on bud, Accept call End call, Active Noise Cancellation, Own Voice, Neutral.
Music, Volume, Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, neutral, and can of course Single ear bud operation. Audio response adjusted by programmable equalizer.
Many Bluetooth transmitters accommodate 2 device pairing eg passenger buds.
Both Phone and ear buds completely portable leaving nothing in the car.

[billwill]

Plays music from my phone...

John;-)

Good.

[Andy8421]

I'd take the 100W with a pinch of salt , as they say , as they are designed for 9 to 24Volts ...

John

To be fair, V squared / R, 24V with a 4 ohm speaker = 24*24/ 4 = 144W.

In the Elan at 13.6V with an 8 ohm speaker = 13.6 * 13.6 / 8 = 23W

I am afraid my maths is old and rusty, the numbers above would be peak, not RMS. So for a sinusoid you would need to scale it back further (by root 2) but I get confused between power and voltage when converting.
It gets more complicated as I guess the amplifiers in this thing are class D, and the switching aspect of the amp may change the power calculations.

[Barney]

If I'm reading between the lines clearly, you'd rather just have a Bluetooth receiver driving speakers and no radio in the dashboard, right?

That's my idea, but open to other solutions, if any

[Barney]

I use one of these,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_dmd= ... &_svsrch=1

if you've a Plus2 there are two voids either side of the passenger footwells, and a thin carpet will hide the speakers and not degrade the sound too much..

John

Cheers John, this may be music to my ears
Not a plus 2 but an Elan S2 - however there is plenty of space behind the side panels (that I currently have out), thinking behind the seats, so this does seem to fit the bill, and is along the lines that I was thinking

Steve.