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6773

6773

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where to put cd player in a 1975 midget and could i get the sound to come out of org. radio.
 
If you haven't already bought the CD player, here's what I would advise:

Replace your radio with one that has a USB port. These are becoming standard in some cars (like Subarus) and are available from electronics retailers.
*Then* buy an IPod and put all your music on that. Even the mini-IPOd will store a zillion songs and you can plug it into the radio USB to hear through the speakers.
 
You can also buy the memory card / usb version.
Then you can put in a memory card full of music (SD memory) or plug in various USB devices.
You can put a whole lot of music on a 4GB SD card.
 
6773 said:
where to put cd player in a 1975 midget and could i get the sound to come out of org. radio.
Click to expand...

If you're really desperate to spend a lot of money, you can have the original radio 'rebuilt' with modern internals and a line-in for a CD player, ipod or other device.

But it's just silly, unless it's a concours car... If you're worried about a new stereo spoiling the look of your interior, Blaupunkt and others make nice, 'retro' stereos that don't look out of place in an older car.

Similarly, you would probably want to upgrade your existing speakers, even if you replaced them with stock-sized units in the stock locations. 30-year old cardboard cones don't sound so good, these days.

My two cents...
 
Becker has released a classic style Mexico unit with GPS, 2GB flash card etc, but looks completely period. Mind you, I have heard it's around ÂŁ1,100 ($2,200) so unless you really like your music I'd go with aeronca65t's suggestion. But personally I'd not go with the Ipod.
 
danielnorton said:
They have fm transmitters you plug into a portable cd player (or ipod) that plays the cd over the radio.
Click to expand...

Yeah....I have one of those that I use with the IPod in my Miata. They're OK but not great. They work better if there aren't to many FM radio stations near the lower end of the band in your area.

And I agree with the other comments. You don't have to use an IPod....there are many different music players and flash drives available that will work with the USB port in modern radios.
 
AAHH but there is a problem....the new V-tech stereos that use the USB sitcks and SD cards DO NOT fit into the stereo spot. They are too deep. If you want to install it into the original stereo space it doesn't work (at least in a 77 Midget) I thought about hooking it up in the glove box or modifying the center console box, but in the end gave it to my son to install in his car and went with an original AM/FM
(Thanks BAZ) I built boxes for the speakers that just sit behind the seats so I didn't have to cut holes. I guess I figured I didn't need all the whistles and bells since its usually tuned to NPR anyway.
 
No worries ma'am.
I had to use 1" spacers to bring the console forward to allow the depth of a CD player. Turns out I never use it anyway, primarily because that 1" brings it closer to the shifter and can only change CDs if I'm in reverse, which can be slightly troublesome when doing 60.
I went with a Sirius unit after that.
 
I don't know if they make em anymore and I still have one of these things, but Denon and a few others made a little box that had two RCA jacks on the front and plugged in between the antenna and the radio. I actually think it works pretty well.

I haven't seen any of those FM transmitter things out there now that could do a decent job.

What I am toying with is setting up my MG with a modified old amplified Bose roomate in place of the console and use my Zen Micro 5Gig and my satellite radio player. I don't see needing much more in this car- in the case of this kind of car, it's all about the car. I find a bigger joy in hearing the machine and not the tunes.
 
gmichael52 said:
I don't see needing much more in this car- in the case of this kind of car, it's all about the car. I find a bigger joy in hearing the machine and not the tunes.
Click to expand...

I agree completely! I find the only time I really wish I had a stereo was at stoplights. That's why I went with AM/FM tuned to NPR. (a little talk while I wait, then on to th ehum of the motor)
 
thanks for all the suggestions my goal is just somthing simple a have a couple of old time rock and roll cd that we like to listen to when at the shows.
thanks again
 
Been thinking about this today while I was at work (what, you thought I'd actually be working???) and I'm sure there's a company that does an extra slim unit that fits up under the dash on the top of the passenger footwell. Remote operated, it is not visible from outside the car but due to location is easy to change disc with. Can't remember who makes it, but have emailed a friend who's into his ICE, just waiting to hear back from him.
 
I've got my iPod and FM transmitter for my Wrangler, and I love it! I've barely used my CD player over the past year. If/when the time comes I'll fit Midgie with just a regular AM/FM radio and use the same configuration. I've got all my CDs in the iPod, and I don't have to worry about storing them in the vehicle.

The transmitter gets it's power from the cigarette lighter. Tune your radio and transmitter to the same frequency. On a rare occasion I get bleed through from a radio station, but for day to day it's great!

If iPods aren't your thing there are other MP3 players out you could use. Might even be able to just get a radio unit with AUX input to plug it in if the transmitter idea doesn't appeal.
 
Did you know until a couple of months ago those ipod FM transmitters were illegal in the UK? Seriously!! The law here states that if you are transmitting on a frequency you need a radio license, even if its only transmitting about 10ft! Fortunately someone had the sense to amend the law, so no more smuggling them back from the US!
 
I have an old AM radio transmitter that I had a lot of fun with for a while. I also remember the fun I had with a severly hotrodded CB base station. Turn to channel 38 lower side band, flip the amp on, point the antenna and key the mic. I was opening and closing garage doors all over the neighborhood.
 
IMHO you really get what you pay for when you buy one of these FM transmitters. I have wasted money on several brands before asking a teenager what she used. The brand I have found works best is DLO. They make a holder that plugs into the lighter and keeps the iPod accessable and also a more compact unit that also plugs into the lighter, but then attaches to the iPod via a 24" cord. The good thing about both units is that the iPod charges when connected, the bad thing is that I can't charge my phone nor my Garmin while listening to music.

I rarely have any static problems or interferance any more since I tuned the xmitter to 107.9, the highest freq available on FM. When there is a problem it is easy to jump 1 channel higher to 87.9, the lowest channel on the FM band. The DLO rolls over to the start automatically when manually tuning. We have used this all over the US as well as France and Italy, no more europop for vacation soundtrack!!
 
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