RetroSound Radio

[twoskies]

Hello
1972 C10
bought a retrosound radio to replace my original am/fm radio, original radio worked but low output or sound, anything over 30 mph and you couldnt hear it
probably get the oem radio rebuilt at some time

RetroSound Radio was very easy to install, hardest part was setting the adjustment for the knobs, several times in and back out
Little sidenote, The people at Crutchfield who i ordered the radio through, were great to deal with

Works very well, sound is great, bluetooth is nice

Looks ok, but with the faceplate, you kinda lose the oem look

Has anyone painted or coated the plastic faceplate to match the dash color

Any pictures would be helpful

as much as i like the retrosound, when i get the oem repaired, ill probably change it back

Thanks for Replies

[Peanut74]

I bought a RetroSound radio but haven't installed it yet. I did do a test fit and based on the fit my plan is to leave the faceplate off. I did have to repair the dash because it was cut up for a 2 din radio.

[LS short box]

Not to be a negative nelly but my Retro Sound worked almost 2 years before it just quit. I called Retro and since it was out of warranty they said too bad so sad nothing we can do.
Also be sure what the radio restorer is using inside your original radio. It could be Retro Sound or Custom Auto Sound guts.

[dagnabbitt]

I put one in my square, I really like it. I bought the cheapest version they had (Laguna?) and it suits me fine. I hooked up my Sirius radio to it and its all good.

[lux]

Mine is a Retrosound Hermosa.
I put the front plate behind the dash,

[xs-cash]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

I put one in my square, I really like it. I bought the cheapest version they had (Laguna?) and it suits me fine. I hooked up my Sirius radio to it and its all good.

I’m in Edmonton too , I’d like to see it if possible, I’m thinking of buying the same one from LMC

[tim71]

I purchased the low end RetroSound and have been very pleased with it. I knew my speakers weren't going to be great, so I was looking for a radio that just sounded decent. My truck has a mostly stock appearance and I put my speakers under the seat, out of sight. I haven't had any issues with the RetroSound radio, but it doesn't played much either.

[jimijam00]

^ that looks good

[twoskies]

Thanks Everyone

Lux, if i understand , you used the faceplate but behind the dash as a support and used the plastic round washers in front

[lux]

Originally Posted by twoskies

Thanks Everyone

Lux, if i understand , you used the faceplate but behind the dash as a support and used the plastic round washers in front

Yes, thats correct. The face plate fills that gap around the rectangle face. Then you have to figure out the plastic washers for the knobs. I can't remember exactly what i did there but, I think I may have added some spacer washers behind the dash as well.
Sorry about the bad luck some people have had with retrosound units, Mine has been rock solid so far.

[Rich72C10]

I went back and forth on radios or having my AM retrofitted. In the end I went with CustomSound's Slider Radio with the Bluetooth add-on module. It works great and pushes the CustomSound's dash speakers and the kick panels just fine. If I had room, I would 100% install a small/medium woofer. The good thing is I can go that route when I can - it has low level RCAs for Front/Rear and a Sub out for growth.

I went with the slider because it looks stock-ish and I more or less keep the like you see it in my photo. I can flip the slider to the LCD screen for all the settings or to see what is player/radio station. Will it hold up overtime? No idea.

As for RetroSound, my source said they had a real bad start and their beginning line is what came from Custom Sound (some odd buy out or some such). This came from the guy that I was thinking of having my AM retrofitted but also sold Custom Sound (which he stood by what he re-sold).

[ChevyGuyNC]

Originally Posted by Rich72C10

I went back and forth on radios or having my AM retrofitted. In the end I went with CustomSound's Slider Radio with the Bluetooth add-on module. It works great and pushes the CustomSound's dash speakers and the kick panels just fine. If I had room, I would 100% install a small/medium woofer. The good thing is I can go that route when I can - it has low level RCAs for Front/Rear and a Sub out for growth.

I went with the slider because it looks stock-ish and I more or less keep the like you see it in my photo. I can flip the slider to the LCD screen for all the settings or to see what is player/radio station. Will it hold up overtime? No idea.

As for RetroSound, my source said they had a real bad start and their beginning line is what came from Custom Sound (some odd buy out or some such). This came from the guy that I was thinking of having my AM retrofitted but also sold Custom Sound (which he stood by what he re-sold).

That's the one I want to get as well... once I'm out of "You can't spend any more money on that truck!" jail....

[ChevyGuyNC]

Originally Posted by Rich72C10

I went back and forth on radios or having my AM retrofitted. In the end I went with CustomSound's Slider Radio with the Bluetooth add-on module. It works great and pushes the CustomSound's dash speakers and the kick panels just fine. If I had room, I would 100% install a small/medium woofer. The good thing is I can go that route when I can - it has low level RCAs for Front/Rear and a Sub out for growth.

I went with the slider because it looks stock-ish and I more or less keep the like you see it in my photo. I can flip the slider to the LCD screen for all the settings or to see what is player/radio station. Will it hold up overtime? No idea.

As for RetroSound, my source said they had a real bad start and their beginning line is what came from Custom Sound (some odd buy out or some such). This came from the guy that I was thinking of having my AM retrofitted but also sold Custom Sound (which he stood by what he re-sold).

Is that a CB mic clip I see near bottom right?

[jessemthompson]

I had a retrosound radio and from day 1 it was a piece of trash. I would turn the volume up and the radio would cut in and out. I finally ended up trashing it and put a Bluetooth kenwood amp in the truck. Now I listen to music from my phone through the truck. On top of the sound issues with the retro, it was plastic and looked cheap. Obviously manufactured overseas. I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone.

[MikeB]

My RetroSound. Doesn't look as nice as Richard's or Lux's. All I need now is to repaint the dash!

[twoskies]

Thanks for all the responses

Im going to take it back out and go with the faceplate behind the dash and i see to flush the radio with the opening, looks more like what i want

Thanks

[MARKDTN]

I have not heard anything nice about Retrosound. I would look into having an Aurora conversion done to an original radio. It's about $400. You get AM/FM, Bluetooth, and an Aux if wanted. New guts in an old radio. My uncle had one done in a VW Bug and it sounds great.

https://www.tech-retro.com/aurora-de...o-dealers.html

[Rich72C10]

Originally Posted by twoskies

Got it

put the plate behind the dash, settled right in, looks alot better

Thanks

I agree, that does look a lot better, nice job - pulling out the radio and putting it back in is not what I'll call a fun job. Well, you don't have A/C so the job is a bit easier for you ;-)

For the record, this is what the radio looks like with the digital display - the green matches up nicely to the dash at night. The radio will display the station's genre / song playing (if the station provides it). When connected to a iPhone it shows song information but with BT it only says "Bluetooth" - no metadata. But the hands free calls are nice and I can sent text / hear texts by asking Siri (when connect via BT).

[MikeB]

Someone mentioned Retrosound instructions above. I have to say they were not very helpful and it took me hours to determine how to best mount the radio. I probably installed 10-12 aftermarket stereos in the 70s-80s in everything from a Dodge van to an Audi Coupe to an RX7. All those were very straightforward installations compared to the Retrosound.

I'd love to have one of those old Clarion or Sony shaft radios. I still remember the good ones with PLL tuners (phase-locked loop) that would lock in an FM stereo station and hold onto it even if I turned the knob a little bit each way. My best one was an early 80s Clarion with a digital display(!) that had only a pre-amp, so the chassis was very shallow. I connected it to discrete front and rear main amps.

[twoskies]

update on the Retrosound Radio

done this a couple times where it wouldnt turn off or change anything,
had to pull fuse to make it reset, one nite shut truck off and must of been between songs, stayed on, battery was dead next morning

Already called retrosound, going to double check the install with my Radio Guy and make sure everything is good

Then ill call Crutchfield and see what the process is, My guess is the radio will be going back

[twoskies]

Morning All

had some time yesterday and checked all my connections
everything was good

last nite while driving home listening to the radio, it suddenly went dead

its coming out today and going somewhere

would i recommend this radio, maybe, it all depends on what happens today
also you have to figure downtime on messing with it so much, might try to upgrade on their dime

Thanks

[Rich72C10]

That is a bit of bad luck. One of the reasons why I fussed so much on my options for a radio. At the end of the day I read more negative reviews about RetroSound than I did about Custom AutoSound.

[twoskies]

Hey Richard

if you dont mind me asking, how much did your radio cost and did you order direct, the website says no sell to the public

Thanks

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by twoskies

Hey Richard

if you dont mind me asking, how much did your radio cost and did you order direct, the website says no sell to the public

Thanks

I got mine from Crutchfield in 2019.

Hermosa radio $299.99
Includes choice of knobs and bezel.
Free shipping

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_068HRM...e-buttons.html

They have a 60-day money back guarantee. I've been dealing with them since the late 1970s. Bought several car stereos, speakers, amps, and a TV and home audio stuff from them. Great company!

[twoskies]

Talked to Crutchfield rep tonite and got a shipping label and the return instructions

now i agree the radio has to go back, but the rep i talked to stated i would have to cut the wiring i just installed or might cause a delay in the exchange

the power connector and speaker connector that stays in the vehicle when the radio is removed

thinking about it overnite

might just call back to verify wiring cut tomorrow, if so, might just request full refund and go somewhere else

Thanks for all replies