Music in your van

MarkJ

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We're mulling over splashing out on some sound stuff for the van. I was a hifi buff until my ears started to go.... Now we enjoy Bose stuff at home. Our van (transit based) has, to be polite, a very basic radio/cd. Suggestions as to how we can enhance it?
Thanks
 
I took out the original stereo and fitted one that works by wireless remote control. Music control from our bed :)
 
i use a Mini-Rig and mp3, which i can also put in the car , shed or garden
 
Beemer said:
I took out the original stereo and fitted one that works by wireless remote control. Music control from our bed :)
Click to expand...
I did the same, also fitted rear speakers, when we watch TV the sound from the sat box goes through the radio aux input as well which greatly improves the sound of the TV.
 
I've got a Fiio X3 MP3 player and a mini jam box speaker. Great sound in a Motorhome.

Pat
 
amp transit radio

Just fit amp and wire a jack plug lead, all my music on sd 32gig card playing through / from tablet
as you wont be at home take bose speakers with ya, just to comfort ya:idea:
 
Chooooons

Hi,

I've just invested in a Kenwood Bluetooth DAB car stereo for the cab which is great, but I spend ages researching a stand alone Bluetooth wireless speaker. Bose Soundwave was up there, but having looked at WhatHiFi reviews and going to the lovely folk at Richer Sounds for a listen to various units, I've bought a Cambridge GO wireless BT speaker. It's rather fab and was a bit cheaper than the BOSE and the sound was far better.
 
You might find just adding a head unit it will improve, I bought a pioneer dab bluetooth unit 8500dab, too many options on it for me but I found I didn't need to change my speakers, it has a good bass boost setting.
try a head unit before speakers, I have a transit Base and they're not bad

SarahB - exactly what I'm looking into and have looked into the Cambridge one myself, is it that one that has a good battery life?
 
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We bought 2 'jam jars'..Bluetooth wireless speakers ..i play the music from my iPhone or iPad and also take them in my bag to the beach when we have a barbie
 
If u r or were a hifi buff then most stuff like jam jars and anything that has bass boost etc I'm guessing you won't be thrilled with.

After years of motorbikes and loud music (as a yoof, still doing the motorbikes and the helmet roar does her lugs even with plugs) a lot of the v good stuff is wasted on me, but I'd agree that the better the source (of the music and the playing device) the better. Last unit I bought (for oh's car) was a digital radio on a deal from Halfords where I could at least listen to options (settled on a Pure actually, and only coz I liked the sound and the same brand radio in the house has been good).

With digital radio and digital music even with the stock car speakers it's plenty good enough for me... But as stated I'm not a hifi buff (though I do own a 1972 Bang & Olufsen hifi with a pair of bass reflex speakers :D)
 
The cab has a sony head-unit that has no cd player but instead a drawer that ejects that you put your ipod on and then push back inside it - very neat.

I replaced the door speakers with proper aftermarket ones and also installed a low profile (underseat style) active subwoofer.

For the habitation area we just went with a mini-rig as it's small, portable, lasts for days (and I mean playing for days) and has a really big sound.

My logic was that the kit in the front needed to have much more poke to it as its contending with engine, wind and road noise, whereas we'd only be using the kit in the back when parked up somewhere quiet(ish).
 
Thanks for the many and varied suggestions. Particularly like the idea of the Cambridge GO.

Just a thought: if I could work out how to get my Avtex TV to auto tune the radio stations (it only seems to find TV for some reason; I suppose I should read the manual) and use that as a sound source for radio I could leave the van radio/cd as it is. This would be handy cos it has a built in sat nav and if I buy a new radio I'll have to buy a sat nav too. Then just got to work out how to get decent audio from the Avtex. Hours of fun...
 
Buy a BOSE Bluetooth speaker, one of the best things I've bought. Use at home, in the van, in the garden, while washing the car, in the garage. Any item that can be used this much is great value and the BOSE quality is outstanding. Obviously this only applies if you have a modern phone or iPad type device.
 
MarkJ said:
Thanks for the many and varied suggestions. Particularly like the idea of the Cambridge GO.

Just a thought: if I could work out how to get my Avtex TV to auto tune the radio stations (it only seems to find TV for some reason; I suppose I should read the manual) and use that as a sound source for radio I could leave the van radio/cd as it is. This would be handy cos it has a built in sat nav and if I buy a new radio I'll have to buy a sat nav too. Then just got to work out how to get decent audio from the Avtex. Hours of fun...
Click to expand...

I would have thought it would have scanned and stored tv and radio channels, could be a button on the remote to switch between tv/radio.
 
My solution is to use the dash radio faded to the rear speakers (which are mounted in the bottom of the cupboards above the dining table) for radio and CD and TV. I would have gone down the Bluetooth route but somebody decided to clean the radio fascia with soap and water and now some of the buttons don't work, one of them being the Bluetooth access button! For the same reason the TV is hard wired to the radio. Having the speakers above the table means that they don't have to be turned up too loud plus they are far better quality than the TV speakers (Cello) which are rubbish. But I am not quite so clear on how some of you are getting away with noise straying outside the camper? If I use the TV speakers, the TV is mounted on an external wall, then you can hear it as plain as day standing outside the van, and the same goes for the door speakers in the cab.
 
Years in industry and a love of loud pipes on my bikes had the desired effect on me ears...so now I bought a Hive Bluetooth speaker £40 which last for hours on a charge from the mini USB , great sound and coupled with the samsung phone with Spotify to download all my fav music and the bosses! AC/DC now on stream..:mad1: can't give up the "where rock lives" mentality. :scared:

We obviously don't have a TV in van, pointless as the one at home would fill the cab area:lol-053:

But it gives great sounds and even when listening to audio books it's clear and easy to follow...

I am thinking of the Halfords DAB radio especially with the £20 trade in deal at the moment, but I'm sure internet radio will be coming to our cabs real soon...do I wait or splash the £80

If I use my phone and Tunein radio App I was able to listen to all stations down in South France!
 
I've just fitted this in mine, i'm very impressed with the sound quality although it got varied revues online, i've got a 1 tb hard drive plugged into the back of it with enough music on it to drive round the world without repeating!!
 
ashbyspannerman said:
I've just fitted this in mine, i'm very impressed with the sound quality although it got varied revues online, i've got a 1 tb hard drive plugged into the back of it with enough music on it to drive round the world without repeating!!
Click to expand...
Blimey!
 
recently bought bose sound dock mini after hearing others lasts for days on full charge plus bought 12 volt charger for it excellent sound and can take it anywhere currys had them for £145
 
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