Radio-custom audiosound

5182 Views 35 Replies 27 Participants Last post by Chebystomp, Nov 19, 2021

68 Cali. Special

Discussion Starter · Nov 15, 2021

Been looking at radios for my 68 mustang. Original radio I believe. Was going to buy a custom Audiosound 740. I’ve seen a couple of post saying they are a bad brand. But not alot of info on that. Anybody know what radio brand is good that has Bluetooth and will fit in factory location, and has mostly a factory look. Or any experiences with custom audiosound. Thanks

1 - 20 of 36 Posts

Banks

· #2 · Nov 15, 2021

I just purchased the USA-740 a couple of months ago and installed it in my 68 coupe with factory console. I added Alpine 6090 speakers to the rear. Overall I'm happy with the radio but there are some issues that I am not thrilled about. I am working now but will post later (or feel free to DM me).

Nick

erials

· #3 · Nov 15, 2021

It’s been many years ago, but I bought a couple of the custom autosound radios at different times in the past and neither of them lasted very long. I never tried another one after that. My personal opinion is that they look and fit great but seemed lacking on the quality and didn’t last long enough for the price.

I eventually bought a Retrosound unit and have been happy with it so far.

Sunlit68

· #4 · Nov 15, 2021

Not enough power for for 4 or more speakers. Need an amp. Quality is sub-par.

68 Cali. Special

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 15, 2021

Banks said:
I just purchased the USA-740 a couple of months ago and installed it in my 68 coupe with factory console. I added Alpine 6090 speakers to the rear. Overall I'm happy with the radio but there are some issues that I am not thrilled about. I am working now but will post later (or feel free to DM me).

Nick

68 Cali. Special

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 15, 2021

Alright. Thanks- I’ll check back to see what your issues are like. Might start to look at other brands

GT289

· #7 · Nov 15, 2021

I've got one of their secret audio things in my wife's '68. Four speakers.... Triax in the back and coaxials in the front. Plenty of deafening volume.
Has something going on internally though, if connected up the drain when parked is close to .08 volt per day. Hasn't been connected in years.

tx65coupe

· #8 · Nov 15, 2021

The Retrosound stuff is far superior for a vintage looking radio with modern functions.Their dual voice coil dash speaker is probably also the best one as well. But since you have a 68, you can easily get a reproduction bezel to cut up and use any radio you like.

https://www.retromanufacturing.com/

Reactions: 2

kenash

· #9 · Nov 15, 2021

Sunlit68 said:
Not enough power for for 4 or more speakers. Need an amp. Quality is sub-par.

I have an AMP that may work for you. It did for my converted OEM 65 radio. PM for details.

richardsimon52

· #10 · Nov 15, 2021

I have the USA 740 and not impressed. Doesn't power the speakers very well, the control functions are weird, and the display is hard to read because it has the "retro" face and digital display on at the same time. In bright light I can't read the digital display at all.

289vert

· #11 · Nov 15, 2021

I'd use retrosound before buying another custom autosound.
I'd do this before a retrosound. Aurora FMR Stereo Conversion

Reactions: 1

[email protected]

· #12 · Nov 16, 2021

I went with the Custom Autosound USA4-DIN in Chrome. Sorta fits the style. 6" in front, two 6x9 in rear. Seems to have the power needed. It is a full size radio so not the easiest to fit in, but I think no bigger than the stock AM.
Their userguide is not so good, but I can say the bluetooth works great. I have not tried any of the memory sticks or CD's as my phone holds all, so they could have done away with the CD mechanism and I would be just as happy. (hidden behind a flip down front)

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MrFreeze

· #13 · Nov 16, 2021

Custom Audiosound radios were garbage when they were first introduced and have only gotten worse with time. I have owned several (you may think I'm stupid; I prefer to call it stubborn). Finally got a Retrosound about 7-8 years ago, still working great as of yesterday.

CAS radios aren't worth the energy it would take to throw them into the nearest river.

My free opinion, take it or leave it...

MrFreeze

Reactions: 3

kechke

· #14 · Nov 16, 2021

I put a CAS USA-1 in my 68 about 20 years ago. It’s been turned on a few times, mostly with the Lynerd Skynerd tape that’s been in there since I got it.
might as well left the o/e am in it

22GT

· #15 · Nov 16, 2021

Custom Autosound had a 12% failure rate at the Mustang supplier I once worked for, so we dropped them. Retrosound, on the other hand works well, has very good sound, and I don't think we ever had one fail.

Since they are customizable, I recently specified one in all-chrome for use in a replica 1936 Mercedes 500K. But you can just as easily have it look period correct in a Mustang.

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Reactions: 1

du907

· #16 · Nov 16, 2021

You are asking the right people. This forum has the best answers to questions like these.
I do have a Custom Autosound running two 6" co-axial in the front and two 6x9 tri-axial in the rear. Has plenty of power/sound for me. It's been about 2 years now, no problems. It has iphone hookup, USB, blue tooth. I have all my songs on a USB drive that I stick in my ash tray and shut it so there is nothing to see. Works great. Had some extra knob holes cut into the dash I had to cover up so I found this surround plate to cover up where a cassette player radio was installed back in the day. I installed the 8 track player and wired it into the aux input on the radio. I have had that 8 track since high school. Yes it works and I get more comments about it than anything else.

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LeeFred

· #17 · Nov 16, 2021

I've owned two CAS radios...one I bought and one was a gift. Don't have either one anymore. I used to listen to a lot of radio but they would not lock onto a radio station to save a life. Just faded in and out. Don't recall what happened to the first one, but the second one I quit using and sold it on eBay. The buyer probably still hates me to this day. I now have my stock AM radio in the dash, and use it to power an amp hidden under the rear shelf in my fastback. I ran an input cable under the carpet and into my console where I hook up my phone. There are no radio stations out here where I live that I'd want to listen to, so it's the phone and saved music or streaming.

kenash

· #18 · Nov 16, 2021

I purchased a donor OEM radio and sent it off to be upgraded with FM and an audio port for a CD player. The only tell-tell indicator is a LED that's lit when when finding stations. Also, has a lead for an electric antenna. It has full "Fader" and "Balance" functions too. This was 15 years ago to. Now, can probably have it upgrade with Bluetooth.

Wayne clark

· #19 · Nov 16, 2021

I purchased a new cas 230 radio to put in my 67 vert ,kick panels with speakers & a new dual voice cone speaker for the dash. I thought it was a piece of useless crap . The sound quality was terrible plus trying to tune it made me want to beat it out of the dash. Then when the speaker wire plug assembley shorted out at the radio connection (still have'nt figured that out)while trying to install it in my just installed console ,I thought my vert was a goner, I was/am convinced it's a piece of crap. The complete line up i don't know about but if mine was their representative I'd say so.

For now i just have an empty spot where one goes. I think i am just going to reinstall my stock am radio to fill the hole & get a remote cd player in the trunk i can load with what i want to hear because i have yet to find a station that plays what i like to hear,plus i don't have to hear the blathering mouths .

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kenash

· #20 · Nov 16, 2021

Wayne clark said:
I purchased a new cas 230 radio to put in my 67 vert ,kick panels with speakers & a new dual voice cone speaker for the dash. I thought it was a piece of useless crap . The sound quality was terrible plus trying to tune it made me want to beat it out of the dash. Then when the speaker wire plug assembley shorted out at the radio connection (still have'nt figured that out)while trying to install it in my just installed console ,I thought my vert was a goner, I was/am convinced it's a piece of crap. The complete line up i don't know about but if mine was their representative I'd say so.

For now i just have an empty spot where one goes. I think i am just going to reinstall my stock am radio to fill the hole & get a remote cd player in the trunk i can load with what i want to hear because i have yet to find a station that plays what i like to hear,plus i don't have to hear the blathering mouths .

Referencing my comments above, I had a CD player in the trunk too. Then removed it after several years. An issue you have to be aware of is vibration. It should be placed on isolation pads or hidden inside a foam box. Also, have a Tube Bass Amp that I no longer use. In a Vert, it does/did a good job of enhancing the sound. I have two rear, two kick panel and a tri-cone dash speaker. It makes good sound.

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