Jabberjaw stereo

[ccr2002]

Ok guys, I need some advice and opinions regarding a stereo for Jabberjaw. It is almost ready for the road and before I reassemble the dash I am trying to decide which stereo setup to use.
Option 1: I have a blaupunkt Berlin classic stereo cassette w gooseneck presets and a gooseneck equalizer. Here is a pic for those unfamiliar.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71775&page=4

I have one of these and always thought they were so cool back in the 80s.

Option 2: Pioneer stage 4 reference cd head unit. A really high end piece I am told and yet it doesn't look too "bling". I may be able to get someone to replace the knobs w the classic e9 knobs.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/Stage4/DEX-P99RS

Option 3: find a becker Mexico retro 7948. A really cool modern version of the old classic. It's expensive and hard to find.
http://www.mybecker.com/enUK/hauptnavigation/automotive-archiv/mexiko-7948/ueberblick/

Option 4: put in the classic blaupunkt Frankfurt and then hide a modern stereo in the glove box or trunk and use a remote to control it. I love the classic look of this idea but since the car isn't original I am open to the above options.

Thanks for the opinions. Or if you've got a better idea let me know.

 

[Tierfreund]

I had the Becker 7948 for a while. Sold it for an incredible 3300€ 2 years ago. Only paid list price of 1500€ for it 2 years previously. Only time I ever made any money on anything automotive.

The point is though: The becker is technically not quite up to todays standard any more, has some software glitches, the nav is not particularly good, detail quality leaves things to be desired (chromed plastic instead of metal, bouncing knobs) etc.
Not worth it´s current prices...

Since Jabberjaw is not afraid to deviate from stock a bit and incorporate some new tec if it´s stylish with a nod to the past:
I say go for the pioneer. A lot cheaper than the becker, MUCH better sound, better signal processing (dial in some time correction for proper staging), very nice unit in touch, feel and function. Yet visually tastefull with a nod to the post with it´s two knob design.

I would forget about the old blaupunkt, the gooseneck stuff was a bit silly even when new, it´s not period correct for the E9 (more like 80s than 70s) and it´s in no way an attractive unit today.

The only alternative I would consider is going period correct and finding a
"BECKER MEXICO VOLLSTEREO" such as this one:

https://www.koenigs-klassik-radios....xico-cassette-vollstereo-autoreverse/a-10118/

high quality, still quite useable today, look and feel are magnificent. way ahead of it´s time, a pleasure to own. Add an mp3 input line, maybe even put a bluetooth reciever on that line and be done.

 

[Stan]

My 2 cents worth: go with the coolest looking period correct radio you can find.
How often will you drive this car? When driving how often will you listen to the radio?
I removed a Blaupunct Denver and installed this Frankfurt.

 

[craterface]

I vote for option 4.

The Mexico is amazing looking, but I see it as more of a Mercedes piece, than e9.

The gooseneck one to me says Porsche 928, not e9.

Scott

 

[Ski coach]

Option 3. I just put a Becker Europa ii in my car and it looks awesome. This option for Jabberjaw seems the best of both worlds to me.
Chris

 

[JFENG]

stereo's

I assume your car is already setup with speakers and amps, no?

As far as sound quality I'd start with an equalizer that had separate EQ's for front and rear (e.g. a dualxstereo eq or a 4 chan eq). Your car is a small "room" and the acoustic 'room' response from the rear and front are enormously different. Make sure you have full frequency coverage speakers in the front and rear (6.5" and a tweeter in each quadrant of the car), then get a multi-channel amp that has enough power (4x75w as per typical aftermarket rating methods should be the minimum). With this you have a fighting chance of making it sound decent. In an E9, I'd use a midrange and tweeter in a narrow box mounted on the floor in front of the seat base. Not the best for high frequencies, but at least you don't have to cut any trim panels.

The other important factor is your center channel. Stereo works using the principle of a phantom center. Basically a perceived center where there is no speaker. In fact, in most stereo recordings, 90% of the sound stage you hear is a phantom image because 10% or less of the stereo signal is all-left or all-right. Go listen to a home stereo and sit 3x closer to the left speaker than the right. Most of the time the soloist that should be in front of you will collapse into the near side speaker. That's a demonstration of when the idea of a phantom center breaks down. That asymmetric positioning is pretty much what you have in your car, but the car's worse because the cross over to the reverberant field happens higher in frequency (phantom imaging is more screwed up). So, the easiest thing you can do to get a proper sound stage in a car is to use an "upmixer" like Dolby ProLogic, Harmon Logic 7, etc. These will have a 5.1 output, which will give you that center channel signal to feed the stock E9 dash speaker.

 

[alanmcg]

4a

i would go with option 4a - have new insides put in frankfurter (stereo, power, mp3/iphone), and skip the klugy unit in the glove box. been discussed lots here before: http://www.e9coupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13167&highlight=ipad+mini&page=3

this way you get all the beni of new tech, and still totally period correct.

ps - as someone who spent WAY TOO MUCH MONEY and time on stupidly powerful and expensive stereo gear in the coup, my advice is keep it simple - our cars are way too loud to ever get really hi fidel sound, plus no better music that the sound of the big 6 anyway.

 

[TodB]

I dont listen to the radio/stereo enough when I am driving my Coupe to care about the stereo as I do my other car. I'm more listening for the radar detector .

I agree with Alan if you want a stereo, a period correct OEM looking unit upgraded with current features (preamp outs, USB in, etc.) are a good option. The other alternative is to put a stock radio in for the OEM look but use one of the bluetooth enabled, self contained boxes by Bose or JBL (or others) which actually sound pretty good.

 

[ccr2002]

thx

I had the Becker 7948 for a while. Sold it for an incredible 3300€ 2 years ago. Only paid list price of 1500€ for it 2 years previously. Only time I ever made any money on anything automotive.

The point is though: The becker is technically not quite up to todays standard any more, has some software glitches, the nav is not particularly good, detail quality leaves things to be desired (chromed plastic instead of metal, bouncing knobs) etc.
Not worth it´s current prices...

Since Jabberjaw is not afraid to deviate from stock a bit and incorporate some new tec if it´s stylish with a nod to the past:
I say go for the pioneer. A lot cheaper than the becker, MUCH better sound, better signal processing (dial in some time correction for proper staging), very nice unit in touch, feel and function. Yet visually tastefull with a nod to the post with it´s two knob design.

I would forget about the old blaupunkt, the gooseneck stuff was a bit silly even when new, it´s not period correct for the E9 (more like 80s than 70s) and it´s in no way an attractive unit today.

The only alternative I would consider is going period correct and finding a
"BECKER MEXICO VOLLSTEREO" such as this one:

https://www.koenigs-klassik-radios....xico-cassette-vollstereo-autoreverse/a-10118/

high quality, still quite useable today, look and feel are magnificent. way ahead of it´s time, a pleasure to own. Add an mp3 input line, maybe even put a bluetooth reciever on that line and be done.

Thanks...that's very helpful. I won't pursue one then.

 

[ccr2002]

i would go with option 4a - have new insides put in frankfurter (stereo, power, mp3/iphone), and skip the klugy unit in the glove box. been discussed lots here before: http://www.e9coupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13167&highlight=ipad+mini&page=3

this way you get all the beni of new tech, and still totally period correct.

ps - as someone who spent WAY TOO MUCH MONEY and time on stupidly powerful and expensive stereo gear in the coup, my advice is keep it simple - our cars are way too loud to ever get really hi fidel sound, plus no better music that the sound of the big 6 anyway.

Thanks Alan, your car is amazing. I love it. I too have a "rebuilt" frankfurt but am not overly impressed by it. It's ok. But it wasn't rebuilt with great equipment in my opinion. It sounds fine for my CSL. Is there someone who rebuilds these with great guts?

Like most of you...I'd like to keep it period correct, but for this restomod am ok with some enhancements.

 

[ccr2002]

I assume your car is already setup with speakers and amps, no?

As far as sound quality I'd start with an equalizer that had separate EQ's for front and rear (e.g. a dualxstereo eq or a 4 chan eq). Your car is a small "room" and the acoustic 'room' response from the rear and front are enormously different. Make sure you have full frequency coverage speakers in the front and rear (6.5" and a tweeter in each quadrant of the car), then get a multi-channel amp that has enough power (4x75w as per typical aftermarket rating methods should be the minimum). With this you have a fighting chance of making it sound decent. In an E9, I'd use a midrange and tweeter in a narrow box mounted on the floor in front of the seat base. Not the best for high frequencies, but at least you don't have to cut any trim panels.

The other important factor is your center channel. Stereo works using the principle of a phantom center. Basically a perceived center where there is no speaker. In fact, in most stereo recordings, 90% of the sound stage you hear is a phantom image because 10% or less of the stereo signal is all-left or all-right. Go listen to a home stereo and sit 3x closer to the left speaker than the right. Most of the time the soloist that should be in front of you will collapse into the near side speaker. That's a demonstration of when the idea of a phantom center breaks down. That asymmetric positioning is pretty much what you have in your car, but the car's worse because the cross over to the reverberant field happens higher in frequency (phantom imaging is more screwed up). So, the easiest thing you can do to get a proper sound stage in a car is to use an "upmixer" like Dolby ProLogic, Harmon Logic 7, etc. These will have a 5.1 output, which will give you that center channel signal to feed the stock E9 dash speaker.

Great advice...i'll pass it along to my stereo guy.
ccr

 

[Stefan]

ccr2002:

Hold on one minute!
Get your car ready for the road first until you think about music.

First, drive and listening to the normal noises in the E9.

Then you realize what music system you really need

 

[ccr2002]

Absolutely!

You're right! But the car is definitely ready to go from that standpoint. Don has dialed it in perfectly. I just needed to fettle a few cosmetic issues. So now it's being put back together and I need to put something in there. Speakers etc are already placed. Just need a head unit. I rarely listen to anything but news or just the radio but this car needs to be perfect and buttoned up for good and enjoyed.

Thx for everyone's opinion.

 

[Ski coach]

Wow, I had no idea option 3 was over 3K. In that case, I'd actually do what I did with a Europa II with an auxiliary jack for iPhone etc. It is 2 channel stereo that actually sounds OK. I am usually listening to my 3.5L with triple Webbers though.
Chris