308 Stereo use? Who really listens to it......

Many enthusiasts say all they need is the sound of the engine, but hearing 1000 rpm idle sitting in traffic for minutes on end doesn't particularly get my blood pumping. My car had a mid-2000's (or so) Pioneer CD deck installed when I bought it. I replaced it with a period-correct Alpine cassette deck from eBay. Looks much nicer. I do listen to it occasionally - it sounds about like you'd expect, with the 2 small door speakers and no extra amps/EQ. I've been surprised how many compliments I've gotten on my "old school stereo" from the younger crowd.

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I'd absolutely upgrade to an amp, 4 good speakers, sub, etc if it was possible to do a completely clean install. Unfortunately, there's no room in the cabin for such things.

 

Simply do not even concider the stereo on any of my drives in a Ferrari.

I do like the look of the old two knob job on the dash tho. Its classic nowdays

 

I spent a lot of time reconfiguring the stereo system in my 308.

The first owner had a CD changer, subwoofer amp and power amp in the trunk. The subwoofer was behind the passenger footrest. Tweeters in the window crank holes. The head unit was a JVC CD Receiver KD-R730BT with Bluetooth, phone mic, and Sirius radio. Blah, blah … All through the car there was evidence of at least 3 prior stereo installations. Wires everywhere; from the engine compartment to the spare tire well.

I have a fancy audiophile-grade stereo in the house (power amp is a hotrodded Dynaco ST-70 tube amp if you must know).

After the first owner's Sirius subscription expired (I had a few free months of Sirius in the car), I went through the car and stripped out all the wiring and simplified. I kept the head unit and power amp (although I moved it to the driver's footwell). I kept the phone mic. I removed the Sirius equipment, CD changer, subwoofer and subwoofer amp. I upgraded the speakers including the tweeters in the window crank holes.

I never listen to the darned thing. I love that it can connect to my phone to play Google maps verbal instructions since the car is too noisy to hear the instructions from the phone speaker alone. That's it. I have a USB port on the faceplate of my head unit which I could play mp3 or m4a files, but I don't. And the car is too loud to use the phone mic while driving.

 

Since I'm into music as much as into Ferrari I wanted a decent sound system in my carb 308 GTB.
I have a Blaupunkt head unit with 2x30W. No EQs, no additional amps. He built in EQ of the head unit is sufficient to adjust to sound regarding the passenger room conditions. But the head unit is not so important. The original door speakers are plain crap. I upgraded to a pair of JBL-speakers which did fit without modifications.
After that I was highly impressed, what's possible inside that little room. And I actually listen to music while sitting or going slow in traffic or listen to 70s Hard Rock while driving on a speed limit free -empty- german Autobahn

Best from Germany
Martin

 

Last thing I want to listen to is another car. I have stock mufflers and a good stereo in the Ferraris and the Lamborghini.

 

Which model? I completely agree that the head unit is way less important

 

I have a Blaupunkt from the era, replacing the abominable digital thingie that was in the car when I bought it. No other changes. I agree that the OEM speakers are...well...mediocre at best but I've found them to be acceptable.

 

Oooo! Oooo! Sacrilege!

 

JBL SR 130. Unfortunately this was already in the late 90s.These speakers are no more available.

Best from Germany
Martin

 

Your profile says '89 328.
Did you ever listen to the OEM-speakers of a 70s or 1980 car car?

Best from Germany
Martin

 

Modern door speakers put out more bass than vintage ones. I got better more accurate bass from modern Infinity door speakers (Infinity Reference REF-6500CFX) than I did from the big subwoofer in the passenger's footwell. That is why I removed the subwoofer.

The Infinitys fit without needing to hack the metal of the door although drilling new mounting holes was required. A big issue is that the leather speaker grilles are pretty much sonically opaque. External tweeters help a lot.

 

I put in a bluetooth Kenwood and new speakers mainly because I couldn't hear the Google Maps navigation prompts from my phone.

 

The Lamborghini? I completely agree. Its hers, don't blame me.

 

Try driving on a motorway/highway for @ 2 hours at a constant 80~90mph and see how long that glorious Ferrari engine sound keeps you entertained!

(I know you're going to say you never do that sort of driving anyway, but trust me, if you did, at a constant speed, the novelty of the noise does wear off!)

Not a 308, but in my 348 TS, I enjoyed many a drive with the roof off and the stereo playing a suitable driving soundtrack (including some nights driving to a very 1980's Miami Vice-esque soundtrack! - A bit corny, but soo enjoyable! )

 

I agree. I typically don't even start one of the Ferrari's up if I am not going for a couple of hours. I got over the novelty of noise as a teenager. Besides, noise attracts the Police. Since driving quiet cars I drive no slower but I get zero tickets. Trust me, Police don't like noisy cars or their drivers. Got pulled over by a state trooper 2 weeks ago considerably over the limit. I just did my "Golly gee aw shucks I'm sorry" routine and got out of another. My other half couldn't believe it. 3 in a row she has seen me smile and say I'm sorry right out of a speeding ticket.

 

Just like thorn, my '85 has an early-2000s Pioneer CD player, and I have a period-correct Blaupunkt cassette deck from eBay ready to go in, just for the proper look. PO put in better door speakers, but I don't listen to the radio.

 

What! Nobody here uses the Bluetooth Bose headset? LOL! I don’t even remember when is the last time I turned on my radio, it has been years and maybe because there’s no room for subwoofers

 

Well...the speakers in my car ARE the OEM speakers for a US '89 328

 

I barely own a Bluetooth anything.

 

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My 328 has a footwell speaker and special carpet mat...I still don't play the stereo.


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These? I'm looking around to see what fits the available depth without mods on a 78 308. Looks to me like the grilles on the older 308s are more acoustically transparent, which is great.

 

I own two bluetooth adaptors/receivers to connect my Ipad with a pair of old, ugly and dirty but still working PC active speakers to listen to the radio in my workshop/garage.
And to connect my Ipad with my music equipment (mixer) for practice purposes.
Bluetooth is convenient and spoils sound. But this doesn't matter because kids are excited about mp3-downloads played on a phone and amplified by a bluetooth scream-cube. Or played through "ear-pods". LOL.
Even a high quality bluetooth receiver doesn't sound as good as when the source is connected with wires.
If I want to really enjoy music at home I sometimes even go back to vinyl records on a 70s turntable I restored myself connected with a decent 90s Onkyo 9911 amplifier and a pair of B&W speakers. That's good enough for me

Best from Germany
Martin

 

I have new kenwood head unit 6 a speaker sound with x overs in doors new amp under front bonnet new power sub woof behind passenger seat sounds very good in my
328 with ipod

 

Call me weird...I don’t use the radio function at all because I don’t want to wear out the motorized antenna to listen to FM. I do listen to CDs but very seldom. I, like others, enjoy the engine sound.


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