Uncovering Hidden Stereo Systems for Classic Cars

Not all vehicles offer fitment for tuner shaft radios, some classic car owner's have customized the dash, and others just want to keep the original in there and have a separate radio or stereo power everything. There are many different options available to run a hidden or non-standard radio application and let's get into them.

Who are these for?

The Secretaudio and other non-dash mounted receivers are for classic car owners that typically meet several criteria.

1. The vehicle never came with a radio. This is true of many of the '20s, '30s and '40s vehicles.
2. The dash has been customized and the original radio opening is no longer there
3. It is a unique application and an aftermarket, original fit radio is not available
4. The original radio is still in the dash, working or not.
5. The vehicle came with a radio block off plate and you want to keep it that way

What types of units are available?

1. Brain with a Wired Display/Remote
2. Out of Sight Audio Module
3. Compact Digital Media Receivers
4. Amplifier Bluetooth Adapters
5. DIN Head Unit in a Remote Location

Brain with a Wired Display

The "brain with a wired display" consists of a black box or "brain" that is typically mounted under a seat, in the trunk, or any other place where it can neatly fit, tucked away and out of sight. Custom Autosound was one of the originators of this idea for the classic car market when they introduced Secretaudio. The black box or brain contains all of the processing. It has the tuner, the amplifier, and all of the other components that make the radio work. It also has a pigtail harness coming out of it and one of the connections will be used to connect to a wired display. Usually, the display is connected to the brain via a cable that is 6 to 10 feet long. The display can then be mounted wherever you like with your choice of bracket or flush mounting. We offer two units for this type of application. The Custom Autosound Secretaudio SST-V and the SSV Works MRB3. Both feature an AM/FM tuner, Bluetooth, auxiliary and much more. Please see below to see a comparison.

Out of Sight Audio

Out of Sight Audio is a new product to the market that does exactly as its name suggests, it gives you audio while remaining out of sight. There are three different Out of Sight Audio modules, the Mark 1, Mark 2, and Mark 3. Each Out of Sight Audio unit has a 45-watt amplifier built into it and feature Bluetooth music streaming. Here's how it works. If you have your original radio, you use that radio to send the signal to Out of Sight Audio via the radio's speaker wires. Out of Sight Audio processes that signal and then uses its own internal amplifier to boost the signal, and then send it to your car's speakers. In addition to that, you can also connect your phone to Out of Sight Audio and play the songs on your phone through the module without even using the original radio. The music will just go to the Mark 1, 2, or 3 via Bluetooth, the internal amplifier will supply the power and your speakers will then play the music that is playing on your phone. Out of Sight Audio is perfect is you have an original working radio and you just want something with better sound, something modern, and you want to add Bluetooth. This product is very popular for the 80's, the '90s, and 2000's luxury and exotic vehicles as the owners want to keep the car as original as possible with its original radio, yet they want Bluetooth and upgraded sound. Check out the chart with the three models below.

Compact Digital Media Receivers

We offer several digital media receivers, most of which are square-shaped and feature a multi-color LCD display. These compact digital media receivers offer a full list of features while taking up minimal real estate in your dash or console. We offer the digital media receivers from several brands including Rockford Fosgate, JL Audio, Kicker, and more. The benefit of these units is that you get the latest technology and modern features in your classic car, yet oftentimes you don't have to cut a big ole hole in your dash or console. Most feature an AM/FM tuner, Bluetooth, USB, auxiliary, multiple RCA pre-outs, and a full-color LCD display that will show you the artist and the name of the song you are playing. Depending on what you are using to play your music, they may even show the album cover too. Some units such as the Rockford Fosgate PMX-3, the JL Audio MM100be, and the JL Audio MM50 are also Sirius XM ready. If you are looking to put a head unit in your glove box, you have a custom console, or you have a custom dash, check out these digital media receivers as you can get the latest features available in a small, compact package.

Amplifier Bluetooth Adapters

Depending on how technologically savvy you are, you may just opt for an amplifier with a Bluetooth adapter. If you basically just play music from your phone, you can spend about the same amount of money as you would for one of the hidden radios, yet get much better sound quality by purchasing an amplifier and a Bluetooth adapter. With these types of setups, you use a 12V Bluetooth adapter with RCA cables and plug it into the input side of an amplifier. When your phone connects to the Bluetooth adapter, the music from your phone goes straight into the amp, get's the power, and goes out to your speakers. Amplifier power will almost always sound better than deck, or radio power. With these types of applications, you can buy a $250 amplifier, spend between $40-100 on a Bluetooth amp adapter, and you have a head unit that will blow the doors off of any radio in terms of sound quality. Now the user interface may not be as easy as you may have to control everything from your phone, but if you do that anyway, you can get really good sound and get 50-75 watts of constant power instead of 20. Check out some of our best selling combos here:

DIN Unit Under a Seat or in the Glovebox

Last but not least is the modern, DIN size head unit/CD player mounted in the glove box, under the dash, or wherever else you may decide to hide it. Depending on the vehicle, the head unit may be far and out of reach. Yes, you can get a remote, but be careful not to make any turns with it sitting on the passenger seat or else you can't change songs and you probably can't adjust the volume either. People have been doing this for years before many of the other options listed above were available. Does it work? Totally. It just' isn't out favorite because we feel like you can get a better experience for the same or less money.

Which ones are our favorites?

The Secretaudio SST-V is the latest version of the Secretaudio. Secretaudio is the original hidden head unit for classic cars and these things just work. They have been around forever and there's nothing bad to say about them. If you like that idea, you can pivot the MRB3 and save some money. For the Out of Sight Audio, the Mark 3 has the most features and allows you to do the most with it in terms of system expansion. This is probably the best choice is you have a working original radio. For the digital media receivers, I like the Rockford Fosgate PMX-2 and the PMX-3, it just depends on if you want Sirius XM or not. I also really like the JL Audio MediaMaster 50. If you just want to have the top of the line stuff, go with the JL Audio MediaMaster 100be. For the amplifier and Bluetooth adapters, I like the JL Audio MBT-RX and the MBT-CRX. The CRX allows you to change tracks and volume from the dash. Infinity also has a nice one that has a rotary knob for volume control. I would pair the controller up with the JL Audio MX280 or the Rockford Fosgate T400x4ad. Both are super small amps that you can mount virtually anywhere. If you want to put a DIN size unit in the glovebox or under the seat, I'd go with the latest Kenwood eXcelon model. Kenwood is known for its head units and their eXcelon line is their high-end line. It's just good stuff.

Hopefully, this gives you some more information about the options for hidden audio in your classic vehicle. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us at 888-789-7297 or you can email us at info@classiccarstereos.com