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Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 8:51 am
by DJW
My Plus 2 currently has no stereo fitted and I?m quite happy with the cleaner look of the dash.

However it would be good to have some music every now & again, so I?m thinking a hidden Bluetooth amp would allow me to stream music from my phone. Has anyone done something similar and can recommend a specific amp ? I did find the following but appears to be US only.

Image

If there is a period looking head unit that I should also consider then please do advise

Thanks, Dave

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 11:56 am
by EPA
I fitted a Retrosound radio with Bluetooth. The unit is a DAB radio and it connects to my mobile phone and fits in the radio slot.
Ed

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 12:29 pm
by DJW
Thanks Ed, looks good. Will have a look at those.

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 12:53 pm
by The Veg
I have Retrosound too but have not yet been able to test it. It does allow the faceplate to be removed from the radio body and connected by cable, which is what I did as the space behind the dashboard looked a bit tight. Another good thing is that the unit hardly weighs anything, probably lighter than the OEM radios. Add lightness.

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 1:02 pm
by mbell
This on my long term to do list. I was just going to get a cheap one of Amazon. There are plenty to choose from.

The not much point fitting expensive high quality in a +2 and the entry one will sounds plenty good enough.

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 2:42 pm
by 69S4
My period radio (period =1980s :lol: ) has a cassette player so I've been using a Bluetooth cassette to link to my phone and, in a further fit of nostalgia, to a minidisc player. The sound isn't that great but you can't hear much in an Elan anyway. :lol:

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 2:46 pm
by 1owner69Elan
I used an ?Out of Sight? audio Bluetooth unit controlled by my phone. Have a cutout in my dash but like the clean look of the grain matched blanking plate (same as I received the car at the factory) so no head unit.

Unit is placed in the trunk (boot).

http://www.outofsightaudio.com/mark-i.html

The issue was more where to put the speakers. I thought I might be able to put some slim units under the seats but that didn?t work out. So just have some small enclosed speakers laying on the floor behind the seats (2 seat Elan).

I can hear the sound with the top down and at speed - plenty loud and clear. But, I usually am happy just to listen to the twincam.

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 3:14 pm
by DJW
Cheers Gents.

I did find this one, at ?159 although ideally wanted to stay below ?100

https://www.classiccarstereo.co.uk/hidd ... amplifier/

Image

This one at ?33 looked a bargain but then read reviews and find it does a jingle noise at every power on. Now that would annoy me :lol:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BMSG536/ ... yDb333WNMH

b673d215-561b-434f-b466-db731d24b0d5.jpeg and

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 8:19 pm
by pptom
I've got a cheap one in my garage, runs 12V through a transformer branded 'nobsound'!!!
Its actually really good through my stereo speakers and if i ever wanted to put any music on in my +2 i'd be tempted to go for one of these. As above though it does a funny 'bluetooth mode' voice announcement at startup

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sun Aug 25, 2019 1:11 pm
by JimE
Call me old school but I prefer the sound of the original.

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sun Aug 25, 2019 8:34 pm
by JonB
Nice Turnolock you have there!

Problem for me is there is nothing to receive down here apart from radio 5 live sport and a tonne of foreign junk. So that lovely radio wouldn't do me any good.

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Sun Aug 25, 2019 11:53 pm
by webbslinger
I hide tiny ones in my ears. Sometimes both, sometimes the window side only. Sports earbuds. Very light.

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 12:54 am
by SENC
I started down this road, then realized all of my music these days is played from my phone (either from an sd card or from Spotify), so why mess with an amp or receiver and speaker installation when all I need is a bluetooth speaker. I have a Fugoo I like that I just pop on the parcel shelf, and can play and modify volume from the phone.

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 4:00 am
by Davefettback
Lots of sources.
Hot Rods use them.
This one of many.https
://www.classiccarstereos.com/secretaudio-hidden-classic-car-radio-system.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw44jrBRAHEiwAZ9igKGqpjWI5rycVpEsBh7XPBF_JzenqdIQOWF6zrhRQt4_Adf6sG4eHqxoCIcAQAvD_BwE
Also Critchfield, which has speakers and everything you could need.

Re: Anyone fitted a hidden Bluetooth amp ?

PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2019 10:15 am
by AshleyPark
Can't beat this retro looking BT radio for price!

https://tinyurl.com/y3xeblaa