Radio: OEM options or period correct upgrade

[SRDK]

The previous owner had removed the radio in the car. I'm considering which radio to grab. I want a unit that fits the design of the interior and is period correct to the car.

At the same time, I want to use both DIN slots. The natural choice would be to obtain the original radio, if possible. However, I think there could be better alternatives to sound quality.

I'm not interested in the cassette players but a CD player could be nice. Most importantly, it would be great with an AUX input so I can connect a bluetooh receiver of some kind.

The goal is not to build a huge HIFI system in the car but to get something aesthetically correct with a reasonable sound quality. Speakers in dashboard, doors and rear I think to upgrade to the best possible devices that is a direct swap.

I am very interested in suggestions and experiences from you. I have attached a few pictures for inspiration
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[GSTwithPSI]

I'm a die hard Alpine guy, so naturally I'd go with one of their decks. I follow this guy on Instagram, who fixes all kinds of old Alpine stuff. Maybe take a look and get some ideas: click

There are a ton of double DIN decks in his pics. A lot of them are old, but legit AF as far as quality sounds equipment goes. Also, alpine seems to match the green interior of the Galant perfectly, so there's that.

 

[GotInsulin]

I've got a Bluetooth amp in 72 under the front seat with the OEM double din head unit still plugged in. Let's everything function as normal, but when I want to listen to anything via BT, you just activate/connect your device and it ignores the head unit aside from the volume knob. Would love to see other stuff, but I'm a goon for OEM+

 

[SRDK]

GotInsulin, i would like to see pictures of that setup.
I’m a Big fan of that kind of OEM+ upgrades <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

 

[turbofonz]

Some OEM radios have AUX in. No bluetooth obviously, but the right cable and it works great.

 

[G]

 

[gvr4ever]

The current Alpine's look a lot like one I bought almost 15ish years ago. They still have a huge volume knob. I have a single DIN and a pocket. I forget where I sourced the pocket, but the pocket and trim were Mitsu parts, so it looks factory.

Might not be what your looking for, but I think they still have a bit of a retro look to them. Compared to everything else.

 

[misterfixit]

I see you found my orig radio rebuild thread.
click
I like the look of these, but I don't like leaving a headunit in the car with a face on.
Currently fitted is a random head unit that has a usb jack on a cable and animated dolphins.. very not period. Once I can find a usb type changer thing it's coming out.

My personal faveourite headunit I've had in the car isn't oem, but i used it with a pocket, changer, six speakers and amps etc is a wood grain Clarion ARX8570Rwz

For some reason I like clarions, they have a solid sound.

Rich

 

[misterfixit]

Here are the factory upgrade options from 1991 to give an idea of the 'styles' when in a galant console.
There are four pages on headunits
click

Rich

 

[jnava]

Quoting G:

That's a nice set..

 

[jnava]

I was able to track this one down with visible letters. I'm still looking for the stereo now.

 

[SRDK]

Nice Alpine setup. A little to modern for the car?
According to the Alpine website it's from 1998
Alpine CDA-7846J

Best 1988-1992 option? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[idreamidrive]

I have been debating getting this VDO HU as it is about as period correct as you can get from a newer HU, but I would want to switch out the orange lights to the green that we have to match everything else in the car.

 

[GotInsulin]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quoting SRDK:</font><hr />
GotInsulin, i would like to see pictures of that setup.
I’m a Big fan of that kind of OEM+ upgrades <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

If I'm near the car in the near future, I'll snag a photo, but it really doesn't look like more than a little black box. Very incognito. I think it's the 94+ DSM headunits that have the native aux port, but don't hold me to it.

These are both nice alternatives to the Bluetooth amp that basically do the same thing:
click

 

[Gvr4-330]

I pulled all the aftermarket audio out of my car and have been looking at returning it to stock-ish, and I thought I'd use this thread to post some more information about the stock radios.

First up, this was the base radio for the VR-4 and the one that came in my car. MB541074



Next up, this is the upgrade radio (the mid-level) for the VR4. MB649791



The next upgrade for the VR4 was the 2-single DIN cd-players. Pics stolen from earlier in the thread as I don't have these.

In 91, we had this one. It requires a separate amp mounted in the trunk.


In 92, the amp was moved into the radio so we got a different tape and cd deck:


Now a few decks I've been playing with.

MB942702 - This particular one came out of a 93 Diamante and I think it's one of the coolest Mitsu OEM radios


and at night. Doesn't quite match the deep green of our backlight. It's more of a yellow-ish green.


There are a few variations on this radio. MB942704 was used in the Mitsubishi 3000GT and is exactly the same with the exception of the backlight colors:


MB629129 is also similar. It's from the 91-92 3000GT and while it doesn't have CD changer control like the MB942702/MB942704, the radio plugs match what's in the Galant.

However, all you need to do to get the MB942702/MB942704 radios working is to put together an adapter harness:


You also will need to redrill the radio brackets, as the radio mounting holes are in a different location. They are also anti-theft decks, but you can get the radio codes from Mitsubishi online for free.

Finally, all the part numbers are what I was able to find. There are other similar-looking radios out there but with different part numbers. Some of that is because the backlight is a different color, so double check it to make sure you get what you want.

 

[fuel]

I LOVE this info thank you very much!

My question is with the MB942702/MB942704 radios specifically - can you change the FM frequency tuning interval? In North America the FM tuning steps go 90.1, 90.3, 90.5, 90.7 and so on whereas rest of the world goes 90.0, 90.1, 90.2, 90.3 and so on.

Most of these radios which end up in New Zealand are from Japanese imports where their FM frequency goes from 76 to 90MHz instead of the 87.5 to 108MHz the rest of the world uses, so would be nice to source one from North American and modify to receive rest of world FM frequencies.

 

[SRDK]

So I found a 92 radio with the tape/CD player.

To my great disappointment, unfortunately, the radio does not work. There are lights in the buttons (wrong color) and the display shows the clock. When I try to turn on the radio nothing happens and none of the buttons seem to do anything. My car is a US VR4 from 91. Is there anyone who can fix my problem or do I just have a faulty radio that can not be saved?

 

[SRDK]

 

[iceman69510]

The buttons are orange because that model and part number radio is from a 92 and up Eclipse which used orange interior lighting. The light colors can be changed, but finding the right lens covers and doing the work is not simple.

Sounds like it is powering up at least. Does the CD player work if you insert a disc? Is your wiring all stock and in good condition?

Lastly, the 91 MY VR4 used a separate amplifier in the trunk, and from 92 the amp is in the radio. I think they interchange because I have a newer radio in my 91. I don't remember if I had to do any wiring changes other than removing the old dead amplifier.

Do you have audio repair shops where you are? It could probably be fixed, since if it turns on it may just need some simple component replacement.

 

[SRDK]

When I saw that the light was orange, I also suspected that the radio probably came from another Mitsubishi. However, I imagine that it is possible for me to change the color.

I have no reason to believe that my wiring harness should have been anything other than original.

I do not think my car has any amplifier in the trunk but it is possible there has been one before.

I find someone who can take a look at it