Audio help

[70barracuda]

Having an issue with my sound system. It's a pioneer headunit, 4 pioneer speakers (only doors are run through amp), and a pioneer amplifier. Put it in last summer and it worked great.  Now all of sudden it's acting wierd. On radio, when I turn the volume up it will cut out and I won't be able to get it back until I lower the volume. Also sounds real staticy and not great.  When playing a cassette tape it's clear as day and I can go as loud as possible. 

 

I'm thinking maybe an issue with the antenna or coax? Maybe a ground issue?

[MiNi Beast]

Your head unit is trash. I never have had good luck with any pioneer units. Speakers are good, but I run Sony head units and no issues with mud and all. Just from my experience, I'd suggest swapping head unit. 

[Pete M]

I mean, you can always dig into the dash and fiddle with the wires to see what happens , but it does sound like an internal issue.  

[70barracuda]

I wish somebody made a modern vintage looking cassette head unit. Even though I bought this one NOS it's still 30 years old. 

 

Modern units just don't fit the aesthetic

[Pete M]

does anyone make a new cassette playing radio?  that feels like it'd be an incredibly niche market.  

[MiNi Beast]

Could just be dirty on contacts if flip down unit. However the knob on the pioneer units are common failure points. Quit playing with the knob so much. 

[87 MJ Chief]

We've had several people ask us here at the radio station about new automotive cassette stereos. To my knowledge, no one (in the USA) offers a new head unit anymore. I went as far as calling Crutchfield and a couple others to see if they knew of any niche manufactures. There just isn't enough interest in the cassette option anymore. Kinda like 60's and 70's 8-track players.

What I'd suggest is, keep your stock head unit in the dash and install a hide-away system like we do for our old Mopars (mine's a '73 440 Duster). Cost is +/- $350.00 but you can play 80's / 90's music from your SD card while sitting at the main street meet-up and keep the original look.

 

here's the link to classic industries-

https://www.classicindustries.com/product/S102.html?srsltid=AWLEVJwSKGIhnaQHdLMVoL2tCo8KEMeiaZDqCq3xSjJohuaz95OsKpzY00s

[MiNi Beast]

I remember buying a $25 cassette head unit from Walmart installed in first MJ and someone tried to steal it but couldn't get it out the dash.  didn't see the 50 cassette case behind the bucket seats,  however still stole my shovel and good East wing 🔨. I was mad at first but popped some Ozzy in and just barked at the 🌒 and drove on home.  Sorry flash backs and wanted to share my love for the pencil rewinding days. And had also had a CD/Cass double din head unit from crutchfield as well was like 350. The old man bought it for me.  He however is more a 8 track man. 

[ghetdjc320]

Sounds like the output gain from the head unit may be to high. Likely an internal issue. Are you using rca pre outs or speaker level output for your amplifier input? If your amp accepts both you can try swapping from one to the other. 

[GrizzzzBear]

Sounds more like an Issue of the Head is putting out too much, the Speakers can't handle all of it, Head unit gets Overloaded and does a Shutdown to Reset.

 

I had the same Issue with a Home Stereo. Had a friend (he did sound systems professionally) who checked and told me about the Issue.

 

[70barracuda]

So redid most the wiring under the hood including ground cleanup and now it works fine??? The amp wire runs by what I cleaned up. Maybe I was getting excessive interference?