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Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? #1368893
01/13/13 12:19 PM
01/13/13 12:19 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
cjskotni Offline OP
pro stock
cjskotni  Offline OP
pro stock

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
Guys,

I will be looking for a radio solution for my 1973 Charger soon and I see I have several options. I know you can send your OEM radio out to get rebuilt/upgraded and you can buy an OEM look-alike that is modern inside but I am not quite ready to dump $500+ on a radio for my car and I want a radio that has 4 seperate channels (not just one like the OEM).

I have seen the Custom Autosound USA-630 here being sold to fit the 1971-74 Charger bezels. Anybody installed and used one in one of these cars? I want something that looks stock (no cutting or hiding), works decently, and can do the 4 seperate channels as I have 4 seperate speakers in the car now.

Any experience with these? Tips/issues? Is it worth the $240 price tag?

Any ideas or stories would be appreciated. I will need some tunes now that the car is running!

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: cjskotni] #1368894
01/13/13 01:02 PM
01/13/13 01:02 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,002
Salem
Grizzly Offline
Moparts Proctologist
Grizzly  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Salem
Quote:



Is it worth the $240 price tag?






Geez, by the looks of that one photo I'd say save your money. It looks brutal.


Mo' Farts

Moderated by "tbagger".
Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: cjskotni] #1368895
01/13/13 02:05 PM
01/13/13 02:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,881
Puttin' on the foil in Charles...
not_a_charger Offline
Mr. Big Shot Moparts Moderator
not_a_charger  Offline
Mr. Big Shot Moparts Moderator

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,881
Puttin' on the foil in Charles...
This is the one I'm planning to buy for my 73. I know at least 1 Moparts member used this radio and was very happy with it.


Earning every penny of that moderator paycheck.

DBAP
Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: not_a_charger] #1368896
01/13/13 02:11 PM
01/13/13 02:11 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,754
Conway, SC
T2R9 Offline
master
T2R9  Offline
master

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,754
Conway, SC
Quote:

This is the one I'm planning to buy for my 73. I know at least 1 Moparts member used this radio and was very happy with it.




I used the Retro sound setup and love it! I also used the bracket a member here makes for 2 3.5" speakers up front and mounted 2 6x9's in the rear. Works great, looks great, a little bit of trimming to make it just right but not much.

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: T2R9] #1368897
01/13/13 02:17 PM
01/13/13 02:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,861
albany ny
0
05dakota Offline
I Live Here
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Posts: 17,861
albany ny
used their crap twice, had a cd changer that worked about 3 days a in dash caSEETE player that never worked. over priced junk

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: T2R9] #1368898
01/13/13 02:37 PM
01/13/13 02:37 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
cjskotni Offline OP
pro stock
cjskotni  Offline OP
pro stock

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
Quote:

Quote:

This is the one I'm planning to buy for my 73. I know at least 1 Moparts member used this radio and was very happy with it.




I used the Retro sound setup and love it! I also used the bracket a member here makes for 2 3.5" speakers up front and mounted 2 6x9's in the rear. Works great, looks great, a little bit of trimming to make it just right but not much.




That looks nice but does the face plate fit the cluster bezel properly? It doesn't look to be the correct dimensions. I do like the knob setup where they can go practically anywhere.

It is only a 20RMSx4 amplifier. Does that put out decent sound with new speakers? I know my car is going to be loud anyways but I would like to have a chance of hearing it if the car is running.

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: 05dakota] #1368899
01/13/13 02:38 PM
01/13/13 02:38 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
cjskotni Offline OP
pro stock
cjskotni  Offline OP
pro stock

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
Quote:

used their crap twice, had a cd changer that worked about 3 days a in dash caSEETE player that never worked. over priced junk




How long ago was this and did they take care of you or kick you to the curb?

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: cjskotni] #1368900
01/13/13 02:41 PM
01/13/13 02:41 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,754
Conway, SC
T2R9 Offline
master
T2R9  Offline
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Posts: 2,754
Conway, SC
For my needs its plenty loud enough with good sound. I have Polk Audio speakers front and rear. It also has amp outputs so you can boost the output too. I will admit before I got rid of the flowmasters and their drone I did have to crank it!


Edit: I did have to file the corners of the face plate to round the edges to match the opening in the gauge bezel but it was not much.

Last edited by T2R9; 01/13/13 02:43 PM.
Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: T2R9] #1368901
01/13/13 03:04 PM
01/13/13 03:04 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
cjskotni Offline OP
pro stock
cjskotni  Offline OP
pro stock

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
Quote:

For my needs its plenty loud enough with good sound. I have Polk Audio speakers front and rear. It also has amp outputs so you can boost the output too. I will admit before I got rid of the flowmasters and their drone I did have to crank it!


Edit: I did have to file the corners of the face plate to round the edges to match the opening in the gauge bezel but it was not much.




Pics? I'd like to see one installed. Where did you put the USB/SD dongle?

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: cjskotni] #1368902
01/13/13 03:16 PM
01/13/13 03:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,754
Conway, SC
T2R9 Offline
master
T2R9  Offline
master

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,754
Conway, SC
Quote:

Quote:

For my needs its plenty loud enough with good sound. I have Polk Audio speakers front and rear. It also has amp outputs so you can boost the output too. I will admit before I got rid of the flowmasters and their drone I did have to crank it!


Edit: I did have to file the corners of the face plate to round the edges to match the opening in the gauge bezel but it was not much.




Pics? I'd like to see one installed. Where did you put the USB/SD dongle?




My dash is apart as I am redoing my wiring. Here is the original thread that convinced me to get one. Tons of pics, great install.

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=6644325

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: T2R9] #1368903
01/13/13 04:45 PM
01/13/13 04:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,719
Space Station #5
471Magnum Offline
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Posts: 3,719
Space Station #5
I've a Custom Autosound unit in my 72 RR. The install was really easy. Works fine, but it's definitely not a high end unit.

USB dongle is a bit short. I bought an extension that would reach the glove box.

Using a DVC speaker in the stock dash opening. Nothing more. Works fine for what I need. I generally prefer the tunes coming from under the hood over music when I'm driving the RR.


Documented the install over on RR nest, but the sever whacked all the photos.
http://www.roadrunnernest.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4431


-Jim

I can fix it... my old man is a television repairman.
He's got the ultimate set of tools... I can fix it.

Currently Mopar-less
Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: cjskotni] #1368904
01/13/13 08:35 PM
01/13/13 08:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,861
albany ny
0
05dakota Offline
I Live Here
05dakota  Offline
I Live Here
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,861
albany ny
Quote:

Quote:

used their crap twice, had a cd changer that worked about 3 days a in dash caSEETE player that never worked. over priced junk




How long ago was this and did they take care of you or kick you to the curb?




4-5 yrs ago, they replaced them but took several weeks to do so. still using the cd changer but replaced the cassete with a new blue tooth radio mounted under dash. sold the cassete/radio on ebay for 10 bucks.


5549 post on old board
Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: 471Magnum] #1368905
01/13/13 10:45 PM
01/13/13 10:45 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
cjskotni Offline OP
pro stock
cjskotni  Offline OP
pro stock

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
Quote:

I've a Custom Autosound unit in my 72 RR. The install was really easy. Works fine, but it's definitely not a high end unit.

USB dongle is a bit short. I bought an extension that would reach the glove box.

Using a DVC speaker in the stock dash opening. Nothing more. Works fine for what I need. I generally prefer the tunes coming from under the hood over music when I'm driving the RR.


Documented the install over on RR nest, but the sever whacked all the photos.
http://www.roadrunnernest.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4431




Do you have the Custom Autosound or the Retrosound unit? Your pics look like you have the Retrosound.

I have no doubt the install is easy but I am a bit concerned about the wimpy 20x4 amp... All their other units are 50x4 or higher

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: cjskotni] #1368906
01/14/13 12:01 AM
01/14/13 12:01 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 616
TP Exit 7, NJ, USA
DANA60 Offline
mopar
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mopar

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Posts: 616
TP Exit 7, NJ, USA
I have the Retro Sound one, it's IMO pretty junky. I basically tossed the "rear" speakers they sold me up on the shelf and installed some heavier SONY's. Their combo double for the dash works, but's it's tinny in sound. Plus their in dash unit, with patience, will fit "ok" but it's not the best, but it will fit and be somewhat better then the stock AM FM. I give it a 5 in a 1-10 (10 being the best)

7545862-IMG_3411_1_1.JPG (195 downloads)
Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: cjskotni] #1368907
01/14/13 12:03 AM
01/14/13 12:03 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 492
Kansas
BEINGmeISaCRIME Offline
mopar
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mopar

Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 492
Kansas
I wanted to get the retrosound to put into the rally dash of my 72 but after I saw this replacement dash, I'll be finding another solution for a radio.

http://www.classicdash.com/shopping/1971-74-Roadrunner-Black-6-Hole-Panel..html

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: cjskotni] #1368908
01/14/13 09:32 AM
01/14/13 09:32 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 277
Palmyra, NY
6
63stabamatic Offline
enthusiast
63stabamatic  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 277
Palmyra, NY
I use the Custom Auto Sound Secret radios with IR remote in two cars and share one CD player. On one radio a channel quit, they fixed it under warranty but now have two channels down, luckily opposite front and back, no warranty left so I live with it. The other radio has been OK. I like the look of the Retro Sound unit might go with one of those.

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? [Re: 63stabamatic] #1368909
01/14/13 10:23 AM
01/14/13 10:23 AM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
cjskotni Offline OP
pro stock
cjskotni  Offline OP
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526
North Carolina
So I get the feeling that there are some significant compromises here with both the Custom Autosound and Retrosound units.

Seems the Custom Autosound units seem to have technical issues and the Retrosound is a bit wimpy on the audio.

I see that they make the repro radios that are full size to the OEM's, or you can have your OEM rebuilt but I am a bit hesistant to shell out $600 for a radio without the USB connectivity. I know they can add the Aux input but then I have to fiddle with an MP3 player.

Does this just about sum it up? Are there any other options to get something in the OEM location that looks OEM?

Thanks for the input guys!







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