Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good?

Posted By: cjskotni

Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/13/13 04:19 PM

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!

Posted By: Grizzly

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/13/13 05:02 PM

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.

Posted By: not_a_charger

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/13/13 06:05 PM

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.

Posted By: T2R9

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/13/13 06:11 PM

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.

Attached picture 7544947-IMG_2982(Small).JPG

Attached picture 7544947-IMG_2982(Small).JPG

Posted By: 05dakota

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/13/13 06:17 PM

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

Posted By: cjskotni

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/13/13 06:37 PM

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.

Posted By: cjskotni

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/13/13 06:38 PM

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?

Posted By: T2R9

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/13/13 06:41 PM

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.

Posted By: cjskotni

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/13/13 07:04 PM

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?

Posted By: T2R9

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/13/13 07:16 PM

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

Posted By: 471Magnum

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/13/13 08:45 PM

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

Posted By: 05dakota

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/14/13 12:35 AM

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.

Posted By: cjskotni

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/14/13 02:45 AM

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

Posted By: DANA60

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/14/13 04:01 AM

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)

Attached picture 7545862-IMG_3411_1_1.JPG

Attached picture 7545862-IMG_3411_1_1.JPG

Posted By: BEINGmeISaCRIME

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/14/13 04:03 AM

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

Posted By: 63stabamatic

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/14/13 01:32 PM

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.

Posted By: cjskotni

Re: Custom Auto Sound USA-630 - Any Good? - 01/14/13 02:23 PM

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!