Features: Compatible with iPod and iPhone Built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming Plays MP3 and WMA files via front or rear USB inputs Dual Green or Amber illumination with adjustable High/Low Dimmer AM/FM tuner with 30 presets and RDS Selectable USA/EU/Japan Tuner Frequencies Built-in amplifier (25 watts RMS/45 watts peak x 4 channel) Two sets of RCA low level outputs One pair of subwoofer outputs w/ adjustable level and crossover control Warranty: 2 Year Parts and Labor DIN 1.5 dash compatibility
That's awfully expensive. An adapter from Humount makes a standard DIN radio look like it belongs in the car, and the radio plus mount can cost less. I have one of these (in black) in one of my cars.
[This message has been edited by TopNotch (edited 08-11-2015).]
Oops - forgot we're talking about Fiero owners here
This has all the features of modern radios and still has a more "factory look" that someone may be looking for. With the Black Knobs it wouldn't even look out of place in an Indy.
[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 08-11-2015).]
I've seen these on eBay for a while now. It would bring your car's radio up to "today's standards". Just curious if anyone had installed one yet?
RetroSound Newport DIN 1.5 Radio
Features: Compatible with iPod and iPhone Built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming Plays MP3 and WMA files via front or rear USB inputs Dual Green or Amber illumination with adjustable High/Low Dimmer AM/FM tuner with 30 presets and RDS Selectable USA/EU/Japan Tuner Frequencies Built-in amplifier (25 watts RMS/45 watts peak x 4 channel) Two sets of RCA low level outputs One pair of subwoofer outputs w/ adjustable level and crossover control Warranty: 2 Year Parts and Labor DIN 1.5 dash compatibility
I bought this for my 88 GT... The amber color is really damn close to the red/orange color on the dash gauges. The Bluetooth is crystal clear and easy to pair, FM reception great, sub support and very easy to setup audio bass/mid/treb. Looks like a stock radio but better sound than the stock.
To me it worth the extra cost... I hate complex radio setup like you get from the bigger names... Kenwood, JVC, Sony, Pioneer, Alpine, etc...
I bought this for my 88 GT... The amber color is really damn close to the red/orange color on the dash gauges. The Bluetooth is crystal clear and easy to pair, FM reception great, sub support and very easy to setup audio bass/mid/treb. Looks like a stock radio but better sound than the stock.
To me it worth the extra cost... I hate complex radio setup like you get from the bigger names... Kenwood, JVC, Sony, Pioneer, Alpine, etc...
You will not be disappointed.
Thank you. Feedback on the installed item is what I wanted to hear. Any pics? Did you use any wiring harness adapters?
It is a little expensive, other than the fact that it seems like it doesn't lack much of anything that I would want. (Kenwood sells "digital media" headunits for under $100, but they don't look like a stock headunit, which is obviously the "hook" for this one.)
quote
Originally posted by fierosound:
Well I sure wouldn't be buying this harness from this guy. $3.99 for the harness - $35.20 to ship
Edit - His post shows Free Economy Shipping. Did I miss something?
That's shipping in US. Change country - I'm in Canada... Thanks USPS International Global Priority Flat-Rate Shipping Box. It gets here no faster than a bubble wrap envelope with $3.50 in stamps on it.
[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 08-12-2015).]
I ordered one from Amazon. Word of caution, they collect tax at almost 10%. I'll post my impressions once I get it installed. It should come with the mounting and wire harness for plug n play. My car only has the dash and B-pillar speakers so nothing special there.
Here are pics of my radio installed. The amber color of the radio display looks closer in color to the climate controls with the name eye than what the camera picks up.
Here are pics of my radio installed. The amber color of the radio display looks closer in color to the climate controls with the eye than what the camera picks up.
Thanks for the pics.
As I said, with a Black face it would right at home in any 84 like my Indy (because 84's had black faces and knobs/switches).
[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 08-13-2015).]
I just installed one of these in a 87 GT for a member here. It's a very nice unit and works well with its many features. For what she spent in total, it's a very good sounding system and works with her iPhone. She's happy!
I installed all new Kickers speakers and ran them on the stock radio first. The speakers didn't sound a whole lot different, maybe just "brighter" because of the tweeters in the 2-ways. But it sounded a whole lot better with the new radio. CLEANER sound and amplification, plus good controls.
The kit came with the correct harness adapter (on the right) to clip into the car's connector. But you have to solder/shrink wrap the connections to the radio's harness (on the left). It's not difficult, but take your time. http://www.installdr.com/Harnesses/GM-Wiring.asp SOME wires will not be used. Power antenna, remote amplifier turn-on signal etc.
Once done, you're ready to install this. It's surprising how small the "guts" behind the faceplate is. It's also nice because you have lots of room for the harness, unused RCA connectors and 2ND Aux inputs back there. The kit comes supplied with all kinds of plastic mounting brackets. I used the steel ones from the original radio. I also managed to use the original radio's rear mount knob with the supplied strap and line it up with the rear mount to secure the rear solidly.
I installed Kicker KS410 4"x10" 2-ways in the dash. Fit right in with no problems.
The 4"x10"s magnet is slightly larger, but had no fitment problems. Even cleared the HVAC on the driver's side.
In the rear pillars, I installed Kicker CS46 4"x6" 2-ways.
The inside oval of the plastic mounting frame needs to be trimmed back to clear the speakers basket. Otherwise, it fits well and the magnet is not too deep. Only thing needed was an extra screw to secure the bottom of the speaker. What needs to be done becomes obvious once you're trying to fit the parts together.
[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 08-30-2015).]
Thank you for the link to the wire pinout info. I was just looking at this tonight and the supplied plug has no letters to identify the correct pin. I'll try to get mine installed in the next couple of days. After your review, I'm looking forward to hearing it in person.
Dos it at least play cassettes? Because that is awful expensive to me as well. Sorry but I have a collection of cassettes all the way back to the 60s all original, all still play just great on my Fiero cassette, well they did last year, the belt broke this spring and I have to get a new one.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 08-30-2015).]
It does not play cassettes or CD's unless you have something like a Sony walkman to play the cassette/CD and plug the headphone output into the radio. The radio is designed to accept the output of other digital devices using wire or bluetooth as inputs... I'm not sure it is what you would want...
Just finished getting mine installed. Thank you for the info guys it was very helpful. I am curious how the display will look at night. I am concerned it might be way too bright even with it set to dim. It is possible that there is a built in dimming function based on ambient light but I have not looked into the specs yet to see it that is the case. I did not see any input for lighting from the car light switch or dimmer control.
The wiring is plug but definitely not plug n play! I pulled the power antenna and light switch wire from the included 12 wire GM adapter plug plus the dimmer wire from the included 2 wire GM adapter plug. I then reversed the polarity of the grey and white speaker wires. I doubt this is required but that way it match's the original Fiero wiring polarity unless the 88 manual is printed wrong. (wouldn't be the first time) I also pulled the power antenna and the amp power wire from the supplied middle adapter. All these wires have no use in my current setup.
Soldering and heat shrinking the wires is about 1/2 of the project time. I did not have the original stock Fiero cassette deck so I did not have the side brackets to use. The optional brackets shown on the installation manual are the ones that work. They need trimming and the holes need to be elongated to fit. Not difficult to do as these brackets are plastic. I also found using the included strap along with the old plastic locating retainer from the original radio worked very well for supporting the rear of the unit.
I would say that I was somewhat disappointed at the amount of work required to install this radio. The great news is that if you are replacing a factory or Monsoon style radio, the sound is soooo worth it once you get done and give it a try. (that's assuming you have good functioning speakers)
Charlie
[This message has been edited by cptsnoopy (edited 08-31-2015).]
... I did not see any input for lighting from the car light switch or dimmer control.
... I then reversed the polarity of the grey and white speaker wires. I doubt this is required but that way it match's the original Fiero wiring polarity unless the 88 manual is printed wrong. (wouldn't be the first time)
Unfortunately, there is no light switch dimmer control input for the radio. I just set the display to Dim.
Speaker Polarity in the Manual is A = Negative and B = Positive I didn't see any need to reverse any wires and the 87 Manual matched the Install Doctor diagram.
Ooops! I just made all my speaker connections reversed polarity then...
I just guessed that A would equal + and B would equal -
No issue tho, it sounds great! All that I noticed was that the info from the manual and the info from the install Doctor rx were in conflict for two of the 4 speakers. I looked at the adapter I had from the Monsoon radio and it also had the polarity reversed on the same two speakers. I am not an audio guy so I don't know if it makes any difference at all in sound quality. The plug from the Monsoon adapter was labeled and matched the info from the Fiero manual with the exception of the polarity on the 2 speakers. The labeling on the install doctor rx website is different but it has the correct info even though the letters are not correct. It was a little confusing and I still messed it up but at least all the speakers have the same polarity but reversed.
I bought an early 1990s radio/CD player out of a different Pontiac years ago - plug and play. Now if you want a USB port or something, it does get more complicated.
There are several vendors on ebay that sell radio's that have been converted to run a line in and keep the factory look.. They also will take your radio and have it converted to run a line in. Thats what I Did on mine with a 4' lead that I can hook to my mp3 or phone or whatever. I think it was $60 for him to do the conversion on my 88 gt radio. You wouldn't even know mine was converted just by looking at it. He can do front faceplate connector or a lead out the back you can tuck up under the dash. this is the ebay user here. http://www.ebay.com/usr/barlosal
If you just need an MP3 jack, you obviously don't need to buy this. Fiero Tom has Delco radios with that for $125 and there are other threads to talk about those. https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/067918.html
The person I installed this for wanted iPhone connectability and Bluetooth capability plus a radio with better features than a Delco deck. Playing from a USB drive is very handy. The RCA outputs will be handy if they want to add amplifiers and a subwoofer in the future.
... AND it's a 1.5 DIN radio that fits the dash beautifully!
[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 01-02-2019).]
I asked RetroSound if the USB ports had 5v available whether or not the radio was in USB mode. They said yes but due to a software glitch in some phones they will not charge until USB mode is selected. That appears to be the case with my iphone 6+. So far I really like the radio.
Oops - forgot we're talking about Fiero owners here
This has all the features of modern radios and still has a more "factory look" that someone may be looking for. With the Black Knobs it wouldn't even look out of place in an Indy.
I don't care who you are it cost way too much for what it does. For about $100 less than that I got a touchscreen, DVD, Satellite radio, GPS, Bluetooth, USB, ipod integration radio with remote control. If I want factory look I can spend $200 less than that and buy a refurbished factory radio with minijack input. It's just a really small market people that want the factory look and willing to pay top dollar and get very little features.
If it cost about $50 I would consider it for my Indy, but instead I got a refurbished factory unit with the minijack input. Bonus is I can play my original 80s cassette tapes.
[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 10-10-2015).]
If it cost about $50 I would consider it for my Indy, but instead I got a refurbished factory unit with the minijack input. Bonus is I can play my original 80s cassette tapes.
No argument here on price. My Indy only has a Pontiac Monsoon CD w/equalizer and MP3 input.
quote
Originally posted by fierosound:
If you just need an MP3 jack, you obviously don't need to buy this. (Retrosound Newport unit)
The person I installed this for wanted iPhone connectability and Bluetooth capability plus a radio with better features than a Delco deck. Playing from a USB drive is very handy. The RCA outputs will be handy if they want to add amplifiers and a subwoofer in the future.
She's thrilled with the Newport so far (has features not obvious on the faceplate). She just wants MORE bass. I found a factory sub-housing with Tang Band subwoofer and Xtant 1.1i amplifier (same stuff I have in my Indy) for installation in her car. Using the Newport's RCA sub-out connections and x-over controls will make connecting the amp + sub very easy.
[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 10-10-2015).]
She's thrilled with the Newport so far (has features not obvious on the faceplate). She just wants MORE bass. I found a factory sub-housing with Tang Band subwoofer and Xtant 1.1i amplifier (same stuff I have in my Indy) for installation in her car. Using the Newport's RCA sub-out connections and x-over controls will make connecting the amp + sub very easy.
Any info on that subwoofer? It fits in the factory housing without too much difficulty? And what about the amp?
That is one ugly a$$ radio. I didn't think people even steal car stereos anymore. That looks like it is from the 70s. If I saw that in a car I would think "poor bastard" It is sad all people want now is features and not GOOD sound, "can it hook to my iphone" I came from the era of awesome car audio, when Richard Clark dominated all, (if you don't know who he is or ever heard heard his car you will never "get it") not "I want it to look stock." Car audio has gone so way down hill. If someone thinks MP3s sound good they are REALLY missing out, there is nothing like the "DDD gold master cds" anymore.
Fierosound I still have the mag your Fiero was in from the 90s The good ol' days
[This message has been edited by sardonyx247 (edited 10-11-2015).]
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