Concertone Replacement Options

[pwrboatfan]

I bought a 2006 Salem Park Model this weekend and the Concertone ZX100 is toast in it. I have read all the posts here about the issues with these. My questions are what are my replacement options? I really do not want to spend $700.00 on the ZX800. I do not need one with a DVD player in it. I was looking at a refurbished unit (RV2004S)they had for $69.99. I understand you can replace them with a car unit and fill in the hole that is left above it with a filler panel. I also looked at the Jensen unit, but the width has me concerned going from a 6.75" to 9.30". Not sure if I have room. Also the wiring is a concern. My camper has the 4 surround speakers and the subwoofer in the ceiling, two speakers in the bedroom, and two exterior speakers. The exterior speakers are controlled by a switch on the side of the cabinet. I am assuming they are splitting the bedroom channel to get the power for the outside speakers. My question would be if I put an aftermarket double DIN unit in, I would have 4 channels, but how would I power the Sub, and the two other channels? I am fairly schooled in car stereos and I am thinking you would need 4 channel amp for the bedroom and outside speakers, an amp for the sub (that will need to be crossed over), and then power the surround speakers with the head unit? Does this sound correct? Then the question is where are you getting the power for the Amps from? Direct wires to the battery or the converter? Just curious what others have done to remedy this deal. Maybe it is not worth all the wiring hassles and just go with the refurbished unit, and if it conks out, dig in with a big replacement.

[Bob Fields]

If you only want a radio with a cd player, you would be hard pressed to find an easier solution than the RV2004S as you mention.

[pwrboatfan]

Bob, thanks for the reply. I was at the camper yesterday, and messing with the stereo and it started working fine after pressing hard on the area where the buttons are with the disc door open. It worked fine all afternoon. I think I might ride it out and see if it keeps working. One question, can you turn on the x-base from the unit itself?

[KyDan]

I have no real experience with the model you have so I'm probably not helping
but......

My bass speaker is just a non powered large speaker with dual voice
coils.
It was simply paralleled to one of the channels.
I replaced my player and re-did all the speaker and power and antenna
connections because they were such a tangled mess and some weren't
secure. I cut 6 or 8 feet out of the coiled up antenna wire
and that seemed to help with radio reception. The antenna ground wasn't
connected to anything so I connected it to the battery neg. Radio
reception seemed to improve somewhat but still never was as good as
the one in my truck. It seems like the radio should have been as good
or better than my truck since the antenna is sitting up there on top of
the trailer.....

I put my bass in parallel with the bedroom speakers because we watch
a lot of DVDs from bed. I wanted good sound. And since the bedroom
is just 2 channel left and right, it wasn't hard to figure how to connect
it.
I just leave the BR speakers on when we're sitting at the table or on the couch with
the main cabin speakers on.
Our trailer is just one big room with no real bedroom anyway.

Good luck with your concertone!! My last one was haunted or something.
It started flashing off and on in the middle of the night.
I think it was trying to communicate with the mother ship!