Double Din stereo upgrade

[AvidFlyer]

I recently purchased a 2020 Salem 251ssxl toy hauler. Upgrading the sound system is on my short list. The Furrion pumping out 10w to each speaker and Chinese speakers aren’t cutting it. Curious what double din set ups people like? I can do the wiring and cut the hole bigger no problem.

[Riccochet]

Does your current headunit have multiple speaker zones and HDMI inputs/outputs? If so you might not find one suitable for what you want to do. I know when I was looking to replace my iRV66 there was nothing that could accomplish what it does without doing some tricky wiring with switches and relays, at least to make all the speaker zones work.

I'll say this, when Pioneer, Sony, Alpine, Kenwood, etc decide to release an RV stereo to compete with the iRV and Furrion units they'll have a hot seller.

The only thing that could possibly work, that I know of, is Fusion Audio marine units. I know plenty of people that run Fusion in their boats, and they love them. Not cheap, but they're awesome. A bit overkill for an RV, at least from a feature standpoint.

Another option, if you don't boondock and always camp where there's electrical hook up, is convert to a 120v receiver.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by Riccochet

Another option, if you don't boondock and always camp where there's electrical hook up, is convert to a 120v receiver.

I've always wondered WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? So many RVs with 12v sound systems/DVD players and 120v TVs??
Yeah I know there are a few that have 12v TVs but so many that do not.....including mine.... sigh.....

[chaps2018]

3 sets of speaker control or HDMI. For me, that is what it came down to. As noted above, there are Marine and Automotive receivers that are MUCH better quality and are easier to use but I didn’t want to loose the 3 sets of speakers. Yes I could have connected two sets via impedance bridge or have a separate speaker selector but liked having the 3 zone selection on my phone/iPad.

Agree, if the big Auto Receiver players came out with this it would put the others out of biz. This the unit I settled on ($130 at camping world with coupon) Jensen JWM60A AM|FM|DVD|CD|USB|AUX|App Ready Bluetooth Wallmount Stereo with App Control, Plays: CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, MP3, DVD-Video, MPEG-4, VCD, JPEG, CD-DA, MP3, WMA, Dolby https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07957QKYY..._IA3cDbF0J8804

It is faster to set up in a new location, more intuitive to use than the stocker and has a great Bluetooth app. Unfortunately it only has a RCA plug for video...

[rlh1957]

Many have had good success replacing the speakers with better quality speakers, correcting the almost certain one or more speakers wired out of phase and zones connected incorrectly. If you get a good quality speaker with Ohms matching the receiver/amp output you can deal with the 10W or so output and still have a quality sound. As long as you're not a big audiophile or studio engineer. Some of these OEM units to have Sub-Woofer outputs believe it our not, so that could really make a sound improvement for you. Just come off the output to a sub-woofer, I'd go with a powered Sub to get full mileage. All you have to do is pull the cables or maybe a wireless setup. If this is going to be your home on wheels or permanent home then you'll be happy with custom upgrades.

[dward51]

We were just talking about the crappy stock speakers last night. I have a set of Bose Companion 3 speakers that I used at the office before I retired. I have another set already at the house for the home computer, so the old office set is a spare. Small in size and I'm thinking they would be great inside the travel trailer. I could mount the subwoofer under the dinette on top of the wheel well cover area (actually sit it there so I can move it if we need the dinette as a bed for the grandbaby, and the two small speakers would mount under the upper cabinets. Those little speaker are like 3" square. The audio is awesome.

[AvidFlyer]

Thanks for the replies! I only have 2 zones. 2 speakers inside and 2 outside. Has anyone just used the fade function to basically split the two zones on a car stereo?

[pgandw]

You can wire the fade and balance functions anyway you want. Forest River does. Actually, your suggestion makes sense - as long as the interior speakers are located such that your normal listening position has a reasonable balance from the two speakers to begin with. Outside, the chances of your sitting position being reasonably between the 2 speakers aren't all that great, so a better idea would be a mono switch when using outside speakers. But most car stereos no longer have such a switch.

What makes it worse is the smaller campers only have 1 outside speaker, and 2 inside. The assembly line guy has no idea how to wire the 3 speakers into a 4 speaker system.

Fred W

[cmysstailights]

I ripped out my pos jenson and installed a home theater receiver. Found 1 that measured 11 inches deep. Did some cabinet modifications and she sticks out 1inch. Setup a a/b switch for outdoor speakers. Ran speaker wire and setup a 5.1, night and day. Bluetooth works great now

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by KyDan

I've always wondered WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? So many RVs with 12v sound systems/DVD players and 120v TVs??
Yeah I know there are a few that have 12v TVs but so many that do not.....including mine.... sigh.....

True Sine Wave Inverters have gotten very inexpensive and most entertainment systems today don't draw all that much power.

Rather than looking for an over-priced 12V system just find a good 120V system that meets one's needs and then install a small TSW inverter that will handle the load. Smaller Inverters don't have very large standby currents and by shutting down the Inverter there is no more parasitic draw when system is not in use.

I'm currently running my TV this way and if my TV ever goes AWOL I can buy a replacement real cheap at any Walmart. 12v TV's are more expensive and less plentiful.

[Riccochet]

The Fusion Audio marine units will do 3 zones of speakers. You'll need amps though. Honestly, not worth the cost in an RV. Great if you're installing them in a boat though. The systems truly are awesome, work extremely well and integrate with Lowrance/Humminbird/Garmin MFD's.

I'd find a 120V home theater receiver and use that. Almost all of them are networkable or can be controlled from a smart phone via bluetooth and app. Just don't cram them in a hot wall with no ventilation.

[cmysstailights]

Originally Posted by Riccochet

The Fusion Audio marine units will do 3 zones of speakers. You'll need amps though. Honestly, not worth the cost in an RV. Great if you're installing them in a boat though. The systems truly are awesome, work extremely well and integrate with Lowrance/Humminbird/Garmin MFD's.

I'd find a 120V home theater receiver and use that. Almost all of them are networkable or can be controlled from a smart phone via bluetooth and app. Just don't cram them in a hot wall with no ventilation.

Did exactly this, added a+b switch for outdoor speakers. Ran a klh 5.1 speakers and so much better. Total.cost about 300

[emm-dee]

Originally Posted by chaps2018

3 sets of speaker control or HDMI. For me, that is what it came down to. As noted above, there are Marine and Automotive receivers that are MUCH better quality and are easier to use but I didn’t want to loose the 3 sets of speakers. Yes I could have connected two sets via impedance bridge or have a separate speaker selector but liked having the 3 zone selection on my phone/iPad.

Agree, if the big Auto Receiver players came out with this it would put the others out of biz. This the unit I settled on ($130 at camping world with coupon) Jensen JWM60A AM|FM|DVD|CD|USB|AUX|App Ready Bluetooth Wallmount Stereo with App Control, Plays: CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, MP3, DVD-Video, MPEG-4, VCD, JPEG, CD-DA, MP3, WMA, Dolby https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07957QKYY..._IA3cDbF0J8804

It is faster to set up in a new location, more intuitive to use than the stocker and has a great Bluetooth app. Unfortunately it only has a RCA plug for video...

The next model up is the JWM70A and it has an HDMI output. Just add a 10/12 inch Bazooka subwoofer and you’ll have an awesome system.

[Just Mike]

The stereo/speakers in my camper sucks too. Rather than mess with them, I left them stock and only use it with the TV. Instead of replacing stereo/speakers, I have a good quality Bluetooth speaker and play my own music through iTunes.

[itat]

Our 2019 Rockwood 5er came with a 12V soundbar. Its not the greatest but its definitely better than the ceiling speakers I had in our previous 2011 TT. I can link my iPhone to the iRV68 audio unit and play my music through the soundbar. I like the idea of a good pure sine wave inverter and using home stereo components if you want much better audio and video.

For outside, I use a bluetooth speaker linked to my iPhone.

[ppine]

Rockwood came with a Genesis 2.0, a real junker. It will not even play a CD. I have learned to avoid Jensen, iRV units which are specifically made for Rvs. Sounds like a car stereo from Alpine, Pioneer, or Kenwood is the way to go. There are ways around the 3 speaker zones. Then I will add a DVD player for around $75.