Garage Radio Ideas

SchuLace · Apr 29, 2015

I want some help with a new radio for my garage. My garage is 22x22x10. I want something with radio capability and also able to connect my phone or iPad in some form. I like to crank it up occasionally.

Any ideas for me? I would like something plug and play so no home theather systems or anything like that.

Ray-CA · Apr 30, 2015

I scrounge garage sales for older stereo receivers. My current one I've had to several years and I easily found a RCA plug to mini-plug wire to connect either my phone or iPod.

Less than $40 in the entire system.

Ray

jmilch · Apr 30, 2015

SchuLace said:
I want some help with a new radio for my garage. My garage is 22x22x10. I want something with radio capability and also able to connect my phone or iPad in some form. I like to crank it up occasionally.

Any ideas for me? I would like something plug and play so no home theather systems or anything like that.

Here is my setup:

Cheap Insignia Stereo receiver (2 x 100 watts RMS). One input has a cheap bluetooth receiver attached to it. I also connected a nice cheap wired antenna on the wall in my garage.

The receiver has 2 sets of outputs A & B. You can run just A, just B or A&B at the same time.

A is connected to two large speakers that have a 12" woofer, mid and high tweeter. Those are on each side of my garage, attached to the walls above my head.

B is connected to a wireless receiver that transmits the audio signal across my garage, to a set of speakers on the other end of thegarage, mounted on the rafters in the ceiling.

This setup allows me to just listen to music above my head if I want (on output B) or to rock the garage with the nice speakers on output A. I can also mix the two of them if I'd like.

The bluetooth receiver pairs up with my phone, allowing me to stream any kind of media to the receiver.

Diagram:

Bluetooth Receiver --> (via RCA cable) Insignia Receiver
Output A --> Main large speakers in the garage
Output B --> Wireless Receiver to the other end of the garage
Wireless Receiver --> Ceiling speakers

Sounds complicated but it really is not. And it allows plenty of flexibility, for a low cost compared to other solutions. Luckily I had half of this stuff sitting around.

Components:
Bluetooth Receiver Insignia Stereo Receiver
Wireless Receiver/Transmitter (if you want speakers locately remotely on output B aka celing speakers or a remote located second zone )
Ceiling speakers (for output B / Zone 2)
Speakers of your choice for the main (output A) I used some RCA tower loudspeakers with a 12" woofer in each, I got off of craigslist for cheap. They sound excellent.

Just an idea, works excellent for me. :thumbup:

Since I had some stuff laying around, I have probably $70 into the entire system.

maxpower_hd · Apr 30, 2015

I actually have had many radios and I like my current set up the best. It's an old 70's Sherwood receiver. I don't know about I-Pods but I have an MP3 player and a Galaxy tablet I hook up with an adapter plug I got from Radio Shack for just a few bucks.

It sounds great, tunes much faster than a digital and you never have to reset presets ever again. And best of all it as $30 bucks on CL.

I haven't had a lot of luck with pics so far but here is one crappy one of mine.

diver165 · Apr 30, 2015

I have a Bose Mini Soundlink I keep in the garage when it's not with us vacation or being used elsewhere. It links via Bluetooth to my iPhone. I have wifi so I stream Pandora or iTunes Radio 99.95% of the time. And for the size (slightly smaller than a regular size brick) it puts out incredible sound. I have to say it's pretty damned cool. The only downside is the BT range. It's about 15ft. I dunno if that's the sound links problem or my iPhone. But would be my only gripe if I had one.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Falcon67 · Apr 30, 2015

Any tuner with a Aux input will do what you want. You'd need a headphone cable with the appropriate ends for the tuner input. I can run Pandora through a 1982 Realistic tuner.

Virulentspores · Apr 30, 2015

You can get a Bluetooth receiver for about 30 bucks. This will receive music from a device and transmit it over RCA jacks. Lets you Bluetooth enable anything with an aux input.

Example:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009OBCAW2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Sine Swept · May 1, 2015

I have a small system in the garage. One setup is Nakamichi + Bowers and Wilkins and the other is Denon + Cerwin Vega + JBL. I am setup for vinyl, cassette, CD and 3.5mm.

The money spent into all of it hardly registers

Bondo · May 1, 2015

Ayuh,.... Pound for pound, cubic inch for cubic inch, dollar for dollar,....

I Love my Bose Wave radios,....

Got 1 in the garage,...
Got 1 in the livin' room in the house,....
Got one at the riverhouse blastin' out on the patio,...

TAMPAGT07 · May 1, 2015

I picked up a Yamaha receiver from best buy a few weeks ago for my poolside bar... It was $100 and I love it....

kb1luo · May 1, 2015

If you do not want to spend a lot of money you may be surprised at the little Lepai 2020+ class t amp with a pair of Dayton B652 from Parts-express.com. It surprisingly sounds very good. It does not having a lot of cranking power but if the power supply is upgraded to atleast a 3 amp this little amp will surprise you.

Dick in Wisconsin · Jun 20, 2015

I bought the Sears Craftsman C3 AM-FM-Bluetooth radio that is always a C3 battery charger.

At first I didn't like it. I listen to AM talk radio quite a bit and two stations in Milwaukee I listen to very clearly on any of the car radios came in with static. Then I moved the radio away from the electrical panel in the garage and most of the static is gone (once in a while I have to fine tune it by rotating the radio). My wife's Android smartphone has Bluetooth capability and the BT works great. Usually on sale for $99. It appeals to me because I already have lots of C3 (19.2 volt) batteries and tools. Freshly charged Ni-Cad C3 battery I bought in 2006 lasts a reasonably long period of time.

http://local.sears.com/Craftsman-C-...192000P?st=1062&sid=IDx20141117x00001xlpla#!/

CadillacJack · Jun 20, 2015

KickAmp. 40 watts. L/R channels. About the size of a pack of cigs. Plug in iPhone, iPod, Smartphone, etc., push "play". I install these in medical offices for background music. $80.

http://www.netmedia.com/audio_video/kickamp_40.html

crewchief888 · Jun 20, 2015

i use a "leftover" bookshelf unit that one of the kids had in their room. wife was gonna sh*tcan it when the CD player stopped working.

it's connected to a pair of JBL studio series speakers that were, at one time, part of the house surround system.

it's been moved since i took the pic, found it's way to a spot above the man door, out of the way of flying debris...

:beer:

Jeep07 · Jun 20, 2015

I use Sonos for my garage (actually my entire house).
The Sonos Amp will do the normal Sonos stuff plus take input from another source if you want True FM just RCA Cable it to the amp.
Sonos has Radio By TuneIN(FM radio via Inet).
Plus you get pandora etc.

maxpower_hd · Jan 11, 2016

I just thought I would update this thread with pictures that I took this weekend of my set up. I like the old system much better than the new ones. They are easy to use and just sound different.

Jazz1 · Jan 11, 2016

How about a low buck surround sound with Bluetooth. I mostly use Bluetooth because i find terrestrial radio obnoxious

weadjust · Jan 11, 2016

I plug my iphone or an old sony walkman radio into klipsch computer speakers and it rocks :thumbup:

exranger06 · Jan 11, 2016

I have a Panasonic bookshelf system that my sister didn't want anymore, so she gave it to me for free. I have a mini-jack cord plugged into the Aux input so I can plug in my iPod. It also has a 5 disc CD changer, AM/FM radio, and dual cassette, but I pretty much only use the ipod. You can see the speakers perched up on the rafters. It sounds great and is plenty loud.

DC_Gearhead · Jan 11, 2016

diver165 said:
I have a Bose Mini Soundlink I keep in the garage when it's not with us vacation or being used elsewhere. It links via Bluetooth to my iPhone. I have wifi so I stream Pandora or iTunes Radio 99.95% of the time. And for the size (slightly smaller than a regular size brick) it puts out incredible sound. I have to say it's pretty damned cool. The only downside is the BT range. It's about 15ft. I dunno if that's the sound links problem or my iPhone. But would be my only gripe if I had one.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have the same one. Love it!!

skyhopsing · Jan 11, 2016

Sonos !

Kpaige · Jan 11, 2016

I have a Pioneer unit I found on Craigslist for free- Has full surround sound and a sub have a speaker in each corner and the sub hidden away. Has a remote so I do not need to get to the stereo and it is tucked up in the corner. iPhone plugs in sounds great!

77Mini · Jan 11, 2016

I have an older Kenwood system I bought from my inlaws for $50. Its a receiver with 5 disc changer...even has a tape player. all in a nice cabinet. 5 speakers mounted all over the garage. Got a sweet deal on the stereo then spent like $120 on speaker wire to run it all. Wasn't thought through very well in the beginning but really happy with it so whatever. just got it set up a week or two ago.

rattlesnake436 · Jan 11, 2016

I use my phone

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

Cyberbear · Jan 11, 2016

When I operated my home based custom woodworking business, installed a simple mechanical limit switch on my phone that would turn off the radio when incoming calls were received. This prevented any interference from the loud radio affecting the conversation between customers and myself.

slodat · Mar 30, 2016

I have two Sonos Play 5's in two large areas of the shop and a Play 1 in the storeroom where I can't hear the others. All controlled together. Sounds amazing.

383 240z · Mar 30, 2016

I've got this little $200 noise machine
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-700w...D=1&siteID=je6NUbpObpQ-.n0oiuiEN3H9HLAIBDsH4w

It pairs up quick with my phone, get plenty loud enough for the neighbors to hear it, and they are a pretty good distance away, like over 1/4 mile away. I haven't got it to distort yet. For $200, I'm more than impressed. Its been running daily in the shop for about a year. Keith

23 CHIEF · Mar 30, 2016

Car radio head unit and scanner powered by computer power supply hooked to amplified computer speakers

stang2007 · Mar 30, 2016

I have a old Bookshelf system hooked up to a Raspery PI, so I get Pandora YouTube etc...

tgj7 · Mar 30, 2016

Commercial free music brought to me by DIRECTV and a set of computer speakers.

And of course its 70s Rock, what else is there?

Nathan Cox · Mar 30, 2016

Ion Tailgater Active

One of my best purchases. It has a rechargeable battery that will last about a week before needing to be charged back up. Has a radio and blu tooth to stream from your phone. Plenty loud and sounds great. and its small enough you can move it around or take it outside if you want. $150 online or even sams and other box stores have them.

LS6 Tommy · Mar 30, 2016

My old Boston Acoustics A6 speakers inside, Definitive Technology AW6500 speakers outside above the patio. Oldish Sony STR-DE935 A/V receiver, 3.5mm headphone jack to RCA left/right adapter and a Sony 5 disc DVD carousel in case I want to listen to actual CDs. Every time I update my "good" system in the house, the old head unit and disc player goes in the garage. This is the third head and disc player I've had out there in 22 years.

Tommy

BoostAddiction · Mar 30, 2016

weadjust said:
I plug my iphone or an old sony walkman radio into klipsch computer speakers and it rocks

I have 2 of these sets (office and garage) and like them. Plenty of power, and easy to use.

In the garage, I have them connected via a switch to get sound from the TV, the computer, or the internet streaming radio.

WAPat · Mar 30, 2016

I like my Milwaukee m12 radio a lot. I never plug it in, have tons of m12 batteries, it's portable when working in the yard/at father in law's and does am/FM/aux to plug in a phone/iPod. Paid about 70 for it.

Chrysis · Mar 30, 2016

Doesn't matter what you get as long as it goes to 11.

NewShockerGuy · Mar 30, 2016

Use a little sony mini hi fi system.

Does cds/mp3s, radio, aux, and ipod. Thinking about getting a blue tooth adaptor then I don't have to mess with cables. Fine for what I use it as, but I always think of going to something bigger mainly because I have so much spare speakers and cable... might run in wall stuff just for a bored side project..lol

-Nigel

onthefence777 · Mar 30, 2016

23 CHIEF said:
Car radio head unit and scanner powered by computer power supply hooked to amplified computer speakers

I logged in to give exactly this idea (I haven't been on the forum much lately). Always dreamed of having a car audio head unit built into the bench. Minimal space, and car audio setups can make elite sound for very reasonable prices while taking up minimal space. Get some Infinity brand speakers and you will have very nice sound in your shop.

losdudes · Mar 31, 2016

I've been using this system for years.
Kenwood 5150 receiver rated at 200 watts power. To this I have a Sirius radio attached along with 2 Bose 151 bookshelf speakers. I can also attach my ipod to the receiver. Lots of music coming from my garage.
I bought the receiver in 1972 while stationed on Okinawa.

fastbike02 · Mar 31, 2016

I bought a bunch of the ryobi 18v radios with batteries where they were on sale for 18 bucks, really great shop radio with bluetooth it also has a usb plug to charge your phone

Jlbc212 · Mar 31, 2016

Another vote here for the Bose mini. i also like using noise cancelling headphones plugged directly into my phone. i just wish the steam radiator hiss in my right ear would shut off.

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