Garage tunes

[Dragfluid]

Lots of nice choices here. Like several have said, out in the shed/garage, you don't need to have "audio snob" level equipment. There's a shitload of stuff on Craig'sList, some of it free.
I use a surround sound receiver that the TV queen thought she wanted for our TV viewing enjoyment. She got too frustrated trying to operate it, so I finally took it out and put it and the speakers on the shelf. (if it were up to me, the TV would hardly get turned on)
A few years ago, I picked up a nice pair of 3' Techniques at a sale for peanuts and put them into storage. Now, after the Shed went up, I was all set! The two speakers right now are sitting on top of the office, facing toward the rest of the shop. The office computer pumps Pandora, or YouTube play lists through the receiver. When I get the urge, I'm going to put a couple of the surround speakers up on the other end of the area.

 

[King Nothing]

What is the internet situation in your garage?

I think our WiFi reaches out there. Not sure. I use Pandora on my phone and we have enough data that I don't have to worry about whether I'm on WiFi or not. I do have an old laptop that I might think about moving out to the garage as a source. Really wish Makita made a radio/charger combo like the red and yellow has.

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[padroo]

I had a small radio in my garage for years and threw it in the garbage last month.
I never have liked any extra noise when I am working on something. I spent my working years around jet aircraft and 40 years in a steel mill, to me silence is golden.

 

[Parkershop]

Marantz 2230 I purchased 43 years ago, Panasonic 8 track player purchased 15 years ago nos still in the box. I have a 8 track player in my Camaro, probably 200 tapes in the garage, yes I'm old school.

I'm always on the lookout for a sweet Marantz like that but the classic stereo guys move fast on them here. What kind of speakers do you use with it?
JP

 

[Dave Nelson]

I'm always on the lookout for a sweet Marantz like that but the classic stereo guys move fast on them here. What kind of speakers do you use with it?
JP

I just have a pair of older Sony bookshelf speakers.

 

[Scud67]

My internet (Wi-Fi) is just a signal booster/ extender that plugs into an outlet.... it gets a rather weak signal from the house router, then bumps up the signal to my garage. It works really well for the PC and cell phone use. I can't believe how fast the computer is out there now - before it took forever to load a web page.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

I used to have a discarded boom box that drove the following:


Both of the drive-in speakers were restored with new speakers.
Recently, I gave up on the boombox and upgraded to 4-channel stereo amp that will play MP3s from an SD card or USB drive. With 90+ albums on one SD card, I can listen for weeks without hearing the same song. The new amp was picked up from an internet search for under $50.

I did keep an old pair of boombox speakers for the 3rd and 4th channels.

 

[willf650]

I have an Amzon Echo. I just go out and say "Alexia, start pandora" and I'm good to go. It works very well and has good sound for how small it is.

 

[Bert_]

I used to use a cheap GE table radio from the 60's, It started having some issues that I'm not sure how to diagnose so I put it away. Now I use a little ac/battery portable transistor set from like '67-'68 I think. Nothing fancy just old and reliable.

I like some of the older gear some have posted. I wouldn't mind something a little nicer, but anytime I do get something nicer I can't stand the idea of it getting full of dust/dirt and I put it in the house...

To those with WIFI issues. Would it be possible to run cat5 out to the garage either directly to the computer or to another router

 

[hobie1dog]

Check out the old garage stereo thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1468&highlight=Stereo+system

 

[ihrescue]

What do you guys have for tunes in your shop/garage? Looking for a simpler alternative to the 25 year old semi-functional home theater receiver I'm using now.

I have a mini iPad that I use with a bluetooth speaker. Internet radio has pretty much unlimited scope of music. I usually listen to Pandora, but also play WFMU's Sunday show Teenage Wasteland with Bill Kelly. Also play Little Steven's Underground Garage and a show out of New Zealand called Retrospect - 60s Garage Punk Show.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

90% of the time I use my Howard Leight noise-blocking headphones and bluetooth receiver to play stuff from my Macbook. Fantastic headphones, I also use them for snowblowing and mowing the lawn.

https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-1030110-Noise-Blocking-Earmuff/dp/B004U4A5RU/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1489891058&sr=8-8&keywords=howard+leight


The other 10% of the time if I have guests or I'm just hanging out in the garage, I've got an old Panasonic home stereo that does well enough. Only problem is that I put it on a high shelf so it was out of the way, and then the remote crapped out.

 

[minytrker]

I have this connected to my computer through bluetooth and stream pandora usually. I am really into audio and have pretty big systems in all my vehicles and in my house so it was only natural to go over kill in the shop. Its also works out when we are in the back yard I can open a door and have music in the backyard when the kids are playing or Im grilling.

 

[theundermount]

I used a computer power supply to run an old car deck I had to a couple of speakers

 

[ihrescue]

I used a computer power supply to run an old car deck I had to a couple of speakers

Good idea on the use of a computer power supply. What are some other uses for a computer power supply?

 

[Morrison]

Good idea on the use of a computer power supply. What are some other uses for a computer power supply?

A lot of people that fly RC planes/helis use power supplies from computers for powering chargers. Server power supplies are pretty cheap and powerful.

 

[theundermount]

I'm sure you could power all sorts of different things.... I was going to use some of the lower voltage wires to wire up a USB port to charge my iPod while it plays also kinda thought it would be cool to wire in an old power antenna from a caddy or something too

 

[jd_1138]

Are you in a cordless tool system? Can just get the radio for that system, If not, maybe pick up the Ryobi Bluetooth radio kit with a charger/battery for about $60. It has a radio or you can connect your phone to it (physical connection or Bluetooth). Not the most powerful system but should be plenty for a garage. And you can use the battery/charger for other tools.

Or pick up a used receiver/speakers from CL. If you like Pandora, a Chromecast Audio ($30) is nice to have. Just plug it into the audio jack, and then you can use your smart phone to control it. It works off wi-fi, so the audio quality is better than Bluetooth.

Crutchfield has some nice basic receivers starting at about $80.

That car deck solution is cool too. I'd use a deck with an AUX IN so you can plug a phone into it or a Chromecast Audio (so your phone doesn't need to be plugged into it).

 

[hdmark80]

Marantz 2230 I purchased 43 years ago, Panasonic 8 track player purchased 15 years ago nos still in the box. I have a 8 track player in my Camaro, probably 200 tapes in the garage, yes I'm old school.

I love the old marantz. Since we moved and i actually set up a home theater my old mcintosh 2 channel rig is collecting dust. I'd love to put it in the garage but I'm afraid of corrosion or theft. It was a giftfrom the wife.

 

[hdmark80]

I picked up a nice denon receiver from goodwill for 6.99 that I'm planning on using. Isn't anyone else going to use one of their 33.03 amazon taps in the garage? I'm going to connect it to the denon so i can stream spotify and control my lights. I'm leary of putting anything too expensive in the garage for fear of corrosion or theft.

 

[excavator]

this radio app on my phone is perfect hooked to my bluetooth head set.
phone and text will over ride

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appgeneration.itunerfree&hl=en

 

[UpstateNY]

Ipod nano, bluetooth interface to amp, Denon amp, JBL speakers, loud as hell.

 

[raffaelli]

I have an 1980's receiver powering 4 speakers I retrieved from the ceiling of a close down retail space. I plug my phone into the amp for Spotify and podcasts.

 

[maxpower_hd]

For those of you who use car head units, I have one of these that I use for that and for testing things like...well...car radios. Mine is from around 1980 and it still works well. I keep it on my bench. You can wire just about anything to it for testing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICRONTA-RE...-12-VDC-13-8VDC-2-5A-MODEL-22-1-/122344521179

 

[TNBurban]

I use one of these https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Portable-Wireless-Bluetooth-Speaker/dp/B014QQAQD4/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1490039067&sr=1-11&keywords=jbl%2Bbluetooth%2Bspeaker&th=1. JBL Xtreme

Loud, great bass, very portable, holds a charge good considering the power it's consuming. I started off with a smaller, cheaper one but it just didn't have the depth of the Xtreme.

 

[yardiron]

For years I had a vintage Harmon Kardon 560 receiver and two pair of 1960's Fisher XP1 speakers, one in each corner. Last summer some guy came in and made me an offer I had to take, so it all went, speakers and all. I went on CL and bought a current model Pioneer receiver with a USB port for $40. Now I can play MP3 files now, no more changing tapes or cd's.
For speakers I hung a pair of 80's Pioneer speakers with 15" woofers that sound ok for now.
I'm really liking the remote control thing and endless music off the SD card adapter.

 

[jcthorne]

I have an Amazon Echo in the shop. Alexa and I talk all day. I have been amazed how well she knows my mood when i simply say "Alexa, play some music"

 

[6PTsocket]

I have a Yamaha A/V receiver 2 early 80s Technic 3 way with 10" woofers Hanging in the front corners and 2 Klipsch 3 way tower hanging in the rear corners, 50" pioneer plasma TV Playstation3 and wireless internet and 80s rock and roll playing

THAT is a man cave but is there any provision for working on cars? LOL!!

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[big_bake]

I would recommend Chromecast Audio (CCA, ~$30) plugged in to your amp and speakers of choice. It beats bluetooth in the fact that the music stream itself goes directly to the CCA, and not through your phone. These means your phone is free to make calls or leave the vicinity of the bluetooth range. No phone notifications interrupting you music. Of course the CCA needs wifi, but if you can get over that hurdle it's great. It is easily controlled by most all your devices, even from within music apps themselves. Bonus is that the google assistant can control it via voice. So if you have a phone with it built in or a Google Home you have handsfree audio. I feel that would be super handy in the garage when you need to pause or skip a song.

That being said the Google Home itself would probably be enough for most people. They did go on sale for $99 at Holiday time last year. The Home has more bass than Alexa, which may be important to some. Also a plethora of info available via google is just a question away.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I use one of these https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Portable-Wireless-Bluetooth-Speaker/dp/B014QQAQD4/ref=sr_1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1490039067&sr=1-11&keywords=jbl%2Bbluetooth%2Bspeaker&th=1. JBL Xtreme

Loud, great bass, very portable, holds a charge good considering the power it's consuming. I started off with a smaller, cheaper one but it just didn't have the depth of the Xtreme.

Have you had the opportunity to compare it to a Bose when you were looking at them by any chance? I have listened to the Bose Soundlink III at my work shop and it sounds really good compared to cheap ones I have listened to. But the one you posted is about $50-$60 less. And if it sounds just as good or better than I might consider it. I am thinking of going tonight actually to look at some locally to get an idea.

Thanks.

 

[garagelogician]

I have a 90's vintage Yamaha receiver and a decent pair of Infinity bookshelf speakers. Pulls in AM talk radio/Twins broadcasts pretty well, and I have a Chromecast Audio hooked to it for everything else. My entire CD/MP3 library is in the Google Music cloud (you can upload up to 20,000 songs for free), plus it works with a lot of other apps. Can control it from my phone or computer.

 

[albaran]

I have an old Tecniques receiver hanging under the cabinet. The input is from a Roku unit for Pandora, and an Ipod unit that is under the TV, and the tuner for local radio. Years ago, I had my old vinyl records transferred onto the Ipod.

 

[exranger06]

I have an old Panasonic "bookshelf" stereo that my sister didn't want anymore, likely because the CD player doesn't work anymore. Although she didn't mention that when she gave it to me; I've had the stereo for several years and I only just discovered it didn't work a few days ago when I tried to play a CD for the first time. I usually just plug my iPod into the Aux input and listen to that.

 

[King Nothing]

Are you in a cordless tool system? Can just get the radio for that system, If not, maybe pick up the Ryobi Bluetooth radio kit with a charger/battery for about $60. It has a radio or you can connect your phone to it (physical connection or Bluetooth). Not the most powerful system but should be plenty for a garage. And you can use the battery/charger for other tools.

Yes. Unfortunately I'm in the Makita camp. The only one that doesn't offer a radio/charger combo


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[DFB]

But Makita does make a good BT radio!

 

[Bldmovs]

I'm using a Vizio 2.1 sound bar and the sound is amazing, given the small package.

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[Empty Pockets]

Dewalt Charger/radio

 

[Dragfluid]

I had a small radio in my garage for years and threw it in the garbage last month.
I never have liked any extra noise when I am working on something. I spent my working years around jet aircraft and 40 years in a steel mill, to me silence is golden.

I'm with you somewhat. Having been a professional mechanic for the past 44 years, a little peace and quite is great to have. Just every once in a while however, I get the urge to put some tunes on and what I have allows that with a couple of mouse clicks.
When I feel like quiet again, off it goes.

 

[Bessy]

Dad and I each have a Dewalt radio of our own (his is the larger one with the charger built in, mine is the smaller one that is a step or two down). i use mine for radio but do most of my shop music (if I'm not working on something particularly dirty) through my bose mini speaker. I like going out and listening to tunes or even podcasts from time to time so the bose is perfect for that.

 

[DividedAttention]

Mine is one of 2 devices. When hearing protection is appropriate, like operating the old mill all day, I use Sennheiser bluetooth headphones. Nice for a few reasons - entertainment, I can receive calls without stopping, hearing protection, and in the winter my ears stay warm.
The other is something my bro-in-law got for me this past christmas - a Job Rocker Plus bluetooth radio/speaker.