these dewalt toughsystem/tstak radios are great... mine has survived years of drunkin camping and boating too. If I broke it I'd buy another one no doubt.
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Shop Stereo Options; Lets Discuss
- Thread starter Augus7us
- Start date
Bruce Amacker
Well-known member
When you guys are using an old home stereo type amp/receiver, what are you using to connect Bluetooth to the RCA inputs on the amp?
I want to use Spotify from my phone for the input.
Thanks!
I want to use Spotify from my phone for the input.
Thanks!
Simple BT to audio connector devices are one option. I have a Logitech branded version of this in the house
The only issue I have is the thing is very aggressive about connecting to my phone. If I leave the thing on it will connect to my phone the moment I get in the house. So I normally leave it powered off. There are lots of versions of these things, some with internal batteries, some that have to use a power cord.
In the garage I use an Amazon Echo Flex (it's like a wall wart version of the Dot). The Echo's have both BT and 3.5mm audio out. So I have the device BT connect to my phone and use the 3.5mm plug to go to my speakers. Effectively the Echo acts as a hands free BT audio bridge between my phone and speaker system. I walk into the garage, say "Alexa connect to my phone" and it does. It doesn't connect without me asking first. It also has the advantage that you can stream music/radio stations through it. The down side is it, like all Echo devices, spies on you.
Trapps
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I'm using the same as @Citation, a BlueTooth audio adapter. Tons of options from $20 to over $400.
tooljunkie4
Well-known member
Have you guys ever suspended speakers from the ceiling using chains? Something intended to keep rodents from nesting in the cabinets while you are away.
If so, how did it affect the sound quality? Did the subwoofers begin to swing when you played House of Pain?
Also, how have you managed to keep the speakers and magnets from attracting dust and grindings?
If so, how did it affect the sound quality? Did the subwoofers begin to swing when you played House of Pain?
Also, how have you managed to keep the speakers and magnets from attracting dust and grindings?
kyrbz
Well-known member
ISOtunes earbuds and Spotify is the best way to groove in a noisy shop and protect your hearing at the same time. I prefer to keep the good stuff in my living quarters where I can really appreciate it
nadogail
Well-known member
Garage Sound Systems are IMHO best sourced from other peoples discards.
The music in my garage is made by a Walmart under cabinet kitchen radio. AM/FM and Compact Disc, takes very little space and sounds decent to my ears.
The music in my garage is made by a Walmart under cabinet kitchen radio. AM/FM and Compact Disc, takes very little space and sounds decent to my ears.
Smilodon
Well-known member
I was fortunate enough to be able to have a lot of design freedom in planning my major garage shop/remodel (I worked around some parts of an existing structure but lots of built new). Had lots of help from here in ideas. I tried to make most areas multi-use. When it came time for the sound system, I wanted to support a home theater(ish) setup, a home gym and the shop.
I was pondering the sound system when one of the guys helping me build it suggested in-ceiling speakers. I was kind of "meh" on the idea, but was convinced that the tech had come a long way and they would allow a lot of flexibility. I'm pretty happy with the result.
Driven by a Yamaha amp that can remotely switch HDMI inputs and speaker setups, I can have strategic speakers over the shop work area, the home theater (5.1) and home gym (same area as the home theater). I put a TV on wheels so I can point it to where I want to watch from. A large (probably *too* large) sub adds richness to the speakers throughout the area. I find having the speakers above the work area helps to cut through any background noise.
I mostly use a home server and Plex to source (my music and video). The amp supports streaming services and internet radio, which I use less frequently.
Don't have any pictures handy of that particular area (could take a few if anybody had questions), but mostly posted this to point out the advantages of ceiling-mount speakers.
I was pondering the sound system when one of the guys helping me build it suggested in-ceiling speakers. I was kind of "meh" on the idea, but was convinced that the tech had come a long way and they would allow a lot of flexibility. I'm pretty happy with the result.
Driven by a Yamaha amp that can remotely switch HDMI inputs and speaker setups, I can have strategic speakers over the shop work area, the home theater (5.1) and home gym (same area as the home theater). I put a TV on wheels so I can point it to where I want to watch from. A large (probably *too* large) sub adds richness to the speakers throughout the area. I find having the speakers above the work area helps to cut through any background noise.
I mostly use a home server and Plex to source (my music and video). The amp supports streaming services and internet radio, which I use less frequently.
Don't have any pictures handy of that particular area (could take a few if anybody had questions), but mostly posted this to point out the advantages of ceiling-mount speakers.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
My son got a "decent" system for a song at Goodwill !
PhantomEB
Well-known member
Well with this news that I soon may be hosting meetings in my garage, I will need to incorporate a TV with webcam into my garage. I can go as big as 37 but so far my searchs within my parameters are in the 32“ flavour. Good enough to also have NASCAR or hockey on while I am out wrenching.
now for me to do this I need to get rid of the big *** floor speakers…..so Polk bookshelf speakers will go up in the front two corners.
then I will top it off with a newer Bluetooth capable receiver.
satellite radio is still to be determined……
now for me to do this I need to get rid of the big *** floor speakers…..so Polk bookshelf speakers will go up in the front two corners.
then I will top it off with a newer Bluetooth capable receiver.
satellite radio is still to be determined……
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
So does your cell phone, your computer, your tablet or whatever electronic devices you use. They all gather information from you. You can't help it or avoid it these days. It *****, but there is not much you can do about it unless you want to go totally off grid and live like it was in the old days again.
At this point we all have so many electronic devices, even in our vehicles, that the amount of information collected is staggering. But unless you are doing something illegal, who really cares? I don't care if the electronic devices are seeing what brand of underwear I am buying from Amazon or what size cat food bag I just bought from Chewy or what I am listening to on Pandora.
Jim
rsparks64
Well-known member
I use an old Bose system with an iPod docking station, but use a cable to connect an iPod mini or iPod touch. I has really good sound. I used to have an old iPod classic from about 20 years ago, but it croaked about 3 years ago. It was great and would hold 10,000 songs. The newer ones **** compared to it as far as music goes.
I imagine a lot of buzzing and rattling.
Ha!
Goodwill is one of my favorites!
I matched this up with some Altec Lansing bookshelf speakers mounted on the ceiling, and an AL subwoofer. I have a PC in my garage that I use to lookup stuff, and it's also connected to a server in the house that hosts thousands of MP3s.
I have a similar setup in my garage condo with a set of JBL speakers and subwoofer connected to a garage sale Yamaha receiver that I got at an estate sale for $20. I play MP3s there off of a big USB stick.
I think I got the Chromecast sticks I'm using at an estate sale for $5 each.
I do have a couple of new Google Dots laying around somewhere that one of my kids gave me. I might try to integrate them into one or both of these setups eventually.
Ilikeike
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I bought a good referb Denon with Bluetooth off Amazon.
Rebuilt Valodyne sub. And two home built subs that run off a 1000w arc andio amp.
Just for fun with my old retired gear.
My 3 car garage stereo will knock stuff off the walls in the house. lol.
My wife comes out some times and yells at me and my buddies when we get too crazy.
Rebuilt Valodyne sub. And two home built subs that run off a 1000w arc andio amp.
Just for fun with my old retired gear.
My 3 car garage stereo will knock stuff off the walls in the house. lol.
My wife comes out some times and yells at me and my buddies when we get too crazy.
lolaetype
Well-known member
I searched the local pawnshops and resale shops for a used system, found nothing so I decided to cobble something together. I went cheap. I bought this on Amazon;
It has Bluetooth and an aux input along with an FM tuner. I bought a cheap DVD player to play CDs and plugged that in the aux input. I knocked together a small wood case to hold the amp/tuner and DVD player. It plays through a pair of Bose speakers I had laying around. The sound is surprisingly decent, with enough power to make it too loud in the garage. But I never play it loud.
It has Bluetooth and an aux input along with an FM tuner. I bought a cheap DVD player to play CDs and plugged that in the aux input. I knocked together a small wood case to hold the amp/tuner and DVD player. It plays through a pair of Bose speakers I had laying around. The sound is surprisingly decent, with enough power to make it too loud in the garage. But I never play it loud.
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