Has anyone figured out a "headless" head unit yet?

"Just wear your damn mask..." (jimal) 05/01/2014 at 16:33 • Filed to: Stereolopnik

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For all the talk that in the not so distant future, your mobile device - if it isn't already - will control your in car entertainment, has anyone come up with an aftermarket stereo that does just this?

The reason I ask is I'm in the market for an old, beater pickup to use on weekends and possibly plow the driveway. Depending on how often I use is for for how long each time, I'd like to have some music to listen to. What I don't want to do however is install even a cheap stereo system with a head unit that I will likely have to hack into the dash. All I want so something super stealthy that will work with my phone through Bluetooth or a cable interface. No display needed, or volume control for that matter. Everything would be controlled through my device.

Does such a thing yet exist?

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Just wear your damn mask... 05/01/2014 at 16:40

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Usually the head unit is also your amp so you will need something in the dash to amplify the sound. I'd just get a cheap unit with aux in and put it under the seat.

MonkeePuzzle > Just wear your damn mask... 05/01/2014 at 16:44

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yes/no. there are plenty of like hidden head units for classic cars, they essentially have a remote control that can be hidden in the glovebox or so

jariten1781 > Just wear your damn mask... 05/01/2014 at 16:46

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If you've got a cassette deck you can just use one of these bluetooth adapters.

http://www.amazon.com/Adapsonic-Blue…

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Or just do what I did in HS when my radio busted and throw a boombox in the passenger seat. Rechargeable batteries are pretty decent now so you wouldn't have to stop at Walgreen's every few days to pick up C-cells like I did.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Just wear your damn mask... 05/01/2014 at 16:51

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I know you can buy simply the amplifier portion and connect to the speaker wires in place of the stereo, these can be had with an aux in. I know there are also products out there that can turn your aux in into a bluetooth.

I know at one point there was actually a jalopnik article on this very subject, it actually involved installing an ipod hookup into a car in a thefty neighborhood so the guy didn't want to use a nice headunit.

Just wear your damn mask... > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 05/01/2014 at 16:52

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I was thinking about something along the lines of a box that does that; takes the signal being transmitted via Bluetooth or a cable, amplifies it, and sends it to the speakers. Your device controls it so you don't need a traditional headunit in the dash.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Just wear your damn mask... 05/01/2014 at 16:55

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Here's what I was thinking of in my other post, something like these:

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/hi-fi-audi…

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Just wear your damn mask... 05/01/2014 at 16:56

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I'm curious to hear others replies. Sounds like a great item.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > Just wear your damn mask... 05/01/2014 at 17:05

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You could also get one of these

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Garrett Davis > Just wear your damn mask... 05/01/2014 at 17:10

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As someone who has been through it all before, honestly your best bet is to just install a single DIN slot Bluetooth head unit. Anything else would just be a hassle and a workaround.

From there, it will automatically continue playing what ever music you were listening to, it will alert you and read your texts and allow you to reply over voice, you can answer/make calls from it, it's all very easy and 95% of the processing and voice control is handled by your phone, so you know it will work fine.

This is what I installed in all my older vehicles: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500HD137BT/A…

The best part, is that you can just save the stock head unit, and reinstall it when you sell the truck. Just buy the adapter harness, and there is no splicing, cutting, or drilling needed as long as the truck has a DIN slot. Hell, I moved my one stereo between three different cars. Installation takes 20 minutes.

If you don't want the attention to a new stereo in your dash, I installed my stereo into the center console of my Jeep. Just buy some wire to route everything from the dash, and you can keep your stock unit in the dash with no one being the wiser. It's all very easy stuff, too.

jlay > Just wear your damn mask... 05/01/2014 at 17:21

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Cheapest:
Bluetooth adapter to 2-ch amp to speakers w/ passive crossover

Fancier:
Bluetooth adapter to miniDSP to 4-ch amp to midbass and tweeter

NaturallyAspirated > Just wear your damn mask... 05/01/2014 at 17:34

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If you want cheap, I'd get a basic 12v amplifier like this one:

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0049P6OTI

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Wire it up in the glove box or under the seat or something. Run a 3.5mm cord to wherever you want to leave your iPod. Job done.

I have that exact amplifier with an AC adapter and I use it to drive a pair of older Acoustic Research speakers. It sounds great and it's got plenty of power despite it's rating of 20W.