help need AM car radio reccomendations

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
12,249
This is a weird one, my father in law would like his car radio replaced. He has a 1998 Buick with AM/FM/cassette. He likes to listen to AM and CD's, but the current radio does not pull in many stations AND is constantly overloaded by the local AFB AM comms.

We could go to the dealer, but I kinda doubt they could help us in getting a car radio that's both sensitive AND selective on the AM band.

Thanks
 
That's a very interesting question. I think since AM is dead and it's lifeless body inhabited only by talk shows, manufacturers don't put much emphasis on the AM band recievers.

Whatever happened with AM Stereo? Was supposed to be the next big thing about fifteen years ago. Never heard about it since...

-Bob
 
Dave, I suggest a visit to a local car stereo place.

My wifes van came with a factory AM/FM/Cassette, and she wanted a CD player. The dealer wanted my left one and almost $600 for the OEM unit.

I had an aftermarket Kenwood installed for $250, and the radio reception is awesome. She listens to the local AM news talk station in the morning, and has almost as good of reception as the FM mode.

Nice thing about having the Kenwood installed is that when it is time to sell the van, I can pull it out, and reinstall the factory unit in about 10 minutes. The installer used an adaptor harness that plugs directly into the factory radio harness, which not only eliminates wiring problems, it facilitates replacing the unit in a matter of a few minutes.
 
Thanks for the tip, I'll let my fingers do some walking and dialing.
 
I don't know about how well they all do on AM since I don't listen to those stations but I've had a couple aftermarket radio/cd players in trucks and you don't have to spend too much to get one that works well.
Depending on how the factory radio is installed, you may have to hire somebody to at least take it out for you. Putting the new radios in is a breeze, they generally are pretty much plug and play, and made to just slide inot the dash as a press fit.
The problem can be getting the old radio out. Ford radios have a spring latch system from the factory. Takes some kind of tool to release it from the dash. First radio I replaced in the old truck, came out in peices via a 12" screwdriver :eek: , we let Ford take care of the new truck :D After studying the peices of the original radio I probably could have rigged up some way of making it work, but thats a case of not knowing what you're dealing with until its already done.
The car you're working with may be completely different, but it might be worth your time to see what it would cost to just let someone install it.
 
Don't know if your Dad has specific AM stations that he likes to listen to. But you can get a Serius or XM satellite system for your car for about 100 bucks and then it costs ten bucks a month. They have a lot of "talk" shows about sports, politics, etc.
 
You might try Crutchfield,they specialize in this.
I have ordered from them many times,though never a car radio,and they are helpful,reliable and quick.They have never been the cheapest source for what I need but I trust them.

I also get their catalog and it says with your radio you get a free mounting kit and wiring harness to mate radio X to car Y,custom printed instructions with illustrations for your make and year vehicle and the radio you choose and free lifetime tech support.

http://www.crutchfield.com
 
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