Custom Modular Headunit project.

[scott_fx]

Been a while since I've posted. I'm turning the corner toward getting my car road worthy. I'm very passionate about car audio and decided that the restomod radio didn't have the features i wanted, while the modern head units didn't really match the theme of my interior. So i decided to design my own stereo. My goals are to have it modular (ability to add features as i go on), integrate into the look of the interior, minimalist design, modern features:
1:bluetooth with track information and playback control
2:fm radio
3:source selection with aux input
4:simple to use/seamless
5:analog volume control (i like the functionality of a volume knob)


I originally planned on using some vu meters but they didn't look all that great when lit and they didn't fall into my goals. The vu meters added 'too much' and cluttered up the design. so i am going with just a simple knob with a 8 segment display with 3 buttons to control the source and playback functions

here is the layout i'll be going with. the pcb will be mounted behind the plate (will have it cnc'd)
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here is a closeup of the pcb:
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here is the source selector. 4 inputs one output

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and here is a video of the display(on my custom pcb) in action

https://youtu.be/RaGjfECCR7I

If anyone is interested i can continue to update this thread to show you the progress.

[carguy502]

This looks very nice, Scott! In for a follow up, as I have also been struggling with finding a discrete stereo for my Nova that ticks all my boxes: AM/FM, Bluetooth, smaller that single DIN display, etc.

Don

[cjohnson6772]

Love the look of the simple clean radio. Awesome execution thus far. Would be very interested in the details of pulling this off.

[scott_fx]

Thanks for the compliment. I actually forgot I even posted this because there was no activity. I’m still working on it, but I’ve made major leaps since I posted it here.

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Here is an in action shot

https://youtu.be/xoZxOz9wMjU

[cjohnson6772]

Wow. The final product looks very at home and very stealth. Would you mind posting the bill of materials for the build and/or the Arduino sketch?

[cjohnson6772]

Also, I see that you decided against your LCD gauges? What did you end up going with?

[scott_fx]

I’ll post a bill of materials after I finish. One thing to mention though, the Bluetooth module isn’t being manufactured anymore.

I went with speedhut gauges. The lcd gauges are still on my mind. But it’ll be something I tackle after my kids grow up. We had our second last month, so time is a bit scarce.

[cjohnson6772]

Cool. Yeah I like the look and function of the Speedhut units a lot.

Ok I'll stay tuned for the BOM. Definitely interested in the powered extending volume knob. That thing is really slick.

[scott_fx]

I think a few of the features of the unit will be hard to replicate. And it’ll be very costly. Just a warning. You could buy a very high end headinit for what I’ve spent on this build. It’s been a passion project for me. A challenge to see if I could make something look oem.

[vette427-sbc]

Clean, simple and totally unique... That is really cool!

[ryeguy2006a]

I've been looking for something just like this for a stereo project in my 1968 Camaro. I'm very curious about the parts list and what it takes to get something like this up and running. I'm hoping to do something like this but inside of a stock AM radio.