Need FM Radio

[Blackspots76]

Ford's early '10s era fleet radios feel like a good fit for the Slate. Nice and simple, if only the buttons were rectangular:

I've got a spare junkyard 6-disc changer version that I pulled for someone's now-sold fleet F150. One of the contenders for what will end up in my Slate.

I have the 6CD/MP3 radio version sitting in a closet, because I forgot to put it back in my truck when I traded it in (back in January). I had a Kenwood Excelon deck with GPS maps that I bought in 2018 that I left in there.

 

[Tinker]

I’m ok with just having a phone for the UI.
Right now I have a MagSafe charger on my dash where I stick my phone while driving. I think the only thing I will miss is the volume knob.

 

[motorolas]

I’m ok with just having a phone for the UI.
Right now I have a MagSafe charger on my dash where I stick my phone while driving. I think the only thing I will miss is the volume knob.

I’ve used a Sony CarPlay DIN and liked it. but for the last year, I’ve been using my work and personal iPhones as my nav and entertainment. Both on MagSafe chargers.

 

[Letas]

I’ve used a Sony CarPlay DIN and liked it. but for the last year, I’ve been using my work and personal iPhones as my nav and entertainment. Both on MagSafe chargers.

Oh how nice it would be to not live somewhere hot

 

[motorolas]

Oh how nice it would be to not live somewhere hot

Yes, CA Bay Area has spoiled me. Sadly, my DIN had been stolen 3 months into owning it. And I’ve had 2 DINs over 20 years stolen, so simple is better for me, which the Slate is.

 

[Letas]

Yes, CA Bay Area has spoiled me. Sadly, my DIN had been stolen 3 months into owning it. And I’ve had 2 DINs over 20 years stolen, so simple is better for me, which the Slate is.

I'm just a couple hours up the road and my phone is in overheat mode the entire drive home! Pros and cons I suppose....

 

[cvollers]

If you connect via Bluetooth the "wired sounds better" feature is nullified because you've introduced the wireless degradation into the signal chain, just somewhere else.

The advantage of active speakers (speaker + bespoke built-in amplifier) is that the amp and speaker can be deliberately paired with one another to sound a certain way.

Slate Auto could, at least potentially, further tune the speakers to the cabin of the vehicle. Think of it as home-audio "room correction", but for the vehicle.

Having a bespoke amp and circuitry designed into an active speaker potentially provides an advantage to pairing a rando amp and rando speakers and hoping it sounds good.

The Audio Kits could have auxiliary-in for removing Bluetooth from the signal chain.

That’s a lot of conjecture. I do Bluetooth in now and the sound is fine for me, but then again I chalk that up to the fine job Toyota did with JBL on the sound system. Based on what I’ve seen so far, I don’t think Slate will offer a wired connection between the phone (music source) and a speaker amp. Some after market head units may allow USB in. I believe Alpine checks this box.

 

[AZFox]

That’s a lot of conjecture.

Bluetooth is a wireless connection in lieu of a wired connection. Saying "wired sounds better" when there's Bluetooth in the signal chain is a self-defeating assertion. That's not conjecture.

The sound profile of Active Speakers can indeed be optimized by the manufacturer by matching a bespoke amp and circuitry to the speakers' enclosure and drivers. No conjecture there.

Slate could assure that sound from the audio kits will be optimized to the acoustic environment of cabin of the vehicle. You admit that isn't conjecture yourself when you refer to "the fine job Toyota did with JBL on the sound system" because Toyota and JBL optimized the sound of that sound system to the acoustic environment of that Toyota.

So... where's the conjecture?

 

[AngryMedic]

I wonder how they plan on securing the speaker covers that wont vibrate and scream "Cheap" when I crank up the volume.

 

[Letas]

I wonder how they plan on securing the speaker covers that wont vibrate and scream "Cheap" when I crank up the volume.

They probably don't.... the whole idea of this car is kinda "cheap"

 

[Imhotep]

I thought of this thread when I saw a Slate at the needle. Looks like enough room for a double DIN and the compartment bottom can be removed for a LOT more space underneath for an amp, etc…

There were 2 ISB-A ports on the left of the compartment and a 12V “cigarette lighter” in between the center and RH compartments. This was a beta, so I do not know if this is a firm configuration.

 

[Dorbiman]

This will 100% be the route I take, but the head unit seems slightly too far away from the driver for my liking. I'd prefer if it was centered over the HVAC controls

Now that I think about it, I'm hopeful that we'll be able to completely replace the phone dock with a doulbe DIN headunit. If you option the tablet mount in the Slate Maker, it removes the phone mount. If the double DIN headunit can open the Slate app, maybe it can be centered over the HVAC knobs?