Misc Stereo Option: Opinions?

In the order I placed for my Camp Inn 560, I ordered the stereo system with the galley speakers and the remote control head. But, I have been considering dropping the stereo option before construction and was wondering if any of you feel strongly either way regarding the option. What do you think? Should I keep it or ditch it?

 

With technology changes I would ditch. I would be happier with portable speaker and tablet.

 

We absolutely love having the stereo. If you like listening to music, it's super convenient. And you can always turn it off if you want to listen to nature. The music can also drown out someone's obnoxious generator.

We're not too worries about technology changing too fast...there are multiple ways to connect (we use Bluetooth the most), and 20 years down the road I would suspect that at least one of them will still be a viable option. If it really does change fast enough such that you need a new stereo, them at least you already have the speakers installed...swap out the old with the new.

A couple other factors for us:

1.) We have the TV option (no longer available, apparently), which is piped into the sound system.
2.) The sound system can be broadcast simultaneously to both the cabin AND the galley, which is nice when my wife and I are in different locations.

For us, it's been really nice having music to enhance the camping experience.

 

I’d prefer the Sirius app with a Bluetooth speaker. Simplicity as well as something you can take anywhere including without the trailer. YMMV

 

We recently got a Sonos Roam portable speaker. Love it. Awesome sound, portable.

 

I ordered it on mine.

Sternly enough I consider what you heard on the radio today is pretty much commercial filled dreck. I plan on using it mostly as bluetooth from my ipad/iphone. I simply don't want to have to worry about loading another device wherever I go. I don't think bluetooth is going anywhere any time soon.

While not my choice...there's theoretically nothing wrong with listening to Snoop, or Meryl Haggard (OK, maybe there IS something wrong with Snoop) --- listening to both at the same time because you're nestled between two campers who are inconsiderate in their volume choices...that stinks.

PERSONALLY -- I wish campground would make ALL external speakers verboten. The new breed of "you do you" campers are spoiling what used to be great fun. I'm estimating much of my camping will be shoulder season before things get so crowded....or , I'll be finding alternative campgrounds through boondockers welcome and hipcamp, since BLM isn't an option where I'm at. But this thread isn't about that.

No matter what you get...keep the volume low enough that you can hear it, but your neighbors can't.

Back to the point, I added it to mine -- Terrestrial radio is fading, but it is still common, and likely will be for some time. Most, if not all parks have little or no internet, so counting on Spotify and Pandora is probably a bad idea. I plan on using mine mostly as a bluetooth speaker. I simply don't want to have to worry about charging yet another battery, or having to carry an extra device with me that can be hard-wired right there, and ready to go at a moments notice. Besides that, it is just a car radio -- so if there is a major advancement in car radio tech, its pretty easy to upgrade.

But to be honest, I was on the fence when I hit "buy" as well.

 

Ours didn't come with a sound system, but I ended up installing a marine amplifier and a pair of speakers in both the galley and cabin, with input jacks in both locations as well with an A,B, or A&B speaker switch. We use it most of the time that we are around the TD, usually listening to NPR, or MP3 music, and try to keep it at a level that isn't audible to the neighbors. It's also nice hooked up to the TV in the cabin if we want to watch a movie or whatever local channels might come in. This issue has come up before however, and you'll find that there is quite a variety of opinions on what part electronics should play in your camping experience, and it basically boils down to the fact that there is no right or wrong, and you are the only one who can really answer how important having them (or not) is for your particular style of camping.

 

And don’t sweat a small dollar amount now…cry once and it’s done. In 2 years you won’t say “I wish….”

 

Freight Dog,

I would encourage not having a stereo installed as a function of two things: A) technology changes and B) not inflicting your music or podcasts on other campers who are trying to escape the digital world. To echo a sentiment from above, amplifying/broadcasting sounds quickly kills the nature experience for many within earshot. I'm sure you'll love your Camp Inn, regardless of which way you choose. (Though, many more of us will enjoy your Camp Inn if you forego the stereo).

Cheers,
--Ken

 

I don’t know if this has changed but the volume level on my DVD player or streaming Netflix through an HDMI cable connected to my phone was too low even at full volume. (560 #701]. At the time it was a known issue and there are a couple of older threads on it. I had to run the audio out from the TV through my stereo and in cabin speakers.

Randy

 

I installed a radio and speakers back in 2010, but I'm not sure I would do it today. You can have portable speakers that are as high quality as the ones we likely install in the TD. Portable speakers allow you to keep the volume much lower than you would if your speakers are in a fixed location. For example, a speaker sitting on the picnic table doesn't need to be as loud as a speaker 15 feet away, in the TD galley.

My main additional reasons for adding the stereo/radio IN the TD is I wanted an AM radio for listening to local baseball, and I wanted access to a weather station

I never use these additional "features" - so....I vote for the portable speaker approach

ps I agree 100% with not bothering my camping neighbors with my music. It's pretty easy to walk the perimeter of your campsite after you turn on the music, to see how far it is carrying. I've never had a complaint from a neighbor. But I do keep it pretty low.


Al

 

I am assuming that the head unit is a 12v, low end East Asia-made car stereo. I wouldn’t expect great sound from the supplied speakers, preamp and amplifier, but I , of course, could be wrong. Has anyone supplied their own head unit and speakers for the Camp-Inn to install?

 

I don't have experience with Camp Inn's current system, but I ordered components when my trailer was built and had them installed at the factory. As is clear from the replies above, the yeses and noes depend entirely on your relationship to music in a campground in the first place. For my part I love it and would not do without it. I am respectful and keep volume low outside and don't think it's a problem for anyone around me. Inside, I have two Orb speakers that are terrific, fit in well with the interior and I recommend them highly.

 

These look like

They look like Gallo speakers. Should sound nice! Enjoy!
I would definitely put in a pair of very good midrange-twitter drivers and possibly a small subwoofer, for intimate near-field listening. Bill Evans and Coltrane will be so introspective in this one on one environment.

 

This is kind of an old thread but perhaps worth reviving as technology is always changing. It's neat for me to see how many different ways folks enjoy their campers. My preference for music is portable bluetooth speakers. I purchased a Bose Revolve + a couple of years ago. I enjoyed the sound enough that when they came up with a Bose App that would allow 2 of them to pair and have stereo, I purchased a second one. My approach to camping is to keep everything modular. These 2 speakers sound great when placed in the galley or on the shelves in the cabin however they really shine when they are spaced out more laterally to take advantage of the stereophonic sound. I usually bring along a couple of folding tables and use these to hold the speakers if I'm sitting around the fire. Bear in mind that I usually camp where there is no one else near enough to be bothered by the music. A warm fire, a cold beer and some good music is hard to beat.

 

We don’t listen to a lot of music in camp but when we do, we use a Sonos Roam speaker. Compact, battery powered, great sound, and integrates to our home Sonos speaker system when at home.