Speakers Indoor/outdoor Speaker System

This was by far the most ambitious custom job that Camp-Inn did for our trailer. We are music lovers, and the idea of reclining in the light of the setting sun while sipping a glass of wine and listening to a bit of Mozart was too much to resist.

The system included the following major components:
Matched pair of Infinity component speakers inside and out
Alpine 150w amplifier
Channel Vision wall-mounted iPod dock

We also added independent volume control wall-plates to the galley and the cabin, and remote control of the iPod from inside or outside.

Here you can see the cabin speakers on the ceiling, the tweeters built into the cabinet faces below, and the crossovers more or less hidden inside the cabinets.
The iPod dock is mounted on the left wall, the amplifier is hidden under the left closed cabinet, and the volume control is to the left of the thermostat.


Closeup of one of Craig's beautiful solid wood speaker cabinets


Channel Vision iPod Dock also outputs video to the flat screen TV.


I got this holder for the remotes at Camping World - it attaches to the wall with double-backed tape. You can also see the tweeter and cross-over.


Here's the 150w Alpine amp. Craig told me this was a bit of an overkill (I wanted to make sure it would drive 2 pairs of speakers easily).
He added a false bottom to the cabinet above to allow room for the amp under it. It is not visible from the cabin's couch.
Also, the volume knob for the cabin speakers. This controls either the volume from the iPod or the TV.
We had some trouble getting the amp to accept two inputs at equal volumes.
If we did the project again we would probably use a different amp - perhaps a car stereo head.


Here are the galley speakers. We lose a little bit of storage space in the upper cabinets to them.


Craig's beautiful custom cabinets - this time with the tweeter and crossover included.



The galley volume control with (my favorite part) the eye for the IR input.
This means that we can control the iPod with the remote while sitting around the camp-fire.


I bought all the hardware and had it delivered to Camp-Inn so that Craig could install it.
It probably cost a bit over $1,500 when the project was all done - parts and labor.
(but I suspect that Craig doesn't know how to add up all of his hours properly) 3+5+2+4+3 = 6.5 hmmmm....

 

Impressive!

 

Unbelievable - top notch. I hope one day to be able to hear your audio system. I hope Craig considered his man hours as a labor of love.

A much simpler audio system would be a car stereo player (built in amp/CD player/iPod jack) with two interior speakers (A) and two galley speakers (B) and an interior switch that can choose between either speakers A or B. I wonder if Craig would custom build this kind of unit? I think that it would be a great Camp Inn accessory.

 

If we did the stereo again, we would probably go this route as well. A car stereo would simplify things a lot! Some of them even have iPod support as well. The wall mounted iPod dock certainly made things a lot more complicated for us.

 

I too like music. My solution might be to take along my Bose SoundDock® Portable digital music system. I bought a reconditioned SoundDock that looks new and sounds pretty good. It has its own battery that is rechargeable, powers and recharges my Ipod, can be plugged in to charge or unplugged for portability (move from the bedroom to the kitchen), and had its own controller. Low on my wish list is the TV/CD player. Music would be much higher and this could be my solution. Thoughts? Any reason to want the TV/CD player? I don't play music CD now other than for movies. If I really want to watch a CD, I could use my laptop. Just trying to sort out options...thanks. T of J

 

Welcome, Tears of Joy - we're glad to have you with us.

Of course the TV/DVD will appeal to some people more than others. It depends on how you plan to use your Camp-Inn. We will almost never use our DVD player in the summer when the weather is nice. However, (and this is what you might not be thinking of) having a Camp-Inn means you can comfortably camp all year long, even when the weather is terrible. That's when the DVD player might be very useful. When my wife and I go out for a weekend in the winter (sans Katie), we will spend a good bit of time reading and watching stuff... and listening to music too.

 

This is just plain KEWL.

 

Love your audio setup! I have been thinking about doing something similar, but will probably end up going the car stereo route when I am ready to tackle the project. For now I use a small portable Logitech ipod speaker dock with a remote (http://www.logitech.com/en-us/speakers-audio/ipod-mp3-speakers/devices/4320). It has worked great for me so far.

 

Really nice setup, but I am also inclined to go the simpler and less expensive route. I only need audio through my speakers, but I have no idea where to start with spec'ing a system. How would you feel about creating a simple spec, using high-quality speakers, but with the bare minimum between the iPod and the speakers (but still have high quality sound)?

Would that be hard for you to do? I'd offer a bottle of nice, California wine, in exchange for your services!!

I'd also like two speakers inside, but I'd run that independent from the kitchen speakers. Need to spec that, too, I guess.

Is there really a need for the head unit? Can't the ipod go direct to the speakers (but the speakers would be powered)?

obviously I am a complete newbie on this issue

 

I've done the portable speaker route, which was great, but I'd like something built in.

I also plan to use the laptop for movies. I'm gonna have it with me anyway, so....

 

AlCat,

I'm not an audio guru, and I also don't work for Camp-Inn, but here is what I would recommend for a permanent indoor/outdoor setup:

Car stereo head unit with built in amp and iPod connection.
Two pairs of matching speakers.

That's it - keep it much simpler than my setup.

The iPod connection can be run to one of the cabinets so the iPod can sit in there and be safe but accessible. You should be able to control the iPod from the head unit. The head unit will also power both the indoor and outdoor speakers and let you control their volumes separately. The only thing this simplified setup would not provide is a way to control the volume or iPod from the galley - unless the head unit has a port for accepting an additional IR receiver.

I love my speakers - I would use the exact same ones again. And Craig's custom wood cabinets are beautiful. I would just simplify the amplifier / wall mounted iPod dock scenario with the head unit.

If you are considering having this kind of setup put in your new Camp-Inn, I would go to a local Best Buy, show them pictures of my setup, and tell them what you want. Listen to the different 7 1/4" speakers and pick one you like. Also, plug your iPod into their head units and see which one gives you the best control over your iPod.

Once you have your components picked out, run the whole thing by Cary & Craig. Then if they are on board you could have the components shipped to them for the install. You don't want Best Buy to do this aftermarket - it needs to be done during the build.

 

So, campinn will not replicate Evans system because of the amount of custom speaker enclosures etc. I begged. I worked with Cary and mailed him some weatherproof fully enclosed speakers (very small) and an IR repeater. They installed it all ( beautifully) and ran the wires into cabinet left of tv. When I got camper I finished the install by installing a headunit. It contrOls iPod, radio, aux input, and all important weather radio built in. nOw I can toss iPhone into cabinet and close the door!

The IR repeater is mounted just above pump switch in gally. I have an extra remote I keep with silverware and presto, all controls work from galley. I ordered everything from crutchfield, they even have a nice universal mounting bracket for headunit that mounts to top of cabinet so you loose minimal space. Best buy on west coast must be better than on the East! Please please don't take your trailer to those bozos!

 

Matt,

Hey, can you share what head unit you put in? That may be what Alcat is looking for. I know he is searching for head units that have many of those functions.

Cary

 

It is Jensen heavy duty, same as speakers. I don't remember brand of IR repeater but it ran on 12v wall adapter which I just snipped off and connected to terminal block that camp inn installed. It's the only Jensen heavyduty with no cd player....who needs that anymore?! Also, campinn installed an additional shut off switch. Speakers are small 3" and inside they sound pretty good. In galley they lack bass because you are outside. But let's be real....most campgrounds are quiet places and low level listening is all you are gonna do anyways. I can hear music and 'cartalk' just fine.

 

Oh, almost forgot. The IPod control cable is an optional item, they come in two lengths. The one foot one is just long enough your iPod will lay flat on floor of cabinet while connected and charging.

 

Thanks for the info, guys. It seems like this is pretty simple (unless I want to use a more complicated (and tasty) speaker set up.

Is there a reason I need a "heavy duty" head unit?

also, is this really an "outdoor" speaker set-up? You don't think normal car stereo speakers are adequate?

I think a weather channel capable radio would be useful, since there will be lots of time that I can't access the web from my PC or iPhone.

Interesting ideas re the IR repeater(s)....not sure I want to go that complicated. I think a simpler approach would be to buy a remote control unit for the iPod, itself, and just keep the iPod visible.

I am a "no music" fan in campgrounds, but there are situations when music is OK, and some when you actually need music (to block out your neighbor's generator, for example). But I do prefer the quiet over any noise. I won't be the guy spoiling the campground, I promise!!

 

I think Jensen heavy duty is their 'highend' if Jensen has such a thing. It was the only unit I found that met all my needs and did nothing I was never going to use. You can use any headunit you like. I was Also looking at amperage draw because I camp a lot with no electric. The Jensen is low amperage. Car speakers are fine, but there is no space in camper to flush mount them. So either a custom enclosure or fully enclosed speaker will work. In my cabin they are at knee wall next to t stat and outlets, anything big will be a knee buster. Also outside in galley they are flush mounted and recessed into dufflebag cabinet in cabin. You need grilles and enclosures also to protect the speakers from damage both on front of speaker and from use of dufflebag shelf.

 

good tips/info. Thanks!!

 

http://www.jensenheavyduty.com/jensen-heavy-duty-am-fm-wb-stereo.html

??

This one has front and rear aux in (for iPod)
http://www.jensenheavyduty.com/jen...-sirius-satellite-radio-ready-stereo-317.html