[alligator]

Slowly but surely I'm building a nice garage to work in. I recently put in a 60 gallon air compressor, picked up some nice tools, and I'll be building a new workbench shortly.

Now I realize that while I'm doing all of this, the little radio I have just isn't cutting it. Can someone recommend an inexpensive yet good sounding built-in audio solution for my garage? Perhaps a couple of speakers in the walls? I like to listen to local radio, as well as some of the internet radio stations from iTunes. I have no need to play anything from my iPod because I like the variety from a radio station all day long.

Something that doesn't take up too much room is preferred. Any ideas?

[residentEvil]

I have a pretty okay system in my garage and on it, actually. It is a 3 zone, 1 source system. 1 zone, in the garage; 1 zone on the face of the garage for the patio; 1 zone on the side of the garage for fire pit/backyard.

Each zone is independently volume controlled to the source; so all 3 zones don't have to be on at the same time.

I used an MP3/CD shelf system as the source. It is pretty small/compact; holds 5 discs verticly, not in a carasel fashion; maybe 7" wide, by 13" tall by 13" deep. I also run CAT5e and quad coax to where the shelf system is, for wireless access point and satellite TV. At this time, the shelf system does NOT intergrate/talk to the wireless system. But there for future needs.

For each zone, I use a pair of these:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YLEhEoh...mp;I=107ATR55W

To control volume, I went with equipment from Niles:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YLEhEoh...p;I=190VCS1HRW

and

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YLEhEoh...p;I=190VCSHUB8

The colume controls are placed into a 3 gang box inside the garage near the door.

EDIT: in the future, i hope to place one of these (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YLEhEoh...p;I=190MVC1HIW) on the zone for the backyard/fire pit so i can control volume/discs and not have to keep getting up all the time

[Railroader]

Go to a pawn shop. Very good deals on high end equipment if you get lucky.

[rozwado1]

Check out Paradigm's Outdoor speakers. You should be able to snag last year's models on the (somewhat) cheap.

Here

[alligator]

Well, I still haven't purchased the speakers yet. I'm having trouble deciding on whether to get a bookshelf system, or to purchase speakers and a tuner separately.

I cut a lot of wood in my garage. How do I keep the sawdust out of these things? I figure good outdoor speakers will be protected near the ceiling, but what about the tuner or a shelf system?

[brokecollegestudentF04]

What i used in my basement workshop was an old stereo and hooked 6x9's up to it and ran an old PowerBook G3 266 into it to stream internet radio from iTunes 2.. the 266 G3 was mainly in bad shape but it did the trick well

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by brokecollegestudentF04 

What i used in my basement workshop was an old stereo and hooked 6x9's up to it and ran an old PowerBook G3 266 into it to stream internet radio from iTunes 2.. the 266 G3 was mainly in bad shape but it did the trick well

Scammer.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by alligator 

Slowly but surely I'm building a nice garage to work in. I recently put in a 60 gallon air compressor, picked up some nice tools, and I'll be building a new workbench shortly.

Now I realize that while I'm doing all of this, the little radio I have just isn't cutting it. Can someone recommend an inexpensive yet good sounding built-in audio solution for my garage? Perhaps a couple of speakers in the walls? I like to listen to local radio, as well as some of the internet radio stations from iTunes. I have no need to play anything from my iPod because I like the variety from a radio station all day long.

Something that doesn't take up too much room is preferred. Any ideas?

Yes. Goodwill, St Vincents, whatever resale shop you have near you. You should be able to pick up a receiver and a set of speakers for around $20. Either that, or check craigslist. Get something no name, preferably black plastic crap from the 80s.

Then just build a wooden shelf for the speakers. Big sound on the cheap. Also, check craigslist.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by rozwado1 

Check out Paradigm's Outdoor speakers. You should be able to snag last year's models on the (somewhat) cheap.

Here

He doesn't need outdoor speakers. It's indoors, in a garage.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by alligator 

Well, I still haven't purchased the speakers yet. I'm having trouble deciding on whether to get a bookshelf system, or to purchase speakers and a tuner separately.

I cut a lot of wood in my garage. How do I keep the sawdust out of these things? I figure good outdoor speakers will be protected near the ceiling, but what about the tuner or a shelf system?

A bookshelf system will sound really weak in a garage. Get a seperate receiver, and speakers. Again, get used, preferably from the 70s-80s. Get something you don't really care about... it's in your garage, not your living room. Speakers won't be affected by sawdust much, at least not that you'll notice in a garage, and as for the receiver... it really won't matter a whole lot as long as you blow it out once in a while. The bodyshop that I used to hang out in had some 80s pieces of crap right next to the stall where they sand everything, and that receiver was NEVER cleaned, and it worked fine. It was also a HUGE shop, so they had the thing cranked.

Again, get a $20 used piece of junk of craigslist... sounddesigns, sony, whatever is cheapest and receiver sized. If it breaks in a few years, who cares, just get another one, but I doubt it will.

[alligator]

Yes, but I really want this to sound kind of nice - not something that's just junk. Huge speakers do not appeal to me there since I have limited space as it is - but then again, I don't want to put a brand new receiver in the middle of a dusty garage.

[centerchannel68]

Dude... a couple things:

1. It's a garage, which has horrible acoustics anyway, so you are not going to get 'great' sound. It's too reflective, acoustically.

2. Huge speakers are the only way to get good sound. Small enclosures= limited bass response.... which means you either need to do funky porting (ie, sloppy bass that booms too much and doesn't sound musical at all), or you need big speakers. Your choice.

3. I never said a brand new receiver. Seriously... here's a good example of what I'm talking about, from my local craigslist:

Fisher Stereo System

and then some cheap speakers, like this:

Pioneer Bookshelf Speakers

Better sound than any bookshelf system.

[IceEnclosure]

I had some of those white Infinity outdoor speakers in a garage once. Mounted high, completely out of the way, and they sounded nice. This was a 2 1/2 car garage. They were connected to a big Ca$h style Kenwood or Fisher receiver. Worked well.

[centerchannel68]

You seriously do NOT NEED outdoor speakers in a garage. I'm telling you. If you want to waste your money, go ahead. But you don't need them at all.

[Eriamjh]

If you don't have a hoist, you don't have an awsome garage.

Mine is insulated, has heat, AC, ceiling fans, cable TV, phone, wireless internet, a dedicated computer, 80 gallon 5hp compressor, a sandblasting cabinet, an oven for powder coating, outlets every four feet, benches up the wazoo, shelves up the other wazoo, and an epoxy-coated floor.

But I don't have a hoist... yet.

[centerchannel68]

Sweet. Post pics, start a thread. I want to see it.

[Eriamjh]

I call it "The Chrome Theatre"

With three classics to work on, I needed space. 24 feet by 45 feet. I even found 90 year-old bricks to match the 70 year-old bricks the house was built with.

[centerchannel68]

Nice! I didn't know there were any other gearheads really around here. Cool garage man. I dig the old detroit iron. Old lincolns are hot. I had a 78 Merc for a while...fun car. It had lincoln seats in it for some reason. >shrug<

[alligator]

I too have an insulated garage with heat, A/C, phone, wireless internet, 60 gallon compressor, 120 outlets, a 240 outlet, and a brand new workbench that I built. It looks like this:



I built it from the New Yankee Workshop plans and video. Took me about 40 hours to build it, but it is the best furniture in my garage!

Now you can see why I want a nice radio in there. It is first and foremost a garage, but when the cars are backed out, it transforms into a very nice automotive and woodworking workshop. All of the radios I've found are either brand new or well used. There's nothing in-between.

Example of a possible new Sony radio that's too nice:


I'm thinking of trying to wire up a car stereo to mount under one of the shelves. This would be virtually invisible if I used some in-wall speakers. The down side is that I need to come up with 12v to power it and I'd have to deal with all of the connectors. I just need FM (or maybe HD-radio), nothing else. What do you think?

[centerchannel68]

Again, I think you need to pick up a used 1970s or 1980s receiver, and build some freaking shelves on the wall for some BIGGER speakers. Not huge, but at least something with a 6" driver. A nice pair of studio monitors would work fine.

CHECK CRAIGSLIST.

If you want to waste money, and get outdoor speakers, go ahead, but I've had a 'goodwill' system in my garage for...oh.. a DECADE now, and it works fine, without problems, and provides good sound.

[centerchannel68]

These are all posted in the Minneapolis craigslist:

GE AM/FM Stereo w/Dual Cassette!!

A $7 shelf system, like the sony you posted, only older.

Sony stereo

A $50 real stereo system, with tall speakers that could bolt to the sides of your cabinets no problem

SONY Stereo Music System

$40 sony shelf system, pretty much the same thing you posted only no fancy 'silver plastic'. Would also work fine, but it's worth more like $20-30, not 40.

philips / magnavox cd changer stereo with dual tape deck

$30 shelf system, pretty much like the one you posted.

You are seriously just making this a pain in the ass for no reason. If you feel that you just WANT to spend money, seriously just paypal me the cash and I'll pick you up a good system and mail it to you. Freakin' christ.

[andi*pandi]

you guys are making me want a garage. I can only hope to remodel my basement and put a workbench there however.

[centerchannel68]

Aren't you a girl? What would you do in the garage? I'm not trying to be sexist, I'm just curious.

[brokecollegestudentF04]

Originally Posted by alligator 

I'm thinking of trying to wire up a car stereo to mount under one of the shelves. This would be virtually invisible if I used some in-wall speakers. The down side is that I need to come up with 12v to power it and I'd have to deal with all of the connectors. I just need FM (or maybe HD-radio), nothing else. What do you think?

An old AT Power supply will provide the voltages you need for a car stereo.. I have a family member who uses one to test headlights and other things in his garage.. also he powers a radio off of it which works well. The yellow wire on the AT PSU is 12V

[centerchannel68]

That's really dorky for a garage. Seriously. Plus you'd probably tell him the wrong wire to scam him.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by alligator 

Now I realize that while I'm doing all of this, the little radio I have just isn't cutting it.

Congrats on the garage upgrade, sounds fun. BUT... the little radio is obligatory. Maybe get one with AM/FM/TV/Weather, but it's got to be a single radio playing both kinds of music - Country AND Western.

It's just tradition.

[Eriamjh]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

I had a 78 Merc for a while...fun car. It had lincoln seats in it for some reason. >shrug<

I had a '77 Mercury Marquis back in 1990 myself.

Considering the '78 Merc. and '78 Lincoln were made from the same chassis, it is a simple upgrade.

[andi*pandi]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

Aren't you a girl? What would you do in the garage? I'm not trying to be sexist, I'm just curious.

granted I wouldn't be rebuilding any engines, but having a workbench for woodworking/painting/household fixing/gardening tools would be really nice. Right now the tools are kind of in a disarray. Maybe I was just admiring the workbench aligator made?

Oh, and a place to put the car out of the weather is even nicer.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

That's really dorky for a garage. Seriously. Plus you'd probably tell him the wrong wire to scam him.

ok ok we get it. Keep the scam comments in the scam threads.

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

granted I wouldn't be rebuilding any engines, but having a workbench for woodworking/painting/household fixing/gardening tools would be really nice. Right now the tools are kind of in a disarray. Maybe I was just admiring the workbench aligator made?

Oh, and a place to put the car out of the weather is even nicer.

I think what you need is a shed. With lots and lots of pegboard, and hooks.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

I think what you need is a shed. With lots and lots of pegboard, and hooks.

Pop quiz: What do you call a shed used for woodworking, painting, storing tools and supplies, and keeping the car out of the weather?

[Gossamer]

Give up?
A garage.

[centerchannel68]

Haha. I guess. I like car stuff and tools in a garage, not gardening and craft equipment.

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

Haha. I guess. I like car stuff and tools in a garage, not gardening and craft equipment.

My parents have a shed in our backyard for storing wood and home improvement supplies and gardening stuff, and I can't imagine trying to do any painting or woodworking in there. A shed big enough to do any actual painting or woodworking in is probably big enough to hold a car when you're not doing any painting or woodworking...

[Gossamer]

...painting and woodworking...

[residentEvil]

i hope nobody does any painting near woodworking; specially finish work. unless you have a properly vented paint booth in there too.

[Gossamer]

From now on every post must include the words painting and woodworking.

[centerchannel68]

Good idea painting woodworking.