Remember when car audio systems were a thing?

[HROT]

Just the biggest subwoofer boxes imaginable. Everything just rattling. I went to high school with a guy who would keep ear plugs in the car for any passengers that requested them. Also knew another guy that had a competition car that would literally blow your hat off if you stuck your head in the window. So dumb. We were such assholes

Nowadays, if I hear any bass at a stop light, there’s a 90 percent chance it’s a 15 year old beater car. And I’m gonna give a “This f’n guy?”

 

[Bro D]

Just the biggest subwoofer boxes imaginable. Everything just rattling. I went to high school with a guy who would keep ear plugs in the car for any passengers that requested them. Also knew another guy that had a competition car that would literally know your hat off if you stuck your head in the window. So dumb. We were such assholes

Nowadays, if I hear any bass at a stop light, there’s a 90 percent chance it’s a 15 year old beater car. And I’m gonna give a “This f’n guy?”

Don't forget the totally sweet brand new 20 inch rims. Love seeing a good hoopty

 

[BrianNole777]

I used to drive around for 15+ years with my car windows down blasting Led Zeppelin.

I had no idea how loud it was until I left my car running to walk to the mailbox one day.

CSB.

 

[Scott559]

I love high quality car audio minus the huge subs.

 

[billanole]

I love high quality car audio minus the huge subs.

Yep, crank up quality tunes. Rock n roll.

 

[fredjr82]

Going to Best Buy to pick out a deck 😍. Alpine speakers and woofers were what everyone wanted. Used to work with a guy at Hy Vee in highschool that would use his lunch hour to install systems for people.

 

[BNIBoiler]

For me back in the 80s the Crutchfield catalog was THE place to get your car audio systems.

 

[HROT]

I love high quality car audio minus the huge subs.

There’s not much in terms of must haves I look for when looking at car trims/packages - but premium audio is typically in there.

Wife has a nice, newer car than me - but she has like the rental car base package. And it sounds like it.

 

[soonerinlOUisiana]

Nowadays, if I hear any bass at a stop light, there’s a 90 percent chance it’s a 15 year old beater car. And I’m gonna give a “This f’n guy?”

In Louisiana, it’s most likely a Challenger or a Charger with a lot of after market “affectations”.

 

[HROT]

In Louisiana, it’s most likely a Challenger or a Charger with a lot of after market “affectations”.

Probably also an after market hidden compartment

 

[Chuck C]

Remember having to remove your stereo deck when you got out of a vehicle? I had my car broken into and the stereo stolen a couple times in the 90’s. At least we don’t have to worry about that crap anymore. One time they popped the lock with a screwdriver, that pissed me off more than the stereo.

 

[TennNole17]

Dating myself:

My dad built me a “box” and got the parts from a radio shack (amp and woofers)

 

[TennNole17]

Remember having to remove your stereo deck when you got out of a vehicle? I had my car broken into and the stereo stolen a couple times in the 90’s. At least we don’t have to worry about that crap anymore. One time they popped the lock with a screwdriver, that pissed me off more than the stereo.

I had my stereo, and box, ripped out at a “field party”. Led to an evening of detective work on who the culprits were and a retrieval of said goods about 2am from “friends” who were there

 

[billanole]

Dating myself:

My dad built me a “box” and got the parts from a radio shack (amp and woofers)

I bet that joker thumped. Good on your ole man.

 

[BioHawk]

One time I was going home late from a midnight movie and I stopped to get gas. There was a guy in a sedan of some sort (can't remember the type but it had seen some use) at one of the gas pumps with his doors wide open blasting Rush Limbaugh giving the smiling "You know it" nod to anyone that made eye contact. He was damn proud of himself. So, the only thing douchier than playing bass so loud that you can't even tell what song is playing while it rattles the windows of the car is blasting political pundits at 3 AM at a random gas station.

CSB

 

[Bro D]

My chicago sports talk radio and conan obrien podcasts sure could use a nice new system

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Well....I remember when you needed an " FM converter " to pick up one of the 2 available FM stations in the area. KIIK and____?

 

[goldmom]

I had my stereo, and box, ripped out at a “field party”. Led to an evening of detective work on who the culprits were and a retrieval of said goods about 2am from “friends” who were there

Field party??? You just gave me scary flashbacks of my kids in high school. They’re now 46 and 43 and just remembering those two words brings bad memories . Thank You Lord they lived and have no criminal records. 😳

 

[HROT]

Well....I remember when you needed an " FM converter " to pick up one of the 2 available FM stations in the area. KIIK and____?

You can also explain to your grandkids how cars had lighters (or little kid finger burners) built into them. That’ll confuse them

 

[seminole97]

OP posting this during FAMU Homecoming week.

::chef's kiss::

 

[Scott559]

Well....I remember when you needed an " FM converter " to pick up one of the 2 available FM stations in the area. KIIK and____?

Yup, Also remember when AM car radios could pick up stations from far away and now struggle to pick up stations from 30 miles away.

 

[BioHawk]

You can also explain to your grandkids how cars had lighters (or little finger burners) built into them. That’ll confuse them

My kids thought I was lying when I told them that instead of outlets you had to plug electronics into the cigarette lighter.

 

[The Tradition]

You can also explain to your grandkids how cars had lighters (or little kid finger burners) built into them. That’ll confuse them

And ashtrays.

Anyway, the lighter receptacles are still in new cars today. You just have to purchase the "lighter" part separately.

 

[BioHawk]

And ashtrays.

Anyway, the lighter receptacles are still in new cars today. You just have to purchase the "lighter" part separately.

And they are called "12 volt" outlets.

 

[goldmom]

OP posting this during FAMU Homecoming week.

::chef's kiss::

Wait you mean FSU has a home game the same weekend that FAMU Homecoming is scheduled?
😱

 

[GOHOX69]

Let the alpine radio blast ..... will smith

I used to dream of a cherry red Porsche 911 with a huge whale tail and a blaupunkt stereo.

 

[The Tradition]

And they are called "12 volt" outlets.

And the reason those "12 volt" outlets are designed the way they are is because they used to be for cigarette lighters.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

OEM audio systems have come a long way! The ELS Studio system in my Acura is fantastic. Even compared to what's in my Tacoma, which is 100% aftermarket. JL speakers and sub. Alpine amps. And two full boxes of Dynamat. I'll bet it's the quietest Tacoma in Iowa.

 

[billanole]

OP posting this during FAMU Homecoming week.

::chef's kiss::

Noted.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

I love high quality car audio minus the huge subs.

Agreed, although a single, aftermarket sub can make a good system a great one. The beauty of the 10" JL in my truck is that it has an independent volume knob. I wish manufacturers would add that to the subs of their factory systems. It's an amazing feature.

 

[hawkdave007]

Back in the 80's and 90's, the first rule of kickass spec'd-out expensive audio system club was telling everyone you met about your kickass spec'd-out expensive audio system.

 

[dgordo]

I got a job at Best Buy just so I could get an employee discount on a detachable face alpine cd player.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

Back in the 80's and 90's, the first rule of kickass spec'd-out expensive audio system club was telling everyone you met about your kickass spec'd-out expensive audio system.

The kids that rode around with aftermarket audio stickers on their windows. Rob me! Please!

 

[HawkinK.C.1]

Had the stereo and speakers stolen out of my 280z on Benton St on Iowa City. F'ers used a crowbar and totally destroyed the dash.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Had the stereo and speakers stolen out of my 280z on Benton St on Iowa City. F'ers used a crowbar and totally destroyed the dash.

Pierre Pierce lived on Benton Street. Just say'n...

 

[SF HAWKEYE]

I had two 12" Alpines and 1000 watt Alpine amp in my trunk but used the factory Mitsubishi stereo. My mom still tells people she could hear me coming home blocks away. Couldn't tell I had a boom car unless you heard it.

 

[DPUboiler]

What a wild time - about 15 years, probably 87-02, every kid, first car you got, immediately went to Circuit City for a system and subs. And of course you had to take your system face plate off and lock it in your glove compartment anytime you got out of the car. And about 4 CD books full in the passengers seat floor as well. Just a wild time to be alive, and then roughly 02, that customizing of your stereo system just dropped off the face of the earth. I never really understood why it just all of a sudden stopped. I literally never hear a car bumping like that anymore. And late 90's, it's all you heard. Cruising up and down the local town's strip or mall parking lot.

 

[Fan In Black]

I remember wanting an Alpine so bad. And getting Crutchfield magazine and dreaming about high end 6×9s and Subs.

Pepperidge Farms remember.

 

[lucas80]

Well....I remember when you needed an " FM converter " to pick up one of the 2 available FM stations in the area. KIIK and____?

I remember hanging upside down under the dash of my Ford Escort putting in an FM converter so I could roll into City High with KRNA pumping out the tunes.

 

[QChawks]

this head unit got me so much pussy