Humvee audio systems: What have you added / done to your rig ?

[McSpeed]

I went with a simple 8" bluetooth speaker system - ended up taking the speakers and electronics/amp out of the original tube and built a box on the ceiling. I have a magnet mount to my phone on the dash and just play all my music straight from my phone - easy peasy...no extra stuff.

 

[Daves86]

Tried a Bluetooth setup and was disappointed with the results. Liked the idea but found the speaker I chose to have insufficient volume to overcome interior noise levels,

Allowed the iphone to be my jukebox, could only hear it at a stoplight. But I would shy away from this setup because I feel it was unsuccessful.
Not a total loss though, it works for noise in the garage and I used airline miles so it didn't cost real $$$

 

[cg25713]

I recently installed this and it sounds excellent. Bluetooth, 6 speakers, 500 watts with remote. It's from Ecogear. Acoustics a are large issue in HMMWV and thats why I built the carpeted tunnel cover you see below. The tube can be moved forward on the base.

 

[McSpeed]

Here is what I did in more detail - and you'll see it is on the CHEAP - but amazing sound. I bought this 8" bluetooth first:
Amazon.com: Sound Storm Laboratories BTB8 ATV UTV Weatherproof Sound System - 8 Inch Speakers, 1 Inch Tweeters, Amplified, Bluetooth, Aux-In, Easy Installation for 12 Volt Vehicles: Car Electronics

That was about $120. I had it strapped between the front seats for the longest time - more than enough sound even with the doors and back curtain off. It has a wired and wireless options. I have a 12 volt relay set up for ignition on - AND I did a by pass for if I want to listen with key off. That was another $10 in stuff.

This worked well for a long time - but frankly was in my way making it hard for the dog to sit in the cab area. If I was a full man roof - I would have just put in the rear between the back seats. Probably would have been better with a 6" version that just mounted to the ceiling...but the 8" is too thick and bulky for that. Oh...they are water proof too - but I never got them wet.

I then decided to put a piece of plywood on the roof to stop the water puddle - and that gave me an idea of making a box and transfering the guts from the 8" tube to the box - It worked PERFECT. Total invest under $200 - TONS of sound and easy to control with my phone.

 

[Clayten]

I use the W-king bluetooth speaker from Amazon. Works really great!

 

[maxpower_365]

I recently installed this and it sounds excellent. Bluetooth, 6 speakers, 500 watts with remote. It's from Ecogear. Acoustics a are large issue in HMMWV and thats why I built the carpeted tunnel cover you see below. The tube can be moved forward on the base.
View attachment 827248View attachment 827249View attachment 827255

How do people have these wired? Specifically, is there a way to power a sound system through the ignition switch such that power to the sound system turns off when you turn the truck off? I just don't want to forget to turn the sound system off and have it run my battery down.

 

[Humpty]

You could tap off of something that is already switched.. like the power to the heater blower switch. Wherever you get power you'll need to run into a 24v to 12v converter. I just ran a fused line off my batteries to a switch that powers a 24v to 12v converter. The possibility I might leave it on exists, but the fact that it lights up when it's on might help remind me to shut it off.

 

[Coug]

How do people have these wired? Specifically, is there a way to power a sound system through the ignition switch such that power to the sound system turns off when you turn the truck off? I just don't want to forget to turn the sound system off and have it run my battery down.

If you are installing a 12v system, then using a converter like the Victron Orion 70 amp 24-12 converter that has a built in relay to it will disable everything if you have the relay wired to a switched power source like the heater fan circuit. Or you can wire in your own relay.
A relay triggered by a switched circuit is the best option as it doesn't add any additional load to the current wiring. Last thing you want to do is start tripping the stock circuit breakers, especially as it always seems to happen after you've been using everything for a while so it isn't as obvious what the actual cause is.

 

[thoner7]

I have that Orion unit too.

I put in cheap motorcycle speakers. They tend to be super loud and waterproof. The ones I bought sound great, but I never use them. The truck is too loud already and it makes my brain hurt to have speakers so loud you can hear music over the truck noise

 

[FlameRed]

I'll post mu 2Cents.

I did not want to spend a ton of $ on a rig that I wanted to keep minimalist.

Before you do any audio work on a diesel, you need to do some sound deadening or you are wasting your time. I used Kilmat and marine carpeting paying extra attention to the dog house where most of the sound and heat comes from. Several threads on this topic.

Next I did have a radio shelf in the rig so I built the system on top of that.

To keep costs down I used a Chinesium headunit. There are many. They are about half the cost of mainstream brands like Kenwood, etc. They all have major weaknesses so research them carefully do you don't get one that will not meet your objectives. Some really suck.

For me, I wanted want that would connect via Android Auto flawlessly, and had low energy BT capability that I could use for TPMS, and had the largest screen I could get to run Waze and my streaming app together. I ended up with one that had a 15.1" screen.

For speakers, since I have a Helmet Top, I just got a cheap set of used weather proof speakers and a cheapie chinesium subwoofer with an integrated amp.

Not a Symphony experience, but better than nothing.