My Stereo Install

Well after spending some time trying to figure out what I wanted to do for a stereo I made a decision and ordered some parts. I wanted something that would mount in dash, and I really wanted to try to do something that I hadn't seen done yet. I did some digging and found the new Jensen MS30. It has 4 - 40 watt channel outputs, stores 6 presets, can make audio adjustments, has a USB hookup, and an auxiliary port. The options of the radio put together with the fact that it is 3 inches round, flush mounts, and completely sealed sold me on it. With the radio you can also add an optional sealed USB/Aux port that has a cover to seal it.

Knowing that I wanted to put some gauges in and also some rockers in the center I wasn't quite sure where I was going to mount it. I tried a few different spots (roof, glove box, etc.) and finally settled for installing it in between the steering wheel and the headlight switch. All of the connections that I made for the speakers wires, power wires, and the USB/Aux are all double shrink tubed. I highly recommend shrink tubing anything you splice and I strongly suggest buying a heat gun to make them shrink. While a torch or lighter will work a heat gun does a much nicer/safer job. I forgot to take pics as I installed, but I will get some more when I open everything back up to install my rockers/gauges. I did not have all my parts to do my rockers so I just have the radio on a 12 volt light plug in for now, but eventually I will have it on a rocker running through a Painless fuse block.

For speakers I just bought some of the middle of the road Sony Marine speakers. They had white grates so I scuffed the grates and painted them black. I then built wooden boxes and rhino lined them. I have a factory roof so I set the boxes up in the extra height of the roof and then used 1.25 inch conduit clamps to mount them to the roll bars. Before I installed the clamps I rhino lines them as well and then put a rubber buffer on them on the side that would pull against the roll cage because I did not want them scuffing the cage at all. I also put the sealed USB/Aux plug in the glove box so that I can throw my phone, USB chip, etc. in there without having to worry as much about water getting to it. I am attaching some pictures. Let me know what you all think and let me know if you have any questions. Hope you all enjoy.

Joe

P.S. Sorry for the semi-poor picture quality I have an awesome stupid phone.

Oh yeah speaker wires are run though the roll cage and there are grommets sealing them tight going into and coming out of the cage.

Looks good and clean job.

I like your set-up , clean an neat never seen that radio I really like how small it is

rhino727 wrote:

I like your set-up , clean an neat never seen that radio I really like how small it is

Thanks a lot. The MS30 is actually new this year. Jensen has made a heavy duty waterproof radio for awhile now the JHD910. We run them in most of our equipment (skid loaders, dozers without cabs, tractors without cabs, etc.) at work. We haven't had any fail and they have a weatherband in them, but the downfall is they are only 2 channel 15 watt outputs. I was pricing out the JHD910s and ran into the MS30 and realized it was perfect.

I also forgot to add that I found the radio on hodges marine for just over $100.00 and the sealed USB Aux port was $20. Add the speakers, materials for the boxes, and the hardware and I only have about $220 into it. After looking into different speaker options it was the cheapest route and still sounds great.

Nice looking work and great idea.

Very nice looking install. That radio is fits great there.

That's awesome!!! That's what I have in my kenwood head unit and I like the yours came out better! That's way better to have the usb/aux in the glovebox to keep everything out of the elements. Great work!!!
http://www.amazon.com/JENSEN-MS30-Compact-Waterproof-Stereo/dp/B008ALQPT6

Yeah here is the cheapest place I found it:

http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Jensen-Ms30-Am-Fm-Usb-Compact-Waterproof-Stereo-p/jenms30.htm

If you add it to the cart it drops to $104

Then you can add this:

http://www.hodgesmarine.com/Jensen-Jenaux-Usb-Auxiliary-In-Put-Jack-p/jenjenaux.htm

The one thing I haven't dug into yet is that it wont play an Iphone through the USB. Haven't tried my IPOD yet, but if the Iphone won't I don't see why an Ipod would.

Man that is very nice. I am working on some tunes now, you really thought the install out, good work. I was looking over the manual of the head unit and was curious about the iphone. I have an old amp and plenty of wiring, just deciding on speakers. I will probably do some brand of wake board style and mount to cage. I can't wait, jams will put the icing on the ole rhino! Well, besides the holy sheave...

Very cool.

I actually emailed Jensen a few days ago to ask about USB interface. This was the response I got back.

Hello Joe,


Thank you for contacting ASA Electronics. The USB is designed for mp3
and WMA files only. Flash Drive devices will only operate on this
feature.
You have the option to connect through the two yellow Aux inputs for
Audio playblack, (iPods/iPhones).

that's real cool I just might try that in my rhino love the size and features of it thanks for the write up

did you run an antenna for the radio. i have a stereo for mine but cant get the fm channels to work. im wondering if i have to ground the antenna for it to work, any imput would be great.

only down fall to that stereo is that the usb port will not work for iphones or ipods.  you have to use the headphone jack to get them to work