This is one of mine posted previously.
The head unit was AM st FM st and tape deck with a 10 disc CD stacker in the boot.
5 Likes
Nice! How many speakers did you have running off that?
3 Likes
2 front and 2 rear.
3 Likes
That was pretty much the norm back then for a top of the line system. Nowadays its not uncommon to see 10+ speakers, Iāve seen cars like Bentleys with up to 40 speakers!
3 Likes
I think that unit had a built in 4 x 25w amp. That is RPM watts not peak.
Each speaker might have had a built in tweeter IIRC
3 Likes
The last 4 cars I owned I didnāt need to update the sound system as the existing factory fitted was adequate for my needs,ie: I donāt need thumping bass ,etc.
Only my Mazda 2 I upgraded for Apple CarPlay,the factory fitted MZDA connect system was not as up to date as this was a 2016 car it didnāt have DAB radio or Apple CarPlay as standard like my newer Mazda CX-3 does.
3 Likes
I think Mazdas have one of the better sound systems, particularly in base model cars. I havenāt been impressed with the sound of the base model ones in Kias and Subarus Iāve had.
3 Likes
I agree the MZDA Connect factory fitted system in all Mazda vehicles is a great system,even if it looks a bit dated now.I do have a DAB radio again so all good 
I looked at a 2021 Hyundai Kona before I bought my CX-3 and the touchscreen system in that looked too complicated for me ,though that car was equipped with Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto unlike my Mazda ,and both cars are a similar age ,mid to late 2021.
4 Likes
Of course steering wheel controls are another āmust haveā in cars now,most cars from about 2010 will have this feature,the last 4 cars Iāve owned all had this including my 2009 Toyota Yaris.
3 Likes
Thereās also voice control now. I occasionally us it to get to a radio station quickly instead of switching apps then finding the preset.
4 Likes
Interestingly, Hot Tomato Gold is the ARN regional gold log minus ads/promos/clutter for most hours of the day.
The Hot Tomato Ripe station is a locally scheduled log designed just for digital radio on the Gold Coast. Sad that one off logs are rarity in the post pandemic world which has seen so many local scheduling, metro & regional be wiped by all networks.
4 Likes
Agree @Brianc68, if digital radio had begun on the Gold Coast in 2009 or even at ATV switch off in 2013, Iām certain more compelling local options wouldāve been available on the Gold Coast.
Sadly now in 2023, the further emancipation of R&D and experimentation in radio has curtailed sustaining more compelling choices.
3 Likes
I got access to a new Mazda 2 now. Compared to a Kia, I prefer the Mazda as a radio. I find it easier to navigate with the dials. Although the CarPlay I probably prefer the Kia. Its a bit buried in the menus. Having the touch screen disabled is more of a pain than I expected. Also it doesnāt display what radio station you are on when carplay without exiting back at least with the Kia it shows the station briefly when moving around the radio favourites.
Overall Mazda has the better interface for radio. And compared to my old Mazda 3 the dab radio has no issues 
.
4 Likes
What was the first car sold in Australia with an FM radio built in. I wonder whether there were any cars sold in Australia with a built in FM radio before FM launched in 1974. If there were any, did anyone try to use the FM radio.
3 Likes
Most cars did not have any radio at around that time; but those that did, it was AM only with push buttons if you were lucky. Some people imported large American cars and had them converted to RHS driving, so that was one possibility for AM FM.
3 Likes
Additional. We got an AM/FM car radio installed very early on. The only Brisbane station was 4ZZ and the only other station was 2NCR Lismore that could be received weakly in some areas. Also on the band were the various TV audio transmissions of ADBQ3 and SDQ 4 plus the video signal of SDQ 4.
4 Likes
What frequency was SDQ4 audio on? Unfortunately I was too young to know of it and hear it on FM before they converted to UHF and a much smaller coverage area (even Tenterfield was fringe by then).
I recall ABDQ 3 in Brisbane and CCI with the then new 91.7 ABC Coast FM.
4 Likes
SDQ 4 was 100.725 and ABDQ 3 was 91.725 - that was the main mono audio frequency.
3 Likes
Thanks @TV.Cynic, I remember ABC being on 91.7, easy to null Coast FM in urban Brisbane.
Interesting coincidence that years later, 100.7 was allocated as the high power frequency of the FM commercial licence for the Toowoomba/Warwick RA1, a shift to the north at Mt Kynoch from Passchendaele Ridge.
I recall being on holidays and enjoying GTS 4 audio carrier on FM in the 90ās, slightly different frequency to SDQ.
4 Likes
Some stations had offset frequencies, most too small to notice though ABTQ 3 Townville was offset by a massive +1 MHZ so the audio was 92.735 - good for DX openings.
2 Likes