You are on page 1of 23

Retro Classic Owner's & Installation Guide

RC-900C AM / FM Radio w/ Front Aux input and Infinimount Shaft/Bracket System


Copyright 2010 Retro Manufacturing, LLC No text, illustrations, or format of this manual in printed or electronic form may be copied without written permission from Retro Manufacturing, LLC or any of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.

Retro Manufacturing 5785 Waco Street Chino, California 91710 Phone: 909-364-1372 Fax: 909-364-8670 www.retrosoundusa.com

Version 2.2

JULY 2011

1.
Welcome!
Thank you for your purchase of our Retro Classic Radio! We hope it will provide you with years of enjoyment. Below are some features of this unit:
LCD Display w/ enhanced viewing angle & daylight compatible AM/FM PLL tuner w/ 30 presets & RDS 50W x 4 RMS 100W X 4 MAX POWER (Integrated amplifier) 2 pair RCA pre-amp outputs to add external amplifiers Patent Pending INFINIMOUNT adjustable shaft & bracket system Front aux input; plug in any MP3 player or other portable device, (cell phone, etc) Adjustable faceplate angle; allows mounting of faceplate display to virtually any dash

Warning
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy, and, if not installed and used in accordance with instructions, may cause harmful interference with radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that radio interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.

Precautions
Avoid installing the unit where it would be subject to high temperatures such as in direct sunlight or a hot air stream from the heater or where it would be subject to dust, dirt, or excessive vibration. Parking your car in direct sunlight will result in a temperature rise. Do not turn on the unit if the temperature inside the car is very high. Always cool down the unit before usage. If the unit does not turn on, check the connections first. Then, check whether the fuse in your vehicle's fuse box is blown and check the fuse at the unit's wiring harness. Carefully read this manual before using the unit. If you encounter any problems that are not covered in this manual, please consult the dealer where you purchased the unit or the dealer nearest to you. You may also email us at: support@retrosoundusa.com

2.
Table of Contents
Page Number

Welcome, Warning & Precautions..................................1 Table of Contents.............................................................2 Installation & Use Warnings............................................3 Location of Controls, Remote, Connectors, etc...........4-6 What's in the Box.............................................................7 Preparing to Install Your Unit..........................................8-14 Retro Classic Specifications & Dimensions..................15 Using Your Unit................................................................16-22 Setting the Clock.....................................................16 Turning the Unit On/Off...........................................16 Volume Adjustment.................................................16 Selecting Your Listening Source...........................16 Adjusting the Sound Properties............................17 Special Modes of Operation/Sub Menu.................18-19 About RDS/ Using RDS functions..........................20-21 Selected Source Mode: Radio................................22 Selected Source Mode: Auxiliary Input.................22 Limited Warranty..............................................................23

3.
Installation & Use Warnings
Observe the following warnings when using this unit. The driver should neither watch the display nor operate the system while driving. Watching the display or operating the system will distract the driver from driving safely and can cause accidents. Always stop the vehicle in a safe location and use the parking brake before watching the display or operating the system. Use the proper power supply. This product is designed for operation with a negative grounded 12 V DC battery system. Never operate this product with other battery systems, especially a 24 V DC battery system. Keep batteries and insulation film out of reach of infants. Batteries and insulation film can be ingested, so keep them out of the reach of infants. If an infant ingests a battery or insulation film, please seek immediate medical. Protect the radio. Do not insert any foreign objects into the slot of this unit. Do not disassemble or modify the unit. Do not disassemble, modify the unit or attempt to repair the product yourself. If the product needs to be repaired, consult your dealer or Retro Manufacturing directly. Do not use the unit when it is out of order. If the unit is out of order (no power, no sound) or in an abnormal state (has foreign objects in it, is exposed to water, is smoking, or smells), turn it off immediately and consult your dealer. The remote control unit should be loose in the car. If the remote control unit is loose in the car, it could fall on the floor while driving, get wedged under the brake pedal, and lead to a traffic accident. Refer fuse replacement to qualified service personnel. When the fuse blows out, eliminate the cause and have it replaced with the fuse prescribed for this unit by a qualified service technician. Incorrect replacement of the fuse may lead to smoke, fire, and damage to the product. Observe the following cautions when using this unit. Keep the sound volume at an appropriate level. Keep the volume level low enough to be aware of road and traffic conditions while driving. Do not insert or allow your hand or fingers to be caught in the unit. To prevent injury, do not get your hand or fingers caught in moving parts or in the disc slot. Especially keep infants from doing so. Observe the following cautions when installing. Refer wiring and installation to qualified service personnel. Installation of this unit requires special skills and experience. For maximum safety, have it installed by your dealer. Retro Manufacturing is not liable for any problems resulting from your own installation of the unit. Please be sure to follow our instructions carefully before attempting installation Follow the instructions to install and wire the product. Not following the instructions to properly install and wire the product could cause an accident or fire. Take care not to damage the leads. When wiring take care not to damage the leads. Prevent them from getting caught in the vehicle chassis, screws, and moving parts such as seat rails. Do not scratch, pull, bend or twist the leads. Do not run them near heat sources or place heavy objects on them. If leads must be routed around sharp metal edges, protect the leads by winding them with vinyl tape or similar protection. Use the designated parts and tools for installation. Use the supplied or designated parts and appropriate tools to install the product. The use of parts other than those supplied or designated may result in internal damage to the unit. Faulty installation may lead to an accident, a malfunction or fire. Disconnect the lead from the negative () battery terminal before installation. Wiring and installation with the negative () battery terminal connected may cause electrical shock and injury due to a short circuit. Some cars equipped with the electrical safety system have specific procedures for battery terminal disconnection. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE MAY LEAD TO THE UNINTENDED ACTIVATION OF THE ELECTRICAL SAFETY SYSTEM RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. Never use safety-related components for installation, grounding, and other such functions. Do not use safety-related vehicle components (fuel tank, brake, suspension, steering wheel, pedals, airbag, etc.) for wiring or fixing the product or its accessories. Installing the product on the air bag cover or in a location where it interferes with airbag operation is prohibited. In the case of installation to an airbag-equipped car, confirm warnings and cautions of the vehicle manufacturer before installation. Check for piping, gasoline tank, electric wiring, and other items before installing the product. If you need to open a hole in the vehicle chassis to attach or wire the product, first check where the wire harness, gasoline tank, and electric wiring are located. Then open the hole from outside if possible. Never install the product in a location where it interferes with your field of vision. Never have the power cord branched to supply other equipment with power. After installation and wiring, you should check the normal operation of other electrical equipment. The continuation of their use in abnormal conditions may cause fire, electrical shock or a traffic accident. Make sure the leads do not interfere with driving or getting in and out of the vehicle. Insulate all exposed wires to prevent short circuiting. This unit is designed for use exclusively in automobiles. Do not operate the unit for a prolonged period with the engine turned off. Operating the audio system for a long period of time with the engine turned off will drain the battery. Do not expose the unit to direct sunlight or excessive heat. Otherwise these will raise the interior temperature of the unit, and it may lead to smoke, fire, or other damage to the unit. Do not use the product where it is exposed to water, moisture, or dust. Exposure of the unit to water, moisture, or dust may lead to smoke, fire, or other damage to the unit. Make especially sure that the unit does not get wet in car washes or on rainy days.

4.
Location of Controls (Quick Start Guide)

12 13 15 14

1 2 1

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11

Please review this section for quick reference, as it contains information on the location of controls and basic operations. For specific details on the particular operation, please refer to the table of contents. POWER on/off: Press the left center knob to turn the unit on. Press and hold the left center knob for 2 seconds to turn the unit off. Turning the center left shaft controls the volume attenuation up and down. Note: Volume range is 0 - 40(Min/Max).

Pressing the shaft 2 cycle throughleft center(Digitalinward activates the SEL (Select) function. Press&this repeatedly to the DSP Signal Processing) EQ, Bass, Treble, Balance Fader function(s). Pressing the 1 button allows for selection of a radio preset. 3 4 Pressing the 2 button allows for selection of a radio preset.

5 Pressing the 3 button allows for selection of a radio preset. 6 Pressing the 4 button allows for selection of a radio preset. 7 Pressing the 5 button allows for selection of a radio preset. 8 Pressing the 6 button allows for selection of a radio preset.
Input(s): Allows you 9 AUXfront face of the Modelto plug in any device with a headphone 1/8(3.5mm) output, directly into the One (Example: Ipod, CD player, Satellite, Mp3 player, etc). Use the MODE button to select Aux 1 (Front Aux input).

Turning the 10 frequency. right center knob to the right & left allows you to tune to the next or previous Am/Fm

the for 2 11 Pushing in can right center knobon/off,seconds, will allow you to access the sub menu system where you adjust loudness beep on/off, US/EU tuning, stereo/mono, DX (distant)/local tuning volume on default level. Pushing the right center knob for one second will toggle the am/fm tuner mode from Auto to Manual.

5.
(CONTINUED) Location of Controls

12 13 15 14

1 2
12 13 14 15

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11

Please review this section for quick reference, as it contains information on the location of controls and basic operations. For specific details on the particular operation, please refer to the table of contents. T/F Button: Use this button to view the clock, and toggle through various modes. Press and hold to set the clock in conjunction with the left control shaft. MODE Function: Press this button to switch between all modes of operation, Radio/AUX-In 1. This button also can access the TA (Traffic Announcement function of the RDS tuner.) BAND Function: Press this button to switch between 3 FM BANDS (FM 1/FM 2/ FM 3) 2 AM BANDS (AM-1 AM-2); 30 PRESETS TOTAL. To save your preset, simply hold the preset button down, listen for the confirming beep or blinking of the preset. Your desired preset will be then saved. Backlit LCD Display Window

Installation Notes:

6.
(CONTINUED) Location of Controls & Connectors

REAR View of Retro Classic RC-900C


Internal Amplifier Heatsink
Threaded mount for metal backstrap (included) used for rear support of main body

Female ISO wire harness connector w/ 1 male power/ground harness & 1 male speaker lead harness

External Antenna Input

4 RCA outputs for adding external amplification

7.
Whats in the Box (accessories & parts)

Whats in the box:

1 2 3 4 5 6

(1) Retro Classic Unit* (2) Infinimount Brackets (2) Infinimount Shaft System (1) Metal backstrap w/ hardware, used to secure main unit behind dash (2) ISO Wiring harness to connect to Retro Classic (misc) Screws, washers & parts to mount Infinimount shafts & brackets

*Note: Item # 1 is not shown above, but is included in the box

8.
Preparing to Install Your Unit

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS UNIT REQUIRES +12V TO BOTH THE RED & YELLOW WIRES, OTHERWISE THE UNIT WILL NOT OPERATE. CALL US OR EMAIL US IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS!
Familiarize yourself with the Retro Classic wiring harness (Note: There are 2 plug connectors: Plug "A" which contain power/ground connections & "B" which contains the speaker leads)

Retro Classic CS-900C

Note: Yellow & Red wires must be connected to +12V for radio to operate

15 AMP

RED
IGNITION / ACC (CONNECT TO +12V)

BLUE (POWER ANTENNA)

Note: This radio is designed for use in vehicles with a 12 volt negative ground system

Installation Notes: To prevent damage to the unit, do not connect the power connector until you have completed the wiring process. This is a 12 Volt negative-ground ONLY radio. If you have a positiveground, or a 6-volt system, you need to either convert to 12 volts or purchase a separate inverter that would step up the voltage to 12 volts. Please note that the inverter needs to be rated at 5 amps or higher in order for your unit to operate properly.

9.
Preparing to Install Your Unit (Continued)
Find the Infinimount shafts & brackets (2 of each enclosed)

X2

Assemble the Model One unit's Infinimount bracket and shaft system using the supplied screws and shaft nuts.
Note: you can move our brackets forward , backward, and in any direction to accommodate your fit needs! You can even cut, trim or bend the bracket for your particular needs. Also if you have a challenging install, you can even create your own brackets!

Due to the flexible installation variations this system offers, in order to match the Infinimount shaft & bracket system to the proper shaft width of your vehicle, simply measure the distance between your existing shaft holes center to center. Then mount the shaft system to the bracket using suppled shaft nuts and shaft mounting guide, and finger tighten to prepare for the final installation (see figure A below). Once you are sure of proper width, then tighten prior to final installation. Be sure to plug the shafts into the side of the main unit to activate the shaft-control functions (see figure B below).
Rectangular shaft guide w/ washers & nuts

A.

B.
Plug Shaft into Side of Main Unit

Mount Shaft to Bracket

10.
Preparing to Install Your Unit (Continued)
Prepare to set up your vehicle-specific kit (Optional 67-72 GM Truck bezel shown as an installation example)

Once shafts are lined up to the shaft openings on the vehicle-specific faceplate adapter, use a nut and washer to hold the faceplate in place on the shafts so the Retro Classic's face is flush with the opening of the faceplate (see photos below). NOTE: Modifying or cutting the radios brackets will not void your
warranty, this is what our radio is designed for.
Use supplied nuts & washers to align bezel onto shaft. Adjust nut height to allow bezel/faceplate to be flush in your dash. Note, with this bezel, the area around the radio face (chrome or black) mounts from behind your dash.

Vehicle-specific adapter & Retro Classic radio face should be flush for professional appearance

Tighten shaft nuts and make sure that shaft depth works with your dash configuration; the Retrosound Infinimount bracket shaft and bracket system are extremely adjustable and care should be taken to ensure proper final fit for the perfect installation.

11.
Preparing to Install Your Unit (Continued)
Below, The final result!: 67-72 GM Truck bezel shown installed in the vehicles dash, note that the radio face is flush with the bezel in the dash for a professional looking installation. Getting the unit to fit perfectly into your dash is probably the most difficult portion of the install. Patience and persistence is the key. If you still have problems, please send us an email at support@retrosoundusa.com or give us a call at: 909-364-1372. If you still have difficulties during your installation, we strongly recommend that you take your vehicle to a high quality car audio installation shop or classic car specialist.

Note: One of the biggest questions we get is "how can your radio fit my car" ? Since our radio is essentially a universal solution, (one chassis for most vehicles) our radio's control face is a fixed size (3.5" W x 1.5" H). Most American cars fit the OE radio from behind the dash and they require a "bezel", meaning this bezel fits around our radio's control face to fill your original factory opening for our radio. Now the Control face of our radio is NOT referred to as a "faceplate" a faceplate is something that overlays or covers the top or front of the dash. A faceplate is used in most European (German, British, Japanese) cars, and can also be used if your dash has been modified to cover up any blemishes or poorly made modifications. Our flat Euro style faceplates are perfect for covering those unsightly modifications to make them look close to original. We also have a 3.5 H x 9W Universal plate you can trim and cut to get the desired appearance.

12.
Preparing to Install Your Unit (Continued)
The Retrosound Model One is available with an optional set of metal knobs and a faceplate (for the front of the dash) or bezel (mounts from behind the dash) that fits around the control face of your Model One/Apache or Retro Classic radio(s). Please consult us at support@retrosoundusa.com regarding a universal or vehicle specific faceplate/bezel & knob kit for your car. Below is a Retro Classic shown with an optional 67-68 Camaro faceplate & Chrome Metal knobs.

Optional: 67-68 Camaro Faceplate shown above

Below are examples of some of the available dash bezels and faceplate adapters available:

Optional: 68-85 VW/Porsche/Jaguar/BMW faceplate (mounts on top of the dash) This solution shown with our exclusive all metal chrome euro style knobs

Optional: 70-72 Chevelle bezel. (mounts from behind the dash) This solution shown with our exclusive all metal GM style black and chrome metal knobs

Optional: 59-67 Cadillac dash bezel, notice the shafts have been placed on the left side of the radio, something no other radio can do out of the box. Your Retrosound Radio is capable of so many amazing installation possibilities, theyre only limited by your imagination! Visit our website to see more vehicle specific solutions www.retrosoundusa.com

13.
Preparing to Install Your Unit (Continued)
NOTE: The following installation option is for advanced knowledgeable custom installation specialists. The Retro Classic control face is removable to allow for unique angled installations, canted angles, upside-down mounting and other unique configurations limited only to your installation skills. Below is a photo illustrating what the unit looks like with the control face removed, connected by a ribbon cable from the body of the main unit to the radios control face. (There is about 4.5 of cable length from the body to the radio control face).
Apache Radio w/ advanced removable faceplate for unique applications

4.5

After preparing for your installation and understanding your needs, proceed to install the unit and connect the wiring, and make sure you use the metal back strap to support the main body of the the unit from the rear.
Install metal backstrap behind unit for rear support of the main body

14.
Preparing to Install Your Unit (Continued)

Metal Knob Install Guide


Sometimes the Retrosound Shafts need to be adjusted to allow you to mount our metal knobs to the shafts. Once your radio is installed follow the steps below to ensure a proper knob fit.

1.

For the rear-knob, simply insert a blade screwdriver diagonally to slightly spread apart the secondary back-knob position to allow the rear knob to fit snugly.

2.

For the front-knob, use a pair of needle nose pliers and GENTLY crimp the front-knob prongs closer together. Please use caution not to make these too tight, then mount the front-knob, and youre done! Final Result! Modern Sound for your Classic!

3.

15.
Retro Classic Specifications

1.5H (Radio Face)


ep h De gt 2 len 5.3 rall e Ov

3.5W (Radio Face)

You might also like