My How You Have Grown

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I'd be surprised if a modern stereo (not "infotainment" system*) isn't lighter than a '70s radio, even without the 8-track tape player...

Ha, I knew one of the list would be pulled and criticized. But I won't have it.

Modern car stereo systems are way more powerful. Even if the radio's are not heavier than 40 years ago the speakers, wires and padding/sound proofing definitely are.

Even so, the original Beetle, Mini and Fiat 500 did not have a radio at all.
And no radio is still lighter than even the tiniest music players of today.

[freebeard]

Modern car stereo systems are way more powerful. Even if the radio's are not heavier than 40 years ago the speakers, wires and padding/sound proofing definitely are.

Ponder the weight of two or three 12" subwoofers. And the second battery.

Even so, the original Beetle, Mini and Fiat 500 did not have a radio at all.
And no radio is still lighter than even the tiniest music players of today.

Back in the day cars only had two options, a radio and/or a heater. The 1949 Nash Airflyte was the first car with an integrated heat/vent system.

edit:
jamesqf — Your link gets a redirect to https://www.arielna.com/

I don't like the Atoms difficult ingress/egress and weather protection. I do like the Nomad, but I don't need one:

[jcp123]

Well, this seems like a surprisingly touchy thread...but the ballooning weight is one of several reasons I've really struggled to accept cars of the last ~10 years or so.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by niky

That's not surprising.

The current 2017 Civic has the same weight, wheelbase and interior space as the 1997 Accord.

And my 2013 Fit is right about the same weight as my 1989 Accord was.

[Ecky]

1st gen CRX weighs about the same as a 1st gen Insight (both w/o A/C) despite the latter being made of aluminum, saving I believe ~300lbs, and the CRX probably has more interior volume. Both had radios.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Ponder the weight of two or three 12" subwoofers. And the second battery.

But those are neither necessary nor desirable if you're planning a system to listen to, rather than one to annoy everyone within a quarter mile, and ensure continued profitability of hearing aid makers.

Even ordinary speakers ought to be lighter these days, since the old iron permanent magnets can be replaced with more powerful rare earth ones.

[samwichse]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

But those are neither necessary nor desirable if you're planning a system to listen to, rather than one to annoy everyone within a quarter mile, and ensure continued profitability of hearing aid makers.

Weird, my underseat 10" fills in the deep bass nicely and doesn't bother anyone and my hearing is just fine.

Subs are not just for shaking things, some of us use them listening at a reasonable volume.

[Ecky]

Certainly, but your underseat 10" is not a pair of 12's in the back with an extra battery. I have a sub and amp in my Insight too, but the weight added is negligible.

[freebeard]

I wasn't trying to cause a problem. I understand a ganged array of cheap styrofoam boat speakers delivers acceptable bass.

[RedDevil]

My '85 Civic came with a 6 Watt mono radio cassette player and one speaker in the left door only. There were wires to the right door but no speaker.
Moms actually had the radio removed as she was teaching evening courses in the worst parts of The Hague, and even that lousy mono radio would have been an excuse to have a window smashed.

10 years later I put a Sony 4x55 Watt radio with CD changer in the car and Boston Rallye 6.5" high end speakers and a couple of pounds of some weird Swedish audio dampening foam.

Each speaker was easily 20 times as heavy as the tinny speaker Honda put in, which had a hump on the back containing the coil and all less than one inch across.
The Boston magnet alone had a larger diameter than the whole Honda speaker. When I accidentally let it come within an inch of some metal part it pulled itself out of my hands and stuck with a bang. Had to pull with all my strength to free it.

The Insight OEM stereo system is probably not as good as my aftermarket system in that Civic, but in a totally different league compared to the Civic OEM thingy.
Times have changed.