Radio Speaker Alternative ("The WHIZ" Stereo Interrupt)

KingCarGuyZ

KingCarGuyZ

TJ Addict
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2020
Messages
1,523
Location
Dallas, TX
I am thinking about installing one of these in place of my current external speaker, likely patched into the driver's side sound bar speaker. Has anybody played with this before? seems like a great product idea and a waaay cleaner install than my current ziptied MFJ cleartone.

https://audiointerrupt.com/the-wiz-external-speaker-wizard/ - bare link for those of you that are paranoid :), or if someone is trying to look this up later.
 
  • Like
Reactions: inkedrose, RangerTJ and Kurt_S
KingCarGuyZ said:
I am thinking about installing one of these in place of my current external speaker, likely patched into the driver's side sound bar speaker. Has anybody played with this before? seems like a great product idea and a waaay cleaner install than my current ziptied MFJ cleartone.

https://audiointerrupt.com/the-wiz-external-speaker-wizard/ - bare link for those of you that are paranoid :), or if someone is trying to look this up later.
Click to expand...

I've thought about that - but with my external CB speaker being interrupted by the Ham radio. But I'd really like the dingus to have multiple inputs, so I could connect my GMRS into the system as well. Might be able to daisy chain...
 
Thyea have a better one, I think called the CBM-U4 that can use 2 speakers instead of just one while muting the other 2… I’ve thought about it many times and probably will install one once I upgrade my speakers and all.


I’d suggest connecting it to the rear speakers instead of the front though….
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: KingCarGuyZ
DWR said:
Thyea have a better one, I think called the CBM-U4 that can use 2 speakers instead of just one while muting the other 2… I’ve thought about it many times and probably will install one once I upgrade my speakers and all.


I’d suggest connecting it to the rear speakers instead of the front though….
Click to expand...

definitely using the rears instead of the fronts, I actually have 2 mobile radios, so I will probably (eventually) do one radio on the drivers side rear and one on the passenger rear.
 
KingCarGuyZ said:
definitely using the rears instead of the fronts, I actually have 2 mobile radios, so I will probably (eventually) do one radio on the drivers side rear and one on the passenger rear.
Click to expand...

They actually have one that does two separate radios as well… don’t know the part# on that one though
 
  • Love
Reactions: KingCarGuyZ
I don't mean to split hairs, but it says for CB/HAM, is there something about a GMSR that wouldn't work with this? I think I NEED one of these. Love my Midland MST115 but the built in speaker isn't quite loud enough.
 
Kurt_S said:
I don't mean to split hairs, but it says for CB/HAM, is there something about a GMSR that wouldn't work with this? I think I NEED one of these. Love my Midland MST115 but the built in speaker isn't quite loud enough.
Click to expand...

Only way I could see this not working for GMSR is if it doesn’t have an external output…. Audio is audio at the end of the day. All this does is sense audio signal coming out the external output of your radio and interrupt your car stereo to play it over that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: inkedrose, Kurt_S and Zorba
Kurt_S said:
I don't mean to split hairs, but it says for CB/HAM, is there something about a GMSR that wouldn't work with this? I think I NEED one of these. Love my Midland MST115 but the built in speaker isn't quite loud enough.
Click to expand...

Assuming you have a 3.5mm out - It should work fine. If you are handy with a soldering iron you could probably even make it work without a 3.5 plug, but it would be a pain.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kurt_S
Thanks for the responses. Yes, the MXT115 does have a 3.5 jack. No, I don't want to solder any wires, ;-)

Cheers!
 
I thought about it and instead, ran a cable from the output of my MXT275 to the aux input of my radio. In my case, if I'm using the radio it is because I'm on a ride and I'm not listening to music. It works really well like this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kurt_S and KingCarGuyZ
Well, "The Whiz" arrived today,

5ADCB7E8-47EB-4B57-90A6-4AB2F2090559_1_105_c.jpeg


IMG_4039.JPG

It seems to be not much more than a voltage converter, relay, and maybe a bit of an impedance match. It's all epoxied in to be fairly waterproof.

I went ahead and threw it in (yes in the 105* heat)
IMG_4040.JPG


it looks scary, but it's way easier than the aftermarket stereo was and spliced in without trouble. I stole power from the same lead that feeds the stereo.

The box wound up zip-tied behind the drivers knee panel. the product works exactly as advertised - with a few caveats.

I used to run an MFJ Clear-Tone speaker up on the rollbar between the driver and the passenger, that speaker was normally run at about 50% volume on my ID-5100, on the facotry pod speaker I tun closer to 80% and start to hit distortion fairly early. I blame the low quality factory speakers for this short coming, and have a set of Polk's on the way (I've been meaning to upgrade these speakers anyway)

All and all, it works great and does exactly what it says it will, just don't expect greatness from the factory speakers. I might be able to attach a video of it working if anyone is interested.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DWR and Zorba
KingCarGuyZ said:
Well, "The Whiz" arrived today,

View attachment 442779

View attachment 442780
It seems to be not much more than a voltage converter, relay, and maybe a bit of an impedance match. It's all epoxied in to be fairly waterproof.

I went ahead and threw it in (yes in the 105* heat)
View attachment 442781

it looks scary, but it's way easier than the aftermarket stereo was and spliced in without trouble. I stole power from the same lead that feeds the stereo.

The box wound up zip-tied behind the drivers knee panel. the product works exactly as advertised - with a few caveats.

I used to run an MFJ Clear-Tone speaker up on the rollbar between the driver and the passenger, that speaker was normally run at about 50% volume on my ID-5100, on the facotry pod speaker I tun closer to 80% and start to hit distortion fairly early. I blame the low quality factory speakers for this short coming, and have a set of Polk's on the way (I've been meaning to upgrade these speakers anyway)

All and all, it works great and does exactly what it says it will, just don't expect greatness from the factory speakers. I might be able to attach a video of it working if anyone is interested.
Click to expand...

So you want with the one that switches a single speaker and hooked it to one of the dash speakers?
 
Installed a set of Polk DB522's and the audio is soooooo much better - both with the stereo and the ham radio. I have a set of DB 462's OTW here, obviously they won't do anything for the ham radio, but should be nice to round out the stereo.
IMG_4046.JPG

Now that the speakers are bumped up I can say I am thrilled with "The Whiz". It's seamless in operation and easy to hear, it removed the speaker I constantly banged my head against, cleaned up the interior significantly and overall works exactly as advertised and is great. I can hear both my tunes and never miss a radio call - seamlessly fading in and out. Because this version of the whiz only mutes one speaker - I often find myself manually muting the stereo if I want to have a long conversation. However, this allows me to hear music and radio calls simultaneously (they do sell an option to mute the whole cabin and play radio volume out of multiple speakers when a call is received) this was an intentional choice on my part, but may be more auditory stimulation than others can handle at once.
 
KingCarGuyZ said:
Installed a set of Polk DB522's and the audio is soooooo much better - both with the stereo and the ham radio. I have a set of DB 462's OTW here, obviously they won't do anything for the ham radio, but should be nice to round out the stereo.
View attachment 443082
Now that the speakers are bumped up I can say I am thrilled with "The Whiz". It's seamless in operation and easy to hear, it removed the speaker I constantly banged my head against, cleaned up the interior significantly and overall works exactly as advertised and is great. I can hear both my tunes and never miss a radio call - seamlessly fading in and out. Because this version of the whiz only mutes one speaker - I often find myself manually muting the stereo if I want to have a long conversation. However, this allows me to hear music and radio calls simultaneously (they do sell an option to mute the whole cabin and play radio volume out of multiple speakers when a call is received) this was an intentional choice on my part, but may be more auditory stimulation than others can handle at once.
Click to expand...

Does it present a dummy load to the stereo when its speaker is switched out?
 
KingCarGuyZ said:
I am thinking about installing one of these in place of my current external speaker, likely patched into the driver's side sound bar speaker. Has anybody played with this before? seems like a great product idea and a waaay cleaner install than my current ziptied MFJ cleartone.

https://audiointerrupt.com/the-wiz-external-speaker-wizard/ - bare link for those of you that are paranoid :), or if someone is trying to look this up later.
Click to expand...

didn't know such a thing existed. Pretty cool
 
  • Like
Reactions: KingCarGuyZ
Zorba said:
Does it present a dummy load to the stereo when its speaker is switched out?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure, I would assume not unless it is somehow using the epoxy as a load.... my guess is it's either shorting to ground or more likely just cutting open/ floating.
 
Top Bottom
Back