Another Concertone Wiring Problem

by schrowang on 3/23/2010, 3:31 pm

Just purchased a Vizio widescreen for the Cat, so I wanted to wire the sound into the Concertone. Same thing with the XM docking station. So, I planned on using the 1 & 2 audio inputs provided by FR in the coach. Son-of-a-gun, it wouldn't work. I know I had sound coming from the Visio, but no sound going to the speakers.

Pulled the Concertone to take a look at the wiring. What a rat's nest!

Found that both the leads from Audio 1 and Audio 2 inputs are spliced and go to the same female RCA left & right leads from the Concertone. Hmmm! So, the switch on the faceplate simply switches the Audio 1 and Audio 2 signals to the same input on the Concertone.

Also found another set of unused female RCA L & R leads with plastic caps over them. Removed caps, plugged in the Vizio and voila, I had surround sound. Put plastic caps back on the leads that didn't work. Same gig with the XM docking station. So, Vizio is now Audio 1 and the XM is Audio 2. Works like a charm.

Gotta believe that they have to send their wiring techs for a PHD to wire these things right.

by Admin on 3/24/2010, 12:07 pm

The next person that takes a concertone apart to unscramble the rats nest I'd like for them to do a picture tutorial how-to.

Start from the beginning of getting the unit apart to pull it out, and of the wiring and connnections in the back.

Anybody up to that or have it already ?

by scottz on 3/27/2010, 6:29 am

I already have, just have to find the photos I took. I'll work on it.

by scottz on 3/27/2010, 6:31 am

schrowang wrote:Gotta believe that they have to send their wiring techs for a PHD to wire these things right.

That's funny. I'm convinced that no two cats leave the factory wired the same (at least the audio system).

by schrowang on 3/27/2010, 9:42 am

scottz wrote:
schrowang wrote:Gotta believe that they have to send their wiring techs for a PHD to wire these things right.

That's funny. I'm convinced that no two cats leave the factory wired the same (at least the audio system).

Scott,

I only have the one to go by (mine) and it was wired wrong. Or, at least they used the wrong female RCA's behind the unit for the switched audio input.

by Portagie1968 on 4/24/2010, 5:28 am

Since we have added a new descrambler box I might want to do some
changes. I just noticed, when I pulled mine yesterday, mine my have a small wiring problem. Ever thing else seems fine. When I pulled mine the mess was not bad. By your comments expected worse. Here is there web site for Concertone http://www.concertone.com/about_us.html

by Portagie1968 on 6/6/2010, 6:21 am

Mine was a plug and play. Everything behind mine was matched by color or plug. The only thing dif on mine is that I had to use 2 video feeds. The new wiring only uses one.

by Portagie1968 on 6/6/2010, 6:22 am

Forgot one thing. I forgot to vacuum mine but do not be surprised with the amount of wood chips and saw dust behind it.

by Portagie1968 on 6/24/2010, 8:57 am

Scottz- At least you got your outside TV connection. They forgot to put mine in.

by carrollti on 7/8/2010, 3:42 pm

need help I have sound but cannot get the dvd to go to tv.

by Tracker16 on 7/8/2010, 3:54 pm

Took my WC back twice.Left was right, right was left, center was in the back.I swear a 3 year old wired the stereo.

by The Steckelberg's on 8/30/2010, 4:06 pm

We have had our WC two years now and have been thur 2 concertones. Has any one hear about the units getting too warm and causing them to go out? I was thinking about venting the cabinet it is in. I have tried to get the unit out , but can not get pass the face plate ! Can any one HELP ?

by bighornram on 8/30/2010, 5:45 pm

The Steckelberg's wrote:We have had our WC two years now and have been thur 2 concertones. Has any one hear about the units getting too warm and causing them to go out? I was thinking about venting the cabinet it is in. I have tried to get the unit out , but can not get pass the face plate ! Can any one HELP ?

Hmm, I was able to remove the 6 screws on mine. The whole unit came right out though it was a tight fit.

by Mopar_Earl on 8/30/2010, 6:13 pm

The Steckelberg's wrote:We have had our WC two years now and have been thur 2 concertones. Has any one hear about the units getting too warm and causing them to go out? I was thinking about venting the cabinet it is in. I have tried to get the unit out , but can not get pass the face plate ! Can any one HELP ?

The bezel pries off than you can get to the screws. On the bottom you can see slots for using a screw driver to pop the bottom loose and than you can start working up the sides unsnapping the plastic catches. They're really strong and feel like they'll break. Take your time.

Earl

by bighornram on 8/30/2010, 7:06 pm

Sounds like the newer concertones are a bit different tan my 2005.

by Bob Fields on 12/3/2010, 8:41 am

Hi All - I just want to be clear that when you are discussing WIRING and CONNECTIONS, it is really not related to Concertone directly, but to the INSTALLATION. I often see comments that degrade the unit, when it is meant to degrade the installation.

by Sean on 12/3/2010, 9:06 am

To the forum from the U.K.

Bob Fields wrote:Hi All - I just want to be clear that when you are discussing WIRING and CONNECTIONS, it is really not related to Concertone directly, but to the INSTALLATION. I often see comments that degrade the unit, when it is meant to degrade the installation.

I got in contact with The makers of the Concertone and was told that they could not help me unless I was prepared to ship my unit to them, (Cost would have been more that a better quality replacement). I think that they are built to a price and installed quite badly. If you work for Concertone do you not give proper wiring wiring and installation instructions Question

.
Sean

by Bob Fields on 12/3/2010, 9:33 am

Sean wrote: To the forum from the U.K.
Bob Fields wrote:Hi All - I just want to be clear that when you are discussing WIRING and CONNECTIONS, it is really not related to Concertone directly, but to the INSTALLATION. I often see comments that degrade the unit, when it is meant to degrade the installation.

I got in contact with The makers of the Concertone and was told that they could not help me unless I was prepared to ship my unit to them, (Cost would have been more that a better quality replacement). I think that they are built to a price and installed quite badly. If you work for Concertone do you not give proper wiring wiring and installation instructions .
Sean

Obviously without more specifics of your situation it is difficult for me to address what happened during your discussions. We can address if you want.

If I know your Concertone Model Number I could easily send you the wiring diagram for the unit. How they actually wired it in the RV is clearly beyond our control (as stated above).

by Mopar_Earl on 12/3/2010, 2:13 pm

I agree, Concertone can't and shouldn't be blamed for bad installs. That blame belongs to Forest River.

Earl

by The Steckelberg's on 12/5/2010, 4:27 am

I agree that wiring a unit at install can't be a manufacturer's problem. Also Wildcat or F R don't supply us with with the right manuels for proper up keep , but really concertone units are crap ! : pirat

by Admin on 12/5/2010, 5:50 am

I must be the one lucky guy that got a good one. So far mines worked fine, but I only use it for the speakers and the radio/ cable TV part of it. I never put a DVD in it. I use the Xbox for DVD's and games.

by Bob Fields on 12/6/2010, 2:17 am

You are not alone, just part of the silent majority - although you spoke up so thanks! ;-)

by bsmall2800 on 12/6/2010, 4:25 am

Well so far I to have not had any problem with my Concertone ZX-75, hope I didn't just jinx myself with this post.....
However that said I do plan on upgrading the system in the next couple of years not sure with what make/model yet. I will also rely on others who have made the switch..........

by Bob Fields on 12/6/2010, 4:36 am

Understood - hopefully you will consider some of our new units that I am sure you would find interesting and value packed.

More to follow...

:-)

by Sean on 12/6/2010, 7:24 am

[quote="Bob Fields"]

Sean wrote: To the forum from the U.K.
Bob Fields wrote:Hi All - I just want to be clear that when you are discussing WIRING and CONNECTIONS, it is really not related to Concertone directly, but to the INSTALLATION. I often see comments that degrade the unit, when it is meant to degrade the installation.

I got in contact with The makers of the Concertone and was told that they could not help me unless I was prepared to ship my unit to them, (Cost would have been more that a better quality replacement). I think that they are built to a price and installed quite badly. If you work for Concertone do you not give proper wiring wiring and installation instructions .
Sean

Sorry about the time that it has taken me to reply,
When I contacted the maker of my Concertone unit, I asked the question, about the hum on the left rear speaker/also the fact that when playing a CD, the noise that comes from the unit after a short time is very enjoying and makes you turn the unit off.
Iaslo asked about if the unit could be modified in any way, so that I could tune into even numbers on the FM channels (99.6. 105.4 etc)
I don't blame Concertone for all the problems with these units but surely with the volume they must sell to the RV industry they could come up with some in house training for the people that do the installation. This of course would have an impact on the Concertone product as it would no doubt work as it should do for longer. Electrical products should give many years of trouble free use. My unit is at max 3 years old and since I have had my Cat it has not been that good. I do think that the concept is really good and with a little more work could be the best of it's type.
I apologize to every one for this reply being so long but this is the only way I can put my point forward
I also apologize to you Bob if you think I was aiming my disappointment at you personally, I wish you the greatest of success in your position in the Concertone Group.
Sean

by Bob Fields on 12/6/2010, 7:38 am

Sean - I APPRECIATE the feedback and have NO problem getting into the details! Thanks for taking the time.

What Model Concertone do you have?

by Sean on 12/6/2010, 8:49 am

Bob, it is the ZX500.
Sean

by jetskier on 12/6/2010, 11:09 am

Bob, thanks for joining this forum and listening to the concerns.

For the record, I'm on my second ZX500. The first one was replaced under warranty within 6 months (in 2006). I can't remember the specific issue, but I had to replace it. In both units, the buttons didn't seem to respond without pushing them rather aggressively. They were slow to change functions. Another annoyance was the remote. I had a TV the remote would control while pressing functions specific to the Concertone. I had to ditch the TV or go crazy.

I do agree it is good in concept, but it seems like it could use a little polishing on the usability side. I can't say how the new models perform, but I gather they don't perform much better. It's a niche market. There aren't a lot of all-in-one units with a tv tuner/5.1/DVD that work in 12V systems. I can piece together a system, but it would require more space. I'm not willing to go that far for an RV system.

I do have two backups (ZX500) I picked up for $10 each last year just in case the current unit fails. That was a sweet deal.

by Mopar_Earl on 12/6/2010, 1:41 pm

Bob Fields,
Any plans of updating to better video connections on future Concertones? Like doing away with the old school RCA composite connection and going modern with HDMI? I'm sure with a better video output connection also comes a better DVD player such as a 1080P up-convert and or Blu-ray.

Earl

by Bob Fields on 12/7/2010, 3:34 am

Yes, the next product release - being built now will contain HDMI!

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