My take on music in a Pinz...

[berger]

When I bought the Iltis, one of the first things I did, after getting rid of the Michelin XL tires, was add a stereo. Since I still have the Shark 250w, FM/AUX/MP3/SD, 12v motorcycle stereo I bought for it, I wanted to try and get it to work first before I went the route of the AMP board others have used. In the Iltis I used a Battery EQ to get 12v, but since I probably hurt the batteries with my install, I wanted to stay away from that altogether. Since the 24v-12v step down unit, which plugs into the Pinz 24v DIN connector, is working so well for my GPS, I wanted to use it. The power cord for the the Shark has a plug on one end, and a split wire on the other, which allows you to tap into a 12v source and ground. I wanted to leave this intact for my Ural, so I went searching for a used accessory connector and cable that will work in the Shark...and I found one at work. A colleague of mine had an old coffee cup warming plate that broke, and didn't need the cable any longer..and it fit the Shark! Here are two videos, one of the radio and converter, and the other with the engine running and the volume bumped to 50% (iPhone video). Now I need to figure out where to place the stereo. I used Velcro so that I can remove the unit when I need too.

[texas pinzgauer]

I've got a Pandora account and log into it via my BlackBerry when on the road in the Pinz and use earplugs to listen. Music is loud enough to hear without missing any suspect engine noise nor any emergency vehicles that may be approaching. I only do this on highway jaunts and not around town.

[westernair]

I run a Rockford fosgate Punch Amp like this

it is extreamly small and pushes 400 watts. This into a small set of Pioneer box speakers mounted behind the seat.

I have it also wired to headphone jack I can plug into my phone with Pandora as well. Output can go to the speakers or I can plug it into my sterio intercom system so it pipes into the headsets

[Twin Pinzies]

Personally, I would never feels safe driving around in a 37 yr. old military truck while NOT being able to hear the familiar and subtle knocks, whines, and grumbles that come from it, especially without a tachometer.
Often times, an odd sound is the first hint of something that could become a real problem if ignored.
The Pinzgauer is a very audio-centric vehicle. Go ahead and listen!

[4x4Pinz]

I actually found that I could hear the miscellaneous noises the pinz makes better with the Avcomm headsets on then the radio turned up loud enough to drowned out the pinz noises. The headsets cut out the really load noises so the little under lying noises were noticeable. I don't advise any new owner to run headphones until they are used to the sounds of the pinz but after a while you can quickly recognize the correct noises and the odd ones stand out.

[djw]

I actually found that I could hear the miscellaneous noises the pinz makes better with the Avcomm headsets on then the radio turned up loud enough to drowned out the pinz noises. The headsets cut out the really load noises so the little under lying noises were noticeable. I don't advise any new owner to run headphones until they are used to the sounds of the pinz but after a while you can quickly recognize the correct noises and the odd ones stand out.

+1. For anything above about 35mph aviation headsets and intercom are the way to go for me. The plus side is that you can also pipe in music to most intercoms. Another plus is that many (at least the brand I use) is voltage tolerant anywhere between 11vdc and 34vdc. Nothing special, no special version needed, the pinz is nowhere as loud as a light plane anyway. I happen to use a Sigtronics portable intercom and the light Peltor headsets and can pipe in audio from players/phones, etc.

It is however odd to talk with a passenger or co-driver in a normal speaking voice