John Deere Mini Radio Kit - Worth the Price?

[TCowner]

My 3720 was delivered on Thursday and I'm trying to decide what to do with regard to a radio. Jensen makes the mini radio kit for John Deere and others and the kit has the speaker brackets that are designed for the ROPS. It looks like a nice fit.

I have some questions. Has anyone used one of these systems? If so, are you satisfied with the performance? Does it bring in and hold the stations? Does it have enough power to run the speakers adequately?

I prefer headphones when I'm running the tractor. I don't like turning up the volume of the radio over the engine. The mini radio does not have a headphone jack. Is there a way to "wire in" a headphone jack that would interupt the power to the speakers when I want to run headphones?

This may get too complicated to pull off and I may have to settle for a tractor radio such as the one made my REI that has two built in speakers and a headphone jack. It looks a little bulky though and I don't see a good place to put it. I could attach a bracket to the ROPS but I worry it would stick out too much.

Any ideas?

 

[ddivinia]

iphone + Bose noise canceling headphones.

D.

 

[TCowner]

I have a quick follow-up to my original post. I did a google search of a Jensen mini radio and there are dozens of sites for the Jensen JHD910 mini radio that looks identical to the kit that John Deere markets. The specs appear to be identical but lncludes a headphone jack. Obviously that would take care of the problem.

Perhaps the JD kit has one but they fail to advertise it. I will do some more checking but if they are different I will just get the one that has the headphone jack and add the speakers.

 

[yankeerider]

Peltor worktunes. Digital tuning and the ability to take sound from an ipod or other sound source. The nice thing is the worktunes provide hearing protection, so you can listen to the music at comfortable sound levels, yet you can still hear what your tractor and equipment are doing. The nice thing about this approach is it's useful for working with other equipment as well. For instance, the sound of the 5 hp Briggs on my log splitter gets tiring, and I use the Peltors when splitting wood- makes it much more comfortable.

I don't know what the Deere radio cost, but the worktunes only cost about $60.

 

[JD755]

Agree the Worktunes is a great solution, especially since you prefer wearing headphones. I have used the Worktunes for years, both the earlier analog tuning model and the later digital tuning model with external input.