I bought and installed a Retrosound Model-1 radio for my 70 cutlass a few months ago. I also installed some new speakers. I was very pleased with how it looked and the quality of the sound, and the fact you could install it with no modifications to the dash. Last week while I was cruising I all of a sudden got a strange static noise with the music while I was listening with my I-pod. So the first thing I did was try the radio and I got the same thing. I have done a lot of tinkering and have it narrowed down to the exact volume that it starts and goes away at. At 31 volume the sound is perfect and clear, at 32 I get a little static/scratchy noise, and at 33 it is steady noise. I know the speakers are not blown as that volume is not all that loud and my speaker are very good quality. I know what blown speakers sound like and thats not what this is. It also does this weather the car is not running, just idling or cruising. Any thoughts on what the problem could be would be great. I have an email into the retrosound tech dept. Just waiting for a reply.

 

It could be some dirt in potentiometer (volume control), weak ground or power wire, I'd wait and see what they say at the vender level.

 

Does it happen on both left and right channels or just one? Front and rear? If one channel, do try other speakers. I have had newish ones go bad. Also I have had crap drop into a speaker and cause noises.
Check your speaker wiring for accidental shorts, too.
Let us know how the customer service goes - i am pretty sure i will buy one of those units myself.

 

Are you getting interference from your ignition and the amp inside the radio is picking it up ?

 

He stated it does with the engine running or not!

 

I have had no problems with mine if that helps. No static etc. Call your vendor.