Specific Radio Boss (note not Bose, but Boss) 632UAB

[Brain75]

I went the cheapscate route of putting in a noname chinese and now regret it, time to pick a better head unit. my factory original wasn't bad, but I don't have a tape collection anymore and there was shorts in the balance and fade that would cause speakers to just cut out if the knob got touched at all. So I shopped high and low for something better than YUFUNOFU brand (thats a fictitious chineseium brand btw for you literal smart asses). Crutchfield has started carrying Boss (no typo, boss not bose). which tells me they are better than YUFUNOFU, etc. so I figured one last pass at you guys to see if anyone knows anything about BOSS or if they have done this install and might know issues with the ~92 era specifics.
I am looking at a BOSS 632UAB for 3 specific reasons:
1) no touchscreen to have to go 5 menus deep in just to mute the dang thing or answer phone or or.
2) sd card - I live in deep nowheresville and there is one scratchy terrible radio station which means I have to provide my own music typically
(and 2a I don't want to run my cell phone down to nothing always dorkin around with bluetooth that gets snagged by the neighbors phone or girlfriend when she is with me)
(special note about SD card - on this model it is under the faceplate and very very undocumented - only a few lines in the user manual and AI swearing that it has SD card, I stared at the pix but am not 100% sure
3) price under $50
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all other typical considerations (wattage, cd/dvd/mp3 disc) are "don't care" in my book - no need to try to skip a disc on washboard dirt roads anyhow.
the mfg page: https://bossaudio.com/products/791489122412
amazon's shoppins page: https://www.amazon.com/BOSS-Audio-632UAB-Car-Stereo/dp/B00T3QBJ84?tag=959media-20
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thoughts, comments, suggestions, success/hate stories with the brand/model are all welcome.

 

[2011Supercab]

I can't find anything indicating that this unit accepts a SD card, the only thing I see behind the face plate is the connection for the face plate.

 

[Brain75]

from the mfg's page, right under add to cart there is a link to the manuals and I see that the UM has SD listed and very explicit the UM_V2 doesn't:

BOSS Audio Systems 632UAB Car Stereo - Single Din, Bluetooth, No CD DVD Player, AM/FM Radio Receiver, Wireless Remote Control, Aux In, USB

• Single-DIN Fit • Bluetooth® Hands-free • Detachable Front Panel • AM/FM Receiver • Switchable US & EU Tuner Frequencies • Push-To-Talk • Wireless Remote Control • 50 Watts x 4 Channel

bossaudio.com

V1 : https://images.salsify.com/image/upload/s--YB3PqH4D--/xomyk29izzusgwbskzic.pdf
V2 https://images.salsify.com/image/upload/s--8SSUuTkU--/xigteeruw8nl5xbcjzwu.pdf

V1 page 6 / 7

so I was very aware that there might be a revision issue, and I might have to buy a brick and mortar or direct from mfg rather than amazone.

 

[Brain75]

fwiw, the amazone listing (which is the"BOSS Audio Systems Store") has zero mention of SD card, but the manual they attached to the listing (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A10D6+JSCKL.pdf ) is quite explicit that it does have SD card.

 

[SenorNoob]

As an alternative, I see it had a USB port. You can USB flash drives that barely protrude beyond the port. Like this:

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-16GB-Ultra-Flash-Drive/dp/B077Y149DL?tag=959media-20

That is a separate cost to consider though...

The last thing Boss I had anything to do with was quite a while ago. Then sound quality better on the Nokia 5100s that everybody carried. (That tells ya how long it's been.)
IIRC everything about worked more less as advertised. Unlike the Wal-Mart store brand stuff at the time.

 

[Robert Mangrum]

I've actually had a few Boss head units over the years. My first one worked great but after a year the volume knob was super sketchy. Barely turn it and it made scratchy noise. The second all the speaker outputs burnt out. Started with right front the rear right. 2 weeks later the whole left channels went out. Pre amp outputs still worked. There used to be a guy who would come by the shop and sell Boss car audio right out of his trunk. Super cheap. If you want something that lasts and it was me. Don't want to spend a lot. Look into Power Acoustic head units. I used quite a few of those over the years and they held up well.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My green Ranger has a Boss HU and it works, but I think there are better options. I got the radio with the truck though.

I have various different radios in different trucks and I really like the SD card or USB option, I have a couple of stubby USB sticks for those style.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

I'm not sure, but I believe BOSS is Magnavox. Generally, BOSS radios are good for having something in the dash when you sell the vehicle. @Brain75, I went a different route. I bought a used Ford OEM radio with AUX in. Mine requires the use of an external amp, but not all others do. What year is your Ranger?

 

[Brain75]

I studied BOSS a bit before even posting and everything that I find is that BOSS is a "1 man operation" out of Oxnard CA (Sam Rabbani). I find nothing that ties them to anyone, like as if they were the last company not to sell out to the parent of a parent of a parent of a child...yadda.
I'll turn the suggestion back to a question and double down and ask for those who used/have boss as well.
1) does either (the Boss or Power Acoustik) have resume from last position. i.e. if you turn the key off and then an hour later does it resume song 11 at 2:13 min or does it restart at song 1 0:00 (the cheap chinese did the latter during it's short life... nothing like hearing ACDC all the time every single time you get in the truck).
2) does it do this (1) behavior only from SD or also from USB? (some don't).
I have a little against Power Acoustik since crutchfield doesn't carry them, but their reviews are just as good as BOSS so that is worth considering - and of course your experience as well.
I have no faith that a single din Ford radio ever had an aux in - I think that was double din only.

... What year is your Ranger?

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Now I know how to use the website! That's amazing!

 

[Robert Mangrum]

I studied BOSS a bit before even posting and everything that I find is that BOSS is a "1 man operation" out of Oxnard CA (Sam Rabbani). I find nothing that ties them to anyone, like as if they were the last company not to sell out to the parent of a parent of a parent of a child...yadda.
I'll turn the suggestion back to a question and double down and ask for those who used/have boss as well.
1) does either (the Boss or Power Acoustik) have resume from last position. i.e. if you turn the key off and then an hour later does it resume song 11 at 2:13 min or does it restart at song 1 0:00 (the cheap chinese did the latter during it's short life... nothing like hearing ACDC all the time every single time you get in the truck).
2) does it do this (1) behavior only from SD or also from USB? (some don't).
I have a little against Power Acoustik since crutchfield doesn't carry them, but their reviews are just as good as BOSS so that is worth considering - and of course your experience as well.
I have no faith that a single din Ford radio ever had an aux in - I think that was double din only.

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My PA stereo would return to whatever song was playing last on the CD when I returned to the truck. I've never used a SD card or thumb drive for music. Heck, I'm not sure that was an option back then. Can't recall if the Boss did or didn't. Honestly my first was a detachable face cassette deck in my 93.

 

[SenorNoob]

Kinda off topic, But I wonder if anyone makes a decent quality USB/SD Card FM Transmitter nowadays?

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

An obsurd solution.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I studied BOSS a bit before even posting and everything that I find is that BOSS is a "1 man operation" out of Oxnard CA (Sam Rabbani). I find nothing that ties them to anyone, like as if they were the last company not to sell out to the parent of a parent of a parent of a child...yadda.
I'll turn the suggestion back to a question and double down and ask for those who used/have boss as well.
1) does either (the Boss or Power Acoustik) have resume from last position. i.e. if you turn the key off and then an hour later does it resume song 11 at 2:13 min or does it restart at song 1 0:00 (the cheap chinese did the latter during it's short life... nothing like hearing ACDC all the time every single time you get in the truck).
2) does it do this (1) behavior only from SD or also from USB? (some don't).
I have a little against Power Acoustik since crutchfield doesn't carry them, but their reviews are just as good as BOSS so that is worth considering - and of course your experience as well.
I have no faith that a single din Ford radio ever had an aux in - I think that was double din only.

View attachment 144932View attachment 144933

The Boss in my green Ranger resumes from last position but it’s also a double DIN touchscreen. It does resume from last position on SD, USB and CD/DVD.

My blue Ranger (Lil’ Blue), my F-150, and my 88 all have Pioneer HUs but only the F-150 has one new enough to accept a USB. Others still have factory radios except my Choptop. It might be a Boss in that, I’d have to check. It usually does resume from last position but sometimes it gets lost and goes into Bluetooth pairing mode. A bit annoying at times. I think it only has USB.