How to Turn an Ice Chest Cooler into a Stereo 

absolutelyawesom! im 52yrs old and i wish i could've thought of this in the 80s! what a chick magnet. great idea dude!

So for the Ne sayers who don't understand not being able to put beers in it let me give me you some perspective. You can make the cooler so that it still holds beer/drinks but it enters the realm of complexity and the video was graciously made to show simplicity. The other part is that making, displaying, and having a cooler stereo is a growing thing of status. Float down a river and mutual respect will be given to the built coolers and none to the purchased waterproof stereo. It's personality

Great video! I still have to mount the battery, switch, and amp but I connected the electronics and the initial test was impressive. Very loud with the amp input level almost completely turned down. There's a few clarifications/tips I'd like to add: (1.) Foregoing the switch and just applying power to the amp didn't turn the amp on (I believe the remote input on the amp needs to be triggered to get the amp to power up), so I ran to Radio Shack to buy a switch just like the one in the video and it worked! (2.) Pay close attention to around the 10:50 mark of the video. Both battery leads need two outgoing wires connected to them. (3.) He's right about the equipment. That battery and that amp connected to quality speakers is all you need. Buy online, and you can get your setup for a little over $100 (4.) make sure you have a good box cutter to cut out the speaker holes. I found saws to be useless. I used the cardboard that came in the speaker packaging as a template, and it worked great. (5.) I used home speaker wire, and cut up the charging cord to an old shaver to connect the power. (6.) The amp has all sorts of warnings about not using the input level adjustment as a volume control. Using your ipod's volume is okay, but I'll be adding an RCA volume knob.

This is definitely the video that helped me build mines for the beach. A lot of compliments I'm going to make a better one this year. Thank you for this video I appreciate it

You did a very good job explaining how to build it, I have built a couple of cooler radios myself and I just used a huge deep cycle battery with a pioneer deck and 4 speakers. It got loud but it was a pain lugging it around, even with wheels. I've seen those battery's at Walmart and have considered using them but just haven't had the time to do it but now I think I'll build another one. Thanks for the video it was very informative!

Man whoever was doing the camera work was having trouble breathing. Hope he's ok.

Really good job, and your right most people don't want to provide the steps you did. Thank you for taking the time.

want to thank you for showing how to wire everything. everyone else just shows the inside of the cooler. so thanks for showing the dummie(me) how to wire it up

Nice and easy thats how you explained this build. Wish others would be relaxed like you.

Ha this guy gets it, we do it because we can, "disposable income and all that" and its just got that cool custom factor. Thanks for all the positve comments, I'm glad i could help. And remember kids small coolers for the boombox and large coolers for the beer.

Dude, you just helped me make my summer an EPIC summer ! Thanks for the tutorial!!

Listen I really appreciate you posting this. Thinking of adding this to my wife's cruzin' cooler coolagon. Good instructions.

Can not thank you enough for the ridiculously helpful video! It took me no more than 20 maybe 25 minutes to hook everything up! And it sounds amazing! Can not give you enough praise! Thanks Man!!! Great work!

You can buy any of many batteries for an ATV or battery backup battery. I have a bunch of old ones that were going to be recycled and coolers are cheap at the thrift store. You can put a stereo in, cigarette port for charging your phone, etc. You can also use the metal wall anchors that crimp down.

Thanks for the info! I'm making one for the first time and was having problems hooking up the switches. Found out that the switches I bought were for 110v lol. I got the right ones now. Thanks again! Great video!

Thanks for taking the initiative and making this video. I needed this to put sound onto an art bike.

Awesome thanks and you are right no one wants to show exactly like you how to make one

Hey Franko-- Just want to say that I made one myself ,after watching your video here---- and have to say it works great--- tried to up load my video of it but did not work-- going to use it at my car shows---- thanks again

really kool!!!!! you did really good explaining all the procedures. Im going to do mine tomorrow as the summer time is approaching here in FL and we are getting ready to hit the beach "with my stereo cooler that is!!! lol" ... thanks for sharing bro!

Awesome !! Im dyin to work one up myself.. After several vids on how too, Yours works fine for me and my pockets. Simple, to the point without a bunch of promo stuff. Good job brother.

Great video. Made mine 2 weeks ago and its bad ass. Used it at a BBQ competition. Got a lot of compliments.

Great video! Thank you for posting it. I have 2 daughters 10 & 12 and they play softball. I've seen people with their coolers out there at the softball parks but your right they don't want to tell you how to make it.. This video broke it down and its simple to make. Ill be making mine for my girls this weekend. Again thanks for the how to video..

Excellent, best one I've seen yet.

I could care LESS about the "heavy breathing" which, Yea00that00guy didn't even spell right. I appreciate your detailing, your time and consideration of investment. This is awesome.

Love it because it's so simple, nice work bro. everyone else just goes too crazy.

NICE WORK. Thanks for the ideas. I like hpe simple you make the design.

Hey man I watched you video while I was making mine and it made it so much simpler! Thanks for the great video, can't wait for summer!

Finally someone that explains this easily. I have a question, how can you connect a Bluetooth pairing device on that

Cool Idea man. If it does hold heat like the other guy was saying you could just cut a couple vent holes on the rear..nice work

Great instructions and can't WAIT to make ours.

Cool video man. I'm glad guys like you make these videos. Really helps out beginners like me., Thanks man!!!!

first true step by step instruction very cool

just need to get a rubber surround for the insert mdf so it seals off, add a tiny bit of sound deadedner on the sides and bottom inside the box and should be a very nice sounding setup, also have a latch to keep that lid open, because when all that is applied then you'll be having to open it all the time due to too much awesomeness

That's what i did back then, i also powered up my kids power wheels with a car battery, the amperage sure makes a hell of a difference. I do it differently now. Just get a dc to dc Voltage step down 24v to 12v 30 amperage for $25 in Amazon and use a cordless power tool battery 18v to 24v. I use my Ryobi 18v battery and it kicks ass. The best thing about it, is that if i take it somewhere and the battery's power dies, i just swap it out for a recharge one, and again when that one goes dead. I have 6 for my power tools but i also use them for my Bluetooth box. Sure beats having to look for a power outlet to recharge.👍✌️

Thanks a lot I'm going to attempt to make my own!!! all these other videos are extra lol you made it simple and easy to follow

Nice and simple man. After watching this I went out today and built one. Used a 60qt igloo ice cube, 250watt kicker amp, 2 pioneer 6x9s, and instead of an aux I used a Bluetooth adapter. I also used an atv battery. I feel like I should have bought a deepcycle battery but it will work for now. All I need is a switch or just some clamps..that way I don't have to keep unhooking the battery with a wrench. Total cost $296 all from Wal-Mart

Yeah I've already made one for my sisters husband, kenwood deck, kickers...2 6.5 and 2 5.25, same battery, in a big Coleman with wheels, sounds phenomenal. Thinking about doing a how to vid of that setup because now I want one fo maself

Cool video I just came across it 5yr late but I will make one this weekend simple plan for a simple man thanks

how long would that 7.5 ah batter last if playing it on pretty much max volume? on the first stereo in the vid

Yeah bro I applaud your thorough description. The only thing I would like to run by ya is the fact that with any amp with an Rem or power switch you most definitely have to use a toggle switch. Other wise your amp will not come on.

thanks bro.. my day at the river just got better..

Absolutely cool for the cooler😆

Built mine and took it to the Frio worked great!!!!!!!

Cool, Brother! I have a small Alpine amp that I never used, new in the box! I think that I will use it to make one. Thanks for posting this video!

I'm new to the wiring part of this setup. I want to wire in a USB port for charging and also a voltage meter for the battery. could you make a quick video on how to maybe add that to you setup or give me a quick how to response? thanks! this was probably the most informative video on this topic I've seen!

Thanks Joe, and Im pretty sure you can make any switch work, it may depend on the remote wire on your amp, I have several different coolers that I've made without switches the one on the video being the first with a switch, sorry I can't help more with a direct answer,

This is a great idea

Awesome thanks for showing how it's made simple! It helps a lot.

Ta da......so simple. Thanx again.

What's the best (easy) way to cut the speaker holes into the cooler? What I ended up doing was I bought the 20W amp for $15 on ebay and I bought to home stereo speakers at Goodwill. I screwed the amp into the center consul on my 2011 Prius closest to me. I wired the speakers up from the cargo area and put the back seats down for more sound. I then plugged the amp into my cig lighter for pwr. I have an Aptek mp3 player as the radio. It blasts me out of the car! For such a low pwr amp I couldn't believe it powered those big stereo speakers!

Great video

I'm pretty sure it's a 28q, use what ever you like, in my opinion a medium sized cooler works the best just make sure the sides are smooth. And I used 16g wires. Went the the auto parts store and got a spool of red and black

What size Female Spade Crimp Terminal with Insulating Sleeve and Wire Red + Black Female Spade Quick Splice should I get to hook up to a round 2 prong rocker switch and a 10amp automtive fuse ?

thanks for the video I'm definitely going to try it I got some amps not good ones but it'll be for something around the house actually for outside in my yard

Very cool and creative but I would worry about overheating the electronics.

great job , i plan on building my own amp , but ty for the heads up on the battery . and great video.

im attempting make a cooler radio but i cannot find any of the connectors so i can connect my amp to the batters and the wires to mt speakers. what are those called and where can i get them?

How can I hook this DC Power Cable 12V 5A Plugs Male pigtale to one of these Maxmoral 3PCS DC-099 DC Power Socket Connector with Waterproof Cover Cap,Threaded Female Panel Mounting Adapter Power Jack 5.5 x 2.1mm with out soldering ?

Going to build one of these for the lake going to use larger longer cooler is there anyway to put the charger in the cooler.

This is...cool. Anyone anyone?

Can you help me figure out out how to hook up plye 4ch hydra bluetooth amp white, 5amp APIELE 22mm Momentary Push Button Switch 12V Angel Eye LED Waterproof Stainless Steel Round Metal Self-Reset 7/8'' 1NO 1NC with Pigtail (Blue), Talentcell Rechargeable 12V 6000mAh/5V 12000mAh DC Output Lithium ion Battery Pack for LED Strip and CCTV Camera, Portable Li-ion Power Bank with Charger, Black and using this 10pcs Conductor Compact Connectors Lever Wire Nut Electrical Connectors with Fixed Base for 3 Circuit Inline Splices 28-12 AWG?

Yes the battery is rechargeable with a trickle charger, doesn't take long.

No i got the wires from an auto store, 16 or 14 gauge i believe. you can get a spool of red and black like i did

Dude this is so cool!!

Awsome set up man. Hell its splash proof too. With some marine speakers it will be Awsome for an atv.

Thats what i needed to know good information. Thanks going to make one for the river

do you think there is any chance of anything overheating if i bring this to a tailgate party? I live in Florida and I dont want anything to overheat or anything bad happening in the parking lot, thanks in advance!

Thanks for demistifying the boombox making process!

Bose makes a bluetoof one that is great you should buy that one!!!

What about using Velcro to keep the battery/amp in place? Easily removable then. You could also Velcro the mp3 player to the inside of the lid

You were very much saying get good speakers but did not say about wot are the best speakers to use I love d you video you explained every think so well but not about speakers I have a lot of speakers but worried thay may be to mush or to big please come back to me on this you are so good at wot you do catch you on the flip side

I'm at a loss. I set mine up almost identical to yours, but I can't get a good ground. Every time I try to connect it to the battery it sparks and the wires heat up. I have a 12v battery/400 Amp/16G Wires. I've had three other dudes look at it and we're all puzzled. Any suggestions?

nice gave me motivation

What you use to connect to the battery as far as connectors?

You had me at Sublime.

Awesome! Thanks for the info James.

very helpful. Thanks.

what kind of wires did you use to connect the battery to the amp?

Can some one please help me I have looked all over the place for this I just need to know what kind of wire and connector I should get for mb quart okc169 6x9 car speakers thanks

What are the end connectors that go on the speakers

Hell yeah, thanks dude looks like a great project!

Thanks Very nicely done video. Give ideas to work on.

Good video... Thanks

Hey sir how can hook up a old school radio , to a batterry can I use a u b 12 50

I know this is old but how long does the battery last b4 u have to charge

How long does the feeder battery last on a full charge

Thanks..good video and you made it look so easy. .

Great video thank you for showing us! Santeria was a great choice for song also :)

what kind of wire did you use to run to the battery?

Your amp may not be getting enough power or drawing too much power and cutting out when the volumes too high. Think of if as small power surges that you amp or battery can't handle. Try using a smaller amp, also if you're using a small battery like the one I use it the video make sure it's a 12volt battery, I've never had that problem with any setup I've done, so it may be fair to say your problem is in the amp though it could be the battery

Good work, thanks for the great idea!

awesome ...thanks a bunch

How long will that battery last running that amp?

Good video

I want something that will overpower the noise of the generator I use to power my bowfishing lights. Would it be loud enough?

thank you mexican man, great video

Do you have any problems whem them overheating?

making one now. Will post finished product.

Gotta say. IT WORKS THANKS JAMES. :)

I just got a Dual MP3/WMA CD Receiver with Bluetoof for $45 bucks for my next CoolStereo. Be on the look out for that how to vid. Hopefully it'll work out like I want it to. For a head unit install just find a HU that's has bluetoof. I just happened to get the Dual DCBT304U.