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Car Audio advice

Anla'Shok Douglas NicolAnla'Shok Douglas Nicol Ranger
in Zocalo v2.0
I've just got meself a new (well a new used) car, its a metallic Green Mitsubishi Galant, nice big motor.

As seen in this ad

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2000-Mitsubishi-Galant-Green_W0QQitemZ260311719108QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item260311719108&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A7|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2000-Mitsubishi-Gala...%3A1|240%3A1318[/url]

I paid less than that for it, and I'm just waiting on the insurance paperwork coming through.

However, and this is the big major problem, there's no CD player. :) I'm looking for a reasonable CD player on a lower end budget and wondered if anyone could recommend any. At the first glance Halfords seems to be the best bet though I'm rejecting their £29.99 player as even though I'm on a budget the very cheapest might be not worthwhile.

So...any ideas? There is another place nearby that sells Blaupunkt, Clarion and Alpine sets. The Alpine is out of my budget, and I might be wrong but Clarion seem to be a cheaper lower quality make.

Comments

  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Does your budget extend to a player that accepts a USB drive loaded with MP3 files?
  • Rogue TraderRogue Trader Somebody stop him...
    I paid a little extra for mine but it had an AUX in port for my Sirius Satelite radio and an iPod cable that charges and controls my ipod through the dash. It was around 200 USD but was the best purchase for my car I have ever done.

    That might not help but it's all I got. :)
  • Anla'Shok Douglas NicolAnla'Shok Douglas Nicol Ranger
    Well Halfords have this unit

    [url]http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_238019_langId_-1_categoryId_165474#dtab[/url]

    Now according to the Q&A you can connect an Ipod to it, in addition to also having USB and SD connections.
  • Entil'ZhaEntil'Zha I see famous people
    I had a very nice Sony in my last car, that played mp3 CD's and had a USB slot, paid about $120 USD for it + install.
  • PSI-KILLERPSI-KILLER Needs help
    I have had a few Sony's and Kenwoods, never had a problem.
  • FreejackFreejack Jake the Not-so-Wise
    Are you guys moving to HD radio over there yet? If so there are some good HD sets out there for a good price. I picked up the a Dual brand HD set for $124 (whats that like £2 in the UK? ;) ). Its CD, MP3, has both an Aux port and a USB port in the face.

    There's alot of good HD radio selections here in St. Louis. Most of the major stations have more than one HD feed, so it basicly doubles the number of channels available.

    Jake
  • Entil'ZhaEntil'Zha I see famous people
    To be honest, i rarely listen to radio, i've got my Sirius/XM and that's all i use. I listen to CD's and MP3'CD's from time to time, (i was so happy that my new Subaru had a built in MP3/cd player) but mostly it's the Satellite Radio.
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Freejack, I think...we may have acquired the same headunit. :p The [URL="http://www.crutchfield.com/p_070XHD6425/Dual-XHD6425.html?search=Dual%2bXHD6425&tp=5684"]Dual XHD6425[/URL]. It's surprisingly good, too. While it lacks the power to thump some 2ohm Infinity drivers out of the box, a cheap amplifier will rectify that in no time.

    I got it as a temporary solution when the price bottomed out at $95 shipped (and another $50 HD Radio MIR, too!) and thought I would eventually replace it with an Alpine headunit instead. No! The quality is surprisingly good, and the interface functions remarkably well. The fact that it has a 1/8" aux-in jack straight on the front is just plain fantastic, and the USB port allows for ipod charging (though my particular version will not natively play off of an ipod). It also has an optional Bluetooth speakerphone module that has exceptional reviews. Considering that this part often goes for US$30 shipped on ebay, I suspect I'll be picking it up soon.

    All it needs is LCD+LED dimming and I would have no complaints. While it may not be available in the UK yet, a variant of it is likely produced under another brand name. In the US, this specific model tends to retail for $125-140. At that price, it has little competition.


    Other than that, I'm an Alpine whore all the way. Alpine headunits powering either an alpine or infinity amplifier, which itself is driving an array of Infinity speakers.
  • Anla'Shok Douglas NicolAnla'Shok Douglas Nicol Ranger
    Well the cheapest Alpine unit around here is £130 which is a bit above my budget. I rarely listen to radio, so HD radio isn't important for me.
  • FreejackFreejack Jake the Not-so-Wise
    Sanfam,

    Yep that's the unit. I really like having the USB port, I just load a bunch of music onto a jump drive, shove it in and go...

    Jake
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    It is quite good for that. I'm exceptionally glad to have picked it up when I did.

    As I mentioned, the sound quality was a bit crappy with its onboard amp, so I'm investigating the installation of an aftermarket unit. Two (technically three) options come to mind. First, a one-piece combiamp. The [URL="http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500PDX5/Alpine-PDX-5.html?tp=115"]Alpine PDX-5[/URL], [URL="http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108KAPPA5V/Infinity-Kappa-Five.html?tp=115"]Infinity Kappa Five[/URL], or the [URL="http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108R5350A/Infinity-Reference-5350a.html?tp=115"]Infinity Reference 5350a[/URL]. Right now, it's looking like the latter holds top priority, but is larger than the space I was hoping to fit it in (the amp is nearly 18" long!). Option two is to go a discrete high-range amp, such as the [URL="http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500MRPF300/Alpine-MRP-F300.html?tp=115"]Alpine MRP-F300[/URL], and then add in a subwoofer amp (or under-seat sub). My goal is complete stealth with minimal hassle. Any exposed component is a target for theft. (the chosen amp would preferably fit underneath the steering column in place of the old rear-channel brick amp)
  • SpiritOneSpiritOne Magneto ABQ NM
    Like Ent, I listen to Sirius. At this point it is pretty much exclusive to nothing but Sirius in both cars I drive.

    That being said, I have always used Kenwood deck units and I love their quality, styling and sound that they put out. Every kenwood (EVEN older models) that has a port to accept a CD Changer will also accept an ipod interface. There is a specific ipod interface adapter you can buy, its not all that expensive, it has a round plug that goes into the back of the unit, and it will charge and play the ipod over it.

    My truck set up is very nice. It has an older model Kenwood deck unit, a 350W Rockford Fosgate amp, and 10 speakers that include a 8.5" sub.

    When I am not listening to NFL Radio the music sounds fantastic.

    The other car I drive is a company minivan, a base line Chrysler T&C. I just have a Sirius plug and play unit in there, the stereo in it sucks hard core.
  • Anla'Shok Douglas NicolAnla'Shok Douglas Nicol Ranger
    Well this is my local two retailers

    Halfords

    [url]http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/categorydisplay_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_categoryId_165474_langId_-1[/url]

    And Motorspeed

    However, their range is restricted.

    [url]http://motorspeed.com/store_main.asp?int_catalog_id=1[/url]

    I'm not looking for something too expensive which seems to preclude Alpine.
  • FreejackFreejack Jake the Not-so-Wise
    That Ripspeed unit with the USB and SD slots seems like a good option if that's in your pricerange.

    Jake
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    [QUOTE=SpiritOne;179108]My truck[/QUOTE]

    Texan! :p
  • SpiritOneSpiritOne Magneto ABQ NM
    [QUOTE=Biggles;179122]Texan! :p[/QUOTE]
    lol, yeah and?

    want to see the winch I just put on my quad?
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