Hey all.
My car's old Sony CD player is fine but I have not used a music CD in YEARS now. I have an iphone, I have digital music and looking for something that is radio and Digital Media that wont break the bank.
I saw these:
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/car-audio/head-decks/boss/boss-750di-mp3-am-fm-reciever-wth-dock-station.html
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/car-audio/head-decks/boss/boss-765dbi-cd-reciever-with-ipdock-station.html
There is another version that the front flips down for the dock and inside controls etc.
The problem is these are crap. I read on amazon and none of these Boss ones get any good feedback.
What solutions are out there that I can buy this week say here in NZ that are not crazy?
- I have a great Nav app on phone
- I would like USB/Blootooth or dock options
- Do not want to break the bank and does not have to be crazy sound spec but decent
Real key is I do not want cables everywhere as I see in friends cars here - so messy. I do not mind sacrificing some top notch audio for practicality but the Boss ones seem really crap, lol.
This looks awesome:
But you wont see this outside US any time soon and probably pricey.
SO, up for any advice and information.
Thanks
Boss really is crap kit, you have to stick with the brands for quality, Sony and Pioneer are probably your best bet but the good stuff doesn't come cheap.
I wouldn't touch Sony or Pioneer.
Alpine or Blaupunkt.
Alpine do a unit that only does Radio/iPod.
Something like this.
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-ida-x311.html
Or this
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-cde125bt.html
Alpine, Kenwood or Pioneer.
Get on Ebay and look for something with USB/Aux inputs, i had one back along albeit it was Sony for £45 delivered (new).
just build a carpc
Whether he can get Alpine or the like over there is going to be a different story I think.
my truck came with a sony in it.. it has bluetooth - no need to faf around with cables, etc. paired with my iphone & done
This one is good and low budget, have one myself, radio really good(often bad in cd/radio comboes)and sound is good, I play mp3 (320 cba) on SD memories only. I good budget one i would say.
http://www.denver-electronics.com/denver-cau-415/
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on April 12, 2011, 15:09:26 PM
Whether he can get Alpine or the like over there is going to be a different story I think.
Parallel import do indeed sell Alpine.
I have a kenwood headunit with rear USB port that feeds in to the glove box with a 16gb USB stick attached, but you can also attach the iPhone , but it's also got Bluetooth so you can also sync and play music through that, but music fidelity is sacrificed a little via Bluetooth.
To be honest, I awesome sound is at home and just like I do not have a handheld console, If I am going to do something I will use the best kit so my 5.1 at home for my tunes.
I want it to sound nice but does not have to be perfect thumping at all. On way to work I actually prefer listening to podcasts anyway.
On that, I have seen the head units that fold down and you connect up in a tray the ipod etc. This is cool but since it is my phone I would be taking it out all the time.
If there is a nice small dock I can attach to the dash and bluetooth and USB cable if I need to then I am happy with that.
If your current one has a pre out, you can do pre out to aux conversion and mount the cable next to your leg in the footwell or use some velcro, and stick your ipod to it that way.
Quote from: Bacon on April 12, 2011, 23:54:30 PM
If your current one has a pre out, you can do pre out to aux conversion and mount the cable next to your leg in the footwell or use some velcro, and stick your ipod to it that way.
Does not even have that. SO getting a new one and do not need a CD player but because I am getting a new one it is worth getting one to do the job well.
Anyone find anything there they think is decent for around $200 or less?
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/car-audio/head-decks.html
Quote from: neXus on April 13, 2011, 01:49:49 AM
Quote from: Bacon on April 12, 2011, 23:54:30 PM
If your current one has a pre out, you can do pre out to aux conversion and mount the cable next to your leg in the footwell or use some velcro, and stick your ipod to it that way.
Does not even have that. SO getting a new one and do not need a CD player but because I am getting a new one it is worth getting one to do the job well.
Anyone find anything there they think is decent for around $200 or less?
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/car-audio/head-decks.html
Surely there must be a classified ads site or paper in nz for 2nd hand bargains?
Front Aux and USB
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/sony-cdxgt-490u-head-deck.html
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/pioneer-deh-2250ub-head-deck.html
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/car-audio/head-decks/pioneer-deh-2350ub-head-deck.html
And to answer your question, most of them still have a CD slot on them, they just add Aux/USB to the mix for more compatibility.
If the Sony is anything like the one i bought a while ago, the file browser menu is really simple to use and well laid out.
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/car-sound-gps-navigation/mp3-cd-tuners/sony/mech-less-ipod-head-unit-sku-19424/
seems ok, if you check youtube videos out on it in terms of the menu, no USB outside though.
I think what I have noted is there is some solutions out there but not quite there
If you don't mind using cord I bet you won't hear the difference between the denver (http://www.hifi-tower.co.uk/IN_CAR_ENTERTAINMENT/Car_Stereo/Car_CD_Players/Denver_CAU_415_In_Car_Stereo_USB_SD_Headunit_i112_256_0.htm?campaign=pricesearch/Idealo/10000626) @£55 and the sony as the chips often are the same in cheaper brands and made in the same factory. I paid £49 for mine in sweden after I tried it out as my friend just bought one for his bmw which had a good CD player with a crappy radio so he bought the denver which sounded better than the original, I had toyotas CD with radio good CD sound but crappy radio so I also bought
a denver and music from SD sounds better than the CD did before ! so for that price I found it to be a really good buy.
Quote from: neXus on April 13, 2011, 05:15:40 AM
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/car-sound-gps-navigation/mp3-cd-tuners/sony/mech-less-ipod-head-unit-sku-19424/
seems ok, if you check youtube videos out on it in terms of the menu, no USB outside though.
I think what I have noted is there is some solutions out there but not quite there
The point is if you want all singing and all dancing and you want a big brand your going to have to spend more than $200. For the $200 budget your going to be stuck with either that Boss junk (with the dock) or front Aux/USB decent brand player.
Quote from: Bacon on April 13, 2011, 11:35:02 AM
Quote from: neXus on April 13, 2011, 05:15:40 AM
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/car-sound-gps-navigation/mp3-cd-tuners/sony/mech-less-ipod-head-unit-sku-19424/
seems ok, if you check youtube videos out on it in terms of the menu, no USB outside though.
I think what I have noted is there is some solutions out there but not quite there
The point is if you want all singing and all dancing and you want a big brand your going to have to spend more than $200. For the $200 budget your going to be stuck with either that Boss junk (with the dock) or front Aux/USB decent brand player.
True, I will check this out:
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/car-sound-gps-navigation/mp3-cd-tuners/sony/mech-less-ipod-head-unit-sku-19424/
Before going to parallel imported as jb-hifi is in Albany about 10 mins drive away.
I just got this one cos it was cheaper than the alpine they had in the shop - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_774697_langId_-1_categoryId_165474#dtab
I think that's basically the same model I had in my Audi Pete, I replaced it with a Pioneer in the BMW but it just doesn't feel as nice to use. Pioneer use really stupid buttons and placement on their HUs for some reason.
Beyond a certain price point I also think no one will ever tell the difference between brands in terms of audio quality as they all use pretty much the same quality of DACs, etc, so unless you have invested thousands in your speakers and in-car acoustics to overcome noise and resonance you really will not know.
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on April 14, 2011, 10:28:44 AM
I think that's basically the same model I had in my Audi Pete, I replaced it with a Pioneer in the BMW but it just doesn't feel as nice to use. Pioneer use really stupid buttons and placement on their HUs for some reason.
Beyond a certain price point I also think no one will ever tell the difference between brands in terms of audio quality as they all use pretty much the same quality of DACs, etc, so unless you have invested thousands in your speakers and in-car acoustics to overcome noise and resonance you really will not know.
What I am trying to say :D
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on April 14, 2011, 10:28:44 AM
I think that's basically the same model I had in my Audi Pete, I replaced it with a Pioneer in the BMW but it just doesn't feel as nice to use. Pioneer use really stupid buttons and placement on their HUs for some reason.
Beyond a certain price point I also think no one will ever tell the difference between brands in terms of audio quality as they all use pretty much the same quality of DACs, etc, so unless you have invested thousands in your speakers and in-car acoustics to overcome noise and resonance you really will not know.
Sony HU's are generally tinnier compared to Kenwood/Pioneer counterparts imo.
Maybe don't turn up bass/treble/set 'pop' EQ tbh imo? :P
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on April 14, 2011, 12:48:04 PM
Maybe don't turn up bass/treble/set 'pop' EQ tbh imo? :P
I never use any pre-sets, its always better to manually configure the EQ :P
I've had quite a few Sony's and they have all been the same.
If you have a proper setup, you just set it to flat.
Let the music come through how it wants.
Quote from: soopahfly on April 14, 2011, 14:37:23 PM
If you have a proper setup, you just set it to flat.
Let the music come through how it wants.
QFT :ptu:
Graphic Equalizers - making music sound worse through rubbish sound systems since the 80s! :w00t:
Quote from: soopahfly on April 14, 2011, 14:37:23 PM
If you have a proper setup, you just set it to flat.
Let the music come through how it wants.
Everything flat except for Bass!
Buy a sub instead of BluRays ;D
My setup is probably worth about £300.
I've got an Alpine headunit
Stock Toyota door speakers
Magnat 600w Amp
Vibe 10" subwoofer.
I don't need to fiddle with EQ's :D
And it's not boy racer loud.
The sony ain't too bad. tbh I think the usb malarky is a bit naff because it ain't a patch on a CD but other than that it's a huge improvement on the stock hu.
Need to do the front speakers next, they buzz like they're gonna go pop.
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on April 14, 2011, 15:19:30 PM
Buy a sub instead of BluRays ;D
Give me a break i had the blu rays up for sale at least :P
Quote from: Pete on April 14, 2011, 19:54:19 PM
The sony ain't too bad. tbh I think the usb malarky is a bit naff because it ain't a patch on a CD but other than that it's a huge improvement on the stock hu.
Need to do the front speakers next, they buzz like they're gonna go pop.
What? How is usb naff, no burning of cd's, no buying of cd's to burn, and your saving the environment in the long run!
Maybe I need to get higher quality mp3 but I got prodigy on cd and on usb and cd sounds way better. It is dead handy though, saves having loads of cds flying around.
Quote from: Pete on April 14, 2011, 23:54:28 PM
Maybe I need to get higher quality mp3 but I got prodigy on cd and on usb and cd sounds way better. It is dead handy though, saves having loads of cds flying around.
Using my similar HUs I used USB all the time when I had a stick, but it recently died. You can obviously fit a lot more on a stick than a CD (or MP3 CD) enough for me to drive to Newcastle and back a few times without hearing the same tracks. The quality is just as good if you're using high quality rips and best of all no risk of skipping! I've had some of my mp3 discs in the glovebox that long that half the tracks don't quite play correctly with stuttering, complete skipping etc.
Consider 320kbps CBR or av. 256kbps VBR MP3s for WIN, I don't use anything less. Try ripping your Prodge CD with EAC and the latest lame and compare if you're still not certain.
A CD uses wave and is lossless but if worn will skip, I use 320 CBR (done from FLAC with soundconverter) on SD memories, works a charm but I need to repartion and reformat for them to work properly on the denver.
One might be able to hear the difference between 128 CBR and 192 but not really between 192 and 320.
Quote from: bear on April 15, 2011, 12:04:03 PM
One might be able to hear the difference between 128 CBR and 192 but not really between 192 and 320.
You definitely can on good equipment assuming good ears, but probably not in a car/on the move.
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on April 15, 2011, 12:12:07 PM
Quote from: bear on April 15, 2011, 12:04:03 PM
One might be able to hear the difference between 128 CBR and 192 but not really between 192 and 320.
You definitely can on good equipment assuming good ears, but probably not in a car/on the move.
Do u mean betwix 192 & 320 or which ?
I mean between 192 and 320. You probably would not notice the difference between 256 and 320 easily if at all, but with space not being a premium these days theres no point in going down to 192 quality, you might as well 320 everything.
Yeah I think 320 CBR is the way to go :D
I bought a JVC KD-R626 Head Unit
Fitted it weekend before last - it killed my battery and I had to get a new one. Red light on battery, Dead, lol.
Video:
http://youtu.be/8cS5XzMqTYs?hd=1
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2531450/IMG_1186.JPG
One minor issue is that the car dash is very shaped and the head unit fits snug but because of the bevel on the dash I can not fit the faceplate on. While you do not hardly notice there is no faceplate on it does not look quite polished in terms of being neat.
wondering what options I have?
Quote from: neXus on May 02, 2011, 13:27:25 PM
I bought a JVC KD-R626 Head Unit
Fitted it weekend before last - it killed my battery and I had to get a new one. Red light on battery, Dead, lol.
Video:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2531450/IMG_1186.JPG
One minor issue is that the car dash is very shaped and the head unit fits snug but because of the bevel on the dash I can not fit the faceplate on. While you do not hardly notice there is no faceplate on it does not look quite polished in terms of being neat.
wondering what options I have?
JVC sucks mate! :dunno:
Quote from: Bacon on May 02, 2011, 13:32:18 PM
Quote from: neXus on May 02, 2011, 13:27:25 PM
I bought a JVC KD-R626 Head Unit
Fitted it weekend before last - it killed my battery and I had to get a new one. Red light on battery, Dead, lol.
Video:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2531450/IMG_1186.JPG
One minor issue is that the car dash is very shaped and the head unit fits snug but because of the bevel on the dash I can not fit the faceplate on. While you do not hardly notice there is no faceplate on it does not look quite polished in terms of being neat.
wondering what options I have?
JVC sucks mate! :dunno:
I was in stores plugging my iphone into them and seeing how they navigated etc. This was by far one of the better ones for the budget range I was looking for. It was 60 bucks off for Easter Sales so fell into my budget range.