Recommend me a car stereo

[Pedro68]

Ok, I know this is a bike site ... but ...

With the way the weather is going these days, I can see me spending more and more days in the cage ... and currently my car radio doesn't work :(

So I'm looking to get a new one, and was wondering what my fellow org'ers would/could and can recommend. Even if its just a brand.

Here's my criteria and budget:

Must have:
iPod connectivity
FM Radio
CD/MP3 player

Nice to have:
USB connection
Ability to control iPod thru steering column controls
Colour co-ordinated illumination (green)

Budget ... well I haven't got a strict budget, but I don't really want to go above £200, however don't let that stop you making recommendations if they aren't too much more than that ;-)

The car stereo will be replacing a standard 6000CDS factory-fit double-DIN stereo in a 2001 Ford Mondeo.

So ... any suggestions for a decent car stereo?

[Biker_Billy]

Ok, I know this is a bike site ... but ...

With the way the weather is going these days, I can see me spending more and more days in the cage ... and currently my car radio doesn't work :(

So I'm looking to get a new one, and was wondering what my fellow org'ers would/could and can recommend. Even if its just a brand.

Here's my criteria and budget:

Must have:
iPod connectivity
FM Radio
CD/MP3 player

Nice to have:
USB connection
Ability to control iPod thru steering column controls
Colour co-ordinated illumination (green)

Budget ... well I haven't got a strict budget, but I don't really want to go above £200, however don't let that stop you making recommendations if they aren't too much more than that ;-)

The car stereo will be replacing a standard 6000CDS factory-fit double-DIN stereo in a 2001 Ford Mondeo.

So ... any suggestions for a decent car stereo?

Just one thing to remember; you will probably need a new loom or at least a connector to fit to the new stereo from the existing wiring - that could be 10-20 quid. In addition, to cover the double din aperture, you will need a face plate - another 10 quid or so... I think you can get both of the above from Halfrauds...

Just to factor these in within your budget...

HTH,

Billy.

[gettin2dizzy]

you can get conversion kits to use the ford audio stalk too. MP3 cd players I'd reccommend. Far better than a CD changer

[Pedro68]

Just one thing to remember; you will probably need a new loom or at least a connector to fit to the new stereo from the existing wiring - that could be 10-20 quid. In addition, to cover the double din aperture, you will need a face plate - another 10 quid or so... I think you can get both of the above from Halfrauds...

Just to factor these in within your budget...

HTH,

Billy.
My budget is strictly for the stereo.
On top of that I know I need an ISO converter (which I just happen to have on an old Pioneer head unit :D) and a blanking plate which will be an additional cost (as may uprated speakers be also) ;-)

you can get conversion kits to use the ford audio stalk too. MP3 cd players I'd reccommend. Far better than a CD changer
Yeah, I have had 2 CD-changers (one in the boot - pain in the ar$e really - takes up boot space, and trust me on long journeys with a family in tow, you need ALL the boot space you can get! One under passenger seat - bugger to get at - had to insert the disks by opening the n/s rear door of the car!) ... and my last after-market stereo was an MP3 playing jobbie (that is, it would play mp3's off CD-R/CD-RW) and which I took out of my old Mondeo, but just couldn't be ar$ed fitting to the new one ... but it doesn't have iPod connectivity.

Cheers :)

Pete

[ASM-Forever]

You're scouse....so i imagine you're the expert. :)

[phil24_7]

Alpine do a lovely one that fit's the bill perfectly. Can't remember the model number but have a search on one of thecheap car stereo websites!

[Pedro68]

You're scouse....so i imagine you're the expert. :)
A typical misconception :rolleyes:

A bit like the following ...

http://worldofsven.co.uk/theology/images/scousers.jpg

Alpine do a lovely one that fit's the bill perfectly. Can't remember the model number but have a search on one of thecheap car stereo websites!
Cheers Phil, I remember last time I was looking at car stereos that Alpine's were rather tasty looking but dunno how they fare compared to stuff like Sony's, Pioneer's, JVC's, and Kenwood's (which are the current bunch I'm looking at). I'll have another look at the Alpine's tho ;-)

Ta!

p.s. anyone wanna buy a Pioneer mp3 playing head-unit? it's legit! honest! it came out of my old mondeo - it even comes with a free CD that I forgot to take out before disconnectin the stereo ;-)

[plowsie]

You're scouse....so i imagine you're the expert. :)
So thats where my bloody waterproofs went Pedro!!!!!! :smt017

[Pedro68]

So thats where my bloody waterproofs went Pedro!!!!!! :smt017
Ya see Plowsie ... there ya go ... perpetuating the myth :rolleyes:

Don't know what ya talking about :silent: Right if you'll excuse me .... I have a disability benefit claim form to fill in ...

[fizzwheel]

My last two decent stereo's have been Pioneer, decent kit IMHO, I cant recommend a specific model as I havent looked for ages at the current setups.

Viney knows a thing or two about it, maybe drop him a PM...

[Pedro68]

Well so far, I've owned a Blaupunkt (waaaay back), a Kenwood, and most recently a Pioneer. I was very happy with my Pioneer, hence why I'm considering them again ... but times moved on since then, so was wondering ... thanks Fizz, I'll PM Viney then ;-)

Cheers,
Pete

[Viney]

Hmmm, Kenwood. Never used anything but. Well, for head units that is.

Noen of the big companies units can control an ipod out of the box, and they need an additioanl 'box' to be be plugged in to enable this. As to wheather it controls the ipod form the steering wheel i dont know. Possibly, next track etc basic funtions. When plugging in a IPod controler, you loose the ability to run a changer if that was an option.

However, with an ipod and MP3 capable cd drive, i doubt that you would want to.

The main companies, ie, Alpine, Kenwood and Pioneer all do units like this.

The other option, is what i have. A single DIN unit that has the ability to play MP3 discs, as well as a high quality 24bit cd drive, and an AUX in, which i have an rca-3.5mm jack installed. This then plugs into a stalk mounted charger cradle. The unit is also connected to a 10 Disc changer which also has MP3 capability. Its a little messy, but works fine and save the £100 or so quid for the IPod controller. Mines linked up to a couple of amps, and a fair few speakers as well.

Check out www.caraudiosecurity.com (http://www.caraudiosecurity.com) for ranges of units. Kenwood i know also do units that Run USB sticks, and i believe they will run USB powered HDD's and they now run at 160gb so with that and a 80gb pod, how much music do you really want?

[Pedro68]

Well cheers for all that lovely info Viney :)

TBH, I was just getting incredibly confused with all the iPod connectivity options around, and how you can control them.

Still researching them :) LOL

Cheers,
Pete

[Viney]

Can i ask, why would you want to control your I pod anyway. Hit random and off you go. Its what i do.

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product_list/c_path/286_297/spd/ipod-ready---aux-input-stereos.html
Take your pick. Looks like Alpine you just need a lead.

Edit. Looks like the adaptors make the i pod work like a cd changer, so you CAN control them from your steering wheel stalks.

All good.

[timwilky]

My car has a fancy built in radio linked into the display for on board computer/sat nav etc.

So I get the usual, CD that also plays MP3 great. half a dozen albums per cd etc. Traffic information, tells me how far I am from incidents/delays etc. What do I miss. Well the fact that a modern car radio system is not digital.

[Pedro68]

Can i ask, why would you want to control your I pod anyway. Hit random and off you go. Its what i do.

Well at the moment, I don't actually have an iPod ... but with a birthday and Christmas looming ;-)

Well I spent a good deal of time actually ripping my entire CD collection into iTunes, and I want the lot of it on my iPod, but I would still like to retain control of my listening ... as there are some (many :rolleyes:) CD's in my collection that you just don't want to listen to too often :oops: LOL


http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product_list/c_path/286_297/spd/ipod-ready---aux-input-stereos.html
Take your pick. Looks like Alpine you just need a lead.

Edit. Looks like the adaptors make the i pod work like a cd changer, so you CAN control them from your steering wheel stalks.

All good.
I found this one (http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/5777.html) on another site, and altho it doesn't quite meet my "must have" list, I may need to re-evaluate WHY I actually need to have the ability to play CDs
I'm seriously tempted by this ... but think I need to look around some more 1st :)

[Pedro68]

My car has a fancy built in radio linked into the display for on board computer/sat nav etc.

So I get the usual, CD that also plays MP3 great. half a dozen albums per cd etc. Traffic information, tells me how far I am from incidents/delays etc. What do I miss. Well the fact that a modern car radio system is not digital.
I've never had DAB, so I can't say I miss it.
But TBH, my car radio just doesn't work. PERIOD.
MW is fine, but the FM stuff is bu99ered. I've had someone look at it, and it's definitely not the aerial ... hence the need to replace the unit.
So at the moment ... what I really miss is TA (Traffic Announcements). You really don't realise how much you use something until it's busted :( and I've been stuck in a few "avoidable" tail-backs recently. So annoying :rolleyes: So just to have a car radio that WORKS would be good :) However if I'm going to have to buy a replacement, then I may as well get one with a few features that I can use for other things :D

Cheers,
Pete

[Pedrosa]

Get one of these Sony bad boys fitted! Then you will never be concerned about a squeeky seat in your motor ever again!:p


[URL=http://imageshack.us]http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/9513/sony20car20sound20systeiq5.jpg[/

[jimmy4237]

Go for a pioneer bluetooth headunit. It'll allow you to plug in MP3 players, and ipods with an adaptor. I had to get a wiring loom for my focus to allow me to use the radio control stalks. Had to go to Halfrauds though to get the plug in wiring loom for the focus.

The bluetooth is handy for your mobile phone too as you can play your phone calls through the car speakers, and it comes with a microphone for you to install up the door piller.

[Pedro68]

I already have a wiring loom from a previous Mondeo/ICE install ;-)

However, I am now seriously considering a unit with bluetooth too ... although I'm not actually 100% certain that I would use it that often. Although having said that, perhaps the reason I don't use my phone in the car at present is because I can't be ar$ed digging out my bluetooth headset.

Thanks :)

[gettin2dizzy]

I already have a wiring loom from a previous Mondeo/ICE install ;-)

However, I am now seriously considering a unit with bluetooth too ... although I'm not actually 100% certain that I would use it that often. Although having said that, perhaps the reason I don't use my phone in the car at present is because I can't be ar$ed digging out my bluetooth headset.

Thanks :)

[-X

[Pedro68]

[-X
G2D, I think what you meant to say was ...

"Ya barred!" :-P LOL

[Viney]

Pedro, that alipne unit is a bit tasty. You could always buy a CD changer for those important discs.

What you still have to sort is where you actually mount the ipod. None of the systems currently on the market actually supply you with a cradle, thats an extra.

Kenwood used to do a Music Keg. Basically a hard drive that sits in your boot with all your tunes on it.

[Pedro68]

Viney, yeah apparently it was designed in conjunction with Apple so that they could have input on how a car-stereo SHOULD present iPod content, and how it SHOULD behave, so I think it's probably gonna be one of the best on the market (currently).

I don't think I have ANY CD's that important to actually need a CD changer ;-)
On the plus side, it will prevent "other people" jumping in my car with a CD and saying, "Hey I got this great new album the other day, you wanna hear this track, it's BOSS!", when their music taste is some way off mine ;-) Hahaha!
On the down side, if I purchase a CD from a store whilst on the road (on holiday), then I have to carry laptop with me, to rip the CD into iTunes and then sync it with an iPod. Not a big hassle, but no ripping the wrapper off a CD and bunging it straight into the player :(

I read something somewhere about the Music Keg ... that's another option I will have to have a look at ;-) cheers :)

Oh and I realise I will need a cradle too for the iPod.

Thanks for all the input :D