cd player head unit

[colin944]

I have an Alpine cd113bt head unit in my car and I hate it. It sounds like its coming from inside a biscuit tin, and the internal equalizer is so difficult to get any decent sound out of it.It has too many multi function buttons. like try to turn volume down and it wants to change sub woofer settings. It's a total pain in the ass.
So what can i buy that'll play usb ,cd and i pod/phone sound good and not require a degree in sound engineering to get a decent sound out off? I was thinking of a Nakamichi cd400 or even one of the new Nakamichi units. What do you all use?

 

[944Scott]

Bring back old fashioned Bass and Treble controls I say!

I have a kenwood h/u in mine which I have come to hate, the preset sounds are awful (better now its running through an amp) the main thing is its so bloody hard to use and the bluetooth has stopped working. For many years I have hankered after a Nakamichi head unit but I really need something with a rear usb for my Ipod connection.

 

[bmnelsc]

I have a newer Sony in mine. It was a Japanese delivery and had a Sony that wouldn't work in NA - different bandwidths - got some AM but no FM. Also the speakers are Sony - I don't know if Porsche was installing region specific equipment or if this was dealer install stuff.
The Sony is not great and the "mouse style ring and push button" interface is lousy but it does handle CD and ipod via USB. Haven't tried the blue tooth.
I'm tempted to look for a blaupunkt - as Scott says - with base and treble knobs.

 

[ChasR]

ORIGINAL: colin944

I have an Alpine cd113bt head unit in my car and I hate it. It sounds like its coming from inside a biscuit tin, and the internal equalizer is so difficult to get any decent sound out of it.It has too many multi function buttons. like try to turn volume down and it wants to change sub woofer settings. It's a total pain in the ass.
So what can i buy that'll play usb ,cd and i pod/phone sound good and not require a degree in sound engineering to get a decent sound out off? I was thinking of a Nakamichi cd400 or even one of the new Nakamichi units. What do you all use?

They are meant to sound quite alright! How is it wired up and what speakers are you using? Both of my 944 had horrific stereo wiring behind the dash (why on earth are people so tight to buy £10's worth of stereo harness loom adaptor, and simply cut the lot up? I have very rarely seen such a setup wired correctly despite it being 'simple').

Nakamichi are lovely but they are also like riding bareback ; there is almost no better feeling but they are very risky. Reliability was never Nakamichi's forte even on their HUs retailing for almost £1k! Becker is one option but if your speakers are twenty year old items with the cones completely destroyed that will never help matters.

 

[MartinRS2K]

Replace all the speakers with new items. After 20+ years they will be well past their best. Speaker technology has advanced lots in that time and even 6 x 4 speakers can produce a decent sound if you buy quality items.

 

[colin944]

I've got two sets of 6.5 inch components in the car. One set are alpine and one vibe. It's the internal eq in the head unit and the fact that it has too many multi function buttons. I just want a simple but quality unit. That's why I'm thinking nakamichi. Or maybe a Porsche CD-R 22 or 23.

 

[ChasR]

ORIGINAL: colin944

I've got two sets of 6.5 inch components in the car. One set are alpine and one vibe. It's the internal eq in the head unit and the fact that it has too many multi function buttons. I just want a simple but quality unit. That's why I'm thinking nakamichi. Or maybe a Porsche CD-R 22 or 23.

Erm, how are they installed? I can't think of how one would be able to install them effectively. If they are not installed as well as they could be no end of HU swapping will cure the underlying issue. Photos would be great .

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: ChasR
... riding bareback ...

Erm, in my lexicon, that phrase can have one of two meanings. This picture may explain them both:

Funnily enough, neither of them are what come to mind when I think of car stereos. Maybe my mind is odd and the phrase 'Nakamichi' regularly conjures up images of pretty girls ....

[&o]


Oli.

 

[ChasR]

Probably a bit strong in all honestly!

I was referring to Nakamichi HUs being some of the best head units in the business, yet being quite a risky business to own. Their reliability is very patchy, due to the fragility of them (I know of many people who do not let CDRs near them due to the fragility of the CD laser mechanism. It is a real shame as they are superb HUs. I admit Beckers may not have quite the SQ of them (but not miles away either!) however they are far more reliable.

 

[colin944]

Ok .I've bought a Becker cdr 22 and a i pod conector for it. I think it'll look better and it's got hardly any buttons on it. Anyone else sing one of these?

 

[Worsey]

What do you all use?

Blaupunkt Stockholm. Occasionally throw a TDK SA90 in it for nostalgia but with the poor recording quality, a tape that's probably 20 years old and a stereo/speakers of similar age it's for originality purposes only[]

 

[tref]

I use some Sony thing which allows me to stream 1Live or WDR2 from my phone. So I get to hear traffic reports from the Ruhr on my way to work... It is a lot less depressing than traffic reports on the M25, and I find it somewhat comforting that the A3 and A1 just outside Dusseldorf seem to have the same problems as the A1 and A3 over here!

Why would you play anything other than German radio in a German car?[]

 

[IanK]

Never mind the sound quality []

Has anyone got a head unit with a display that you could actually see in a convertible (with the hood down).

Mine has a Kenwood and its more or less guesswork when on the road.

Ian

 

[ChasR]

ORIGINAL: IanK

Never mind the sound quality []

Has anyone got a head unit with a display that you could actually see in a convertible (with the hood down).

Mine has a Kenwood and its more or less guesswork when on the road.

Ian

Becker FTW .

 

[zcacogp]

Chas,

From your signature, am I right in thinking you have traded your 951 in for an Escort Turbo?

If so, I'm slightly shocked ...


Oli.

 

[ChasR]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Chas,

From your signature, am I right in thinking you have traded your 951 in for an Escort Turbo?

If so, I'm slightly shocked ...


Oli.

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Chas,

From your signature, am I right in thinking you have traded your 951 in for an Escort Turbo?

If so, I'm slightly shocked ...


Oli.

Without derailing, yes I have. And you are amongst most people who are surprised in that a) I went from a Porsche to a Ford and b) An RST even registered on my radar, both on either side of the spectrum.

The truth is that as you know I do enjoy cars, and fancy trying my hand at many, with the RST (albeit the more 'lowly" Series 2 rather than the Series 1) being in line for quite some time. Before they go stupidly pricey (as it seems most Fords are!) I figured I would try my hand with a very tidy car, and it is good fun! Different to the Porsche, but nonetheless fun. If I am honest it is on a par with my old 205 for handling, but with far more grunt.

Naturally, after selling the Escort I may become more sensible altogether . Whilst it will be a sad day, all good things must come to an end, hence why my once large fleet of cars has been trimmed purely to what is in my signature .