What should I start looking at?

My car's been off the road a year, when I got it going again, the radio/CD/MP3 player just switches itself off all the time.

Present one a is a Sony, which I like.

I'd like on that plays MP3 CD's, CD's and has decent radio.....not too worried abt DAB, we don't have brilliant reception round here anyway.

So what might I look at?

I usually go to somewhere that has a good interactive display, then find one and buy it off t'internet.

 

To be honest, you can't go far wrong with Alpine or Pioneer for what you're after. The only time it gets a bit difficult is if you want ipod/usb connectivity as it seems to be the in thing to put the port on the front, which is a bit awkward.

 

Why is it awkward?

My present one has a front input for a 3.5mm jack to play music through it from the phone/ipod etc, but you can't control it via the headunit, only the player.

 

Unless you get one of those micro USB sticks it becomes a very easily caught protrusion from the dash - plus if you're plugging in a portable HDD it's nice to be able to tuck the wires away behind the HU.

If you're not massively fussed about sound quality (and by that I mean to audiophile levels) and gimmicks like bluetooth/ipod/DAB and so on then you'll not go far wrong with any of the big brand names entry level units. They're all much the same these days until you reach the upper price brackets and even then it's more about features than sound quality.

 

Pretty much this. Having the ipod/usb port on the back means you can tuck it away in the centre console so the installation looks much neater.

 

Ok, I can understand that....but then how do you get at it?

My eldest bought a USB socket from Maplin and installed it on his centre console in front of the arm rest. Do you mean like that? He had to solder etc though.

Mine was for using music stored on a micro SD card on the phone.

 

As a low-effort solution you can run the USB cable from the back of the HU and then use some strong velcro to stick the HDD somewhere hidden but out of the way under the dash. Easy to get to when you need it, forgotten about when you don't.

 

Or run the cable into the glovebox/ash tray slot.

 

Found one I like: http://www.halfords.com/technology/c...-and-bluetooth

Or this: http://www.halfords.com/technology/c...-and-bluetooth

Just need to look for decent prices now.


And maybe actually find out what "Bluetooth" is, and if I need it/can make use of it? LOL

 

above has 3x2volt no processor etc
should be no lesst than 4v
200 quid could cost You pioneer psr80
than You could set it active, sd card slot, plus streaming via bluetooth, ipod control etc
no DAB

 

Fawor helpful being, contribution positive first SNet to, up fella it keep.

 

LOL, very helpful.......now I have to ask my lads what the HELL it all means.

:l ol1:

 

How much money do you want to spend? Are you just going to run the standard speakers off the HU? Are you planning to install any amps?

All HU's will have USB connectivity. I route mine from the back of the HU and have cut a small hole in the back of the ash tray. Lead goes through there and USB stick sits in the ashtray. Bluetooth is a way of wirelessly streaming music from your phone to your HU. For this to work, you need both a phone and HU that are Bluetooth enabled.

I have an Alpine HU from a few years back that has only a very minimal amounts oof use. Maybe suitable for you and will be a lot better than buying something new for the equivalent price.

 

Thanks for the explanation of Bluetooth. How would I know if my phone does it? It has NFC...if that's any good? Present phone is going anyway, it's rubbish.

Budget is £100-£130 or so, which will just about get me the Sony MEX-N6001DB, although I THINK I'd have to buy a DAB aeriel?

I already have four decent Sony 3-way speakers, rated at 100W, with nice sound, plus an Alpine powered underseat Sub.

What's your Alpine, what sort of condition and what are you looking for?

I'd be wary of an older model though as mine has just stopped working, it switches off all the time...NOT the power supply, the unit stays live, but switches itself off.

 

http://www.alpine.co.uk/p/Products/c...ts19/cde-9880r

I bought it about Jan '13. It's literally been installed for about 3 months when I first had it in my M3. Then I sold the car and it's been back in it's box ever since.

I wanted something without all the bling displays that would look more OEM in my BMW.

 

How much would you be looking for?

I'm unsure if it will work with a non i-Pod MP3 player, a not-very-expensive phone, or play MP3 coded CD's?

The biggest thing for me would be the loss of my steering column mounted Sony RMX-4S remote commander, which all Sonys seem to work from, even the new ones.
http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/rm-x4s A brilliant piece of kit I'd be sorry to lose.