Hodge

I'm about to take delivery of an Empeg but the radio module isn't available yet. Since I have a double height unit at the moment and will hence have a standard height bay 'spare' I was thinking of maybe putting in a cheap CD/radio unit as line in to be the radio. These units appear to start from about a 100quid - any recommendations (with preferably a greenish display)?
DAB is still a be pricey so I don't fancy that yet.

Mr.Cookie

Hodge
Just a thought but will you not need one with an aux in or does Empeg have this.

Simon

chiark

Mr Cookie: yep, the EMPEG does indeed have an aux input that allows you to keep your existing radio as long as it has RCA outputs.

Hodge: Lucky swine! I'm number 11-odd thousand, but the price is too much... Anyhow, Pioneer and Alpine always have nice tuners in my experience. I run a high-ish end Kenwood unit and it isn't bad but isn't the best for tuner.

Bear in mind that if you get something with a high output voltage you'll need to order your empeg to be configured with the higher level inputs on the aux circuit. If you're going to spend 100-250 quid you'll probably end up with a 1.5v unit, more money than that and it may be a 2 to 4V output unit...

Incidentally, have you seen the PhatBox? (http://www.phatnoise.com)?

rjc

I've just bought a Kenwood KDC-4080 for £143 and it's great. 4 x 35W is enough power and the tuner and CD sound very good for the money. Selectable green/red display and very easy to use on the move. Full RDS lots of features.

My auto store price matched the best price I could find on the Internet which happened to be at

Hodge

Thanks for the info.
I think I will go with a cheapie CD/Tuner. I looked at both the Pioneer and Alpine units as was suggested. On a purely personal sytling prefernence I would lean towards the Pioneers, nothing to do with them being cheaper

I looked at the 'phat' and it certainly looks like a cool idea/solution. Maybe I can get one of them too when I fill the Empeg and feel the need for more space. Hmm yeah, I could hang that off the CD/Tuner..

I just got to work out now which CD/Tuner and which Amp and what speakers...

harryh

Excuse me for being dim and/or uninformed but whats an Empeg? Is it a trade name for an mpeg3 player? If it is do they have a website I could have a nosey at? On the CD-receiver front I bought a Sony CDX-M700R last week and it is fantastic, sounds great and looks the absolute db's with the active black panel front and motorized face-plate and I've just heard that my Scooby have arrived in Holland, only a few weeks to go for the paperwork and she's all mine, can't wait as I ordered it in April, it's been a long wait

chiark

HarryH: see <A HREF=http://www.empeg.com>Empeg</A> for what Hodge is talking about...

Another option is from Rockford Fosgate, and one that looks really interesting and potentially a lot cheaper than empeg is the Phat Box from <A HREF=http://www.phatnoise.com>Phat Noise</A>.

Hodge

I may just go for a Kenwood CD/Receiver (model to be decided) as the Empeg uses a Kenwood credit card remote control.

chiark

Just a thought, but if you use a Kenwood remote control for EMPEG, won't that also change the settings on a Kenwood head unit at the same time? Is that desireable?

Hodge

What the Kenwood does won't matter if the Empeg isn't using the line in but take your point.
I'll have to play with it in the shop - see how confused I can get myself.

Hodge

The Empeg lists 1v as the line in voltage.
On the face of it this makes compatability with head units very limiting.
I spoke to Empeg and discovered that 1v is very conservative and it will work OK with a standard 2.2v feed - remembering that 2.2v will be the max output from the head-unit.

harryh

Are you sure they're not just trying to sell you a second empeg after you zap the first one with a MASSIVE 2.2V

Hodge

Considering their waiting list is very long I don't think extra sales is a problem at the moment. Besides I got it in writing so it would be a warranty claim anyway.

Mr.Cookie

Hodge in my opion i would get written confirmation from Empeg that it will work with the head unit you want, i have an alpine class A 3558 amp and used to have an alpine 7939 head unit but amp didnt like feed one little bit, now have a pioneer DEX-P88R although 4v, has some form of autolevel or something.

Simon