Cd player - good idea?
Discussion
Four days to go now. I've sorted the Insurance and got several options to restore the wood trim so next is a CD player to replace the standard S3 stereo.
Is fitting one a good idea in a convertable, security wise? I know I'll want to hear the exhaust note lots of the time, but sometimes music is a requirement! I'll get a face off model and always take the face with me. The owner before the current one has already fitted new speakers both at the front and back.
I'm debating between a cheap Kenwood CD/MP3 player (KDC-M4524) or the new Pioneer Cd/MP3 player for £100 more. The Pioneer is in brushed metal though and has little in the way of flashing lights so will suit the style of the car better.
I've never asked quite so many questions about a car before. This TVR ownership lark is addictive - and I haven't even collected the car yet
Is fitting one a good idea in a convertable, security wise? I know I'll want to hear the exhaust note lots of the time, but sometimes music is a requirement! I'll get a face off model and always take the face with me. The owner before the current one has already fitted new speakers both at the front and back.
I'm debating between a cheap Kenwood CD/MP3 player (KDC-M4524) or the new Pioneer Cd/MP3 player for £100 more. The Pioneer is in brushed metal though and has little in the way of flashing lights so will suit the style of the car better.
I've never asked quite so many questions about a car before. This TVR ownership lark is addictive - and I haven't even collected the car yet
IMHO Alpine head units tend to be the best. Sound reproduction is always slightly better than most of the competition, but for the money tend to have less gizmos. Try a specialist ICE shop as they will probably me able to give you a demo and some advice.
Suggest that you put the car in for a good service first (uless it's just had one) to make sure nothing more important needs doing ahead of the stereo.
Enjoy smiling. (It comes with the new purchase)
Suggest that you put the car in for a good service first (uless it's just had one) to make sure nothing more important needs doing ahead of the stereo.
Enjoy smiling. (It comes with the new purchase)
Only have a cheap face-off myself. It plays music ok, sound quality in an S is irrelevant, so don't go top of the range. MP3 ability is a must unless you really want to attempt a CD change on the move. Oddly enough, of the two, I would go for the Pioneer. It is suited to the car, but importantly, not as attractive to the scrotes of this world. Good ICE theives will remove a stereo without much damage and will be attracted to the high price models. A scrote will trash a car to steal some pretty flashing lights that he can sell to his mates.
Andy
Andy
Good advice, also I would add a amplifier and rear speakers, that way you will be able to hear it with the roof down without having to have turn the volume on the head unit up to "11"
andyf007 said: Only have a cheap face-off myself. It plays music ok, sound quality in an S is irrelevant, so don't go top of the range. MP3 ability is a must unless you really want to attempt a CD change on the move. Oddly enough, of the two, I would go for the Pioneer. It is suited to the car, but importantly, not as attractive to the scrotes... etc.
Rich...I've got a Pioneer radio/cassette head unit and 6 disc changer which seems to work fine. I think the radio/cassette probably looks less attractive to thieves that a radio/CD when the front's off, and the CD changer means to don't have to carry a glovebox full of CDs and try and change them on the move.
Mind you, I do have to avoid cats eyes when I'm listening to a CD.
Mind you, I do have to avoid cats eyes when I'm listening to a CD.
I've got a Pioneer MD....
with 40 secs of memory, MD's NEVER skip... even in the S! Downside is you need an MD recorder.
Pioneer is boring to look at, robust, easy to use, and has CD changer capability. Face off is a bonus, not hugely desireable to theives (don't seem to like MD!) and Pioneer have a "front image enhancer" which helps balance out the sound, as the front speakers are so low down...
with 40 secs of memory, MD's NEVER skip... even in the S! Downside is you need an MD recorder.
Pioneer is boring to look at, robust, easy to use, and has CD changer capability. Face off is a bonus, not hugely desireable to theives (don't seem to like MD!) and Pioneer have a "front image enhancer" which helps balance out the sound, as the front speakers are so low down...
I've just fitted a JVC CD-tuner in mine.. was in Halfords for £179 reduced from £300... and it's aluminium so it matches the chrome!!
I keep all of my tunes on the Apple iPod, and just plug that into the jack socket on the front of the JVC. No CD's, no MD's just a sexy chrome box the size of a fag packet...
Only running door speakers at the moment.. couple of Infinity's, but sound's so much better than before!
I want to put some larger ones behind the parcel shelf, but LeeBee mentioned that it might affect the structural strength of the car... any thoughts?
I keep all of my tunes on the Apple iPod, and just plug that into the jack socket on the front of the JVC. No CD's, no MD's just a sexy chrome box the size of a fag packet...
Only running door speakers at the moment.. couple of Infinity's, but sound's so much better than before!
I want to put some larger ones behind the parcel shelf, but LeeBee mentioned that it might affect the structural strength of the car... any thoughts?
jonk said: I keep all of my tunes on the Apple iPod, and just plug that into the jack socket on the front of the JVC. No CD's, no MD's just a sexy chrome box the size of a fag packet...
Ah, now you are speaking my language - I'm a fellow iPod owner
Fantastic device that's actually had thought put into its design. Will go great with the Tiv. Apple products, the TVR of the Computer world???
Well as TVR's (even S Types) have a great big chassis with the body simply bolted on I can't see that but who am I to argue! Rich...
jonk said: I want to put some larger ones behind the parcel shelf, but LeeBee mentioned that it might affect the structural strength of the car... any thoughts?
craigy said:
Excellent Podie, I've been wondering what the hell FIE meant on my Pioneer system.
I had to look it up! If you've got rear speakers, then they tend to overpower the front ones... so by setting the FIE to the lowest option (that isn't off) it seems to balance out the sound a lot better... IMHO
Lurch said:
jonk said:
Only running door speakers at the moment.. couple of Infinity's, but sound's so much better than before!
Any probs fitting them in the doors? Also what size are the originals, does'nt seem to say in my 'bible' or manual.
Cheers
Ditto. Also which Infinity Speakers ? The current speakers in the S are pants - I'd love to replace them - any other recommendations (given the shallow depth of door) ?
WG
I have a Sony CD player in the S2 but it seems to constantly suffer from dirty heads and/or jumping the cds all over the place (lovely smooth kent roads - not!
) I think dirt gets up through the transmission tunnel too as the gearstick leather gaiter (cream) gets continually sooty, so presuming that gets in the player?
I'd recommend a minidisc player, got one in another car and they dont jump no matter how hard the bump, plus you can fit hundreds of the little discs in your glovebox !
) I think dirt gets up through the transmission tunnel too as the gearstick leather gaiter (cream) gets continually sooty, so presuming that gets in the player? I'd recommend a minidisc player, got one in another car and they dont jump no matter how hard the bump, plus you can fit hundreds of the little discs in your glovebox !
Probably the best thing you can do is to build spacers (assuming you dont want to cut the door!)... This can be done out of MDF and coloured (a car audio fitter will do this for you if you dont want to do it - they are usually about £30 a pair custom made).
Does someone have a piccy of the door trim around the area of the speaker? It would help as I haven't bought my S yet!
As for the size, you can get some amazing 13s these days, as always depends how much you want to spend?
If you are up for a bit of a project, 2 way components would give you the best sound raising the treble above your legs when the tweeter is mounted high on the door or dash. In-line crossover versions will simplify this for you although seperate crossover boxes may be easier to place securly in the car.
An amp is a good idea if you dont want to push the speakers with the head unit, this should avoid distortion and make the sound less 'harsh'. Also when running small speakers never underestimate the power of a sub woofer. This doesnt have to be 'pukka' wafting bass, it can just fill out the sound and give you some punch. Pioneer make some great little powered linear phase subs.
Anyway, I'm going on a bit here.
Hope some of it is useful!?
AntonyB
Does someone have a piccy of the door trim around the area of the speaker? It would help as I haven't bought my S yet!
As for the size, you can get some amazing 13s these days, as always depends how much you want to spend?
If you are up for a bit of a project, 2 way components would give you the best sound raising the treble above your legs when the tweeter is mounted high on the door or dash. In-line crossover versions will simplify this for you although seperate crossover boxes may be easier to place securly in the car.
An amp is a good idea if you dont want to push the speakers with the head unit, this should avoid distortion and make the sound less 'harsh'. Also when running small speakers never underestimate the power of a sub woofer. This doesnt have to be 'pukka' wafting bass, it can just fill out the sound and give you some punch. Pioneer make some great little powered linear phase subs.
Anyway, I'm going on a bit here.
Hope some of it is useful!? AntonyB
RichardR said:Why? if they are that determined to get into the boot they'll likely use a bloody great crow-bar! Rich...
I want to put some larger ones behind the parcel shelf, but LeeBee mentioned that it might affect the structural strength of the car... any thoughts?
I'll check the model of the Infinitys when I get home, but I'm pretty sure they're 8" drivers in the doors (were Kenwoods originally.) The nice thing about the Infinitys is that the cones go right to the rim of the speaker, so you're getting a bigger driver (or so the bloke in Halfords told me!)
I literally just took it into Halfords, and said to the bloke "what's good and would fit in there.." and (shock horror) he was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful.
I literally just took it into Halfords, and said to the bloke "what's good and would fit in there.." and (shock horror) he was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful.
page3 said:
Ah, now you are speaking my language - I'm a fellow iPod owner
Apple products, the TVR of the Computer world???
Apples are much more reliable than TVRs, but lets hope my TVR crashes less than my Mac!
>> Edited by jonk on Thursday 19th June 12:27
>> Edited by jonk on Thursday 19th June 12:28
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