mp3 player

[cic450]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking to buy an mp3 player for my 98 Chim. Do i need to buy one with any special connections or are they just plug and play.
I'm probably going to look for one whilst abroad, would there be any problems with the electrics/connections?

Cheers,

cic

Think i just managed to put a pic in my profile, even if it is just the sales one!

>>> Edited by cic450 on Saturday 17th July 11:09

[Big Al.]

Yep, pictures works fine.

How much were you thinking of spending on the MP3 player?

[dave_p]

When I bought my Chim it had a Pioneer radio cassette..upgraded it to Pioneer DEH P77MP head unit plugged straight in no problems - maybe becuase I kept with the same mnaucturer, also fitted a Pioneer disc changer in the boot and an amp. Was very easy getting the wires to the boot for the amp and changer.

[Kwacker]

I am going down the portable MP3 route.

Get a good portable and just plug it in when you get in. A friend of mine replaced his multi cd with a portable MP3. All he had to do was get an adaptor to fit the Multi cd connector. You can also use one of those cassette adaptors if you have a cassette player. I have ordered a Creative Zen extra 60gb from ebuyer.co.uk for £225 and just can't wait!

Kwacker

[sgrimshaw]

You could also try something like the Belkin Tunecast II - search ebay.

This is a device that plugs into the headphone jack of an mp3 player (or cd, minidisc, pda etc) and then transmits on FM.

You just tune the radio into it.

My neighbour has one, and it works great.

Just about to order one for use with an Archos AV320.

Simon

[cic450]

Big Al. said:

Yep, pictures works fine. How much were you thinking of spending on the MP3 player?

Probably looking to spend around £300. I'm in Dubai at the moment and have seen a JVC MP3 player for £80, and a Kenwood for £100! If they are all this cheap i think i'll try for a nice Pioneer.

[plotloss]

iPod & iTrip...

[Gavstar]

plotloss said:

iPod & iTrip...

I've heard very mixed reviews of the iTrip though - most say that sound quality is poor and reception weak and a pain to keep changing, especially around London where there are lots of pirate stations.
Can anyone vouch for this or claim to the contrary?

[plotloss]

Yeah thats its only downfall really, in and around London its tricky to find a free frequency.

As for the quality complaints, I dont have any mostly because its only used in the car and I dont have a proper SQ level car stereo so any loss in quality is more than hidden by crap speakers...

[chimhunter]

I've got an Alpine unit in mine. Plays MP3s of CD. If you've already got a decent head unit then it might be worth while getting an MP3 compatible CD changer instead. That way you keep the head unit, get 6 CDs of music, or up to 60 hours of MP3s. The Alpine one is around £120 IIRC.

FWIW, mine wasn't a simple plug and play. I needed to do a little wiring to convert the standard socket to the connections that the Alpine unit was expecting. Nothing major and a nice sense of achievement when done.

Rob

[Gavstar]

Mine came with an Alpine single CD head unit but I have an iPod. I don't really want to put a Changer in the boot - partly for space and also cos I am now getting used to being able to choose from 40GB of tunes whenever I want!
I think Alpine are bringing out iPod compatible head units, which, with another piece of kit will allow you to control the iPod from the head unit itself, which will be perfect. I'm not sure where the other piece of kit would fit in the Chim though.....

[Nick_Chim]

I wanted a more 'elegant' solution than the cassette adaptor - I got the CD-RB20 splitter box for the standard Pioneer head unit; there is just enough space behind the stereo for it and I now have a flying lead for my IRiver inputting on 'Aux'

See:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nickkay/TVR/zen/index.htm#MP3

Having said that - the car usually provides its own soundtrack......

[parrot of doom]

God it must have been a right pain in the arse when all those green labels fell out!

[Nick_Chim]

parrot of doom said:

God it must have been a right pain in the arse when all those green labels fell out!

Actually, it was more tricky getting them all back in!

....you try to be helpful.....

[snorky]

Just bought a Sony CDX5550 which plays MP3s - great sound quality and £125 off the T'interweb....plugged straight into TVR wiring....just need better speakers now...

[hugepiece]

If you buy a Kenwood headunit you can get two types of connectors, one is just a cd-changer to phono lead so you can plug your ipod etc in. The second type is ipod only and actually allows you to fully control the unit from the headunits cd changer controls, its about 70 quid.

[the elk]

If you want to spend around £300 I can recommend the Pioneer DEH-P8600MP: [url]www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3079&cadid=200246b443200481b227a3e05865e162[/url]

I have one in mine with [url]www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=4158&cadid=200246b443200481b227a3e05865e162[/url] Kenwood KFC-PS1700 speakers. Sounds fantastic - even with the roof down!

[snorky]

Like the look of those speakers....do they fit OK in a Chim and do they have a grille of some kind to protect the cone ???

[the elk]

They do have grill covers & are a bit tight, but fit in perfectly. They're also super light, some new kenwood design (), but like I say, the sound is grrrrreat!

[Corin Denton]

I went for the Alpine head unit with an Ipod docking station - works fantastic.