Advice Sought - Which Car Stereo?
Discussion
I want to buy a car stereo and would like some advice on which brand and type I should buy.
I don't want to spend much over £250.
I want one which will suit the cabin of the Corrado, so no blue neon, flashing displays please. I want a fairly simple design, with not too many buttons.
I have been recommended, by London Car Radio, Alpine, Pioneer and Sony. In terms of design, I liked the Alpine and Sony, but thought the Pioneer a bit dated. I want something that will transmit a sound that is close to the original recording, ie nothing with too much bass. I have been led to believe that the Alpine stereo I was recommended would compensate for any sound lost in the top and bottom range of a track (from MP3 files).
At the moment I am considering the MP3 compatible and single CD player option.
I was considering a six CD changer. At the moment I can get all my photography kit in the boot quite comfortably. The addition of a CD changer could compromise this and I would hate to damage the changer by ramming a large, heavy bag against it.
I would like to know what people's experience is of the MP3 compatible stereo and those brands that I have mentioned, or indeed one that you have found to represent excellent quality and value for money.
>>> Edited by EmmaP on Tuesday 22 February 13:29
I don't want to spend much over £250.
I want one which will suit the cabin of the Corrado, so no blue neon, flashing displays please. I want a fairly simple design, with not too many buttons.
I have been recommended, by London Car Radio, Alpine, Pioneer and Sony. In terms of design, I liked the Alpine and Sony, but thought the Pioneer a bit dated. I want something that will transmit a sound that is close to the original recording, ie nothing with too much bass. I have been led to believe that the Alpine stereo I was recommended would compensate for any sound lost in the top and bottom range of a track (from MP3 files).
At the moment I am considering the MP3 compatible and single CD player option.
I was considering a six CD changer. At the moment I can get all my photography kit in the boot quite comfortably. The addition of a CD changer could compromise this and I would hate to damage the changer by ramming a large, heavy bag against it.
I would like to know what people's experience is of the MP3 compatible stereo and those brands that I have mentioned, or indeed one that you have found to represent excellent quality and value for money.
>>> Edited by EmmaP on Tuesday 22 February 13:29
Couldn't fault my Alpine, MP3 with ipod remote control attachment, perfect.
In fact so good some B
d stole it 
I will be replacing it with the same setup though, Alpine was way ahead in sound quality, setup above would be pushing the price a little I reckon, i paid $300US but it might be more in UK
In fact so good some B
d stole it I will be replacing it with the same setup though, Alpine was way ahead in sound quality, setup above would be pushing the price a little I reckon, i paid $300US but it might be more in UK
)If you want decent sound you'll need decent speakers and possibly a small amp. Don't think that amps are just for the max power crowd, the problem is getting enough stuff in the head unit, quality is always compromised
If you're limited to £250 I'd spend £100 on speakers £120 on the head unit and the rest on cabling
If you're going to spend £250 on a head unit you won't get the best out it without spending £150 on speakers and possibly another £50 on an amp
All IMHO
If you're limited to £250 I'd spend £100 on speakers £120 on the head unit and the rest on cabling
If you're going to spend £250 on a head unit you won't get the best out it without spending £150 on speakers and possibly another £50 on an amp
All IMHO
If you're looking for a classy looking head unit without the tacky flashing lights/animations of dolphins/other such tat that abounds these days, then the Pioneer DEH-77MP is a prince among head units:
I've had mine for about 6 months, and I'm highly impressed with it. Sounds quality is excellent, and it also plays mp3's. I paid about £200 for mine and fitted it myself (which literally took about 10 mins!).
Edited to add: Incorrigable is right about the speakers though. Most cars (certainly my MX-5) come with crappy paper coned efforts as standard and upgrading these makes an enormous difference. I upgraded mine a few years back and spent about £150, but you can certainly get a decent pair for about £70-80.
>> Edited by thegreatsoprendo on Tuesday 22 February 14:07
I've had mine for about 6 months, and I'm highly impressed with it. Sounds quality is excellent, and it also plays mp3's. I paid about £200 for mine and fitted it myself (which literally took about 10 mins!).
Edited to add: Incorrigable is right about the speakers though. Most cars (certainly my MX-5) come with crappy paper coned efforts as standard and upgrading these makes an enormous difference. I upgraded mine a few years back and spent about £150, but you can certainly get a decent pair for about £70-80.
>> Edited by thegreatsoprendo on Tuesday 22 February 14:07
thegreatsoprendo said:
If you're looking for a classy looking head unit without the tacky flashing lights/animations of dolphins/other such tat that abounds these days, then the Pioneer DEH-77MP is a prince among head units:
I've had mine for about 6 months, and I'm highly impressed with it. Sounds quality is excellent, and it also plays mp3's. I paid about £200 for mine and fitted it myself (which literally took about 10 mins!).
Edited to add: Incorrigable is right about the speakers though. Most cars (certainly my MX-5) come with crappy paper coned efforts as standard and upgrading these makes an enormous difference. I upgraded mine a few years back and spent about £150, but you can certainly get a decent pair for about £70-80.
>> Edited by thegreatsoprendo on Tuesday 22 February 14:07
I had one of them put in the Tiv. Nice quality for the price, ability to play MP3s from CD-Rs is cool but I hung my iPod off a fly-lead connected to the aux inputs.
Been a Pioneer fan myself ever since I acquired a £1000 KEX-900 head unit and put it in my Skoda 
My bro still has it, along with the separate tuner, amps, changer etc. Must be nearly 20 years old and still superb (the hifi, not the brother
)
When I was in car security we also did audio installs; to this day the best system I ever heard was also a Pioneer. I realise that this was all high-end stuff and their mundane gear is probably as dire as everyone elses.... make choice, pay up, live with it. That's all you can do.
My bro still has it, along with the separate tuner, amps, changer etc. Must be nearly 20 years old and still superb (the hifi, not the brother
) When I was in car security we also did audio installs; to this day the best system I ever heard was also a Pioneer. I realise that this was all high-end stuff and their mundane gear is probably as dire as everyone elses.... make choice, pay up, live with it. That's all you can do.
You can always upgrade them later
But if you aren't going to I wouldn't bother spending that much money on a head unit
Unless you specifically want a feature it has that you can't get on a cheaper one of course. It's a bit like buying a £400 DVD and watching movies on a 12" portable
The other thing is, the more expensive ones are more attractive to tea leaves
The sound quality is pretty good in the £150 price range, have a listen
But if you aren't going to I wouldn't bother spending that much money on a head unit
Unless you specifically want a feature it has that you can't get on a cheaper one of course. It's a bit like buying a £400 DVD and watching movies on a 12" portable
The other thing is, the more expensive ones are more attractive to tea leaves
The sound quality is pretty good in the £150 price range, have a listen
I appreciate very much that the speakers will make all the difference in the world. I don't want anything too expensive as NG2 has the highest crime rate in Nottingham, so big F off speakers would be a red rag to a bull.
Maybe I should just spend the money on a new pair of shoes and enjoy the lovely engine sound instead.
Maybe I should just spend the money on a new pair of shoes and enjoy the lovely engine sound instead.
Head units are more important than speakers. There's no point in having amazing speakers being driven by a crap sound source. Get a decent head unit and use the OEM speakers. Listen to it and decide if you need to buy speakers as well. You'll be supprised how much better it'll sound with the new head unit 
Another vote for Alpine here, I've put Alpine heads in my last two cars. I don't know London Car Radio, but the place on castle boulevard is quite good (noticed your in nottingham), I got a head unit for my girlfriends golf from there and the bloke popped the old one out for me for free. He also rescued me when I wedged the wrong fork into my old stereo on my own car. 
Another vote for new speakers too from me.
You can save lots of money by buying online and fitting it yourself as well, changing the head unit is a matter of getting the right forks to remove the old one (few £) and maybe a wiring harness (<£15). Speakers means usually popping the door card off and snipping and soldering (or tapeing if your lazy) a few wires. I've used www.incarexpress.co.uk in the past who seem to be as cheap as anybody.
Another vote for new speakers too from me.
You can save lots of money by buying online and fitting it yourself as well, changing the head unit is a matter of getting the right forks to remove the old one (few £) and maybe a wiring harness (<£15). Speakers means usually popping the door card off and snipping and soldering (or tapeing if your lazy) a few wires. I've used www.incarexpress.co.uk in the past who seem to be as cheap as anybody.
EmmaP said:
I appreciate very much that the speakers will make all the difference in the world. I don't want anything too expensive as NG2 has the highest crime rate in Nottingham, so big F off speakers would be a red rag to a bull.
Not necessarily. I don't know about anyone else, but I was talking about upgrading the OEM speakers with like for like replacements, size-wise, rather than putting some hoofing great things on the parcel shelf.
My '5 just has 2 speakers in the doors, which I have upgraded, the only way anyone could tell visually that they've been upgraded would be by removing the entire door trim! Subtle, but highly effective!
thegreatsoprendo said:
I appreciate very much that the speakers will make all the difference in the world. I don't want anything too expensive as NG2 has the highest crime rate in Nottingham, so big F off speakers would be a red rag to a bull.
Not necessarily. I don't know about anyone else, but I was talking about upgrading the OEM speakers with like for like replacements, size-wise, rather than putting some hoofing great things on the parcel shelf.
My '5 just has 2 speakers in the doors, which I have upgraded, the only way anyone could tell visually that they've been upgraded would be by removing the entire door trim! Subtle, but highly effective!
Yes I've done the same thing in my car, no way to tell the speakers are far better than the oem ones as the are hidden behind the standard grills.
Sorry for the thread hijack but thegreatsoprendo, I am about to change the head on a mk1 mx5 and it looks a total nightmare, do you really have to take the dash apart?
dieseljohn said:
Another vote for Alpine here, I've put Alpine heads in my last two cars. I don't know London Car Radio, but the place on castle boulevard is quite good (noticed your in nottingham), I got a head unit for my girlfriends golf from there and the bloke popped the old one out for me for free.
Got the name wrong! It is the same place that you went to: Car Electronics Ltd. The chap there seems really sound (bit of a petrol head too!) and he owns the only BMW that has turned my head, an '82 shark nose BMW (not sure of model).
I have made my mind up now. Alpine it is. The 9847 model. This has a single rotary control which will work off an Ipod too. It has an MP3, CD and three pre-amps. It has a removable fascia too. It matches my interior dials quite well too. I will, no doubt, upgrade the speakers later in the year.
Thanks for all the advice given. It is very much appreciated.
>> Edited by EmmaP on Tuesday 22 February 15:11
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