Replacement radio/CD player
Discussion
I've just been trawling through the archives of this forum looking for information on Elise stereos and now I'm even more confused!
My S2 111S's Blaukpunkt stereo is broken - has been for about a year now. It's driving me crackers and it's about time that I replaced it. Does anyone have any recommendations for what to replace it with? I've heard that the BP DAB54, or its replacement, has an SD card facility for playing MP3s, which sounds great - what does that work like? Of primary interest to me is something simple that's easy to operate when stretching across the car whilst driving! My current Blaupunkt stereo requires you to hold down buttons and scroll through menus, which is too dangerous when you're driving really. Also, can I fit a digital radio without messing about with an additional aerial?
I'd also be interested in recommendations of places to order a stereo from.
thanks
My S2 111S's Blaukpunkt stereo is broken - has been for about a year now. It's driving me crackers and it's about time that I replaced it. Does anyone have any recommendations for what to replace it with? I've heard that the BP DAB54, or its replacement, has an SD card facility for playing MP3s, which sounds great - what does that work like? Of primary interest to me is something simple that's easy to operate when stretching across the car whilst driving! My current Blaupunkt stereo requires you to hold down buttons and scroll through menus, which is too dangerous when you're driving really. Also, can I fit a digital radio without messing about with an additional aerial?
I'd also be interested in recommendations of places to order a stereo from.
thanks
I got one of these puppies for in-dash sat nav too.... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
not DAB but to be honest i don't care as rarely use that. got an ipod connector hooked in at the same time & that's the main use.
you can also watch dvd's when you're bored too
not DAB but to be honest i don't care as rarely use that. got an ipod connector hooked in at the same time & that's the main use.
you can also watch dvd's when you're bored too
cheekymonkey said:
I got one of these puppies for in-dash sat nav too.... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
not DAB but to be honest i don't care as rarely use that. got an ipod connector hooked in at the same time & that's the main use.
you can also watch dvd's when you're bored too
not DAB but to be honest i don't care as rarely use that. got an ipod connector hooked in at the same time & that's the main use.
you can also watch dvd's when you're bored too
looks great! I think it might be a wee bit expensive for what I need though! Mine's also an everyday car, and I'd worry about theft leaving it places.It depends what you want really,if it is something basic this is what Lotus is fitting at the moment and with the optional lead that costs about £15.00 you can also connect your Ipod. I have had 2 Elise's with the DAB radio and they were c!ap. Couldn't get reception anywhere so personally I wouldn't bother.
http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_product.php?par...
http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_product.php?par...
zasker said:
It depends what you want really,if it is something basic this is what Lotus is fitting at the moment and with the optional lead that costs about £15.00 you can also connect your Ipod. I have had 2 Elise's with the DAB radio and they were c!ap. Couldn't get reception anywhere so personally I wouldn't bother.
http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_product.php?par...
Thanks. That looks nice and simple. I should add that I can afford to pay a bit more to get a nice stereo if you can better that Alpine one for sound quality without replacing speakers etc. I'm planning on keeping the car forever, so I view it as a worthwhile investment.http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_product.php?par...
cheekymonkey said:
I got one of these puppies for in-dash sat nav too.... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
not DAB but to be honest i don't care as rarely use that. got an ipod connector hooked in at the same time & that's the main use.
you can also watch dvd's when you're bored too
ooh thats what i wanted - i thought that it wouldnt extend far enough to get past the overhang of the dash? did you have any problems with it/does it sit flush?not DAB but to be honest i don't care as rarely use that. got an ipod connector hooked in at the same time & that's the main use.
you can also watch dvd's when you're bored too
yeah it does stick out a bit but as it was fitted professionally it has a nice bit of trim round it to bring it out from the dash so that the screen folds back fine
it's a really great system & to be honest I've probably only used about 50% of it's functionality so far.
also has bolt on rear camera which can be handy on exige's or similar!
it's a really great system & to be honest I've probably only used about 50% of it's functionality so far.
also has bolt on rear camera which can be handy on exige's or similar!
greysquirrel said:
cheekymonkey said:
I got one of these puppies for in-dash sat nav too.... http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
not DAB but to be honest i don't care as rarely use that. got an ipod connector hooked in at the same time & that's the main use.
you can also watch dvd's when you're bored too
ooh thats what i wanted - i thought that it wouldnt extend far enough to get past the overhang of the dash? did you have any problems with it/does it sit flush?not DAB but to be honest i don't care as rarely use that. got an ipod connector hooked in at the same time & that's the main use.
you can also watch dvd's when you're bored too
TonyHetherington said:
Can you see the screen ok from the driver's seat? I'd imagine it woul dbe a bit too far over to be comfortable to view?
And there's no mode on it to swivel the screen upside down so your girlfriend can read it either! 
Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 27th November 16:30
it's absolutely fine as the elise is so small it's not too far away!
it does get a bit effected by bright sunlight with the roof off so at times you have to rely on the audio directions for sat nav
i just love that it's one less device floating around the cabin or stuck on the windscreen!
oh it's also got built in bluetooth connection for mobile phones too which is really handy (again one less device), it can sync your phonebook with it etc too... seriously it does so much stuff!
people can even hear me ok & i've got a larini box on the back
it does get a bit effected by bright sunlight with the roof off so at times you have to rely on the audio directions for sat nav
i just love that it's one less device floating around the cabin or stuck on the windscreen!
oh it's also got built in bluetooth connection for mobile phones too which is really handy (again one less device), it can sync your phonebook with it etc too... seriously it does so much stuff!
people can even hear me ok & i've got a larini box on the back
TonyHetherington said:
Can you see the screen ok from the driver's seat? I'd imagine it woul dbe a bit too far over to be comfortable to view?
too true! I think that's the only thing is doesn't do!Just to steer things back on topic for a second, does anyone have any better recommendations than that Alpine? I want something decent with good sound quality to play my CDs in the car - not too bothered about radio and I don't want to go to any trouble changing the speakers or adding sub woofers etc.
You don't need to go mad to get a head unit that'll be good enough for the Elise. Internet is best place (try Car Audio Direct); much cheaper normally than the likes of Halfords.
I paid about £150 for a Pioneer CD/Radio unit about 18 months ago and it sound just fine. Its happy playing MP3 or WMA discs so I just rip CDs to cheap banks and use them. It also has an ipod connection. .
Rob, you really need to improve the speakers to get decent sound out of the Elise. Its very do-able and not a difficult job. Wioth my set up I can turn the music up too loud even at common-law Mway speeds with roof off or on (and I've a basic S1 with a C/R box (90mph = 4,500)).
I paid about £150 for a Pioneer CD/Radio unit about 18 months ago and it sound just fine. Its happy playing MP3 or WMA discs so I just rip CDs to cheap banks and use them. It also has an ipod connection. .
Rob, you really need to improve the speakers to get decent sound out of the Elise. Its very do-able and not a difficult job. Wioth my set up I can turn the music up too loud even at common-law Mway speeds with roof off or on (and I've a basic S1 with a C/R box (90mph = 4,500)).
LivinLaVidaLotus said:
Pioneer would be my recommendation - even sounds good with the crappy blaupunkt speakers in mine.
Would a Pioneer be better than the Alpine on the link above? I know very little about car audio!I might as well ask - what speakers would I look for for my 04 spec S2 111S? Are they easy to change?
got me a jvc dvd unit, because you can put 1000 tracks on a dvd rather than messing with an i-pod, no flappy screen just a 3" lcd that can adjust 4 different ways and is easily removable, all the toys and inputs, how does 300 grab you, now reduced to 260? .... bloody steal love mine to bits and you can watch filth from the drivers side.
if you want more info email me and ill give you the particulars where i got mine etc (ill also take some pics if you ask nicely)
if you want more info email me and ill give you the particulars where i got mine etc (ill also take some pics if you ask nicely)
After p*ssing around with my stereo at the weekend to solve a rattling speaker I found a really cheap fix to improve the sound.
Buy a dynamat speaker kit from halfords for 13 quid, take your front speakers out & line the inside of the speaker hole with the dynamat so it makes an enclosure for the speaker (there are lots of nice big metal bits to stick it to inside).
My front speakers now sound much bassier & the sound if much louder & no more annoying rattles at high volume!!
Buy a dynamat speaker kit from halfords for 13 quid, take your front speakers out & line the inside of the speaker hole with the dynamat so it makes an enclosure for the speaker (there are lots of nice big metal bits to stick it to inside).
My front speakers now sound much bassier & the sound if much louder & no more annoying rattles at high volume!!
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