My CD player is no longer working, I don't think it's a humidity or temperature issue. I guess my options are to try and get the factory one fixed or find a stock looking replacement. Has anybody installed anything by Nakamichi? It seems like Nakamichi has some stock looking japanese looking head units.

 

If you have Bose, you can always get a later model double din model from a 626 or others.
Then, you can keep your bose hookups and have the OEM look. Just takes clipping out the divider between the two Dins.

 

Thanks guys, two excellent options. I'd really like to keep the stock but I'm not crazy about paying to have to original CD player fail again. I went through all the cars receipts and found that the CD player was replaced by Mazda at least two time back in 93 and 94.

Gordon, is it fairly plug and play installing the CD400? I was looking at the 500 and 700 as well, really I'm just looking for the most stock looking. Here is a 6 disc in-dash that looks pretty sweet

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nakamichi-MB...-/130423163763

 

I had mine installed by a shop (CD-400). IIRC you'll have to buy an adapter for the harness, but otherwise I think it was straight-forward. The nak doesn't seem to skip on bad roads as easily as the OEM. I like it because nothing is blinking or flashing. It's a simple display and with simple controls...though if I had to do it over again, I'd spring for the CD-500 for MP3 capability. They both look the same, and as mentioned above, the amber back-light is very close to OEM
Had mine about 6 years, pic is old but might give you an idea...

 

I like those single din player with a large tinted glass and a single ****, I think they blend in to the interior pretty well when it's off. Kenwood and Pioneer makes quite a few of those.

 

Yeap the Naka is a nice option, Miata single or double din (Bose and non-Bose) will work. I had a Miata double din.

 

Nakamichi FTW! I've got a CD400 in one FD and a CD700II in another. They look OEM, they're no nonsense, no frills, high quality, and amazing sound. There's a large price difference between the two. You don't want to buy a CD700II.

The CD400/500 is great, and there's an MB series for multiple CD's but no one listens to those things these days do they?





-Heath

 

Well it looks like Nakamichi is the way to go. The later Mazda bose units look very nice but for me the Nakamichi looks closer to stock.

Heath are you saying that I don't want to get a CD700II because it's not good or because it's expensive and unnecessary?

Right now I'm thinking mostly about the MB-X. As far as I can tell you get all the good simplicity of the other units but with a 6 disc in dash. I'm not into MP3 players and I still buy all my music on CD and then rip to my computer.

 

Yeah it's wildly expensive. Like $1200 expensive. The CD400/500 is the not-crazy-audiophile setup.

I love my 400. The 700II is amazing but absolutely not necessary for any reason other than blowing money. Aside from the hand matched DAC's it's absolutely analogue!

 

I call them Nakashity, I must have gotten a lemon.
Mine has been in for service twice and at $125 a pop, no thank you on the third time.
The CD jumps all the time, the laser got out of aligment and the power supply went out and now is gathering dust on a shelf.

Positives: simple look, almost OEM and it comes with an orange display.

 

Nakamichi has been top notch for years. Sounds like you got a bad one.

 

So what replaces the extra space I would have? Is there an OEM Mazda storage tray?

 

There is an oem pocket that has a door that opens up.

I believe any single din mazda or ford style pocket will work.

 

Sgtblue,
Is that the OEM storage compartment below your stereo?

 

^Yeah. The car is an R1. So it originally came only with the AM/FM cassette...and that DIN pocket.

 

The late spec stocker has an expansion slot allowing you to add a module for USB & 3.5 jack input etc. This is what I've done for mine. I wired the extra terminals into the glove box.



These are cheap, too. Think I paid $40 for mine off ebay.

 

That came out of an FD? I'm not sure that it would work with our US radio stations.

 

Yeah, but its also in other Mazdas of the same era making it more available.