rx7tt95

Audio gods,
What do you recommend for an 1/2 DIN MP3 player? I currently have an Eclipse head unit, a few years old...it pretty much has every feature that I want/like except for a built-in equalizer and the ability to play MP3 tracks. I like their in-dash 6 CD changer, but I do not believe any of the Eclipse units can play an Mp3 track.

Which leaves me wondering...what's out there that's decent? Love the Eclipse ergonomics..one dial to adjust everything. I noticed Rockford seems to do this as well. The new Pioneers look nice as well, but seem to be harder to control. I do have an external amp powering everything. I'd also like to keep the price below $600. If there's a good site, let me know. Thanks for the advice.
Michel

Rx-7Addict

iTrader: (2)

I have the Kenwood excelon x659. It retails for 500, but I got it for just under $300.

I really like it, and it is better than my JVC SH99

Heres is a link to a pic of mine, installed

http://www.pbase.com/image/2526385/large

Alpines makes a new MP3 player, it looks pretty good.

Check crutchfield. They have pretty much everything, including a bunch of new Alpine stuff. Just find what you like and buy elsewhere

ZMhacker

I just got the new pioneer 7400mp, and love it. It has a very good built in equilizer, and plays mp3's. Sounds great and has awsome features! Most places sell it for about $330.

Later,
ZM

p.s. http://www.sounddomain.com is a great car audio store. I believe they have my reciever for $279.

lamboz1

i just installed blaupunkt los angeles it sounds pretty awesome, u can't get it from crutchfield tho, look for it on yahoo shopping

Cypher

Is this not the same Blau Los Angeles you have??

http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...OSANGE&o=m&a=0

I've heard nothing but good stuff from the Kenwood Excelon series..a buddy of mine works for a Audio shop and they seel these things and it's really nice. Added with the Kenwood Excelon you can add the Kenwood Music Keg which is a 10gig drive for storing your MP3's..pretty impressive..

wozzoom

I have the JVC SH99. It's a decent unit but I would consider it lower end. (As well as low price = under $240) My only problem with this unit is that it has trouble with some multi-bitrate MP3 tracks producing occasional skips. Other than that it has all the features... EQ, Three RCA outs, etc.

Touring FD3S

I will have to agree with the excelon series. In all the cars I have had so far, nothing but excelon has gone in. Right now I am running the KDC-X959 and love it. Tons of features (always important with a decent system), good display options (somewhat important to me), lots of add-ons like Cypher stated as well. You might not go to the extreme I did with the model, but most of the lower model excelons have great features as well. The only think I don't like about the 959 is that they went away from the Mask technology with it (faceplate spins around), but I wouldn't trade it for anything

Splinemodel

Or you could do like me and hook an hardwire an iPod into the deck. I soldered on a stereo connection plug onto the output wires from the CD, and brought it through into the cabin. I usually keep the iPod in the seat pocket. Power comes from another wire that I bundled with the audio wires. (DC so no interference. audio is shielded anyway) The beauty of it is that I can remove the iPod and update it, etc. So I can haul my 5gigs of music (well just 2 at this point) wherever, play it in the car and then bring it inside or whatnot.

jf4828

Just purchased and installed the Alpine 7894. Comes XM ready and does an awesome job w/ MP3's even on CDRW's. Plus, dual illumination will give you orange buttons which look pretty good with the instrument cluster. It does everything you would expect from a mid priced unit. I bought it off ebay for $320 shipped.
• 60W x 4 V-Drive Hybrid Amplifier
• Bass Engine® Plus
- Media Xpander™
- 4-Channel Digital Time Correction
- 3-Position 12dB/Octave Crossover
- Subwoofer Level Control with Phase Selector
- Bass Center Frequency and Width Control
- Treble Center Frequency Control
• XM Satellite Radio Ready
• MP3, CD-R/RW Playback
• CD Text and MP3 ID3 Tag Information Display
• Versatile-Link™ Ready
• KCA-410C Multi-Versatile Link Terminal Compatible
• MaxTune SQ Tuner
• Blackout Display
• Dual Illumination Buttons (Green/Amber)
• Regulated 1Bit DAC
• 4 Volt PreOut with DC-DC Converter
• 3 PreOuts
• Swing Mechanism with Detachable Face
• RUE-4187 Wireless Remote Control Included

rx7tt95

Thanks for the input guys. The Kenwood looks like an ergonomic nightmare. I saw the new Sony's this evening, and while I have never been a fan o sony's stuff, their new MP3 with the built-in hard drive is a work of art. Very functional and beautiful at the same time. Price, in store, however, was $1400. Definitely above my budget. That Blaupunkt looks rather cool as do the Pioneer head units. Decisions decisions!
michel

rx7tt95

Ok, still researching, but I did find out that Alpine has a new 6-cd changer that reads CD, CD-R and CD-RW AND will play MP3 files. It uses an FM modulator which is also XM radio compatible. Online prices for this unit (not including the modulator) are under $300. This will allow me to keep my Eclipse head unit (which I still love) and if I decide to later on, I can always upgrade.

Are there any inherent problems with FM modulators? I'm assuming there's some loss in sound quality compared to a hard line?
michel

MIKE-P-28

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I got the same CD plyer, its awwesome except mine is a Premier version of it, its a DEHP740MP, same thing except for the 2 year warranty . Only thing I dont like is the 2 seconds pause when you switch songs, and the 3 - 4 second pause when you switch folders your mP3's are stored in.. Otherwise its fantasic... Also better check around on prices I gave $238 + shipping for mine PLEASE do not email me or PM asking me where, Ill tell you now. I got it from VIP Wholesale in Los Angeles, and they do not have a website, I dont have the phone number anymore either...

MIKE-P-28

iTrader: (1)

Yeah there are problems with FM modulators, you sometimes get bleed-over (when another station is stronger than the one you are modulating) With an Alpine you will be ok, cause its constantly adjustable. But the big one to me is the sound quality, with modulators you get FM frequency response, not total digital 20-20k sound But it will allow you to do what you want done, get the 6 disc, XM, and keep the Eclipse

Jonesboro

^^^^^

Manntis

I've the Sony MP-70 CD/CDR/MP3 player and have had no probs. Sounds great whatever medium it's playing.

MIKE-P-28

iTrader: (1)

God I hope thats better than the other Sony's. I install stereos professionally. And I bet I deinstall for service 5 to 6 outta 10 Sony's less than 60 days when they were installed... Always a problem with loading, they make some sortta grinding noise... Or will not accept a cd... Personally, my opinion of sony is way way low...

SilverR1

I have to disagree on this one. The JVC Digifine series all come with burr brown 24/96 D/A converters. Anybody who knows anything about high end audio knows that burr brown are one of the premier manufacturers of d/a converters. Many of the high end cd players and receivers all use these. Some costing well beyond 2-3k dollar mark. I own the newer SH-707 model and it works and sounds top notch. You will have to provide it with high end components down the chain to truly hear the difference but it is well worth it. I've also read many reviews on these models and they have all received great reviews. Don't get too caught up on specs especially ones that are inaudible. Just my 2 cents.

R Xplicit

link a mp3 next to another cd player, IN THE CAR, and then listen to them. MP3 players are not the best quality soung reproducers because the info is crammed and so is the sent signal. you will really notice it on a nice pair of seperates like boston pro's or the like....but many people do not notic ethe difference, and/or are willing to sacrifice the small differences...

Damn Swede

Yes, but not many of us can afford Boston Pro's as much as we'd like to.
Plus if you encode it at a high enough bitrate with a good ripper, I doubt that you could tell the difference at all.

hapa

Does anyone have the schematics to a build yourself MP3 player? I know there are plans on the web, by people that have built these. But I really want to see one in an Rx7. Anyone have any input? I know that a player can be built for under $100 and you just add a laptop hard drive. Any information is much appreciated.

eric

Manntis

"Just add a laptop hard drive"?? What about a power source of proper voltage? Adequate cooling/heat sink placement based on airflow research for that configuration of transistors/capacitors/chips? Are you going to print your own circuit board or mess around with wires and veroboard?

Far less effort just to buy an inexpensive MP3 player with a warranty. Make the hastle someone else's problem.

Mr Rotary

Good luck with that one hapa. I also like the Sony Hard drive but I don't know too much in the audio department. Later on, I will like to take out the stock speakers & what have you & put a nice, cutting edge reciever like a L3 cube (the completely wireless one) or something like the Sony or Kenwood Hard drive. An associate of mine suggest I put Pioneer speakers in my car. I don't want to pull 500+ watts, I just want to have a nice reciever & some excellent sound quality speakers. That's all. Any questions or answers guys? Thanks.

- Nick

the_glass_man

iTrader: (2)

I must say I agree. I have the SH99 (SH707) and I'm very pleased with it.
You can turn off the internal amp for better sound. It doesn't skip a beat, even with my TEIN's on setting 12 in Upstate NY.
The colors are very nice, and the buttons are just the right size and lay out. I also like anlog volume control.
It also has an audio in so you could plug an ipod or other MP3 players.
The only thing I wasn't big on at first is the steal me brushed silver color. Its grown on me though. If you order one from Europe, you can get the black version.
I wouldn't go with a Sony or Pioneer if you payed me.
First the looks of the Sony and the button lay outs suck.
Not to mention the displays are just plain bad.
The Pioneer's have the smallest buttons I've ever seen, and the Orgasmic (or Organic) display had to be the biggest annoyance.
Not that Purple and Green aren't pretty, but they don't come close to matching any of the stock lighting, and even when its on dim mode is still too freaking bright. But oh boy, you can watch dolphins jump around for hours.
Good luck finding the right button.
Alpine, makes stuff that is just plain overpriced. They aren't the same as they were 5-10 years ago.

The Kenwood eXcellon line is also very good. You get a longer warranty, and great sound. But the button layouts and the displays seem to be following the latest trends of the stupid Pioneer decks (hey look I've got A.D.H.D., I need to watch my stereo it has all these cool screen savers, instead of looking at the road/I need a pretty stereo to get me laid).
The Kenwood also had the option of the Music keg where you can copy 10 gigs or more of songs from you computer to stereo, and edit Tags, etc... Very cool.
The software is windows only, which I believe would be a pain for you cause your a Mac user (you are, aren't you???) ah great minds think a like.
But since you've got Virtual PC, you will be fine.
Let us know which way you go, and the results.

Mr Rotary

Ok man, will do. Thanks for your input.

- Nick

JimmyJimboJet

i dunno if you're looking for an MP3 cd player or just a straight up MP3 player....if you want the straight up mp3 player, check my sig \/