I've looked around a little at car stereos and finally realized what I hate about all of them. All of them feel and look cheap. I want that OEM button feel, not made in china plastic toy feel.
So far all I've found that doesn't feel cheap is touch screens because they have no buttons, does anyone here use a stereos other than OEM from other cars that don't have a cheap feel?
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12:51 AM
PFF
System Bot
Isolde Member
Posts: 2504 From: North Logan, Utah, USA Registered: May 2008
IDK if you'd consider mine cheap or not, but I truly love the CD player that the PO put in my white Fiero. It's an older unit, which may mean it wasn't made in China. Maybe Japan. But it sounds great to my ears, and is extremely easy to use. I had it figured out within 5 minutes. The only identification I can offer is this pic of the detachible face:
[This message has been edited by Isolde (edited 07-15-2010).]
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05:31 AM
Daredevil05 Member
Posts: 2345 From: South Jersey 08077 Registered: Oct 2006
That's why I like the older model of cd radios. I had a Pioneer super tuner pullout radio and it was so easy to operate. Now I have a modern radio cd player and sometimes it's a pain in the rear to figure out. I regret misplacing the instructions. :-(
I can always go back to my sparkomatic 8 track player. Life was so simple.
[This message has been edited by Daredevil05 (edited 07-15-2010).]
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07:14 AM
Australian Member
Posts: 4701 From: Sydney Australia Registered: Sep 2004
I totally agree about the cheap feel, look and operation of the aftermarket radios. My 78 pickup had a Pioneer in it when I bought it in 1998 and it is an exception to the rule. When I sell it, I will keep the radio and put in a factory radio. I'd recommend getting someone to install an input jack in a factory radio and use an mp3 player or external CD player. You'd have the best of all possible worlds that way.
I have several GM car radios that I bought for parts but all of them worked when I plugged them in. I like the feel and ease of operation of the factory radios-even the one in my wife's new model TrailBlazer. I will install an mp3 input jack in all of them and put them on ebay except for the pristine Pontiac radio CD unit I found. I think that one will go into my Fiero.
I had a funny experience yesterday with my aftermarket Kenwood CD player. I couldn't get the radio to switch to the mp3 player input. I stopped, took out the three language instruction book, found the directions on page 83 and their solution was to disconnect the radio from the battery input. I removed the inline fuse, replaced it and I was able to switch the radio to the mp3 player. Anyone want a fairly new $179 Kenwood CD radio cheap??
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09:00 AM
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
lol - yup - I know whatcha mean the hard slag plastic buttons & knobs, which are loosely fit, and cheesy lighting go to a "real" outlet - not a "big box" store, to start with gotta remember - most of these things are made to impress teenagers
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09:39 AM
Khw Member
Posts: 11139 From: South Weber, UT. U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2008
IDK if you'd consider mine cheap or not, but I truly love the CD player that the PO put in my white Fiero. It's an older unit, which may mean it wasn't made in China. Maybe Japan. But it sounds great to my ears, and is extremely easy to use. I had it figured out within 5 minutes. The only identification I can offer is this pic of the detachible face:
I bought one of those and put it in the Jeep we had. When we traded it in for the Bonneville I told my wife that I wish I had the time to change it out with the JVC in my Fiero. Not the greatest stereo, but it worked really well. About my only complaint was the brightness of the illumination. It was really bright.
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 07-15-2010).]
When I got my 'ro my g/f said I had to get a new stereo that matched the car's color more (stereo lit up obnoxious orange, she said I needed red) so she searched for one and ended up getting me a Dual.
I had a Dual in my Subaru before, and for the price they're good little stereos, not much adjustability in the EQ, but they sound fine with the presets. Though the one I have in my 'ro the buttons are crap, and the screen is attached to the unit, not the faceplate... really odd.
What I'd really like is a unit that doesn't do CD (since I use my Zune) and has a smooth face (like those Kameleons or w/e brand that was in the 90s maybe?) or no face at all, so it looks like there is no stereo installed, but has a faceplate I can put elsewhere (maybe move the window switches, and install some kind of stereo controls there... hmm)
But back to my main point. Dual can feel not flimsy, and for the price, they just do their job w/o being complicated, I'd just recommend looking at them in person instead of just ordering online first
IDK if you'd consider mine cheap or not, but I truly love the CD player that the PO put in my white Fiero. It's an older unit, which may mean it wasn't made in China. Maybe Japan. But it sounds great to my ears, and is extremely easy to use. I had it figured out within 5 minutes. The only identification I can offer is this pic of the detachible face:
While it might work well and be easy to use this is exactly what I don't want. The button are small and made out of painted clear plastic, if you use the buttons enough you will wear the paint off.
lol - yup - I know whatcha mean the hard slag plastic buttons & knobs, which are loosely fit, and cheesy lighting go to a "real" outlet - not a "big box" store, to start with gotta remember - most of these things are made to impress teenagers
I don't even know what a "real" outlet is, do they even exist? I can't think of one place around here that doesn't try to appeal to teenagers.
You could always get one of these. I love this headunit it beat the crap out of my old Alpine headunit. Its a Kenwood KVT 514. I love the touch screen and possibilites of this headunit.
Not to knock the others here, but out of all the head unit brands, I've always thought Dual units had the cheapest feel. Some that I have looked at recently for a new stereo in my Cadillac include:
http://www.crutchfield.com/...ml?showAll=N&tp=5684 ^ You won't find any buttons on the FZ409's futuristic faceplate — a bright Organic EL display shows track information on its multi-line readout, while touch sensor controls give you access to the receiver's functions. Plus, the controls only display icons relevant to the task at hand, making it a breeze to find the control you're looking for.
http://www.crutchfield.com/...ml?showAll=N&tp=5684 ^ Just a sleek black and grey look, no annoying bright green, blue, or red displays. Plus it has more sound altering options to compensate for different speakers and sounds than I need.
http://www.crutchfield.com/...ml?showAll=N&tp=5684 ^ Little bit out of my price range, but if I had an iPhone with the Pandora Radio app, this would be a must have head unit, I've never used an Alpine unit that felt cheap to me
You could always get one of these. I love this headunit it beat the crap out of my old Alpine headunit. Its a Kenwood KVT 514. I love the touch screen and possibilites of this headunit.
Austin
That is one of my favorites also, I didn't get it because I thought it might interfere with shifting, I take it that its not a problem?
One of my friends had that head unit and we connected his un-used PS2 to it. It was a lot of fun to play Need for Speed while we were driving down the road, especially with all the screeching tires and sound effects playing through the car's speakers. Did you connect that wire that disables the video function while the car is in drive? We just screwed it into a ground.
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02:01 PM
Hockaday Member
Posts: 2165 From: Clifton Park, New York, The States. Registered: Sep 2009
------------------ Cliff's 610th Positive Feedback Giver. #12 NYFOC Member In recent times, the custom aftermarket car/automobile roadwheel has become a status symbol. These wheels are often incorrectly referred to as "rims". The term "rim" is incorrect because the rim is only the outer portion of a wheel (where the tire is mounted
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02:03 PM
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
Originally posted by jmbishop: I don't even know what a "real" outlet is, do they even exist? I can't think of one place around here that doesn't try to appeal to teenagers.
there are a few left around here - but - yes - most have disappeared Mickey Shore, K40 & CarToyz are the ones that come to mind around here
That is one of my favorites also, I didn't get it because I thought it might interfere with shifting, I take it that its not a problem?
One of my friends had that head unit and we connected his un-used PS2 to it. It was a lot of fun to play Need for Speed while we were driving down the road, especially with all the screeching tires and sound effects playing through the car's speakers. Did you connect that wire that disables the video function while the car is in drive? We just screwed it into a ground.
It doesn't interfere with shifting at all. I love it. I couldn't be happier. The only thing it hinders is the ac controls but the angle adjustment on the screen allows room to mess with it but for me i usually leave the ac on high till it cools then just lower the fan speed and leave it alone.
Austin
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02:26 PM
Isolde Member
Posts: 2504 From: North Logan, Utah, USA Registered: May 2008
This is exactly what terrifies me. I would like to try that thing Austin posted, but it's not in the budget until my Fiero is running again. And to the OP, knock mine all you like, but if you use it long enough to wear the lettering off the buttons, you'll have it be second nature what each button does.
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04:55 PM
Hockaday Member
Posts: 2165 From: Clifton Park, New York, The States. Registered: Sep 2009
You could always get one of these. I love this headunit it beat the crap out of my old Alpine headunit. Its a Kenwood KVT 514. I love the touch screen and possibilites of this headunit.
Austin
That looks familiar. Looks like the KVT696 I have in my car. I have the nav unit and FM traffic -FM traffic not seen in this pic. I think it is an UGLY unit when closed up. It is also a dark chocolate color when the sun is shining directly on it, rather than black. Does work well enough 'tho, and the display is very good. I only bought it so I could have a built in nav system using the DIN 1 footprint. Didn't think it would fit in a Fiero. Who woulda thunk it? If you get one, make sure you get all the extras you want all at once, so you only have to hassle with the installation one time. If you can afford it, it's pricey.
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09:09 PM
Isolde Member
Posts: 2504 From: North Logan, Utah, USA Registered: May 2008
problem is with push button ones is that after a few weeks et you hae to hammer the buttons to get em to work lol
that's only if you spill Pepsi all over it. Mine's at least 5 years old, 3 years ago I used it daily for 2 months, last month I tried it again. Buttons still working fine.