Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler OT: Car receiver

OK, it's time for a new car radio... the current one won't play CDs most of the time and skips when it does. Anyone got any advice? Here's what I'm looking for:

1. AUX input (preferably a 1/8 inch jack on the front) for the iPod.

2. CD player (dur)

3. $200 or less.

4. Decent controls. I don't need any flashy, multicolored lights or little teensy all-alike buttons (anyone who's driven a early-mid 90s Ford knows what I'm talking about here...)

5. It's going in a Volvo with a double height radio area, so no worries about size.

6. Decent power. (22 watts RMS x 4 or better)

7. A removeable face. I don't exactly park it in low crime areas. I've had the stereo stolen from my other car (a Honda Civic) twice, both times resulting in broken consoles and/or windows and pain in the ass repairs.

The Volvo has its old stock speakers, except for the front where I put in some Alpines. That means it's got 5.25s on the front doors, 5.25s on the back doors, and little dinky speakers on the D pillars (wagon) for some strange reason. Since the radio that's in there right now is aftermarket, I assume that those back speakers don't pose a problem impedance or power wise.

Thanks, all!

This might do it http://www.crutchfield.com/S-2PcoGuPoReN/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=300&id=detailed_info&i=023MONTREA

This one has the pretty lights
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-MxHlQDljMSU/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=300&id=detailed_info&i=023CASCD52

I prefer the first one. I was looking at Crutchfield and managed to miss it. I think I assumed that all the Blaupunkts had order it separately aux inputs. Thanks!

Now to find someone to install it... I'm sick of doing it myself.

I'm thinking about getting the first one too. My 10 year old Kenwood is good but I like the AUX inputs for my IPOD.
The price is good as well.

Yeah, my car's got the 10 year old Kenwood, too, but it's not exactly in good shape. One hopes the wiring isn't a rat's nest, but... (I got the car used)

Hopefully they used one of those wire harness kits. That would make life easy for you or the installer...

One hopes. I think I'll just install it myself. I've had to chase down the wires before...

Hmm... on second thought, it look just a little low on power: 14 watts x 4, peak 40 watts according to Blaupunkt. Any other suggestions?

Ken, two words - outboard amp. Head units with big power numbers are notorious for bragging. Within the space confines of a deck, there just isn't enough room for proper power supplies & adequate capacitors. Most don't come anywhere near their rated power. Blaupunkt should be applauded for giving both numbers.

On the upside, decent outboard amps can be found fairly inexpensively on e-bay and at local pawn shops. Even the lower power amps will sound better and give more punch than any built-in amp. The difference is night and day.

80's man is right. My Alpine puts out 17 watts per channel rms, 50 watts peak.

I was hoping to avoid that route... I ended up getting a Heidelburg CD 52 (26x4; 50 watts max). I think I may do the outboard amp thing later, if I replace the speakers. An outboard amp would probably tear those little paper pieces of crap in the back doors to pieces. The other issue is I don't expect this car to last forever, so...

On the other hand... maybe I could add a non-boomy sub to the system... hmm...

Aaah! Another expensive hobby! Someone stop me!

I've had my CD player ripped off twice, and I DO park in relatively low-crime areas. Both times I've replaced them with the whatever's-current-lowest-of-the-low entry level Kenwood player, and I'm perfectly happy. Don't get me wrong - I'd love to add an outboard amp and a nice, discreet sub. But I know exactly how that would go. I'd walk out to the car to find a gaping hole where my driver's window used to be. Screw that! There is nothing worse than that feeling of being utterly violated when you discover some useless lump of feces has f'ed up your car and taken your stuff. Stay away from the dark side, Ken. Enjoy your tunes on something humble in the car, then spend that extra cash on something sweet for the home.

Exactly. I hate that feeling.

I pay a little extra for a decent head unit, a little bit for speakers that won't blow if you look at them sideways, and that's about it. I'm also religious about taking the face plates off.

I'll concure on the head unit power ratings... think about how small the amp actually is on these things, think about how much smaller the power supply must be.

NO head unit is going to have much in terms of power. Furthermore, most purposely don't even have freq responses that go below ~40-80hz just because there isn't enough power in the first place.

If you don't care that much it will be fine, if you do care you have to go with external amps.

Ken, 3 words:

"Pimp My Ride"

If those idiots so much as look at my Volvo... OK, well, they can fix the dents and put on a less restricted intake and exhaust, and maybe lower it a bit...

Come on, fess up Ken! You would love a metalflake tangerine paintjob with lime stripes. Add the loud coffee can exhaust..... That Volvo would be off the hook!

If you can stretch the budget a tad, you might want to shop around for this one.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-HJdpvXAsqIP/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?I=020DXZ745&s=0&wm=su

I've seen it for as low as $255. You could go to the other mdel below it to fit your budget. The only thing is that it's 18 watts RMS. That's really not too far from 22 though.

If you have the money I would get an Eclipse deck (no fancy video crap just a good unit)

also if you are looking for subs JL is a VERY good brand. their w0s sound really good for the price, I'd also go with a JL amp -- expensive, but worth it. also JL is one of the few companies that offer 6 and 8 inch woofers that I've seen. If you have thousands of dollars to spend I'd recommend a W7 -- one inch excursion. add a 1000w JL amp and you'll probably reach one inch...amazing to watch. of course then you'd be both broke AND deaf and there's the whole idea that a car -- being only a few square feet -- does not need a woofer... all in all i'd go with an 8 inch w0 with an e2150 amp... just my two cents.

Guess I should have waited before I ordered... oops! Thanks, guys!

My wife would kill me if I put huge SPLs in the car... and I'm a home audio guy. I like it balanced.