Recommendations for a new CD Player

[hotbaws]

Hi All,

I'm looking to replace my Audio 10 Radio Cassette player for a CD player but I don't have a clue about what would be a decent unit to go for?

Something with CD/MP3, Bluetooth for my iphone would be nice...

I've had a search and had a look at some of the threads like this one

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=50907&highlight=player&page=2

without getting a clear idea what's good to go for, I do believe that I'll need a BUS cable if I want to use the steering wheel control

All suggestions welcome

Cheers
Gary

 

[Celtic pride]

Depends on the car - my 2003 CLk is a problem - the cable for the steering controls hasn't yet been produced. I have had a Pioneer double din CD/iPod/Bluetooth unit fitted - it's fantastic.

Just jump in the car & the phone connects, all my numbers are in the machine, ten most used and recent calls. All iPod menus on there + Cd & radio.

I was going to fit the steering wheel link cable when available (about another £60) but not sure whether to bother now.

huw

 

[hotbaws]

Depends on the car - my 2003 CLk is a problem - the cable for the steering controls hasn't yet been produced. I have had a Pioneer double din CD/iPod/Bluetooth unit fitted - it's fantastic.

Just jump in the car & the phone connects, all my numbers are in the machine, ten most used and recent calls. All iPod menus on there + Cd & radio.

I was going to fit the steering wheel link cable when available (about another £60) but not sure whether to bother now.

huw

hi huw,

It's a 2002 E220 CDi Estate, what's a double din unit?

I like the idea of bluetooth for the phone as I'm on call all the time so get calls all the time when I'm driving.

Is it only the function for the volume/radio frequency scan you've not got until you get the new lead? £60 seems alot of money if that's all it does..am I missing something?

Have you got a link please?

Thanks

 

[Miffy]

double din is 2 x normal radio sized units in one

 

[Celtic pride]

Hi Gary,

As Mark said it's twice the size of a single unit. I decided it would look better in my car - they make single din versions the one I have is here
http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products/25/121/61/FH-P80BT/index.html.

I have lost the audio remote facilities on the wheel & did intend to address this - the connector is now available for my car (the 2002 to 2005 W209 CLk was a problem - many other models aren't). The radio came with it's own remote though - why?

Obviously you can buy sets direct & fit yourself - I bought mine from a local ICE specialist who charged more for the radio & £30 fitting - they did a brilliant job (£400 I think - add up the cost of an iPod radio or Parrot - or look at MB prices!!).If I do link the wheel controls I'll go back to them.

Hiwever, I drive a variety of cars every week and in reality I always reach for the radio controls - not the steering wheel controls - as that's what I've done for forty years- so maybe I'll spend my £60 for the job on something else!

Best of luck.

Huw

 

[SQ_W211]

Double din usually cost you more to fit (it will definately be more than £30, I think Huw got a very good deal from his dealer) and they usually require a Fascia which can be slightly tricky. Depends on how much you wish to spend, all stereos have bluetooth and Ipod control as standard now.

In my 2002 CLK i have Single Din Alpine with satnav/bluetooth for £600 and the fact it has 7" screen it looks very neat.

 

[SQ_W211]

Hi Gary,

As Mark said it's twice the size of a single unit. I decided it would look better in my car - they make single din versions the one I have is here
http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products/25/121/61/FH-P80BT/index.html.

I have lost the audio remote facilities on the wheel & did intend to address this - the connector is now available for my car (the 2002 to 2005 W209 CLk was a problem - many other models aren't). The radio came with it's own remote though - why?

Obviously you can buy sets direct & fit yourself - I bought mine from a local ICE specialist who charged more for the radio & £30 fitting - they did a brilliant job (£400 I think - add up the cost of an iPod radio or Parrot - or look at MB prices!!).If I do link the wheel controls I'll go back to them.

Hiwever, I drive a variety of cars every week and in reality I always reach for the radio controls - not the steering wheel controls - as that's what I've done for forty years- so maybe I'll spend my £60 for the job on something else!

Best of luck.

Huw

Just checked the link, I think you paid a lil too much for that as you can find them for around £250-£300 now a days as £400 will get you a nice 5.6 ot 6.3 inch screens with all the features

 

[merc7]

If money is no object!!!!!!!!!!! try this link
http://www.bang-olufsen.com/car-audio
also see these clips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esk8OFx7QFw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct3eEuz18qc&feature=related

 

[hotbaws]

Guys Thanks for the replies.

Huw that Pioneer looks very nice, I'll have a read up on that.

cheers

 

[Blobcat]

I had a look at the Pioneer before I went for the Kenwood unit I fitted to our Caravelle. If you want to see the Kenwood unit pls clik on the link in my signature.

 

[SQ_W211]

I had a look at the Pioneer before I went for the Kenwood unit I fitted to our Caravelle. If you want to see the Kenwood unit pls clik on the link in my signature.

How much did that cost you for fitting?

Kenwood unit you have is very nice one and i was considering that before i went for my Alpine single din as they were quoting me silly money for fitting it.

 

[Blobcat]

How much did that cost you for fitting?

Kenwood unit you have is very nice one and i was considering that before i went for my Alpine single din as they were quoting me silly money for fitting it.

No charge at all as I did it myself in the Christmas/New Year break. It would no doubt be quite expensive as to get the rear view camera, digital TV Ae's, GPS Ae, microphone and IR receivers installed you have to take quite a lot of the interior apart.
I've just updated the system by having a feed in and out of the 10" rear screen/DVD player so I can load DVD's in the front to play for the kids in the back.

 

[SQ_W211]

WOW good job.


I paid £70 for fitting of my single DIN with Ipod cable and bluetooth so i guess its not alot but would have been fun to do it myself. Only dont think we are all that capable of taking out car apart

 

[hotbaws]

I had a look at the Pioneer before I went for the Kenwood unit I fitted to our Caravelle. If you want to see the Kenwood unit pls clik on the link in my signature.

Blobcat,

Wow what a great install job and the Kenwood looks like the dogs dangly bits, I think it might be out of my price range though...

I did find a W210 Command 2.0 CD DX Navigation GPS unit on Ebay for £299 or best offer but I'm guessing this will be old technology compared to what's available today.

Also my car is a single din but I've got a little compartment under the unit that I'm guessing would come out easy enough to let me fit a double din.

I only wanted a cheap'ish CD player but after selling these I think I'll need to be selling some of my spare golf gear to raise some funds

Cheers
Gary

 

[SQ_W211]

If you have single din then dont over complicate things, just to on www.caraudiosecurity.com or www.caraudiodirect.com and find yourself a all in one unit with CD/MP3/IPOD/BlueTooth and have it fitted with Steering control/display interface for around £250 and live happily ever after.... LOL

No seriously there are some very decent and cheap single Din unit with all of above and don't cost you arm and a leg to fit either.

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

Posted this on another thread also.

I bought one of these of e-bay and done away with cds altogether.

They are brilliant, the 4gb card holds about 1000 songs and plays perfectly through your radio tuned into the same frequency, you can get them with bigger or smaller memory cards or if you have your own card you can get one for about £6 and it even comes with a remote control !!!!

its small but i still plug it into the power point in the back seats and dont see it at all.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FM-TRANSMITTER...A2|294:100

 

[Celtic pride]

Amo is right I probably did pay more for fitting as i paid £339 for the unit - I'm sure you can get it for less. The double din fascia adaptor was £20 too - it replaces the original radio and the little cubby below.

I decided that - for the first time ever - I would go to a professional to fit the unit for me because I was concerned about the complexities of the CLK and it was fuss free and warranted.

 

[hotbaws]

Posted this on another thread also.

I bought one of these of e-bay and done away with cds altogether.

They are brilliant, the 4gb card holds about 1000 songs and plays perfectly through your radio tuned into the same frequency, you can get them with bigger or smaller memory cards or if you have your own card you can get one for about £6 and it even comes with a remote control !!!!

its small but i still plug it into the power point in the back seats and dont see it at all.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FM-TRANSMITTER...A2|294:100

I've got an FM transmitter for the ipod in the car but I just think it's a bit messy if I've got it plugged into the cigarette lighter and if I want to use my TOMTOM then I can't use the FM transmitter....that said my TOMTOM has has a FM transmitter and I bought an 8GB memory card and put loads of songs on it but the reception is rubbish.

 

[SQ_W211]

It could be a faulty unit or you could try to sync it on another channel. They are definately worth £15 that you pay for them as otherwise you would have to pay almost 10 times that for a new stereo

 

[Miffy]

In my 2002 CLK i have Single Din Alpine with satnav/bluetooth for £600 and the fact it has 7" screen it looks very neat.

Must look strange, a 7inch screen in a single din? ultra wide screen?