Vardar

There are only 2 things I missed in my Saab, On-Board Computer, and in-dash cd player/changer. Since on-board computer is not doable as well as CD player/changer, I wanted to find out how many of you guys have in-dash CD player/changer. I am tired to open the trunk and chage cds. Do you guys recommend and decent cd players? I am thinking about getting one from Circuit City, but very sceptical about people ripping/straching the interior. Any suggestions on brands and stuff? I don't wat to spend more than $150-$200.

Thank you

Denlasoul

I have a Nakamichi MB-VI. 6 disc in dash player. Really nice and fairly easy to install. Also, looks right at home in the dash.

I 'll try and dig up a picture.

Vardar

Thank you for the information. I guess you didn't see my budget for it. That nakamichi is over $500 on Ebay.

My budget is up to $200, single cd in-dash player/changer.. It DOES look like it'd look perfect in our cars though..

TY again

Denlasoul

No, I did see your budget. I would strongly recommed waiting and saving money to buy a new system.

FYI information, I bought my unit for about $500 (gotta check), but then I offset the cost by selling my stock hu for around $275, and my CD changer for $75.

Vardar

So, there are people would buy our stock radios?

e harmon

Have you considered moving to compressed audio formats in place of shuffling red book (conventional) audio CDs? My JVC head unit plays mp3/wma CD-R/CD-RWs and has an SD card slot. In all, I have 1.7 GB (1GB from the SD card and 700mb on the CD) of music loaded at any given time, which is the equivalent of about 18 CDs at 192k bit rate. Lots of modern HUs also have line level inputs or even iPod controls.

A single CD-R alone can hold 7-8 CDs worth of compressed audio, and it can all be accessed very quickly and easily without having to wait for a disc swapping mechanism.

If you're willing to spend the time ripping CDs, you may find this to be a very good alternative to a CD changer.

Also, changing the head unit is not difficult at all. I'd suggest researching it as a do-it-yourself before pursuing professional installation.

I also agree with Denlasoul regarding buying something decent, even if it means waiting for a while. Your car (and your ears and eyes) deserve it.

Regards,

e harmon

VAamg

Vardar, I used to work for Sony and have some experience with car stereo, not as much on the install side, but in terms of equipment.

As for letting Circuit City or Best buy types do it, they actually do a really nice job, nothing fancy or custom, but they will have a very clean and accurate install. Also, added feature, they will replace factory system for free if you decide to sell car.

As for compressed music as eharmon just mentioned, that is a great way to get a lot of tunes in one place, but you lose a lot in the sound quality. Now if you are gonna leave in the factory Bose sytem, you probalby won't miss the quality much, but if you ever want to upgrade speakers, you will hear the difference.

You can pm me if you want to talk about more details, but if your current budget is 200, I would have to agree and say wait until you can take a few more steps.

My car I took out all the Bose stuff (no highs no lows, must be bose), replaced head unit with a high end Sony I had laying around, have a single 12" for low ends, just to complete sound, not to bass around all day, and replaced all speakers with Infinity Kappas with an extra set of tweeters for the front. This is a nice system, a highly reccommended set up and while it isn't dirt cheap, it certainly is nowhere near the high end of things.

My only complaint about the head unit is that it doesn't have an orang eoption to match the dash on the lcd backlight, but it does have a red which matches the hazard button pretty nicely. There are some pics floating around in this group somewhere of my system, if you are curious.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

e harmon

I think most people will not notice the loss of sound quality. At 64k, probably; at 128k maybe; at 192k or higher, very unlikely unless the car is stationary, the engine is not running, and the windows are up. The noise floor in a typical C43 is such that it inhibits the listener's ability to distinguish the quality difference of an audio signal once it is above a certain level--improved speakers or not. I'm no audiophile, but I am a musician and my ear is far more discerning than the average person. For a car in motion, 192k should be more than fine for most people.

I would encourage anyone to test the quality provided by 192k by using the "Rip CD" function of Windows Media Player on a store bought CD, and comparing the ripped file to the original. (Make sure to go into Tools...Options...Rip Music...Audio Quality and move the slider all the way to the right first.) Even with a good sound system (mine is a Harmon Kardon home theatre amp with Cambridge Soundworks speakers) it's pretty darned close.

Consider also how many have subscribed to satellite radio, and how it has become expected as a standard feature on higher end cars. Satellite radio is compressed, and IMO, the quality is dreadful compared to even 96k mp3s. Yet most people seem to be fine with it.

Anyhow, YMMV. Enjoy the project and the end results.

Regards,

e harmon

raymond g-

if you're currently using head unit

....you may be able to drop in (plug n play) an Audio 10, which has panel CD access. cost is about $300.

Vardar

That's what I want! I have no problem with existing sound. I am a simple family man, just wanna play cds on dash.. This is absolutely perfect for me. It is Mercedes brand! Where do I get it? Is it really that easy to put in like plug and play?

Thank you
Looking forward to hear from you

raymond g-

Perfectmarket @ ebay it....
SteveML it.....

periodically, you see them on various MB forums but lately, few n far between.
i have one and it's aw-ite. maintains the factory look. i have this and
factory changer...but trying hard to get AUX IN retrofitted somehow w/o
costing arm/leg. trying to design ipod flip up in center console cup
holder...where i can adjust with arm on rest, etc. i have 99 E320 so no
steering wheel controls. still tossing ideas around. but yes, the Audio 10
is nice. am also trying to improve base so considering options in rear shelf.

here are comments i wrote several months ago...

Poor value for the $ vs latest technology offerings
Mediocre performance with home burned CDs
Does not support MP3
No audiocassette
No on-board telephone support (like Audio 30)
No weather channel
Presets are scroll through, serial access
(vs Audio 30 random access)

+
Retains the MB factory issue HU appearance
Compatible with MB D2B fiber optic changer (99-02)
Plug n play within 2 mins of swap out
Nearly Plug n play with MC-3010, MC-3198, and MC3110
No more getting wet to change CDs in trunk
No audiocassette
Shortwave band (is this + or - ?)
RDS FM text readout http://tinyurl.com/dckpd

side note: i bought Audio 10 from same vendor a year
or so back. within a week or so, he lowered price. I
asked if I could get price rebate and he said no. you
can also try Steve who occasionally will have these in
stock. His prices are most competitive.
http://www.mbenznl.com/

nuther note: performance diff - AM seemed weaker. FM
seemed about the same. Be it Audio 10 or 30 their
performance doesn't come near that of other Japanese
or US mid-high end units. all in all, pretty mediocre.
but rest of MB somewhat propriety sound system makes
it difficult to improve in modular fashion. Pretty
much have to gut all and replace completely for
a good, kick *** system.

Vardar

Thank you so much! I burn MP3s a lot, and some more copies. If the performance is mediocre, and no MP3s, I will just go to Circuit City I guess and pick something over there. Last time I checked installation was free. I am sure I can find something for $200.

raymond g-

ahh, but be careful here. you just cant pull out a MB head unit and pop in
Circuit City / aftermarket and expect it to work in your Bose system, etc.
you have fiber compliant system, yes?

Vardar

This is French to me. If you explain it like i am 10 year old, maybe I'll get it. I am not a car stereo gifted.. All I got is a stock C43, and desire to have in-dash cd player MP3, and burned CD compatible. I don't do custom sounds, or boom boxes. Except the little rattling sound when i turn the music up (I think something is lose back there), I am very happy with the stock sound system...

Thank you

raymond g-

If you have Bose system, it has amp and speakers which operate on low
impedance (4ohms)...as I understand, below the usual standard of 8ohms.
So if you popped out the head unit, you may find that the outputs are
incompatible with the rest of the sound system. With your 1999 model
(same mine) I certain that you have fiber optic system in which phone
and CD changer relies on to function. Referring to photo above, do you
have same head unit as Audio 30?

Also, do a search to see if/how others have modified their sound system.

I realized, after re-re-reading threads, in order to supplement and improve
my existing Bose system, basically, I need to gut and yank out all components
which will end up being thou or so.

As a result, I opted simply to go Audio 10, Ipod type MP3 player (already
own PDA) to patch in via AUX IN, and subwoofers for rear deck. this should
keep it in the $5-800 range and I should be fine. It was important for me
to maintain factory look whenever possible. I thought the ice blue clashed
with the panel lights at night.

p.s. to get around non-MP3 playing Audio 10, i've simply burned them as
normal audio files. but yes, it sux that capacity is limited to 10 songs or so.
that's why i want small MP3 player pop up in center console

e harmon

The connections between head unit and the amplifier are good old copper, and it does not take much to get a store-bought HU to work with the 98+ Bose system. I used a wiring harness adapter for VW and along with this diagram:

http://www.club202.com/forums/showth...=&postid=19298

I had the radio installed in about 45 minutes. The steps I followed:

1. Match the wires from the harness that came with the radio with the diagram and connect them
2. Pull out the factory radio and disconnect it
3. Install the VW harness adaptor and Mercedes antenna adator to the stock wiring
4. Connect the JVC harness to the HU, and slide it in

I changed nothing else, and the procedure is reversible in 10 minutes or less. It has been working flawlessly for over one year.

It still might be worth paying someone $50 or so to do this if you are not comfortable with it, but don't let them tell you that it is necessary to replace the entire system.

Regards,

e harmon

raymond g-

gotcha....so as long as there is no desire to connect with changer, any swap out is okay, yes?

e harmon

I'm not sure one could say any swap out is okay. For example, if a HU has only line level outputs, or if its high level outputs are too "hot" (in other words, too much output on the speaker-level outputs) it might not work very well. Most HUs should not be a problem though.

Changing speakers, as you mentioned earlier, is a different matter. I haven't experimented much, but consensus seems to be that Bose amps should only be paired with the speakers they came with, and vice versa.

Regards,

e harmon

VAamg

VARDAR, e harmony is right, most shops will tell you need to replace the entire systemb ecause many are just not comfortable working around the bose. However, if you pay someone to do your install, it will run you more than standard install price because they will need to run wires from your new head unit (assumig you by aftermarket) to your existing speakers.

Unless you are just really dead set on OEM appearance, Iw oudl strong reccommend spending your money on a decent aftermarket deck (Alpine, JVC, Sony, etc... all make great decks for that price). The amps built into the head unit are far cleaner and more powerful than your factory system. Plus you get those MP3 and other freatures not available in 98.

raymond g-

this all has me considering options now. i know some aftermarket head units
have aux in via the front panel. some even have detachable front panel with
built in memory card so that you can load MP3 for playback.

how can I find out what input specs are on the Bose ....so that I can identify
compatible head units? mention made above regarding line-level vs high level
....which is almost above my head but i kinda get the gist of it. I guess I need
to know Bose amp specs, don't I?

raymond g-

hah hah....guess that SEARCH feature works sometimes...

more info

and then some...

e harmon

It is possible to install an aftermarket head unit by adapting the HU's harness to the factory harness using the adaptor I described above. It is not necessary to cut, pull out, replace, or bypass any wiring from the Bose system. The procedure in my post above was from a very knowledgable source on club202.com, and I can attest that it is accurate.

Powering factory Bose speakers directly from the HU is generally not advisable because of the potential for impedance mismatch. Using the adaptor+factory wiring is a good option because it avoids this (by preserving the Bose amp) and enables re-installing the factory radio painlessly.


Regards,

e harmon

VAamg

But if you are continuing to use the inferior amplifier's from Bose you really are wasting your money by changing the head unit. If all you want to add is to be able to play MP3's then get a good portable MP3 player you can play on the boat, while mowing the yard, etc... and an adapter that lets it use fm modulation so you just tune your factory system to that frequency.

e harmon

I believe you will find varying opinions on this subject. I'll give you that a typical Bose setup is not considered audiophile grade equipment by any stretch, but for me (and many others) changing the head unit is more than worthwhile. For my taste, my JVC KD-SHX750 sounds better playing a 192K file than my factory HU playing red book audio.

An FM modulator is probably a fine setup for lots of folks. Others may prefer the cleaner setup of an HU that can natively play compressed audio. Benefits include convenience (not having to shuffle and stash adaptors and players around) or appearance (not having a loose mp3 player sliding around or having to deface the interior with a permanent mounting).

Personally, I find the FM playback on the stock radio to be sub par in terms of both frequency response and stereo separation; though I haven't experimented with a modulator, my expectations for its sound quality would be low. I suspect that most would find a quality HU playing through the "inferior Bose amplifier" to be more pleasing than an FM modulated mp3 player through the factory HU, and many would probably prefer controlling the music on the HU instead of peripherally through a portable mp3 player.

Also, I suspect that audio enthusiast owners of other cars probably envy the convenience of our standard DIN opening, where many cars need customization to accept a DIN radio--very good customization indeed, to make it look right. It's nice to have the option to experiment with new head units with such ease.

As always, YMMV.

Regards,

e harmon

VAamg

Just trying to save the man some hassle as you already jumped on me for suggesting good quality sound in that you weren't looking (or VARDAR) wasn't concerned about stereophile sound as much as being able to play his music. for the application of simply playing MP3s and not really caring much about sound a modulated MP3 player sounds like a better way to go. I hate FM modulation myself too, sounds way to thin, but if you aren't concerned about the quality as much, then conveniece of it can't be beat.

Anyone with any creativity can find a nice place to mount a portable player that won't deface the car, during or after it's use.