Car Stereo Experts...

[Supermercado]

The factory radio in my car just recently died and I'm trying to replace it without spending a lot of money. Last week, Circuit City had a cheap model on sale. It was the Jensen PL402 (one sale for $50), rebranded under the Phase Linear name. I went ahead and bought this and put it in last night. Unfortunately, once I got it installed, I realized that the tuning is not digital nor does it have the ability to scan for stations or save presets. So I think I'm going to take this back and exchange it for the PL412 (on sale this week for $70), which is more or less the same thing, but with the ability to scan for stations and save presets. Basically, my question is this? This thing is going to be adequate, right? I'm not a big car stereo person and I don't spend an insane amount of time in my car, nor will I be able to tell the difference between a $70 model and a $200 model. Has anyone heard anything about the Jensen's rebranded as Phase Linears?

Hopefully, these links will work with information about each model:
PL412
PL402

 

[NutBucket]

Do yourself a favor. For ~$130 you can get a Kenwood or Pioneer. The one you linked to is 7 watts RMS!! That's terrible. I understand your position on not wanting to spend very much, but you have to draw the line somewhere. We had similar nameless crap in both our cars for a while but now my dad, who cheaped out when he bought them, wants to upgrade. I venture to say the one you're thinkin about is prolly worse then what came with your car.

 

[beatmix01]

for an extra $20 you would be better off going with the Aiwa AIW CDCX227 here its only $99.99 on sale with an RMS of 45 watts... trust me, you will hear the difference.

 

[Supermercado]

Well, see, that's just the problem :frown: I really don't have a lot of money due to school, etc. I would much rather have a name brand such as Kenwood or Pioneer, it's not that at all. It's just that money is unfortunately quite a large factor. The radio in my car really is old, though (the car is a 1989 model - Chevy Cavalier), so I would have thought that pretty much anything would be better than what was there.

 

[Supermercado]

Originally posted by: beatmix01
for an extra $20 you would be better off going with the Aiwa AIW CDCX227 here its only $99.99 on sale with an RMS of 45 watts... trust me, you will hear the difference.

That's another model I was thinking of. I believe that one is on sale for $100 at Best Buy this week, as well.

What exactly is RMS, though? You're the second person who was mentioned that and I have absolutely no idea what that is.

 

[beatmix01]

89 Chevy Cav? What's in that? an AC Delco radio?

 

[Supermercado]

Originally posted by: beatmix01
89 Chev Cav? Whats in the an AC Delco radio?

It just says Delco on it, but yes, I would assume that it's AC Delco.

 

[beatmix01]

RMS Power
The amount of continuous power, measured in watts, that an amplifier produces is called Root Mean Square (RMS) power. The higher the RMS figure, the louder and cleaner your music sounds.

(courtesy of Crutchfield.com)

 

[amnesiac]

If $20 is that hard to come by for you, go without radio for a week until you have enough money. It's worth it.

 

[Supermercado]

Originally posted by: amnesiac 2.0
If $20 is that hard to come by for you, go without radio for a week until you have enough money. It's worth it.

I could afford it. So basically the common thoughts are that the Phase Linears aren't really worth and I should shell out the extra $20 for the Aiwa. I may end up doing that. I'll have to look at them all and really figure out exactly what I want, I guess.

Thanks for the RMS defintion, beatmix.

 

[NutBucket]

You won't regret it. You should ask your friends as well. My guess is some of them are into car stereo which means they've upgraded theirs. They'd prolly be happy to get the old one(s) off their hands.

 

[Supermercado]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
You won't regret it. You should ask your friends as well. My guess is some of them are into car stereo which means they've upgraded theirs. They'd prolly be happy to get the old one(s) off their hands.

Actually, no. We're all computer geeks. Hehe.

 

[pillage2001]

I'm also looking to replace one in my car. Looking for one with a Cd player. Not looking to spend much though. 100 - 200. May spend a little more depending on what I'm gonna get. Any suggestions guys??

 

[beatmix01]

Thanks for the RMS defintion, beatmix.

Absolutely, good luck in your decision

 

[phatcow]

you have to be concerned by the q7uality too....i mean, your jensen might fail in 9 or 12 months. or it might eat a cd. or it might have horrible reception...

the qualiuty of those rebadged generics are horrible.

Go with a pioneer 2400 or something from the internet.

do NOT go with jensen/rockwood/ etc etc etc....


your just asking for trouble. and ridicule for you.

 

[The Stigenator]

I am stuck without a sound system in my toyota, damn AIWA CDC-MP3 crapped out on me 4 months after I bought it.. glad I bought the extended warrenty..

Its been over 2 weeks since i gave it for service.. and already i can feel what life is without a stereo.

 

[OS]

Get this;

blau at fry's

I've owned two blaus and they've both been pretty solid. They weren't high end stuff by any measure, but my first one lasted two years w/o a hiccup.

ed, ugh, just noticed you live in SC. . .

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: beatmix01
for an extra $20 you would be better off going with the Aiwa AIW CDCX227 here its only $99.99 on sale with an RMS of 45 watts... trust me, you will hear the difference.

There is no such thing as a headunit that puts out 45 watts RMS per channel.

 

[pillage2001]

Originally posted by: OuterSquare

Originally posted by: beatmix01
for an extra $20 you would be better off going with the Aiwa AIW CDCX227 here its only $99.99 on sale with an RMS of 45 watts... trust me, you will hear the difference.

There is no such thing as a headunit that puts out 45 watts RMS per channel.

I think he meant 45 watts of output and maybe 20 watts RMS

 

[beatmix01]

Originally posted by: pillage2001
I'm also looking to replace one in my car. Looking for one with a Cd player. Not looking to spend much though. 100 - 200. May spend a little more depending on what I'm gonna get. Any suggestions guys??

You can get an CD/MP3 head unit for just under $200... and that was only my quick price searches.

Originally posted by: OuterSquare

Originally posted by: beatmix01
for an extra $20 you would be better off going with the Aiwa AIW CDCX227 here its only $99.99 on sale with an RMS of 45 watts... trust me, you will hear the difference.

There is no such thing as a headunit that puts out 45 watts RMS per channel.

It's MAX out put is 45 watts so it actually puts out around 22-24 watts

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: pillage2001
I'm also looking to replace one in my car. Looking for one with a Cd player. Not looking to spend much though. 100 - 200. May spend a little more depending on what I'm gonna get. Any suggestions guys??

Fry's recently had a sale on my hu, it was 140 including tax.

this one

Definitely check out a pioneer for your price range also, you can 't go wrong with one.

 

[Supermercado]

So, basically... that Aiwa model (regardless of exactly what its power output is) is superior to the Jensen model?

 

[pillage2001]

Thanks guys. I was looking at a Pioneer deck though. How hard is it to install a deck?? I've never done this before.

Also, do you think the prices in etronics are cheap??

 

[pillage2001]

Okie, make it simple, what to look for in a receiver???

 

[beatmix01]

Originally posted by: SuperCommando
So, basically... that Aiwa model (regardless of exactly what its power output is) is superior to the Jensen model?

yes, i wouldnt buy a jensen...

Originally posted by: pillage2001
Thanks guys. I was looking at a Pioneer deck though. How hard is it to install a deck?? I've never done this before.

Also, do you think the prices in etronics are cheap??

not hard at all... once you get your wiring harness it's pretty easy, you will need to get crimps and a crimper if you dont have them. It's pretty much matching wires color to color.