Edited: Koss brand of same type with Remote - Again, hot!!!! Mp3 player (indash) for $129.94 @ Walmart YMMV

[digme]

yep.....those who believe walmart and K-mart are for poor folks got it wrong!! (and believe me almost more than half the ppl in this forum rag on walmart and kmart as shops only for the poor and meek)!!

again, the brand for the MP3 player is called Xtreme Sound... 160Watts Max(4chnls), Rms is most pbly like nutz...reads ID3 tags, search capability with for Directories and File names...
-Pre-Amp outs
-3 Preset EQ


_Better than the Koss Mp3 indash in my opinion.....

---
just a note, i have to leave now, be patient if you have questions, i will be back!!!!

EDITED: for the same price now, you can get the Koss brand which has a remote, and also 1 Sub out and four more RCAs pre-outs.....a lot better!! Remote comes very handy esp. while driving and searching files by file name(NOBODY's IN-DASH PLAYER HAS THIS OPTION CURRENTLY with their mp3 car player)

 

[BenRosey]

Just a few unsolicited comments:

I bought this a few months ago off of eb*y because I wanted a cheap way to play MP3's.

There were several comments about how it hisses and pops since it is a cheaper player. While I have not noticed any popping, I have heard (only a few times) some hissing at very low volumes. But, since I never listen at that low of a volume it does not bother me at all. So this is a non-issue in my opinion.

-It does NOT resume tracks when you turn your car on and off (starts at the beginning of the song).

-Seeking tracks and radio station takes a lot of time.

-Booting up the CD takes a lot of time too (10-15 seconds). I was the most unhappy about this, but I don't notice it anymore.

I previously had an AIWA CDC-X176M, which is to what I compare this MP3 player.

Sound quality is excellent, so don't hesitate to get it if you can accept the above-mentioned faults. Installation is no problem either (as easy as any I've done before).

 

[Lars]

I might take a look at this one later today. It is really time to replace my radio (only radio, no tape, no cd)

 

[HUGEhead]

coooooooooooooooooool ... no more radio! now all i need is a burner

 

[Techie333]

Some questions for you guys....
Does this play CDs also?
Can I install this easily in a '96 Camry LE by myself? (I have never done it but I do build computers....)
Do I need anything else other than regular tools to install it?
Can you listen to the radio too....or is it only an mp3 player?

 

[io333]

if you've never delved into auto wiring (and even worse: dashboard disassembly!) before, might i *strongly* suggest you find a savvy audiojunkie gearhead friend to help you through it.

i've been ripping cars/engines/whatever apart since i was a little kid (yes, putting them back together too) and have even had dealings with the "prince of darkness" (sunbeam alpine) & i'm still a little wary when tearing into a dashboard of a car i've never had the displeasure of opening up before.


it usually goes like this:

the first time i need to get a dashboard apart i break *everything*. the second time i open up a dashboard of the same model i know what not to do.

and then there's a good chance you're gonna have noise/static/buzz issues to try to eliminate & that's a whole 'nother thread

 

[bashman]

They have this at kmart?

 

[amdskip]

walmart my friend

 

[digme]

io333,

i beg to differ... all you need to tear down today's car dashboards or interior is just freakin common sense.... everything nowdays is moduled... i just installed mine a couple of days ago, and i did it with the factory head unit right on top of it(it was a cassatte and i want to keep that) not to mention that i have only messed around with dashboards twice, and the other one that i did was with my first car, '86 tercel..

for the camry, it should not be that hard... i don't know if the interior is the same as the Honda, but i am pretty sure that everything is moduled

just make sure that you have plenty of Common sense fundamental basics about electricity...like, how you can avoid hisses, effects of wire shielding, different gauge connections, noise and antenna connections.....believe me you can do it.....(ofcourse that EE helped a little with the tools that i have accumulated throught the years, not that much though)

Tools you will defintely need:

-Wire Stripper (26AWG or even 24AWG ones will work)
-Electrical Tape or a solder gun would even be better( i went with the former since i was not sure if i was going to keep the player)


-Extremely satisfied with the headunit...- the loading that somebody said of 5-10sec is false, i didn't time it but it sure was less than that..... Love the ID3 Tags too...I suggest anybody out there that wants an MP3 Player to grab it(Plays regular Audio CDs too)....Not to mention better than the Koss(supposedly cheapest)...

 

[Brolli007]

Thats not such a good deal. You can find an AIWA CDC-MP3 player which is really good for what you get for around $130 if you look around. And there are much less problems with the AIWA. If properly installed it almost never skips, no hissing, no popping and not as long a load time.

 

[Cruz313]

I bought this head unit some time ago but returned it because it only had one set of pre-outs, I bought the same unit under the KOSS brand name from Sears because it had 2 sets of pre-outs. The KOSS used to be $130 at Sears but is now $179. Thought you'll should know if you are going to an amp with it.

For the record it is a pretty good unit and I have been happy with it.

 

[grinningwolf]

Could someone who buys this unit measure how deep it is from the back of the faceplate
to the back most protruding part? I've got a 90 Volks Vanagon and Crutchfield.com doesn't
show a single mp3 player that fits.

Does any of the auto mp3 players allow playlists? How about portable? And maintain folder names.
The Panasonic auto player I looked at this weekend renames your folders to numbers, and apparently
the numbering is completely outside your control.

Why does the software of auto players seem so braindamaged compared to portables? They've more
room to work with.

 

[WindWalker]

for those willing to send 70 bucks more for "name" brand, here, it's a jenson

 

[bashman]

Is jenson a "name brand" now?? I looked at there car stereos at best buy. I would buy this one for $129 before I got a jenson.

 

[Techie333]

alright guys if you'll bare with me here.............
what does moduled mean?
anyone know if 96 camry stock am/cassette sys is moduled....?
i don't know how you can avoid hisses, effects of wire shielding, different gauge connections, noise and antenna connections..........can someone explain....
do ya guys still think i can do it myself w/ help of friend....

 

[Lars]

Ok, I just bought the Xtreme Sound player at Walmart for $129.84. Will put it in tomorrow.

 

[bedscrew]

This post is for those who are really into music ---- not a flame digme : (also my first post, don't want spoil the party before it started)

IMHO the best mp3 player is JVC KD-SH99. granted it does cost more, about 280$ out the door, which is not a hot deal - however, considering what this player has compared to the rest of the market - it is the hottest deal now for cd/mp3/ payers hands down, especially when compared to the Kenwood Excelon z919 for 550$ - that jenson at bb is junk - and so is the walmart deal. first off you need good a signal to noise ratio and fm sensitivity if you want to enjoy your music and get you radio stations. i am not tellin yall what to do with your money and good audio is probably more important to me than yall, but if your willing to invest 130 you might as well do some fundraising and get the best for another berry n' a half. the reviews on this puppy here
and i would always do a search at ecoustics.com before you buy audio.
and of course JVC has nice write up and interactive demo here
all things aside there are a few out there for a buck thirty, and less - but you get what you pay for in this case.

btw: card remote, dvd upgrade, and 24 DAC are only three items on a long list of why not to buy junk.

Pullin' out a cd with over 150 songs on it is great!

 

[howhao]

THE FACT: Kenwood Excelon Z828 is the best cd/mp3 player hands down! not just my opinion, but after countless reviews i've read and personal experiences i've heard about and more than enough flagship decks of different brands i've been through (sony c-90, eclipse 55160, alpine F-1, premier DIX...), and it came down to this unit because it plays mp3 and sounds as good as most of the above-mentioned flagship units.

beating the JVC model in every category (well, some people prefer JVC's looks, but i like the Z828, that truly depends on personal taste), and yes, it costs.
but for real audio enthusiast, this is definitely the unit to go, by having MP3 capability it doesn't sacrifice one bit sound quality, not like many decks out there with really poor sound qualiies just because the manufacturers thought mp3s would be encoded poorly anyway. also, JVCs headunits are not nearly as well-built as kenwood's, whose been in business for how many years, compared to JVC's baby age in car audio. also kenwood has 3x4.5 preamp output.



also, you're comparing z919's retail price with your online/hookup price. find me one place retailing the JVC for below $300 out the door. NO WAY!

i'm not trying to thread crap but just trying to recommend a product i like and defend its brother as well.

 

[gtd2000]

"Description Quantity
JVC KD-SH99 MP3 Player 1
Scosche NDA Antenna Adapter 1

For your reference, the total amount of your purchase
is $287.85."

That is shipped to my door from Seattle to Lakeland Florida.

The JVC sounds very good indeed

 

[gtd2000]

Forgot to say - I bought it from Sounddomain they do a 105% pricematch policy

 

[Techie333]

Hey guys, can we get back on topic to some of my questions here......im sure there is a $1000 mp3/cd player out there that can beat any of these....so if ur already spending $300 on a kenwood or jvc...why not add the extra $700? And hey....if ur spending a $1000....why not just pitch in an extra $4000 and put in a tv, dvd player, playstation 2, x-box, and a whole entertainment set........?

EDIT: also, does any one know what the maximum mp3 bit rate is for this extreme sound mp3 player....?

 

[gtd2000]

Techie333

Go here to highwaymp3.com they have a message board for all of your mp3 head unit questions they may even have a review of that particular unit that you are interested in

 

[digme]

<<
Hey guys, can we get back on topic to some of my questions here......im sure there is a $1000 mp3/cd player out there that can beat any of these....so if ur already spending $300 on a kenwood or jvc...why not add the extra $700? And hey....if ur spending a $1000....why not just pitch in an extra $4000 and put in a tv, dvd player, playstation 2, x-box, and a whole entertainment set........?

EDIT: also, does any one know what the maximum mp3 bit rate is for this extreme sound mp3 player....? >>



ok, udressing your question about moduled dashboards,- it is as if the parts for the dashobards are socketed like legos...when you play with legos, every part comes apart- easily with no super-glue used or welding...that's what i meant- and i am sure the 96 camry is like that (God forbid, if you have a domestic car the story is different...esp. the ford trucks and chrysler mini-vans... iwas looking at a 98 Volvo sedan yesterday parked right beside me and was dreading from thinkin of how to take the motherfn dashboard out)...ok, on topic...

the lowest bit rate that i have played with this thing is 96kbps..so there goes- no problems..it plays

**** THE THING THAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS PLAYER**** - It lets you search folder by File name or folder name... I don't THINK that the Pioneer New CD/MP3 player does that.....


ONE PROBLEM - i am currently having is that in the morning, the CD won't spin or read, so i would have to reset the whole player ..... what am I DOING wrong? My wiring is correct(i hope) because in the morning time, the player resumes from the track last time i left the car from .....but why doesn't it read in the morning so quickly.... i have to almost wait for 10minutes for the PLAYER to warm up...wtH? What gives guys?

 

[gtd2000]

I have heard that some people think this could be due to insufficient power coming from your battery/alternator on a cold morning - in some cases a new battery (for the car) solved the problem. The car is probably struggling with the heater/lights/rear defroster etc etc.

If the problem disappears in summer this could be possible?

 

[digme]

i will run to pepboys today and charge the battery...will see if that will solve the problem.....ofcourse, i didn't mention this- i had to splice all my wires to do the wiring...reason being i wanted to keep my cassette player.... but the splicing (unless a gauge difference in the wires) would have nothing to do with it...anyways, another question i had- IS THERE any Mp3 Unit out there that is able to do file searching by name as does the Koss and XtremeSound do? anybody know...

everybody keep talking about the Pioneer being better than the Koss and XtremeSound but nobody ever said that the pioneer can do search by file name....anybody knows?