FM CD changer quality?

[Kristi2k]

How's the sound quality on a FM CD changer?
Specifically, this one.

 

[Kristi2k]

Bump

 

[nwfsnake]

The signal is cleaner than FM, but you lose the dynamic range that CD provides.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: nwfsnake
The signal is cleaner than FM, but you lose the dynamic range that CD provides.

But let's face it. In your average economy car with the average economy headunit that doesn't even have on-board CD Changer controls, are you really going to be able to tell the difference?

I certainly couldn't when I had one.

Now I have a non-modulated CD changer.

Still can't tell the difference.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: nwfsnake
The signal is cleaner than FM, but you lose the dynamic range that CD provides.

No, it's not. It's just closer. FM is FM is FM. The signal from the changer just doesn't have all the distance to travel of a station's signal so it is received better. It's not going to be any better than an FM station with a strong signal.

As far as the quality goes, they're just fine. It's not as though it's going to introduce a sound akin to tape hiss or anything.

ZV

 

[Triumph]

FM broadcasts are limited to 15,000 hz on the upper end. CD's extend to 20,000 hz. You'll be losing that upper 5,000 hz, but if you're over age 20 or so you probably can't hear up there anyway.

 

[Kristi2k]

The CD headunit is nice, it's factory in a 02' Malibu. I doubt I'd here the quality difference from the road noise, maybe not though? Are these worth $160?

 

[nwfsnake]

No, it's not. It's just closer.

Well, not really. In "real life" you pick up other spurious signals within the FM band, besides the "strong station". A good FM modulator will completly cut off the antenna signals so your noise floor is a lot lower resulting in a cleaner signal that can be amplified with less distortion. It is true that at normal listening levels you might not notice, but if you really crank it up you will notice a cleaner signal.

 

[pyonir]

I had a changer with FM and LOVED it. I'd recommend it to anyone that isn't a hardcore car audio junkie.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Kristi2k
The CD headunit is nice, it's factory in a 02' Malibu. I doubt I'd here the quality difference from the road noise, maybe not though? Are these worth $160?

I definitely got my money's worth out of both of mine. If you listen to a lot of stuff you'll never hear on any radio station, or if you drive a lot, you'll love it.

 

[Kristi2k]

Currently, I live 45-55 mins away from work, so I do drive a lot. And some of the music is not on the radio, plus it's easier to have a 12-24 CD changer... Maybe I'll get this.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: Kristi2k
Currently, I live 45-55 mins away from work, so I do drive a lot. And some of the music is not on the radio, plus it's easier to have a 12-24 CD changer... Maybe I'll get this.

Do you also have an in-dash cd player? I had just the changer and i wished i'd had both.

I drove from home to school quite a bit when i was in college and it got me through. A changer is the way to go.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: Kristi2k
Currently, I live 45-55 mins away from work, so I do drive a lot. And some of the music is not on the radio, plus it's easier to have a 12-24 CD changer... Maybe I'll get this.

Do you also have an in-dash cd player? I had just the changer and i wished i'd had both.

I drove from home to school quite a bit when i was in college and it got me through. A changer is the way to go.

12-disc + In Dash is perfect b/c you have a ton of music in the changer, and you can throw in a CD on a whim.

Now I have a 6-disc in-dash which is very convenient when it comes to changing discs, but it lacks one feature that I loved: The ability to randomly play songs from all 12 discs. My 6'er can only play random songs from the current disc. Not a show stopper, but it was really nice.

It's also amazing how quick 6 discs seems to play through.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: Jzero
12-disc + In Dash is perfect b/c you have a ton of music in the changer, and you can throw in a CD on a whim.

Now I have a 6-disc in-dash which is very convenient when it comes to changing discs, but it lacks one feature that I loved: The ability to randomly play songs from all 12 discs. My 6'er can only play random songs from the current disc. Not a show stopper, but it was really nice.

It's also amazing how quick 6 discs seems to play through.

That is one of the things i missed (the random over 12 discs), but now i have an MP3/CD player in my car. The MP3 disc i currently have in there has 12 albums on it. and i can randomize.

 

[MrDudeMan]

fm modulators = REALLY SUCK A BFC

im no audio junkie but i cant stand how it sounds. it sounds like crappy homer simpson .wav files on the computer that you can find on the internet. ive had a few of them on a few different headunits, and they all sounded like sh!t. RCA is the way to go (at the very least anyway).

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
fm modulators = REALLY SUCK A BFC

im no audio junkie but i cant stand how it sounds. it sounds like crappy homer simpson .wav files on the computer that you can find on the internet. ive had a few of them on a few different headunits, and they all sounded like sh!t. RCA is the way to go (at the very least anyway).

I had an FM modulator changer for over 5 years and it sounded much better than a lot of other audio systems i'd heard.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
fm modulators = REALLY SUCK A BFC

im no audio junkie but i cant stand how it sounds. it sounds like crappy homer simpson .wav files on the computer that you can find on the internet. ive had a few of them on a few different headunits, and they all sounded like sh!t. RCA is the way to go (at the very least anyway).

I had an FM modulator changer for over 5 years and it sounded much better than a lot of other audio systems i'd heard.

that could be possible, but did you ever wonder who the idiot was that installed the ones that sounded bad? or were the cheap as hell? FYI, im not trying to start an arguement..keep it light hearted

 

[MrDudeMan]

sh!t..DP, sorry

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
that could be possible, but did you ever wonder who the idiot was that installed the ones that sounded bad? or were the cheap as hell? FYI, im not trying to start an arguement..keep it light hearted

I know...It's all personal opinion anyway along with personal experience. Mine actually sounded like crap the first time i had it installed, because the company was a small hole in the wall place, and they did a crappy job. I upgraded my wires and had it reinstalled by professionals and it sounded the same as any other system i'd heard that they'd installed. I'm always lighthearted. ok maybe not. Right MrCodeDude?

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
that could be possible, but did you ever wonder who the idiot was that installed the ones that sounded bad? or were the cheap as hell? FYI, im not trying to start an arguement..keep it light hearted

LOL. Maybe it was a crappy modulator. I don't think you can screw up the installation...a chimp could handle it...you just plug it into the antenna jack on the back of the HU!

 

[Kristi2k]

My car has a CD player, but I'm always changing CD's while going 70+ MPH down the road, so, I would like it to be easier when switching CD's.

I have to run a power cable and an audio cable from the trunk to the head unit, right?

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
that could be possible, but did you ever wonder who the idiot was that installed the ones that sounded bad? or were the cheap as hell? FYI, im not trying to start an arguement..keep it light hearted

LOL. Maybe it was a crappy modulator. I don't think you can screw up the installation...a chimp could handle it...you just plug it into the antenna jack on the back of the HU!

hehe thats what i thought too but i was proved wrong by the chimps at best buy. the modulator was pretty decent AFAIK.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: pyonir

...I'm always lighthearted. ok maybe not. Right MrCodeDude?

sure thing, pyoneezy