Has anyone owned/installed an FM-Modulated CD changer?

[BigSmooth]

I was thinking about buying my GF one of these for her birthday. I was originally thinking about a head unit but she drives a '99 Escort with one of the big oval control panels. So it would be a hassle to put in a DIN head unit, plus this way she can keep her cassette and we could put the changer in a new car when we trade up.

So have you guys used these before? I know the sound is not perfect but I hear it is pretty good.
Where do you have it mounted (does it have to go in the trunk)? Did you install it yourself? Was it easy?

TIA to anyone who can help.

 

[The Stigenator]

the bmw has a trunk mounted 10 cd changer from sony. its nice however fry's I think screwed up a bit. Cause now the speakers (the front tweeters) crackle, whereas when playing the radio its fine.. something in teh wiring.

Anyway have it done at a place that deals with this kind of stuff. The guys from Fry's had to litteraly take apart the car to put the cable from the back to the front.

Dont ask me why my brother took it to fry's.. but stilll got to a place where they do installs all the time.

Just borrow your gf's car for lunch and come back with it.

 

[TomC25]

The system runs through a low number FM station in your area not being used so it is limited to your radio's frequency response. So, you can throw the clear quality CD sound out the window. A good CD player can send a signal out greater than what you can hear - 20Hz-20KHz. Using FM modulation it will be reduced to something like 35Hz-15KHz. Also, sometimes if you are driving in an area that has a station number close to what your systems is set to use, it will bleed in the signal and you will have competing music.

I think they are ok if you are not an audiophile, but the sound is so much better with a deck/changer combo that are of the same brand. It will probably cost more to fit a DIN head unit in an unusual opening. Mouning the changer in the trunk is the norm, but if you have high clearance under the seats you could put it there.

Good Luck

 

[mrchan]

they work pretty well. the install is pretty simple too, took me under an hour for everything.

 

[BigSmooth]

Tom, yeah, that's what I figured as far as sound quality. But like I said, I don't know how much longer she'll even have this car so I don't want to spend the extra $$$ for the kit and everything else.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

 

[Bulldog7000]

They make replacement panels for crazy shaped stereos. I stuck one on a car which replaced the factory oval panel with a new oval panel with a regular DIN rectangular cutout. It works and looks excellent! Best Buy or some place should be able to hook you up with one for a 99 taurus. SHould only be around $20-30USD

FM Modulated CHANGERS Blow a GOAT! Pain in the butt in terms of traveling to an area where the station you happen to use for the changer is an actual radio station in the area.

BDOG

 

[RossGr]

I have installed one in one of my cars, works fine. As for sound quality, did you say Ford Escort! Why would you want anything better in a Escort, road noise kills most of your sound anyhow. They are not that bad to install if you have any electrical knowledge at all. I have managed to install changers in both of my cars without any trouble. Since this imposes the signal directly on the antenna it takes a pretty strong outside signal to interfer, we drove around LA for a week with ours going all the time, maybe once did we get some interferance.

EDIT:
Yes, I put the changer in the trunk, then ran the cable through cable runs that are on the passenger side floor, hidden by the plastic molding between the door and carpet. The scary part is lifting the moulding, usually a few screws and then some snap tabs. BTW I have done this on a Ford so bet yours will be similar. With a bit of sweat and cursing it goes pretty well.

Good luck

 

[BigSmooth]

<< They make replacement panels for crazy shaped stereos... SHould only be around $20-30USD >>


Yeah, I considered that, but the prices I saw for those things was closer to $30-40. I might check out some more local stores and see if they have better prices.


<< FM Modulated CHANGERS Blow a GOAT! Pain in the butt in terms of traveling to an area where the station you happen to use for the changer is an actual radio station in the area. >>


I think you can change the frequency they are using with most models... although if you can't change it from the remote, that would be annoying.


<< Why would you want anything better in a Escort, road noise kills most of your sound anyhow. >>


LOL, how true. That's why we always take my car everywhere. But I still think she'd like to be able to play CDs in her car.

 

[RossGr]

Let me add some more. Installation is the same for a changer, modulator or not, Your idea is on the right track, go ahead and get the modulator. The first modulator I installed was a lemon, terrible buzzing that seemed to be temperature dependent, I took that one back and tried again, the second one is fine. This is installed in a Pontiac Grand Prix which is a relitivly quite car, I have no complaints about sound quality. My Ford Probe has a changer/head unit installed so I am familiar with both systems. I would recommend exactly what you are doing for a Escort, do not waste money on sound quality that you cannot realistly expect to optain. Changers are great, I can run the same 8 disks for along time, by the time I get through the lot of them it is like new music agian.

again Good luck

 

[BigSmooth]

Thanks Ross, I also think this will be the most cost-effective solution in the long run. I looked around a little more, for some reason the DIN face plate adapters for 97-99 Escorts are very expensive, like $50-70! Yikes!

Now, which brand of changer to get... hmmm...

 

[RossGr]

<< Now, which brand of changer to get... hmmm... >>



I went with the cheapest I could find

The 10 Cd changer in the Pontiac cost ~ $130. and is a Fisher or something like that, it has run flawlessly for over 2yrs, if we are in the car it is running, that includes 3 trips to LA, about a 16hr drive from here. Get what your wallet can handle, don't break the bank for a name. I'll bet there are only 2 or 3 manufactures of these things in the world, they are all about the same.

I have a Panasonic in my Probe, it skips now and again when I hit a bumb wrong, but the Probe's ride is pretty stiff.