How are Panasonic in-dash CD players?

[beer]

Is there any truth to his statement? For some reason, Alpines seem to not want to come with such basic features as MP3 playback.

Panasonic has a nice feature set - how is their quality? (entry level, <$150ish)

 

[saltedeggman]

i am actually look for a new headunit too

any suggestion?

 

[Aimster]

Alpine > Panasonics

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Stay out of the chain stores:

You can save 30% or more by shopping online.

Panasonic are great Head Units, my older CD unit is going on 8yrs and still running strong.

 

[Aimster]

http://www.etronics.com

I would get a pioneer if it is going to be less than $150.

 

[natto fire]

I have enjoyed any piece of Panasonic equipment that I have owned. Haven't used any of their head units personally, but I am sure brand hype as well as poor training has convinced the faithful CC employee to steer you in the wrong direction. That being said, I can tell you from personal experience to be wary of JVC head untis...

 

[cheapgoose]

i have one, cd/mp3 deck. no complaints. too bad there's no aux in.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Stay out of the chain stores:

You can save 30% or more by shopping online.

Panasonic are great Head Units, my older CD unit is going on 8yrs and still running strong.

I know. My dash currently has a hole in it. I'll pay 20 or 30 bucks more if it means I don't need to make another 250 mile run back to college without a stereo. That's agony and not worth the money saved online.

 

[Zugzwang152]

blaupunkt fanboi checking in! but all the hardcore car guys i know seem to have alpines.

 

[0roo0roo]

any with line in? nice feature to have for ipods and such. annoying how few seem to have this line in "advanced feature"

the better to gouge u with their 999+ dollar mp3 harddrive dash unit

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
any with line in? nice feature to have for ipods and such. annoying how few seem to have this line in "advanced feature"

the better to gouge u with their 999+ dollar mp3 harddrive dash unit

I think there are some "cheaper" Kenwood units with this feature. I know my friend has one that he uses with his XM unit.

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Stay out of the chain stores:

You can save 30% or more by shopping online.

Panasonic are great Head Units, my older CD unit is going on 8yrs and still running strong.

Yeah, but you give up the free installation the chain stores offer.

I've installed a dozen head units and it's no big deal, but some people are just not mechanically inclined.

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Stay out of the chain stores:

You can save 30% or more by shopping online.

Panasonic are great Head Units, my older CD unit is going on 8yrs and still running strong.

Yeah, but you give up the free installation the chain stores offer.

I've installed a dozen head units and it's no big deal, but some people are just not mechanically inclined.

Installing a head unit is cake. Unless, you know, you are not sure what an undamaged DIN slot is supposed to look like and therefore unsure of whether or not you're going to run into any problems getting the sh!t in because some fscking (insert certain ethnicity that statistically tends to steal $100 head units here) ripped out your dash with a crowbar.

 

[jamesbond007]

Never run anything but an Alpine. Period. If you don't want to fork up the cash for an Alpine, then your needs are probably best-suited by the stock deck you have.

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: Aimster
Alpine > Panasonics

Not entirely true.

 

[jst0ney]

I have always loved the Alpines that I have had. They are not always the best looking though but the sound quality is great.

 

[HiTek21]

Panasonic makes some pretty nice looking headunits but I don't know how they perform. I guess if you don't plan on going all out with your audio equipment then the panasonic head unit should do nicely.

 

[opticalmace]

so, headunits with aux in...
how do you connect an ipod to it? with what cable?

 

[HiTek21]

Originally posted by: opticalmace
so, headunits with aux in...
how do you connect an ipod to it? with what cable?

if you have an alpine headunit you could get this

Pioneer uses This

Most manufactures make a cable that converts the CD changer input to an aux input like this one from pioneer Link i'm not sure how well these work because typically the input senses the power from the CD changer to switch to the aux input so some may or may not work.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: opticalmace
so, headunits with aux in...
how do you connect an ipod to it? with what cable?

if you mean a front line in..then just a cable with 3.5 plug on both ends.. at any electronics store for 3bux

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: Squisher

Originally posted by: Fmr12B
Stay out of the chain stores:

You can save 30% or more by shopping online.

Panasonic are great Head Units, my older CD unit is going on 8yrs and still running strong.

Yeah, but you give up the free installation the chain stores offer.

I've installed a dozen head units and it's no big deal, but some people are just not mechanically inclined.

Its really not FREE.
They always will get you for the harness and adapter or mybe even "new" speaker wires which will cost you in the $35++

The best value HU is the Panasonic 1300 MP3/wma player.
I bought it at Car domain for $125 which included a harness and adapter.
If you know how to color match wires, you can install a car HU.
The hardest part might be how to pull your old HU out and even Crutchfield will show you how to do that.

The 1300 model is great because it has 2 RCA preouts(if you want to connect an amp later). Most HU in this pricerange will only have 1 set.
The preouts voltage is 2.5 as oppose to 1.5 for most other HU.

Cardomain has this yr model 1301 for $115 with the harness and install kit.
You will not find anything close to these features for the price.

 

[royaldank]

I had a Panasonic CD deck in my old car. It's the best CD player I've had in a car. Had it for over 5 years without a problem. Not sure if the new ones have a AUX IN like my old one, but that feature alone was worth the price.

I have very good luck with Panasonic stuff. Bought a 50" DLP of their a month ago and love it.

 

[CTrain]

I'm salivating over this one even though I don't need another HU for the car.

Panasonic CQ-C8301U for under $200.
What an incredible amount of features for this unit.

 

[Kelvrick]

I'm enjoying my 5310

Alpines seem to cost more then all the other brands for their models with comparable features. Eclipse would be the best, although usually not the best looking.

EDIT: While we're on the subjec,t what about budget speakers? Yes, I know they're nothing compared to your 100+ speakers, but I don't wanna spend that much. Any word on like 50-70 a pair sets of speakers like these infiniti references or these rockford fosgates? Or these pioneers?

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
I'm enjoying my 5310

Alpines seem to cost more then all the other brands for their models with comparable features. Eclipse would be the best, although usually not the best looking.

EDIT: While we're on the subjec,t what about budget speakers? Yes, I know they're nothing compared to your 100+ speakers, but I don't wanna spend that much. Any word on like 50-70 a pair sets of speakers like these infiniti references or these rockford fosgates? Or these pioneers?

I'm guessing you don't have an AMP in your car.
Just your HU driving the 4 speakers ??

Of those 3, the Infiniti by far and cardomain.com has it for $56.
If you can find it at a reputable online site for less, they will give you 5% less.
I've tried and it actually work.

Although instead of wasting money on new speakers, I would get a AMP instead.
Regular HU+AMP+old speakers >>>>> Regular HU+New speakers, NO AMP.