Please recommend me a decent car radio/CD player.

[Sukhoi]

I just bought a 1988 Toyota Corolla hatchback with a really crappy radio in it. I'm looking to replace the really crappy radio with a decent radio/CD player. The car currently only has two front speakers, though I have two cheap speakers I'm going to put in the back. So can someone recommend me brands and/or models to look for in the very cheap to cheap price range? Thanks!

 

[masterxfob]

try the stock headunit out of a 94-01 acura integra

 

[mithrandir2001]

Jensen makes cheap stuff. I'd check out Wal-Mart for selection.

 

[isekii]

just use a CD player with the cassette adapter..

you dont want to get something for an old car and then get it jacked the next day~

 

[Zenmervolt]

Look for stuff from a company called "Coustic" (sp?). They make really crappy stuff. I was test-driving a Jetta (no "woman-car" jokes please, I passed on the car) that had a Coustic radio and the radio would not turn off, none of the buttons worked, and it switched stations at random. It also got terrible interferance from the engine. But it had a detachable face!

ZV

 

[flot]

You didn't mention how much you wanted to pay, so hard to say.

If you can afford a $99-129 CD player, JVC makes some very good ones for the money.

For speakers, I'd head to wal-mart and look at pioneer. They are crappy, but decent - and tend to have good efficiency ratings, which means even your crappy head unit should be able to play them at reasonable volume levels. DO NOT buy them based on the "max wattage" rating, on cheap speakers that's usually BS and the opposite of what you want, you want something that can put out a decent amount of sound without much power going in. Look for speakers that have the efficiency (like 96db, 101db) ratings on the box if you can find any. What that means is that for 1 watt they'll put out sound xx db loud - so higher #s are better.

 

[UNCjigga]

anything by 'Jensen'

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
I just bought a 1988 Toyota Corolla hatchback with a really crappy radio in it. I'm looking to replace the really crappy radio with a crappy radio/CD player. The car currently only has two front speakers, though I have two crappy speakers I'm going to put in the back. So can someone recommend me brands and/or models to look for in the very cheap to cheap price range? Thanks!

Is there any particular reason you're really emphasizing the 'crappy' aspect?

I mean personally I don't mind a bit more so that I don't have to listen to sh*tty music. 150 bux will buy a decent hu.

 

[mpitts]

I'll sell you my old Pioneer Premiere DEH-P310 for $85 shipped.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: masterxfob
try the stock headunit out of a 94-01 acura integra

Interesting idea...never thought of something like that. I'll have to call some junkyards around here and see how much they would want. Why do you specifically recommend the Integra?

 

[isekii]

lol

I have a cd player from my 99 Honda CR-V if you're interested..
it's made by panasonic~

let me know
with your offer that is

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: isekii
just use a CD player with the cassette adapter..

you dont want to get something for an old car and then get it jacked the next day~

The car doesn't even have a cassette player or I'd do that. :Q

 

[Sukhoi]

$150 is good. I didn't realize the low-end of car CD players is as low as it is. I shouldn't have empasized crappy as much as I did. I'm willing to pay up to $200 if it'll get me a much better receiver.

How is Alpine? Crutchfield has the CDE-7870 for $160.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
$150 is good. I didn't realize the low-end of car CD players is as low as it is. I shouldn't have empasized crappy as much as I did. I'm willing to pay up to $200 if it'll get me a much better receiver.

How is Alpine? Crutchfield has the CDE-7870 for $160.

Good call.

When you said crappy so much i was thinking along the lines of those 'phase linear' pieces of sh*ts that they sell at CC for like 50 bux.

Alpine is good, you can't really go wrong with that.

 

[masterxfob]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi

Originally posted by: masterxfob
try the stock headunit out of a 94-01 acura integra

Interesting idea...never thought of something like that. I'll have to call some junkyards around here and see how much they would want. Why do you specifically recommend the Integra?

if you're just looking for a really basic radio/cd player then you can get one of them for under $50 shipped. the radio works fine, the cd player works fine, but if you to turn your music up and hear the basss, this isn't for you.

 

[Sukhoi]

if you're just looking for a really basic radio/cd player then you can get one of them for under $50 shipped. the radio works fine, the cd player works fine, but if you to turn your music up and hear the basss, this isn't for you.

Ah, not sure if I want to go that cheap.

So of Alpine, JVC, Kenwood, Panasonic, Pioneer, and Sony are there any that are significantly better quality than the others? I've been hearing that Alpine is good, but possibly overpriced.

Also, do I need to worry about wiring/voltage here since my car is so old? I really know nothing about car radios. Thanks for all the help so far!

 

[masterxfob]

Ah, not sure if I want to go that cheap.

it's to bad that when acura was making the car, they didn't think like you

anyhow, i like alpine, it may be overpriced, but it's worth it

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi

Ah, not sure if I want to go that cheap.

So of Alpine, JVC, Kenwood, Panasonic, Pioneer, and Sony are there any that are significantly better quality than the others? I've been hearing that Alpine is good, but possibly overpriced.

Also, do I need to worry about wiring/voltage here since my car is so old? I really know nothing about car radios. Thanks for all the help so far!

I hear bad things about Sonys. I wouldn't buy one of those.

What I hear about Alpine is that they don't build them like they used to, but that's true of alot of electronics these days. I'm sure it'll be fine in the end though.

Nothing special about wiring, just buy a harness and some crimps. I put a recent hu into an 89 accord not long ago and there wasn't anything unusual about the install.

You can check out forums.sounddomain.com and do a search for more details opinions on brands/models.

 

[Sukhoi]

You can check out forums.sounddomain.com and do a search for more details opinions on brands/models.

Is your URL correct? I can't get to the site.

Nevermind, got it.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi

You can check out forums.sounddomain.com and do a search for more details opinions on brands/models.

Is your URL correct? I can't get to the site.

whoops, according to the main page (sounddomain.com), no 's'

forum.sounddomain.com

It seems down though.

You can also try carreview.com

 

[edmicman]

jvc sx-980 is sweet....plays mp3 cds too

 

[vi edit]

You could get a cheapie kenwood or maybe even an open box or closeout rockford fosgate MP3 deck for under $200.

 

[MajesticMoose]

pioneer deh3400. i have one and it is quite nice

 

[Thegonagle]

For $200, you can even get MP3 capability!

My Blaupunkt MP3000 (freaking wonderful for the money, I couldn't be happier) was under $190 shipped from an E-bay dude with plenty of feedback.

Once you spring for some JBL GTO or Infinity Reference speakers in the front (and anything with a little bass in the back), you'll be stylin' with some decent SQ for not a lot of money!