Suggestions for a new audio system

[dheinz]

Well... a CD is trapped inside of my 1993 Pioneer Super Tuner audio system. The error code reads E-AO. I tried to fish out the CD to no avail.

Time for a new stereo... My four speakers are just fine so a new receiver/CD player with aux jack will be suffice.

A self- imposed $200 budget will be my limit.

I have faith that the Pelican brain-trust will guide me to the right purchase.

Ideas, suggestions, help...

[AlfonsoR]

I've been looking for one with blue tooth functionality simply because I would like to keep both hands at the ready for driving. I've researched models from alpine, blaupunkt, pioneer, but have liked the Sony BT5700 the best. I need to go see and play with it in person.

Link to Amazon: Amazon.com: Sony MEXBT5700U CD Receiver Bluetooth Hands-Free and Audio Streaming…

Most of the new stereos are menu driven now, so getting to things that used to be a button or knob on the face plate now take diving into several levels of menus, ala i-drive. So my other priorities are 1) to have buttons for presets and 2) to have a simple method of adjusting tone, i.e. bass and trebble dials would be fine with me. The sony has the presets as you can see, but not sure about access to tone controls.

[Sabre]

Pm sent

[darrin]

I've done away with my stereo head unit all together and now feed music directly into a nice power amp mounted under the passenger seat from my iphone via a 1/8" stereo to rca cable adapter I picked up at radio shack. Sounds great and is easily adjustable while I drive.

If you don't have a strong interest in listening to the radio, this is an inexpensive way to get good sound.

[nineball]

while most items produced by sony are good quality their mobile electronics are notoriously low quality. jvc, pioneer, and alpine all make some nice quality products and have a large range of features and pricing.

what features are you interested in? aux-in? usb port? bluetooth? screen? tuning abilities? ipod support?

[rusnak]

most manufacturers sell a ton of crap, and then at the very top of their line they sell the good stuff. Sony and Blaupunkt included.

While not a sexy idea, for less than $200 you can send the old unit to get repaired and you'll be able to get something nice hopefully later.

[AlfonsoR]

Originally Posted by nineball

while most items produced by sony are good quality their mobile electronics are notoriously low quality. jvc, pioneer, and alpine all make some nice quality products and have a large range of features and pricing.

what features are you interested in? aux-in? usb port? bluetooth? screen? tuning abilities? ipod support?

I agree mostly. I have not owned a sony head unit yet, so I cant speak from experience, but i have had that impression. I really like the Alpine sound, but I absoltutely hate the ergonomics, having to go through several levels to get to the tone controls, then u get there and its a parametric EQ. I wanted something simple.

Pioneer makes some nice stuff on the higher end, but their ergonomics are about the same as alpine.

Another unit I do like are the newest Eclipse. A while back, they were right there with alpine sound but with better (great) ergonomics, but then they went to the BLING side with dynamic 3D graphics and the such. Well their newest units look a lot cleaner and at least one review had good things to say about their top unit. A little more money..
Amazon.com: CD5030 - Eclipse CD/MP3/USB/iPod Player with Built-in Bluetooth Technology: Electronics

Edit:
I thought about what I posted above and I think it comes across as me recommending something (sony) that I would not buy. Not true. I just have in the past prefered Alpine and Pioneer and the Eclipse of several years ago. I have always thought of sony as second in sound quality to those mentioned, but the 5700 has had at least one good review as well plus there are some videos of it on You-Tube and it sounded pretty good for what it is. So, bottom line, at $200, I would recommend listening to this unit. At least compare it to Alpine and Pioneer and if you can spend a little more, definitely audition the Eclipse.

But remember, you are in an old school porsche, so to me, getting an audiophile experience is not the point. And anyway, to get an audiophile experience, the car will have to be sitting still, engine not running, because if it is running, there's that awesome noise from the engine. So I'm not sure that if you spend extra cash for superior sound that you will be able to appreciate it so long as the car is moving. And THAT is what the primary point should be about driving an old school Porsche, the flat, air cooled six. So a sound system is a nice creature comfort for boring commutes, but on winding roads, I like the built surround sound that comes from the flat six.

[nineball]

not true! i have excellent sound while driving on the freeway at 70+ and the top off. it takes some effort, time and cash but it can be done

back on topic, also check out the kenwood models. i have their top end model in one of my cars and i absolutely love it.

[Ofishbein]

Originally Posted by AlfonsoR

IAnother unit I do like are the newest Eclipse. A while back, they were right there with alpine sound but with better (great) ergonomics, but then they went to the BLING side with dynamic 3D graphics and the such. Well their newest units look a lot cleaner and at least one review had good things to say about their top unit. A little more money..
Amazon.com: CD5030 - Eclipse CD/MP3/USB/iPod Player with Built-in Bluetooth Technology: Electronics

I got this Eclipse simply because it was about the ony thing I could find that was iPod compatible AND had a primarily black faceplate. It took me a while to figure out how to turn off the busy graphics and lock the lighting around the display to one color.

The PO of my car installed an awful Kenwood thing under the dash that had a robotic screen pop up with DVD and navigation (that was the first thing I tore out of the car when I bought it - along with the associated amps and components installed in the trunk. I'd still prefer a more-original looking Blaupunkt or Nakamichi radio, but they don't have anything iPod ready and who owns cassettes anymore?

[wolf76]

I have he original tape deck in mine and when I want to listen to music I use the Ipod adapter that is a cassette with the wire that attaches to the Ipod. As others have stated the engine noise is usually my music of choice.


Chris

[Halm]

Similar topic over on a 993 forum. Some folks recommended the Kenwood Excelon line. this one looks pretty clean: Kenwood Excelon KDC-X794 CD receiver at Crutchfield Signature

[burch]

Check this out...


Secretaudio SST

[kopo]

+1 on the Kenwood Excelon line. Very clean look.

[nineball]

Originally Posted by kopo

+1 on the Kenwood Excelon line. Very clean look.

yep, i run the x993 in one of my cars and love it.