I'm adding an Alpine 6 disc MP3 changer to my 01 stock HU. I'm currently wondering which of these routes to go.

PIE cd changer input converter:
1. Better sound quality than FM modulation?
2. Keep changer controls on the dash/HU
3. Can't add an XM tuner, no aux input.
3. cost about $115 for Ainet to Mbus and Mbus to honda conveters

Alpine CRA-1667RF advantages:
1. Song title text
2. Can add an XM tuner and/or aux input
3. No dash controls and I have to find an inconspicuous place to put the controller or else my whole idea of keeping the stock HU for security's sake is useless.
4. Cost $80

Any opinions comments?

 

My opinion would be to use an MP3 HU. Then you don't need to find a place for the changer or controller or anything else. Then you can easily add a hardwire changer if you need it later.

As to your actual question, how to proceed is wholely up to you, but I have seen a VERY slick installation where the wired remote was mounted to the inside of the radio door. It was hidden when the door was closed, and it fit well with the HU. (there is a surprising ammount of room behind that radio door.)

BTW -- You will get better sound quality with an aftermarket HU, than with the factory no matter how you hook up a changer.

 

My current setup is:
Stock HU - so I don't have to put in an alarm and worry about the hassles of an alarm. Plus the only DCI interface I'd go with is the DJ Qube mod, but can't justify $200 on top of the price of an aftermarket HU. When people look into the car and see a stock HU they usually don't bother with it. And I don't have to go to the pain of taking off the face plate everytime I park the car with the top down. I had an aftermarket HU for 3 months and sold it I don't think it's worth the hassle when an amplified stock HU sounds better.

MB Quart components amplified by a PPI PC275 amp, which sounds really really good even on the stock HU. And a crappy RSX bose sub in the spare.

I was just looking to see if anybody had any feedback on the advantages of the converter cable as opposed to the RF modulator. I think a few guys had gone this route and I was wondering how happy they were with it.

 

Not to KEEP going off-topic, but closing the radio door goes a LONG way in terms of security. Out of sight, out of mind kinda thing.

The Lucid/Modifry DCI is less costly than the DJ Cube, and offers a hard-wire approach and adds the functionality of the speed-sensitive volume control. I agree that either route is pricey, but there ARE alternatives.

I have not used the converter cable. I have used RF changers in the past. I originally had a Sony 10-Disc changer, but I could not get the RF modulator to work correctly in my truck. I think I was getting too much EMI interferance from inside the dash. I ended up going with a Kenwood and was able to locate the RF modulator elsewhere. That made all the differance in the world. Since I was playing MP3s the sound quality was not my #1 priority, however I did not notice any appreciable loss in sound quality with the unit going RF.

If you are planning to go with XM, then it looks like you only have one choice. If you are unsure about XM, I would go the route of having it as an option. If you are sure you DON"T want XM, then you have a decision to make.

 

Thanks for the input, I'm second guessing getting keeping the stock HU. Think I'll get a Alpine 9811 and just go for the lucid/modifry dci. I like the 2 line display on the 9815 but I don't think I can justify the expense when I'm running an external amp.