There is a solid state player by Rockford Fosgate.

http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-lUbB8...RFXMP38&o=M&a=0

Never owned a head unit, but their amps come highly rated. It is owned by a Harmon Kardon which also makes Infinity and JBL.

 

The person Pinky is referring to is me. I've had both in my car and believe me, don't buy the Aiwa mp3 player. It skips way too often and the Kenwood model hasn't skipped on me once, yet. If you don't mind spending more on the Kenwood model, get it.

Rev, does it really load up that long. I'm about to make my first mp3 disc and I hope I can handle the load/wait time. If not, then back to Cartoys this Kenwood model goes.

Pinky, do you have any other cd head unit recommendations (even if it doesn't have an mp3 option)? Here's what I want...I don't plan on installing any amps and subs. I just want something that will be easy to use and sound good. Thanks!

 

HondaGuy lemme know how it all goes! Well my recomendations for a regular head unit are gonna prob be Pioneer Premier (i got the P-720 in my car) Or a high end Clarion. I have done a couple Alpines which are not bad.

I really would like a good review for the MP3 player in your eyes as well. Just so I can be informed for when others will inebitabally(sp) ask.

 

Problem with the Rockford Fosgate is that it can only takes 8 MMC cards. Not only are these expensive, but they are also very limited in storage. I think the largest you can get is 32Mb. So for much more than the cost of the Kenwood, you get half the capacity.

On the topic of other manufacturers, I don't think Sony are very keen. Sony Music is one of the companies which stands to lose the most from MP3's. They have proposed their own standard which lets you write to a Memory Stick, but it only works in your player. Sounds like the next BetaMax to me.

I've purchased a Neo 35 which plugs into an AUX port on your head unit. It uses a Hd for storage so capacity is limited only to the Hd you put in it. One owner, Wesmaster, has a 61Gb in his Neo in his S2000.

My experience so far has been less than stellar. Basically the unit was DOA. Fairly frustrating at the best of times but even more so when you're on the other side of the globe ($70 freight). The problem is only exacerbated by the manufacturer's refusal to return emails. We're finally talking and should have a resolution soon. Unfortunately I think it's going to involve sending the unit back to the US, then sending a replacement unit back to Australia. According to their literature, all at my expense.

Then we'll see how a Hd stands up to the S's taught suspension. Wish me luck



[This message has been edited by AusS2000 (edited November 01, 2000).]

 

I've had no problems with the suspension messing up the HD, or skipping. Glad to hear that you're getting it "worked out" with SSI - that's unfortunate that you're eating the shipping costs. I've got 60+ of my 300 CDs converted to MP3 and on my Neo...it just takes time. =)

Wesmaster

 

As someone who has owned an Aiwa mp3 unit for a few months I'm surprised about the skipping problems. The only time it skips on me is when I go over potholes or those large metal plates they put in the roads during construction.

Mine was installed professionally and I'm using an Alpine V12 amp to drive the door speakers (Sony xplod 3-way) and a BA competitor sub in the trunk - it sure sounds good to me.

I went with the Aiwa because I needed something now and didnt want to spend $700 on the kenwood which has gotten mixed reviews from what I've read (one thing I remember, no intra-song fast forward feature)

I figure 2nd generation car mp3 head units will be out in a year and will be better and cheaper than either of these units, I'll upgrade then...

 

Pinky, well I just tried out my first mp3 disc today and I don't like this head unit. Call me an impatient fool or whatever, it's just what Rev said...It takes a couple of seconds (5-6) just to forward to the next song in the folder and I hate waiting. Don't even get me started about the wait time right when you turn on your head unit everytime you start the car or switch to another mp3 disc (It was at least 15-17 secs.). I don't know what to say...Ok, I do! IMHO, this isn't worth the price I paid for it ($629 professionally installed, plus tax). Even though, it's only been a couple of days since I've had it, I'm already aggrevated by the really small d-pad for track forward/backward. To top off my poor selection of a head unit, I also purchased at the same time the Infinity 652i reference speakers that don't even fit in the door panel. So, I basically took apart my door panel for nothing. Anyway, If anyone out there doesn't mind the load time and small d-pad, then it's worth the investment.

As far as the skipping problem of the Aiwa mp3 head unit, I had it professionally installed, too. It wasn't as if I installed it myself and botched something up. I drive half the time in the city and the other half on the freeway here in Dallas, Texas. The roads aren't that bumpy, but yet I still got way too much skipping w/this head unit (Even w/a plain cd, not a burned mp3 disc).

I hope everyone understands I'm just expressing my opinions based on actual usage of both products. Hopefully, this'll save someone(s) the trouble of getting one of these head units, if they don't like the symptoms I hate in a head unit, too.

Was that a good enough review for you Pinky. So is it me or is it really hard to find the Pioneer Premier P820 anywhere? Have you heard anything about those Alpine 3-discs in-dash changer/receiver?

 

Thank you for that review! Sorry that you dont like it. Well I hope over time you can cope with it or sell it on E-bay.

As for the Premier P820 it is a rare unit! If your interested I know that my boss can get you one. Being in the industry for close to 30 years you get some pretty good contacts!

As for the Alpine units I have seen them never used them though heard they do skip(sometimes) and break often! Unless they have done some fixes to help that I dunno. Though if you want that P820 im sure I can find it somewhere......if you want the Alpine I would say buy it local so if it breaks down you can get it swapped out there.(sorry) Just don't want you get caught shipping a radio all over the place if you went with me.(not that im forcing you too)

 

Be sure to burn this MP3. Great song for races
http://s2000.highiq.com/movies/Looney%20Tu...he%20Wabbit.mp3

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AusS2000:
[B]