Decent MP3 head unit?

1924 Views 21 Replies 10 Participants Last post by supra400hptt, Oct 31, 2002

BLKMGK

Discussion Starter · Jan 6, 2002

I've been waiting and looking - now I've got a Supra with a stock system and am ready to build a decent system but I want an MP3 plaer this time around. The local shop mentioned an Alpine unit for $799 that they didn't have in stock at the time and showed me a Kenwood unit ($599). I dn't have the model number handy but I was surprised that the face didn't flip and that it seemed a little cheesy. For instance to load a CD a button is pushed and the face just flops down to allow access to the slot. My current Alpine in another car is motorized and way smooth - but no MP3

Who's MP3 head unit is worth looking at? I'd like something that will display ID3 tags, don't care much about MSFT's WMV format (bleah), would like easy directory navigation (say like a CD changer with multiple disks), and prefer a rotary volume. The Alpine has a bunch of this but $799 ain't cheap!

Will be replacing door speakers, rear speakers, and would like a set of 10s to replace the factory sub so I guess I'll have to run an amp. I may try to run the others from the head unit but I'm not positive. I don't wish to give up all of my storage (cough) for a stereo like I've done in my RX7! This is for a MKIV - want a single DIN head BTW, lower portion will hold turbo timer etc.

Heelp!

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

Flavio

· #2 · Jan 6, 2002

Why don't you get a regular single DIN headunit and use a trunk mounted MP3 player like the Neo (http://www.ssiamerica.com/) or PhatNoise (http://www.phatnoise.com/products/index.php). That way you have way more storage capacity and you have more choice in headunits. The NEO just needs a headunit with an auxiliary input, the PhatNoise works best with a Kenwood.

I have the Neo (or mStation as it's called in Europe) and I like it very much. It has 10GB capacity so you can store a couple of thousand songs on it. It has its own wired remote display.

Flavio

BLKMGK

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 6, 2002

The Neo looks pretty nice but how would it be controlled? Am I looking at having to use a second controller after switching my head unit into Aux mode?

I've considered HD based MP3 players in the past but so far they've either been way too expensive or too jury rigged for my liking. What's a Neo cost these days? My local dealer wanted $799 for the Alpine CDA-7878 but supposedly it can be had for less online (am hunting that now). Space is an issue too - I don't want to give up much room

Thanks for the response, I'd noticed you were running that in another thread but hadn't seriously considered it for myself...

Flavio

· #4 · Jan 6, 2002

You control the MP3 player with a wired remote that also has an LCD display that shows info about the songs.

These links have more info:

http://www.ssiamerica.com/products/neo35/index.html

http://www.carplayer.com/ssi/cpm25/hddunit.shtml

I've also included a pic of my dash with the Alpine IVA-C800 headunit, Blitz SBC-iD and iD Power Meter, mStation MP3 remote and Racelogic TC switches.

Flavio

Flavio

· #5 · Jan 6, 2002

closeup of the MP3 remote.

Flavio

· #6 · Jan 6, 2002

Here's a special deal on the Neo:

http://order.kagi.com/cgi-bin/r1.cgi?1HV

You would need the Neo, the Car Bay, the LCD remote and you would have to supply your own 3.5 inch harddisk.

Flavio

BLKMGK

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 6, 2002

Hrm...

About $400 sans HD. I'd need a headunit and this would be a second remote. I'm going to have to think about this. The Alpine CDA-7878 is going for around $600 and appears to be one of the better if not best MP3 head units out there right now. $799 from my local shop is a bit steep (*cough*). I realize that the 700megs of MP3 on a single CD doesn't compare with 10GIG or more on an HD but the 10gig I've got here at home hooked to my stereo is almost overwhelming as it is - I'm not sure I can imagine trying to navigate all of that driving down the road

Really appreciate the effort posting pics and whatnot, this will be a tough decision

Been awhile since I've done a stereo install and I'd hoped to NOT do this one myself - local shop's rates are decent but if I went with something like the NEO I'd do it...

Heh, I really like that RaceLogic TC - that may be a future purchase for sure! You've done a nice install of that sucker! Do you like it?

Flavio

· #8 · Jan 6, 2002

Re: Hrm...

BLKMGK said:
About $400 sans HD. I'd need a headunit and this would be a second remote. I'm going to have to think about this. The Alpine CDA-7878 is going for around $600 and appears to be one of the better if not best MP3 head units out there right now. $799 from my local shop is a bit steep (*cough*). I realize that the 700megs of MP3 on a single CD doesn't compare with 10GIG or more on an HD but the 10gig I've got here at home hooked to my stereo is almost overwhelming as it is - I'm not sure I can imagine trying to navigate all of that driving down the road Really appreciate the effort posting pics and whatnot, this will be a tough decision Been awhile since I've done a stereo install and I'd hoped to NOT do this one myself - local shop's rates are decent but if I went with something like the NEO I'd do it...

Heh, I really like that RaceLogic TC - that may be a future purchase for sure! You've done a nice install of that sucker! Do you like it?

The reason I got the mStation was its cheap price, it was on sale, I paid $200 for a complete set including 10GB HD! I wouldn't have bought it for $400 now that I've installed it, it is really a simple unit hardware wise and it has some bugs, after all it's a computer!

The Racelogic TC is one of the best mods, if not the best mod, I've installed. I simply cannot imagine driving the car without it.
Yesterday I had set the slip control to 20% by accident and I almost lost the car at the first corner! I drive my car all year round and in this time of year it can be so dangerous with 400rwhp. With the Racelogic TC you can drive a lot more relaxed. It's become sort of a de facto option for all UK Supra drivers and I cannot imagine why it hasn't taken off in States, it really is a super system.

Flavio

mystic

· #9 · Jan 7, 2002

hey
rockford fosgate has a nice one out...its there 9300. plays mp3s.
goes for 250-280 on ebay.com
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1312773611

I've actually got one too...brand new in box never opened
give me an offer
[email protected]

BLKMGK

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 7, 2002

I've not looked closely but...

Crutchfield lists the Rockford unit as not being able to play CD-RW, not supporting CD-Text, and I'm considering buying something that XM ready or maybe Sirius. E-Bay has the Alpine at some pretty good prices but of course warranty is a big question mark since yo ucan bet these folks aren't licensed Alpine dealers. Grr, I'm starting to consider installing this puppy myself - PITA! I've not completely ruled out the RockFord unit, it is cheaper. Lemme' see if I can find some reviews of it - so far th ereviews on the Alpine are damned good! Supposdly it can evenshow you ID3 info without selecting the song for playback and no other unit I've read up on can do this - its a common complaint.

G

· #11 · Jan 8, 2002

have you checked out the Jensen MP5010K? I'm very happy with mine. You can get all the specs and download the manual from here:

http://www.jensen.com/mobile/non/receivers/mp5010k.htm

Also, there is a discussion board for the MP5010:

http://pub56.ezboard.com/fhighwaymp3frm16

Had some problems with slow clock, but they have that all fixed now. Under $200 and a great deal IMHO.

Check it out.

BLKMGK

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 8, 2002

Thanks for the URLs

I'll give them a whirl when I've got a moment. I've got an Alpine in two cars now (both for sale lol) and have really liked them. I also like the fact that Alpine has kept a rotary volume know which is cool. Will check out the Jenson - I'm not sold on anything just yet

mystic

· #13 · Jan 10, 2002

The 9300 does in fact play CDRW. Btw this is [email protected] what ever happened with James car? Did you get it? Do you like?

Peace
Dave

hakaida

· #14 · Jan 10, 2002

lots of new mp3 players at ces show this week. maybe you should wait a few months and checkout the new shit.

BLKMGK

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 10, 2002

Alpine 7878

According to this site -> http://www.highwaymp3.com/ the Alpine 7878 has been discontinued. However if you read up on th e7878 and the model replacing it you'll see that the 7878 was MUCH better

Seems the price point was too high and that it wasn't selling. Oddly enough reports also seem to indicate that dealers were selling them - my dealer is sold out

If I wait to see what other decks come out I'll mistt out on the 7878 as there are a limited number around righ tnow. The transport in that deck is apparently the same as what's being used in a $3K headunit from Alpine no used in any other model - it's a serious piece. Chances of finding that kind of deal in another unit aren't high I'm afraid (sigh). I expect I'll end up with a 7878 here before too long, I've contacted a vendor and am awaiting a response on one - my fingers are crossed.

Oh, and the new Alpine replacement uni supposedly won't be on the street until April (?!). So Alpine aparently produced a quality unit for 3months, pulled it, and now we must wait until April for it's replacement? My dealer has confirmed they cannot source the 7878 from Alpine for me...

Yeah, I got James' car

It's in great shape but the clutch is damned hard to get used to. VERY grabby and it'll chatter if you're not careful. The FFCD mod was done and the wastegate hose pulled so it was a real animal. Stock boost off the street it made 327RWHP, with an ECU reset it made 338, and with the hose pulled it made 389RWHP and 427ftlbs. I intend to reverse the FFCD and put the hose back on for now and pickup an AEM ECU. Still waiting on the title from him but it should be here soon so I can legally register the car. Stereo is stock so one of the first things I'm doing is shopping for one of those and an aftermarket alarm. The wheels on this puppy are AWESOME and so are the EL gauges. Fun to drive but getting traction is tough in first and second. Axle tramp is driving me crazy too but once rolling it's a monster! How's your purcase working out? Shoot me some mail

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G

· #16 · Jan 11, 2002

I have an aiwa mp3 and I think it is great. It reads tags fine (you can have it just show the song title, or artist or filename, ect), it reads cdrw and cdrs fine. The only thing I dont like about it is it takes a while for it to read the cd when you first start your car up, also if you ended it the middle of a song the next time you start up your car it will start playing that song from the begging. They have a newer model than the one I have out and I don't know if it fixes these problems. Otherwise for the price ($200 on ebay) I think it is a great investment if you are not willing to shell out massive money.

jasonlee

· #17 · Oct 25, 2002

Flavio (and others), what problems did you run into with the Neo (and how did you fix them?), i'm considering buying one, but from the research i've done it seems like there are lots of problems and they aren't easy to fix
1) start up low voltage
2) over heating
3) skipping when car hits bumps
4) ?others

Hua

· #18 · Oct 25, 2002

I went with the Alpine 7894.

Anywhere from $325-$400 for the unit.

Lord Nikon

· #19 · Oct 26, 2002

I hear there is a long delay when changing/finding songs with the Alpine. Is that correct?

B-Man

· #20 · Oct 28, 2002

Blkmgc, check out:

http://www.supraforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=78786

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