Thieving Little *****!!!!!

[Stace]

Had my car trashed Friday night and the ******** took what they could from my stereo and smashed the rest up.

Its covered by the insurance, so they will replace with something of similar value as the model I had is discontinued.

Can anyone recommend a CD/MP3/Radio Head Unit for around £200 - £300.

Not bothered about the Brand, just want quality sound.

Thanks
Stace :)

[js]

Sorry to hear that mate, no justice in this world.

H/u to look at would be a JVC in that price bracket I think,
have a look at caraudiodirect.co.uk for actual price, the JVC is meant to be quite a performer apparently but don't take my word
for it as I haven't listened to it, the forums there are quite helpful
as well.

[Stace]

Thanks,

The head unit I had was a Sony CDX-CA850, It was quite a nice unit (although maybe a little to bright!!).

If I have a choice I'd like to replace it with something that has buttons!!!!! Although it was a nice unit, there was too much messing around when playing with the remote etc....

Stace :grin:

[TooManyHobbies]

Hi Stace sorry to hear of your loss!
Do you still have the front? as I may me able to source a back, I have some contacts who deal in salvaged radio equipment.
You said you found the Sony very bright are we talking about the front panel or sound.
What car is the equipment to be installed into and are you running factory speakers.

Mark

[perrdl]

Sorry to hear that!!!!!

Also had my car broken into last Tuesday night in Birmingham.

They Knicked the Stereo, 10 CD's leather Jacket etc.

No Point claiming on the insurance as I will lose my no claims, and the max they will pay out is £100 contents. Plus damage to the car which was £102.

:mad:

[Stace]

Hi TooManyHobbies,

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately they took the front panel, the remote and trashed the main unit.

When I mentioned bright, I was talking about the sound. It was in a MKII MR2 with stock spreakers.

Any recommendations for a new unit (with mp3) would be appreciated.

I have searched on the web and found a few head units I like the look of........

Rockford Fosgate RFX9000
Panasonic CQ-DFX572
Pioneer DEH-P7400MP

.............Can't find any reviews though, any recommendations from those above (or elsewhere??)

Thanks
Stace :grin:

[minimad]

Rockford US Review (http://www.carsound.com/reviews/hd_units/RFX9000.html)

Can't find one for the Panny

Pioneer user reviews (http://www.sounddomain.com/shop/reviews/list.pl?reviewed_sku=PIODEHP7400MP)

The Panny looks a bit plastic to me. I like the Rockford, looks not too bad and sounds pretty good to my untrained ear.

On looks alone, the Pioneer swings it, the reviews say it's pretty good too.

Sorry to hear of the loss, people have no respect.

Collin

[TooManyHobbies]

Is the car an import?.

The trouble with the MR2 is that the radio cannot just be swaped and more often than not the modification to the factory system isn't done correctly and as result it leaves the car with little or no bass.

Do you have a sub in one of the compartments behind the seats!

Has the dashboard been cut to allow the radio to be mounted in on the Sony cage or has the radio been mounted to brackets and then bolted in with dash then installed over the radio.

Mark

[Stace]

Mark,

No the cars not an import.

I swapped out the stereo myself so any mods your talking about, I haven't done.

I simply replaced a Kenwood that was in there with the Sony. I'm not sure if it ever had the stock 'double-height' Toyota stereo, because there was a toyota blanking plate below the Kenwood (if that makes sense).

I replaced the blanking plate with a 'glasses pocket'. There is one on an Toyota Truck that fits in its place (I had to convince the parts dealer, perhaps I should have introduced him to the benefits and knowledge of forums!!!!)

Yes I did have to remove the dash to bolt in the stereo, I didn't mind though. Although they've killed it, the robbing ******** {Removed by Minimad. Please let the swear filter do its job :)} didn't get away with everything they were after.

There is a sub behind the passenger seat. What mods should be made or would it be simpler to buy & fit some new speakers in the doors and perhaps in the firewall behind the seats????

Thanks Again for your help.
Stace :grin:

[TooManyHobbies]

The early mk2's usualy came with a single height radio/cass with a blanking piece that could be removed to add a cd.
The factory radio requires seperate amps to work and the power to the factory radio is fead from the amps.
There is various ways to get round this, an adapter to make an after fit radio power the amps or wire out the factory amps and drive the speaker direct from the radio.
The latter is the normal one. My experence with convertions done this way is that the phasing is generaly incorrect and or the sub has not been wired up so a resulting in a very bright sound due to the lack of bass.
You will have trouble putting Panasonic sets in this car as Panasonic no longer drill and tap the chassis of their radios and Panasonic have stated doing this yourself will invalidate the warranty. You may also trouble getting Kenwood mask unit to fit correctly.
Have a look at the Pioneer range the are very good.

Mark

[Stace]

Mark,

The Sony fitted straight in, I didn't need any sort of adapter. Does this mean anything????

Although probably not quicker, Would it make more sense to get some new speakers?????

Thanks for all your help!!!!
Stace :grin:

*************************************************

Minimad,

Apologies for my use of profanity :devil: . I know the rules and cheated!!!

I'll take my anger elsewhere.........who knows, I might even bump into the little maggots and show them my appreciation with a blow torch!! :rotfl: !!

Stace :grin:

[TooManyHobbies]

The only way you could have swaped the Kenwood for a Sony is if you have an ISO connection this is not standard to any Toyota so the car has been altered some how. You you hear the Sub OK.

Mark

[minimad]

Originally posted by Stace
Minimad,

Apologies for my use of profanity :devil: . I know the rules and cheated!!!

I'll take my anger elsewhere.........who knows, I might even bump into the little maggots and show them my appreciation with a blow torch!! :rotfl: !!

Stace :grin:

Stace - no need to take anything anywhere else, hadn't realised until just now you are a fellow Blue. Actually in Fareham myself, know quite a few people your way, PM me a few more details, I'll pass 'em round, and perhaps the little sods might just get a kicking or three :mad:

Collin

[Stace]

Mark,

Just been on the phone to the audio replacement people. They offered me the Sony CDX-MP70 but I went with the Pioneer.

Is this a bad choice, the Pioneer is £50 less than the cost of my old but I thought I'd have a change from Sony.

Give me a shout if you think I've made a mistake. I can change my choice if I want to.

Thanks
Stace :grin:

[gaz.thomas]

I'd be tempted to go for a double din unit - might be more of a theft deterrent (rarer and I guess more difficult to dispose of) - I'd recommend one of those car security systems (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/232777.stm) they have in South Africa also...

[minimad]

Jeez You'd better have a damned good memory and remember to turn that thing off when you try and unlock the doors eh??? :grin:

[Stace]

Mark,

What do you think of my choice of the pioneer over the sony.

Good or Bad????

Thanks
Stace :grin:

[TooManyHobbies]

My choice would be Pioneer but there is nothing wrong with Sony.

Mark

[James45]

I like sony too but I never had any problems for pioneers either, certainly a warmer sound and more user friendly. car thieves should be shot on sight.