bigandy
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| posted on 19/4/10 at 07:26 PM |
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Car Sound system advice.
Evening all,
I'm after a little advice on the sound system for my car (well, campervan actually), and I was wondering if anyone here was a little bit
knowledgable when it comes to car audio?
I'm after something that I can play mp3 cds, music of memory sticks, listen to the radio, and most importantly, hook up my iPhone and listen to
music from it in the Van. It would be really neat if I could also control the phone (i.e. make and receive calls) whilst it is hooked up, and even
better if it was a bluetooth, or wireless connection.
On the output side of things, I want to be able to connect to a pair of speakers in the dashboard, a pair of speakers in the doors, and also have a
couple of outputs to drive another pair of speakers, and a subwoofer in the rear (via a second amplifier probably).
The problem I am having is that there seems to be so much hype an marketing BS, I'm finding it difficult to identify the products that will do
what I want.
Oh, and as always, I have quite a tight budget!
Any advice on decent shops, people to talk to, good products would be most welcome cheers!
Andy
Dammit! Too many decisions....
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geeksandlies
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| posted on 19/4/10 at 07:40 PM |
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Budget please  so many to choose this would help narrow it down am quite the audio enthusiast!
The one who dies with the most toys wins!
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bigandy
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| posted on 19/4/10 at 07:45 PM |
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I'm looking at no more than £200 for the head unit/controller if possible, and the speakers/amp(s) for the rear, another £150 tops.
I am looking at secondhand gear for the speakers and amps for the rear, to try and save a few pennies, but the head unit/controller is what I am
struggling with at the moment
Andy
Dammit! Too many decisions....
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richardR1
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| posted on 19/4/10 at 07:55 PM |
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Can thoroughly recommend one of these
Linky, have got one fitted in the van. Will do everything you need to do, plays
MP3, DVD, VCD's etc. Also got Aux in and USB in on the front, takes memory cards, extra inputs on the back - we have reversing camera in one
which could be useful on a camper. Also bluetooth handsfree via touchscreen. Screen quality is superb and you can do dual zone so driver can be
listening to the radio while those in the back could be listening to CD or watching DVD. It has very good power output but also pre-outs for extra
amps etc. Picked up the matching eonon reversing camera on the bay for £15.
[Edited on 19/4/10 by richardR1]
[Edited on 19/4/10 by richardR1]
MK Owners Club Member 1015
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stevebubs
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| posted on 19/4/10 at 08:02 PM |
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http://www.bluespot.co.uk/car-audio.aspx/toronto-400-car-radio
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rayward
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| posted on 19/4/10 at 08:03 PM |
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i had the predecessor of
this
one, and can thoroughly recommend it, i had a seperate bluetooth adapter, but thie new model has parrot BT buit in
hth
Ray
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dhutch
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| posted on 19/4/10 at 08:11 PM |
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Also very interested.
- Tried to look into this a few years ago and it was all a bit expensive or crap, but thats probably improved.
As the op has stated, mp3, on cd or usb, and a aux in is where its at.
Main thing i came up was that the navigation on cheaper ones falls to bits, which is not what you want when you have 30albums on a usb stick. Maybe
the screen helps here?
Daniel
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gottabedone
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| posted on 19/4/10 at 08:22 PM |
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Quite a big ask on a tight budget.
Have you thought about seperating the two ( phone and entertainment)
wifey has a
Parrot Minikit - voice activated and ace. She also has a JVC USB headunit 5 way amp and 4 speakers plus sub. I've used the CD
changer input to control the ipod and basic iphone functions. It's all controlled from the cars built in stereo control.
Combining the phone and audio in one head unit was just a nightmare
Ebay is your friend here as you can get speakers and cables at a decent price.
Steve
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Vindi_andy
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| posted on 20/4/10 at 10:20 AM |
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I picked up a medion head unit , from Aldi, which does everything you want regards media it will play and bluetooth.
Not sure about the outputs but it definately has front left right and rear left right outputs.
Was only £50 really upset the mechanic 2 doors down cos he had paid £250 for a sony unit to do the same
I didnt want to pay too much cos it was for the kit.
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bigandy
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| posted on 20/4/10 at 11:26 AM |
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Oooh, I do like the look of the eonon systems on Ebay. They look like they will do everything I need (and a lot more too!), and fall within budget
too! I can feel a few ebay bididng sessions coming up soon Having thought about it, I do like the idea of having a little DVD player in the van, I
don't think I'll use it much, but for the camping trip when the weather is rubbish, you never know!
I have to admit, I'm not overly impressed with the big name offerings. To get the features I want usually means buying the "top
end" system, which costs a fortune.
I did look at seperating out the phone and entertainment side of things, but I'm not sure really. It makes sense to keep everything in one
place.
Cheers
Andy
Dammit! Too many decisions....
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serieslandy
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| posted on 20/4/10 at 08:04 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by rayward
i had the predecessor of
this
one, and can thoroughly recommend it, i had a seperate bluetooth adapter, but thie new model has parrot BT buit in
hth
Ray
I also have a predecessor and is very good.
Was looking at this
one last September to replace it but never actually bought one. I think it looks much nicer than the alpine.
Think you can also plug an iphone in with an extra cable (quite cheap)
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