Cheap Head unit

spacedementia87 · 22-06-2005, 21:41

I want to get a new headunit for my fabia.
Sound quality isn't all that important cos i am plying through the standard fabia speakers and mainly playing mp3s.

I really want a jack input to plug my mp3 player in, the tape adapters are just crap.

I am on a tight budget of about £60, thought it could be stretched, but £80 is an absolute maximum.

Moose · 22-06-2005, 22:02

Why not get an mp3 player? I have a Clarion cd/mp3 model which has come down in price lately and I would recommend it as a cheap one

spacedementia87 · 22-06-2005, 22:13

what you mean a head unit that plays mp3 cds?
i would but i have many more mp3s than can fit on a cd! or even 5
and it is easier to just use my Creative mp3 player.
If there isn't one then that would be the only option. But i would like to see if there are any that do this first.

Moose · 22-06-2005, 22:24

A cd full of mp3's can hold roughly 150 songs. I know I have more than that too, but its the cheapest compromise I could think of, the other option is look for a Kenwood keg, a bit like a hard drive for your car but it is expensive.

spacedementia87 · 23-06-2005, 09:07

Well i was thinking one with an input to plug my mp3 player in.
Just a regular 1/8" jack.

I know they exist as my dad has one.
But his is too expensive for me.

spacedementia87 · 23-06-2005, 09:07

or is it 1/4" i never remember

helpmedisappear · 23-06-2005, 09:35

Take a look at this thread:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showt...t=symphony+aux

**robmawer** · 23-06-2005, 09:47

I'd have to agree with Richard that an MP3 CD head unit will give you best results - you won't have to use a cheapy headphone interconnect, so the sound will be better, and you can get fairly passable headunits these days for £80-£100.
And just how many of your songs do you need on you at once?

AUX inputs are still relatively rare, so they're not going to be on the bottom-of-the-range head units...however, I do believe there is a way of kludging the input onto the back of the Symphony, but it might involve some hacking about with wires...

Rob.

spacedementia87 · 23-06-2005, 18:06

Well, i want my mp3 player portable as well, so i don't want it hardwired in.
I will just go with an MP£ cd player then.
As i need a cd player anyway.

I was looking at the Panasonic CQC1001.
which is £54.99 this decent.
Like i said standard speakers and mainly MP3s so amazing quality isn't going to be noticed

spacedementia87 · 23-06-2005, 18:08

forgot to add i have the bog standard HU in my skoda, so it doesn't have a cd player at all.

bengie · 23-06-2005, 18:10

thats cheap!!

Moose · 23-06-2005, 18:20

Check the power outage on that HU, you don't want something too small else you could find that you have to turn it right up to hear it. And on quiet tracks, that could be a problem.

Aim for 4x40w as a minimum.

My gf's sister got herself a CD player cheaply, the brand escapes me at present, but it is only rated at 4x7w, she is finding it very hard to hear without the sound distorting.

bengie · 23-06-2005, 18:24

i wouldn't think 4x40w min, most decent ones are only that!

spacedementia87 · 23-06-2005, 18:40

well this is 4x45W
and panasonic are generally quite good aren't they?
What i want to know, is will i need an ariel amp?

Moose · 23-06-2005, 19:32

Yes you will. It should cost about £10.

**robmawer** · 24-06-2005, 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacedementia87

What i want to know, is will i need an ariel amp?

Only if you listen to the radio - it should be able to pick up strong FM signals without it, but weak FM and MW/LW you'll need the amp...

Rob.

spacedementia87 · 24-06-2005, 11:02

ahh ok thank you, i'll go without it and see what it is like.
I don't listen to radio, but my sister does, and she listens to it quietly so it shouldn't be a problem

**robmawer** · 24-06-2005, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacedementia87

she listens to it quietly so it shouldn't be a problem

The aerial amp doesn't amplify the output from the radio - it amplifies the input, which means more stations can be detected, etc...

So whether she listens to them quietly or not doesn't come into it, it's if she listens to ones which don't have a strong broadcast radio signal.

Rob.

spacedementia87 · 24-06-2005, 14:27

well she listens to radio one, and severn sound and as we live in the heard of gloucestershire then this shouldn't be a problem should it?

**robmawer** · 24-06-2005, 14:40

Probably not - cheapest way is to install it without the aerial amp, then if it's a problem get your sister to cough up the cash for it...

Rob.

22-06-2005, 21:41	#1
spacedementia87 Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cheap Head unit I want to get a new headunit for my fabia. Sound quality isn't all that important cos i am plying through the standard fabia speakers and mainly playing mp3s. I really want a jack input to plug my mp3 player in, the tape adapters are just crap. I am on a tight budget of about £60, thought it could be stretched, but £80 is an absolute maximum.

22-06-2005, 22:02	#2
Moose Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: I'm a monkey from outer space, woooooooo ahhhhhhhhh hehe hooohaa Posts: 4,952 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Why not get an mp3 player? I have a Clarion cd/mp3 model which has come down in price lately and I would recommend it as a cheap one __________________ Sunlight Silver MX-5 1.8 Sport

22-06-2005, 22:24	#4
Moose Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: I'm a monkey from outer space, woooooooo ahhhhhhhhh hehe hooohaa Posts: 4,952 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	A cd full of mp3's can hold roughly 150 songs. I know I have more than that too, but its the cheapest compromise I could think of, the other option is look for a Kenwood keg, a bit like a hard drive for your car but it is expensive. __________________ Sunlight Silver MX-5 1.8 Sport

23-06-2005, 09:35	#7
helpmedisappear Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bolton Posts: 1,762 Thanks: 36 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Take a look at this thread: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showt...t=symphony+aux __________________ Martin Black Magic Fabia vRSv

23-06-2005, 09:47	#8
robmawer Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Rochdale Posts: 12,418 Thanks: 2 Thanked 69 Times in 62 Posts	I'd have to agree with Richard that an MP3 CD head unit will give you best results - you won't have to use a cheapy headphone interconnect, so the sound will be better, and you can get fairly passable headunits these days for £80-£100. And just how many of your songs do you need on you at once? AUX inputs are still relatively rare, so they're not going to be on the bottom-of-the-range head units...however, I do believe there is a way of kludging the input onto the back of the Symphony, but it might involve some hacking about with wires... Rob. __________________

22-06-2005, 22:13	#3
spacedementia87 Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	what you mean a head unit that plays mp3 cds? i would but i have many more mp3s than can fit on a cd! or even 5 and it is easier to just use my Creative mp3 player. If there isn't one then that would be the only option. But i would like to see if there are any that do this first.

23-06-2005, 09:07	#5
spacedementia87 Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well i was thinking one with an input to plug my mp3 player in. Just a regular 1/8" jack. I know they exist as my dad has one. But his is too expensive for me.

23-06-2005, 18:06	#9
spacedementia87 Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well, i want my mp3 player portable as well, so i don't want it hardwired in. I will just go with an MP£ cd player then. As i need a cd player anyway. I was looking at the Panasonic CQC1001. which is £54.99 this decent. Like i said standard speakers and mainly MP3s so amazing quality isn't going to be noticed

23-06-2005, 18:08	#10
spacedementia87 Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	forgot to add i have the bog standard HU in my skoda, so it doesn't have a cd player at all.

23-06-2005, 18:10	#11
bengie splash!!!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: planet earth Posts: 14,933 Thanks: 15 Thanked 126 Times in 110 Posts	thats cheap!! __________________ owner of a skoda octavia 4xvrs3

23-06-2005, 18:20	#12
Moose Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: I'm a monkey from outer space, woooooooo ahhhhhhhhh hehe hooohaa Posts: 4,952 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Check the power outage on that HU, you don't want something too small else you could find that you have to turn it right up to hear it. And on quiet tracks, that could be a problem. Aim for 4x40w as a minimum. My gf's sister got herself a CD player cheaply, the brand escapes me at present, but it is only rated at 4x7w, she is finding it very hard to hear without the sound distorting. __________________ Sunlight Silver MX-5 1.8 Sport

23-06-2005, 18:24	#13
bengie splash!!!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: planet earth Posts: 14,933 Thanks: 15 Thanked 126 Times in 110 Posts	i wouldn't think 4x40w min, most decent ones are only that! __________________ owner of a skoda octavia 4xvrs3

23-06-2005, 18:40	#14
spacedementia87 Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	well this is 4x45W and panasonic are generally quite good aren't they? What i want to know, is will i need an ariel amp?

23-06-2005, 19:32	#15
Moose Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: I'm a monkey from outer space, woooooooo ahhhhhhhhh hehe hooohaa Posts: 4,952 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Yes you will. It should cost about £10. __________________ Sunlight Silver MX-5 1.8 Sport

24-06-2005, 11:02	#17
spacedementia87 Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	ahh ok thank you, i'll go without it and see what it is like. I don't listen to radio, but my sister does, and she listens to it quietly so it shouldn't be a problem

24-06-2005, 14:27	#19
spacedementia87 Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	well she listens to radio one, and severn sound and as we live in the heard of gloucestershire then this shouldn't be a problem should it?

24-06-2005, 14:40	#20
robmawer Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Rochdale Posts: 12,418 Thanks: 2 Thanked 69 Times in 62 Posts	Probably not - cheapest way is to install it without the aerial amp, then if it's a problem get your sister to cough up the cash for it... Rob. __________________

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