Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 03:32 pm, by: Ben James(Silverbullet)
I'm wanting to change my cd player, I would like to know a good value for money cd player/amp for the factory speaker setup, I'm probably going to put an aftermarket sub and 2 channel amp in as well, because I have been told that I cant run my original sub and amp of an aftermarket cd player Any info on good headunits/amps or installation would be great thanks.
Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 04:00 pm, by: Alan Chow(Kfchow)
"The factory 4 channel amp can be run off line level outputs from an aftermarket head unit. The factory sub amp requires two 180 deg out of phase inputs so a phase splitter will be required with most aftermarket head units."
from mark's post 2 threads ago.
and good value depends on your budget whats your budget ben?
Sunday, October 30, 2005 - 04:56 pm, by: Mark Paddick(Sparks)
Which standard system do you have? Single CD or stacker? Best value is a US spec head unit (has to be modified for AM radio but FM works fine with NO expanders) with a working standard stacker and crossovers in front doors. Afremarket Sub and amp is next and then upgraded front speakers.
Monday, October 31, 2005 - 12:57 pm, by: Ben James(Silverbullet)
Will an aftermarket head unit sound heaps better than the original, I just noticed that I have 7 factory speakers in total,6 speakers plus the sub, whats the best head unit for the factory speaker setup using my factory amp. My budget on the head unit is around $250. I'm getting autobarn to install it, so what do I need to tell them to get/do for hooking the factory amp/sub up to the aftermarket head unit.
Monday, October 31, 2005 - 03:02 pm, by: Mark Paddick(Sparks)
You won't get a much better head unit for that money. See if you can track down a US spec SC 400 head unit, they will go for around that price and plug straight in; AM radio will be off-tune but FM will be spot on. (I'm assuming this is not an EMV car)
Monday, October 31, 2005 - 08:39 pm, by: Ben James(Silverbullet)
Yeah its not an EMV, why should I get a US spec sc400 head unit ?, I have seen $700 head units on ebay go for around $250-300 dollars, I thought something like that would be okay. Or would it be worth fixing my laser does anyone know where to get it fixed and how much ?
Monday, October 31, 2005 - 10:58 pm, by: Mark Paddick(Sparks)
The US spec head unit has the correct FM radio band for our system ie correct frequencies and no expanders needed (AM radio doesn't work properly...but who cares??) What CD do you have, in-dash or stacker? Both use the same playing mechanism and laser. I can usually fix them for less than $150 using 2nd hand parts. New lasers are $340 and can be a bit unreliable. A good 2nd hand laser is actually better than a new one in many respects. The new one does come with a new spindle motor though.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 12:54 am, by: Benny Gammelmark(Oldfield)
You get what you pay for Ben and if you're not super lucky then $250 won't get you much.
Do as Mark says. Get the US spec unit and upgrade the speaker cables instead. In that way at least you will have good cables when you eventually get money enough for a really good head unit.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 10:12 am, by: Ben James(Silverbullet)
Hey Mark I have the in dash one, Would you want me to take my unit out and post it to you ? Also I have been trying to find a US model but there not easy to source.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 10:59 am, by: Mark Paddick(Sparks)
I'm not sure if the US spec included an in-dash CD. The in-dash equipped cars can easily be converted to stacker. All the stacker wiring is there and the head unit plugs are the same. You do need the small loom from behind the head unit as the stacker wiring is missing in in-dash setup (about 6 inches of wiring and a plug on each end for the stacker loom to connect to)
Benny is right. For $250 it's unlikely that you'll get a better head unit. The only thing wrong with the Soarer ones is the FM tuner which can be totally cured with the US spec one for around that sort of money. Even the factory speaker cabling is reasonable, I'd be looking at fitting crossovers in the front and maybe upgraded speakers (again you have to be carefull because the factory ones are not junk and some high priced aftermarket stuff is not as good).
If you do decide to go the new head unit make sure you get one WITHOUT built-in amps. You will get a better head unit for the money and the factory amps are OK. There will be a lot of re-wiring if inbuilt amp model is used whereas if the factory amps are used the factory wiring is all there. The factory amp can be upgraded separately at a later date that way and wiring will be kept at a minimum.
The in-dash CD can be fixed quite cheaply; around $100 to $150 for a good 2nd hand laser fitted and aligned, or even cheaper if the laser in yours responds to treatment and doesn't need to be replaced (about 50% of in-dash units are OK with the original laser after treatment). Just pull it out and send it to me. Unfortunately it always takes a week or even more to do CD players. (lots of testing and tuning)
Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 05:54 pm, by: Ben James(Silverbullet)
Ok I will send my original head unit to you, just don't know how to take it out, but I'll have a look on the forum, the laser is not that bad it just doesen't want to read certain tracks on burnt cd's and skips a fair bit especially on bumby roads, also do you know if there is a way to get better reception ? I will also need do get fm expanders fitted, is $88 a good price fitted. Or is it better to do it my self.
Ben, my stock head unit is doing the same thing (it reads burnt CD's but skips to buggery). Wish I could fit the 12CD changer and head unit but they seem to be different between the years (I tried fitting a 91-model single CD player, looks exactly the same as my stock one but there's an extra connector on the latter model).
I like the factory look though, so if possible I'd probably rather get your stock head unit fixed
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whats your budget ben?
