Car cd/mp3 player anyone got one yet?

[cobra]

I am in the market for a new cd player for my Xterra.
I have been looking at all of the cd/mp3 players on the market. The JVC seems to be a good deal and nice looking. I just looked at a Rockford unit today. I just can't decide. Being a car audio nut from way back, I have owned EVERY brand known to man, even some high end nakamichi's(sweet).
Anyway, looking to get this for xmas, and was hoping someone had some input. Or any info on any new brands/models due out before the holidays. I just have not found one that I just "have to have" yet.
thx

[Xayd]

I have a JVC, and although it's an older model, I'm generally not impressed with them. Skips alot, and not as many features as other CD players.

Of the more popular brands, if you're looking for a budget CD player I'd say Pioneer, if you're looking 300-500 dollar range, I'd still say Kenwood or Alpine.

Xayd

[HAL9000]

I've always used Alpine, sure you're paying a premium for the name, but I've never had any problem with one and never had it skip. A friend has a Kenwood, it's up there too, but it would get a bit fussy in -40'C weather where the Alpine would keep chugging along. If you gave it about 15 minutes to warm up, it ran fine too.

[cobra]

Pioneer does NOT make a cd/mp3 player for a vehicle.
Alpine's mp3 player is $800!
JVC is good, but would prefer another brand.
Kenwood is suck.
I wish Pioneer made the mp3, in the past 10 years, their products have really improved.
Aiwa is suck
Clarions model is ok, nothing great, alot of lights like Alpine...
I would buy an Alpine, if it was affordable.

[HAL9000]

Originally posted by cobra Alpine's mp3 player is $800! .... I would buy an Alpine, if it was affordable.

Yup, but I guarantee you would like it

[Toaster]

Hi folks!
I found that MP3's don't sound so great on a high definition system.
I went another route....
I loaded up a small Linux box and recorded the audio in the AIFF format.
This format is the "audio Interchange File Format" and is a bit by bit image of the original image. As a matter of fact, this is the format most CD-A is used and these are actual files for those that have the correct software.
The software is standard on Linux and as plug ins.
File sizes can be somewhat high for the AIFF format especially when using the highest setting. Under IRIX (SGI Unix) these files have "positional audio information" which can be retrieved and re-mixed.
In the MP3 format, I can hear "coding" noise and other artifacts.
For "typical" autosound, MP3 is OK but if you wish to push the envelope in clarity and timbre, MP3's don't cut it.

[cobra]

Toaster,
you have a point,
but, being able to put 10x as many songs at 128 on a single cd, and listen for hours and hours, it's hard to beat.
I really can't hear that much of a difference. To me I see no sense in changing files to aiff, if they taje up the same space as cd format or wav. Might as well just listen to the original recording.

[Jenni]

My brother got this one a couple of months ago, and he loves it.



It sounds just as good as any other CD's IMHO, and you can use CDRW's in it. Just like any MP3's, the higher the quality of the rip, the better it sounds, of course. He had an Alpine head unit (big fancy one with an LCD screen that slid out, cost like $1200 a few years ago) and when he changed out the units, everything sounded better just from the change.

[Toaster]

Hey all,
I understand your point Cobra but to me and the systems iv'e built, there was a rather noticable diffrence.
True, the MP3 format has much to offer. It's sound is adaquate for all but the truely golden eared and its capacity is also very useful.
With the advent of cheap CD-R equipment for the home, I fail to understand the need for MP3 given its sonic drawbacks. To each thier own I suppose.

[troysvihl]

I was thinking about getting one, but frankly, all the models suck. Even the best MP3/CD players on the market have some sort of draw-back. Most, if not all, have problems reading the MP3 files correctly. I burned about two thousand songs to several CD-R's, and none of the decks I've tried were able to read every song. Even the Alpine refused to play some of the files on each CD-R.

Even if all the decks would play 100% of the files, it still wouldn't make sense to invest in one right now, given how high the prices are. If you can afford to blow $800 on a deck, I'm guessing that your system is so good, that you would be disapointed at how crappy the MP3 files will sound, compared to WAV's.

I've decided that WAV files are the way to go, so instead of investing in an MP3 player, I just bought more CD's and a larger carrying case. (although I still make copies of the originals just in case my car gets broken into or they get scratched, etc.)

[Hpro]

since our second business is car stereos - go for the JVC it is by most reliable someone place a picture above - this player cost about 700USD - here around..Go for the Top model - because there are only two models which support MP3 - there is also on of Panasonic but after testing it - it came out the Sound quality can't match JVC also this counts for Clarion's top player which is about 900USD..

Alpine has this hard metallic sound - which I'm not especially a friend of ...but it is always a question in what configuration after the fron end is used - if there are good power amplifiers ond also good speaker involved - The speaker is the last unit in the chaine and it should be selected with special care - need any further data let me know ..

[morriswindgate]

I have a Kenwood MP-8017 MP3/CD In Dash unit (See Lin Below) and I really like it. It is installed in my 2000 Dodge dakota which was equipped with an amplified Alpine Factory unit. I really like it, it has great sound and with the remote is really easy to use. I can get between 120 to 150 songs on each disk.

http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...MP8017&o=M&a=0