AndyK

I am looking to replace my sometimes-working Blaupunkt Heidelberg with a decent stand-alone cd unit (no sub or amplifier).

What works/sounds best in our cars? I need good FM reception, and of course, great CD sound. I hear the Nakamichi 45z has lousy radio reception, so I think it's out.

Ideas?

Thanks.

Andy

kelsean

Andy -i began looking into this before i got started doing other things (!) with my car. I started looking for h/u's that would look good with the stock dash illumination. Tho i dont know exactly what youre looking for you might be interested to know that Alpine makes a certain model that has mp3 playback, station naming, cd text and several other up-to-date features including green or AMBER lighting. Nowadays its hard to find a 'good' stereo with amber lighting. My (5 yr old) Sony Mobile ES has it too and looks very good. Sorry i cant give you a model#, but stop by your local car stereo place and grab a current catalog, because this is a new model i've been waiting on to come in so you shouldnt have trouble finding it or one like it. Its my understanding that not all of their h/u's have this feature, tho i dont know why not... I suppose you could check online too, but last time i was on Alpines website, THEY didnt even have it up there! Anyway, HTH. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

Z-man

Blaupunkt Nevada CD unit. I got mine from
<a href="http://www.midwest-usa.com" target="_blank">www.midwest-usa.com</a> for around $125.00. (They sell NOS at a discounted rate).

Love the unit, except I haven't hooked up the antenna amp to the unit yet.

-Z.

Operator

i see you're keeping the car Andy?

my Blaupunkt Alaska sucks but i love it, uhhh... ?

anything is bound to be better than what is in there now!

AndyK

I kinda HAVE to keep the car Simon, now that the baby is on the way, and I can't afford to buy a newer car (ironic--keeping the car to save money)!

So, why do you hate the Alaska?? And do you have all kinds of extra stuff (sub, amps, etc)? Also, the Heidelberg is new (didn't come with the car), but very erradic.

rihaa

I bought a Blaupunkt Los Angeles MP71. It does mp3 cd's and such. It is more or less the top of the line for the Blaupunkt units and I really like it. I didn't really look into other head units because I wanted to stay with the whole porsche/blaupunkt thing.

Dave E

I have a Blaupunkt Munchen RDM 169 that came with my car and want to part with. While it seems like a really good head unit, I am partial to Alpine since I've used them for years. I took the Blaupunkt out after two months of use after buying the car and it has sat on my shelf since then. It's yours if you would like to make an offer.

Stefan

Blaupunkt Toronto model .... even cooler since I live in Toronto. One of their top models a few years back.

It came out before the mp3 craze so no luxury of mp3, but it does CD and FM with exceptional sound, and slides right in.

Best thing is the feature that lets you custom set the light colour from red to green with a fader so you hit everything in between as well. (like that yellow dash lighting of the 944 ... matched mine dead on). <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Now I just have to find a use for that cassette storage under the arm rest ... it was very handy. !!!

BRB_85.5_NA

If you are willing to invest a little in and reap the benefits of an outboard amp, <a href="http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-ik6RyuO2ozw/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=300&I=020HXD10++" target="_blank">check out this Clarion ProAudio deck</a>. My other hobby is home audiophile stereo equipment and DIY loudspeaker construction, and I can safely say this is the best sounding digital source component that I've ever heard for a car. The cosmetics fit well with my black and tan interior, though the screen saver on the unit is cheesy and I still haven't figured out how to turn it off, if it can be. If you're looking for top sound, consider it.

EDIT: Sorry, just saw you wanted a self-contained (no extra amp) system.

<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> B

Stefan

<img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" /> I forgot to mention that it blends with the dash so well, I keep forgetting I changed the stereo.

Great unit to get CD sound but keep the original porsche look as much as you can.

Operator

all the blaupunk stuff just seems to be slightly shoddy. sure its german and oe manufacturer but just seems that way. really i dont have any problems with it per say.. its just underpowered and fm reception is kinda lousy at times. no extra stuff in my car, im in the process of replacing all the (4) speakers to new blaupunkts.. which sound quieter.. oh well

perhaps the baby will be a blessing then (in more ways than one) since you're keepin the car because of it.

Dave in Chicago

Like Stefan above, I have the Toronto (adjustable display color) and like it very much. It matches the decor very nicely and plays well through the stock 10-speaker (okay, I added a Bazooka). I got a "Thumber" remote with the unit that I am not using. Anyone interested in it could contribute to my track brake pad fund...

Keep the shiny side up,

UDPride

I swear by my Sony CDX-M750. I think an updated model of it is out. Its the flip face with the two-sided graphics. When you turne the ignition off it flips closed and is completely black, making it look like an empty DIN with a cover on it. But if its closed and you're engine is one, you see all the cool graphics. Its seriously progammable but Ive never sat down to learn all of it.

I looked at the Blaus and originally wanted to replace it with the factory brand, but the visuals arent quite up to snuff. If you push the parts where the LCDs are, the letters/numbers morph and smear. I cant say Im a complete audio guru, but the dude who installed mine said Sony makes the best head units but are middle of the pack in speakers. Its all preference I think. Mine feels like it can tune in Bangkok though.

Stefan

I've got the Sony MP3 playing version in our Accord .... but IMHO, it's too ricey for the Porsche. (unless you like that sort of thing)

As I said, the sound of the Toronto unit is great. Very real ... clean. Perfect for playing smooth jazz while cruising at 250 down the autobahn

ClassJ

I have a alpine 3 disk in dash unit in one of my other cars. It is nice having a 3 disk cartrage right in the head unit. But the controls on it are too small and arent that user freindly. But man does it sound great.

I think that a porsche just looks better with a blau radio.

They are a bit more subdued. Some of the new radios out there are ugly as sin.