Thaddeus

Hey,

My old CD player is skipping a lot and looks like crap anyway.

I went out to Crutchfield and looked... I want a unit that doesn't skip too readily, and is all ready for me to plug my Ipod into.

Here's the deal: the 10 or 15 units I looked at require a hundred dollar add-on kit to make it Ipod ready. Seems silly! And I'd really like something that displays the Ipod selection menu on the tuner's display so I can have the Ipod completely hidden. Having the Ipod bouncing around on the seat or in a cupholder doesn't cut it.

Can anybody recommend a unit that will do what I want it to and look good in a 928 dash-- not too flashy or bling? Also, I like ***** for volume, power, and tuning, not scads of tiny buttons...

thanks

Alan

Well for most of them its an add-on kit since it adds costs and not eveyone has an iPod yet (it just seems that way!).

In the end it comes down to cost - if the kit isn't too unwieldy to install - just compare the total costs of systems that do what you want. Note thet most of these are compromises - they do not gfve you an Apple like interface - usually you get CD changer like transport options where you can select some number of playlists and move between / within these but cannot browse your iPod like you would normally... The display is usually quite limited too.

Now is a good time to consider any other features you may want - if you plan a telephone install in the future make sure you have an external mute input or an auto select input (same goes for navigation), MP3 disk playback? speed related volume, satellite radio ready?

Lots of choices....

Blaupunkt still has some models that are in keeping with a 928 dash (mostly the older black face styles) - but depends mainly on personal tastes. An option is an older Blaupunkt (on eBay) with the <$100 iPod kit - its backwards compatible with most of their head units since 2002 and some before... check

look for the ipod kits on ebay too ~$80..

Alan

JPTL

Thaddeus,
First off, thanks for turning me onto the Audiobahn 4" speakers. I'm looking to replace my mediocre JBL's in the doors & back panels, but couldn't find anything that would fit without molesting the panels. Crutchfield doesn't list those little Audiobahns anymore, but I found them at caraudiodeals.com for a little less than Crutch....shipped to my door.
To answer your question:
I'd give Stephan Weiss a call at SW Stereo (www.swstereo.com). He knows what fits & looks good in these cars.
In my opinion, the Blaupunkt Honolulu (for image: Honolulu) is by far the most 'right' looking contemporary head unit for our cars. The display matches the orange display, the buttons and the face design is in keeping with the dash.
Problem is, they don't make it anymore. It's a decent head unit - not top of the line, but good flexibility & power.
Another thing is that my Blau. Honolulu has an Aux. option that you select from the control (CD/Radio or Aux). There's a pair of RCA aux inputs on the head unit for the aux. hookup. I ran a RCA to Portable Device adapter from the head unit, through my console - and the plug is so small that it comes up through my ash tray when I want it, and tucks away when I don't. My little MP3 player sounds great using the Aux. setup, and I'm guessing that an iPod has a bit more output, so it would likely sound better.
The reason that I'm getting into all of this, is I believe that you'd be able to find a visually compatible Blau. with the Aux. feature, and use a personal device adapter plug w/those RCA jacks, and be home free.
I just read your post again, and realized that my solution wouldn't provide an iPod interface, and you'd be relying on the iPod for controlling your music. Sorry. Maybe Velcro?

Joe '87 S4

For the time being, you're stuck with the $100 kit it seems. It's also hard to find a unit that doesn't have all the buttons instead of *****. I have a 4 year old Alpine unit and of all the ones I looked at, it at least had one main **** that controls the volume and also adjusts the treble and bass. Mine also has an aux input that I had a plug wired that runs under the side of the center console into the cassette compartment. Before I go somewhere in the car, I make a playlist of songs I'd like to hear and sync the ipod. Then I put it in the cassette compartment, plug in the ipod, and let it play. If a song comes up that I don't like, it's pretty easy to reach in and forward to the next song without taking your eyes off the road. It's not the best solution but has worked fine for the last 4 years. I'll probably attach a wired remote but so far I haven't really needed it.

tlee

The best looking unit's to my eye are the Nakamichi (ie CD-400),
however I haven't seen them locally at any of my suppliers.

I don't know if they interface well with I pod,

I believe Alpine iniatiated compatibility, they should also be considered.

Good Luck!

pasa

I have a Nakamichi CD500 it is a great deck and looks stock . It has two AUX inputs and you could run your Ipod into one of the AUX channels but I don't think you will be unable to control the Ipod functions through the Nakamichi head unit if you connect it using the AUX inputs. The sound quality is excellent when paired with MS Quart speakers.

Regards
Dan 1990 928GT

hacker-pschorr

I have this unit in my 81:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-z2DrVjj...0&I=500DVA9860

With a $12 cable you plug in the ipod to the aux input. Or for $100 you can buy the iPod unit, hide everything and controlt he iPod from the head unit.

JPTL

tlee & pasa I just checked out the CD-400/500(CD-400) . I agree, that certainly looks the closest to the original equipment head units (CD-1?).
I'd like to find one of those.

Thaddeus

Thanks for the inpu, folks.

I did some more reading at Crutchfield.. the Allpine units come with an Ipod controller that sounds like it works great, but the Alpine units aren't very 928-ish, if you get my drift. harumph.

Must keep digging...

Herman K

Just got one of these for MB at FRY's electronics @ $ 130.00 orange I think would look nice in the 928 orange lights with remote and aux in port on the front just plug in any MP3 or aux to play thru head unit

IcemanG17

I got this Sony earlier this month....I like it because its mostly black (dark alumium looking) vs the silver decks that are popular today....but the silver decks look out of place in a 928

pasa

JP I got my Nakamichi CD500 in Hong Kong off of Ebay it cost me $489.00 USD I met the seller personally to pick it up. I priced the deck back in Canada on my last visit and could only find it at a high end audio retailer (cost in Canada 950.00Cdn dollars apron 810.00 USD) they are definitely worth the money no glitter and absolutely excellent sound also the colour on the deck changes to match the digital dash perfectly.

Regards

Dan 1990 928GT

tlee

Poked around on the web,

Becker makes an I pod ready "Mexico Pro" that may be good (OE on Mercedes and Porsche)

I still like Nakamichi...

Kevin in Atlanta

I have a Porsche Becker CDR-220. I bought an IceLink for my Ipod. Looks stock. Blaupunct also has an adapter for the Ipod.

bwoyat

I recently purchased an Alpine deck that has a $50 firewire that plugs directly not the back of the head unit and takes over the iPod operation. I had the wire fed through the underside of the console and drilled a small hole to run it into the cassette holder. It's totally hidden!

It's an awesome unit with a couple of other great features. It's Satellite ready and it is also blue tooth enabled which means that if you install the $200 adapter any blue tooth phone will work. Once you have configured the phone to the deck as soon as you enter the car the deck takes over. All incoming calls will be heard through your car speakers and a little microphone you mount allows you to talk handsfree, even make calls using the phones voice recognition system to dial! Very slick setup for pretty cheap!

Go to www.alpine-usa.com and check out their line up of Pod ready decks!