Hawkeyes

I have an opportunity to buy a used Porsche-Becker CDR 220 coming out of a Boxter.

Have been told it will fit my '89 s4, but I'm not at all familiar with Becker (I've already replace the speakers, & bypassed factory crossovers - plan to bypass factory amp & install 40wx4 Pioneer amp or similar).

It looks nice! Background lights match the shark dash, black color, not too 'ricey'!

If anyone has installed this model, or can shed any info, pro or con it would be greatly appreciated.

Ciao, Hawk

Rob Edwards

I have a CDR-220 and think it looks great.

Here's the unit in situ in the car:




I got mine from Stefan at SWStereo, along with an adapter that plugged into the factory wiring to the old amp (all my wiring and speakers are still stock, sadly)

For posterity, here's the connections on the back, showing the two parts of Stefan's adapter:




And the pinout (that's Stefan's 800# if you want/need adapters). I can dig out the owner's manual if you want the pinouts for the "C" bank of connections (which must contain the line level preamp outs) .

JP Rodkey

I have one also in my '90, and it's a great unit - direct fit. Beware: the LCD display has a narrow visible band which must be correct for a 928. Depending on the car's mounting location, it is possible that you cannot actually see the LCD display from the driver's seat. It is correctable by authorized distributors. I THINK a Boxter unit has to be modified for the 928 for this reason. SW Stereo knows all about it, and I recommend at least a phone call.

H2

That's true about the CDR-220 (viewing angle). Because of that I went with the slightly less impressive CDR-210.

H2

Gary Knox

I had the early model CDR-220 in my GTS and removed it for the viewing angle reason. It my be that the later model (4 digits starting with 6, rather than the earlier model which starts with 4) may be viewable from the driver's seat. IF so, it is a very nice unit.
I bought a later model unit only sold in Europe - a Becker DTM (see them on German eBay) to replace the CDR-220. Great unit, simple operation (no flip down front for CD insertion), operates the Becker or Porsche CD Changer, and looks right (in my opinion) in the 928. Not easy to get shipped, (THANKS to a fellow Rennlister who was very helpful), and does have the slight negative of 9 kHz between AM station stops used in Europe rather than the 10 kHz used in the US (e.g. local radio signal at 1060 is now tuned in at the 1062 setting on the radio). Everything else is fully compatible.

Gary Knox
West Chester, PA

Rob Edwards

I should mention that the unit I got for Stefan had had its display modified for the correct viewing angle in a 928. I can see it just fine, even with polarized glasses on. Stefan is probably the most expensive way to get one (I think mine was $400 with the mod and the harness) but it was truly plug and play.

Hawkeyes

Thanks guys for your comments & suggestions. I did not know about the viewing angle issue & don't know if the one I'm considering is an early or late model. I plan to call SW Audio tomorrow before work, so should have a good answer. I think I'm sold on this model for my shark, just looks 'right' (thanks Rob, for the dash pic's!).

BTW, for anyone looking to replace the crappy little 4" door speakers, JBL Power P452 is a nice product that will allow you to use the stock 928 door speaker (plastic) grille. They have external crossovers that can be mounted in place of the existing ones & use a titanium domed tweeter = crisp.

I did have to cut the door skin (used a dremel tool) as they are quite a bit thicker than originals (pic shows after cutout and sound insulation).


Thanks again, Hawk

Ron_H

I have one in my '86.5 and it is the best radio I've ever had. Becker is a great brand and my mother's Mercedes had a Becker Mexico which was also great.
I have the veiwing angle problem too but for me it is not a problem. I couldn't care less about seeing the display, mainly because I'm usually going too........oops.....uh......concentrating on other things while driving. And I use CDs most of the time anyway, 'cause I burn 'em on my computer from iTunes. This Becker replaced a crappy Sony that couldn't keep from skipping when CDs were playing and kept cutting in and out. I trashed it and am glad I got this Becker. I paid around $300 for it on ebay or craiglist, and had it professionally installed for $60 without the veiwing angle correction unit which is available for it.

cold_beer839

Does anybody have the phone number for SW Stereo?

I think it is 1-800-270-2378. It's late Saturday night, so I can't call them!!

Where are they located at?

H2

They used to be in Yanqui land but I thought they move to NC or SC. Good guy to deal with. He did my adapter pigtail. Everything was perfect except for two transposed wires. Check'em before you plug it in.

H2

Rob Edwards

http://www.swstereo.com/index.php

On their website is a phone# that beings in 732, which is New Jersey. Only Roger is open for business right now....

Schocki

I have a Becker Traffic Pro in my 928 and in my 944. They fit with no problems. The becker brand was sold in the us under Harman Kardon but was not very popular in the US (donīt know why). Itīs a very good radio with a very good navigation unit. You can hook up your cell to the Becker, separate plug for the subwoofer, auxillary plug and you can play Tetris in a traffic jam ....