Car ICE System Help/Advice.

[GhettoMoose]

Hi Guys,

I will try and keep this nice and simple. I am looking for some advice on what path to take with regards to setting up my car with a system.

I currently have the cheap tacky Clarion CD player in a single DIN slot in my dash, (room for another DIN size unit above/ below depending on where I want it)

I want a CD player, I want a Screen, and I want to be able to play mp3's / DVD’s / vcd's / and cd-dvd's (copies)

I have 2 options,

First off, A Unit which has it all built in as one, like below




Or a second option is to buy a cheap cd player, and then a DVD and screen separate (for easy removal of screen etc) and install the DVD unit in the car, single screen like below.




Now this is where the problems comes in, my car is a pug 307 2002 model. So it has a display in the dash and a steering wheel stalk for controls. If I fit any CD player ill loose the display and stalk on the wheel. UNLESS I buy one of these:

http://www.connects2.com/c2search.as...=223&modID=543



BUT these only work with Sony CD players. So that complicates any CD player I would get, if it’s a single player or an all in one unit. It limits the choice.

I would need a CD player with some PRE outs for Amplifiers etc

My main question is,

Do I buy an all in one unit, and either looses the stalk and dash display?

Do I look for an all in one unit, that’s a Sony and then use the adapter above?

Do I Buy a cheaper CD player, The Sony Adapter and then a separate screen and DVD unit, and loose the display and wheel Stalk?


I am feeling towards the first option, for ease, compatibility and just forgetting about the dash display and stalk on the wheel.

What’s your advice guys??

Thanks

[Over Carl]

If you can afford it: http://www.alpine-europe.com/content...-WMA-TUNER.htm
OK this may be a bit OTT, but Alpine do interfaces to use your existing stalks and screen as well. I love having those stalks on the 406, turn the volume down when you see coppers without bending down. On my Alfa, despite it coming with factory alpine, + uprated speakers all round, 2 amps + sub, I prefer to just listen to the engine roar.

[beerman]

I have an Alpine screen and brought a converter box for the remote control stalks for a ford focus so I'm sure it's possible with the pug stalks. If you're going to have a screen in your car why the need for the dash display anyway?

If you are going for an external screen make sure you can detach it otherwise you'll be asking for it to get nicked. My one flips away like the one in your first pic. As soon as I come off the motorway it gets put away.

Personnally I prefer and integrated screen rather than an external one as they have a GUI on the screen. If you were to buy an external screen the only thing that would play through it is the DVD/CD/VCDs, you wont see what radio station your on or what MP3 you are playing. If you are going for an integrated unit make sure you can take external av sources. You never know when you may want to upgrade.

I know that screen looks OK but the sound out of it is probably shite. Spend a bit more money and get something that will sound a bit better

[GhettoMoose]

If you can afford it: http://www.alpine-europe.com/content...-WMA-TUNER.htm
OK this may be a bit OTT, but Alpine do interfaces to use your existing stalks and screen as well. I love having those stalks on the 406, turn the volume down when you see coppers without bending down. On my Alfa, despite it coming with factory alpine, + uprated speakers all round, 2 amps + sub, I prefer to just listen to the engine roar.

RE The Link:

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RE the Stalk, Yeah I dont really wanna get rid, but suppose it needs some deep thought and floating around see what Sony CD Screen units are for sale like in my range

[urbsy]

On my Alfa, despite it coming with factory alpine, + uprated speakers all round, 2 amps + sub, I prefer to just listen to the engine roar.

Sorry to hijack a thread but buhaaaaaaaaaaa

What roars that m8, the roar of the AA man coming to tow you away?

urbsy

[GhettoMoose]

I have an Alpine screen and brought a converter box for the remote control stalks for a ford focus so I'm sure it's possible with the pug stalks. If you're going to have a screen in your car why the need for the dash display anyway?

If you are going for an external screen make sure you can detach it otherwise you'll be asking for it to get nicked. My one flips away like the one in your first pic. As soon as I come off the motorway it gets put away.

Personnally I prefer and integrated screen rather than an external one as they have a GUI on the screen. If you were to buy an external screen the only thing that would play through it is the DVD/CD/VCDs, you wont see what radio station your on or what MP3 you are playing. If you are going for an integrated unit make sure you can take external av sources. You never know when you may want to upgrade.

I know that screen looks OK but the sound out of it is probably shite. Spend a bit more money and get something that will sound a bit better

Hi Mate, You you sum up my thoughts. That one was purley for image purposes, It wont be the final one. I will be getting a decent one. I know its short loved but I think my mind is made up about getting an all in one unit.

Is yours single or double din ?

I may just have to drop the display as you said and the stalk and just use the cd unit its self. I see you can get them with detachable fronts, which will dis-courage any chavs I feel.

Thanks for your advice on it mate

[GhettoMoose]

Sorry to hijack a thread but buhaaaaaaaaaaa

What roars that m8, the roar of the AA man coming to tow you away?

urbsy

Get off me feck thread you

I think this may roar




4.2l v8 400+bhp.

I bet that feckin roares!

[Carterman]

I've the Alpine IVA-D310RB in mine mate. Fold away mororised touchscreen, only takes up a standard DIN space. Word of warning though, it also come with a fairly large media box for plugging camera's/PS2's etc in and this needs to be fitted somewhere. I didn't know anything about this when I bought mine, I was a bit suprised! lol.. Its not just a headunit!!

Mike.

[beerman]

Hi Mate, You you sum up my thoughts. That one was purley for image purposes, It wont be the final one. I will be getting a decent one. I know its short loved but I think my mind is made up about getting an all in one unit.

Is yours single or double din ?

I may just have to drop the display as you said and the stalk and just use the cd unit its self. I see you can get them with detachable fronts, which will dis-courage any chavs I feel.

Thanks for your advice on it mate

Mines a single din slot. I brought a single din DVD player with it and then found out a focus has a 1.5 din slot, so had to put the DVD under the seat. Doh

Take note of what carterman said about the control unit, it's a huge fooker. This lies under my passenger seat for ease of plugging things in which meant half my interior had to come out to fit it in.

Unfortunately my head unit is one of the older style ones so no chav deterrent but more inputs and a better gui than the equivelent newer one.

And if you want DVB-T in there take a look at my thread and tell me your experiences before I buy one

[Over Carl]

Sorry, had to answer urbsy.

The old saying about Alfas being beautiful drives when they're not in the garage - its so true. Mine dont seem to go a week without a problem. But still gotta say, the noise is amazing for what it is, don't need a stereo. Funnily enough, cos I use too many call outs for an AA / RAC membership, I use a mate who does decent prices (if anyone needs one PM me and I'll send you his number). Anyway, he's got a bass box in his van, so that's when the tunes start thumping!

And GM, the headunit I linked for you earlier was the Alpine DVA 9965R. Not everyone likes this new glidetouch business, but I was just quickly looked at the top of the range alpine 1 unit dvd player, the dvd 9860r (lowest one) also has it, although I think you may prefer their one unit screen CVA-1014R instead.

[beerman]

And GM, the headunit I linked for you earlier was the Alpine DVA 9965R. Not everyone likes this new glidetouch business, but I was just quickly looked at the top of the range alpine 1 unit dvd player, the dvd 9860r (lowest one) also has it, although I think you may prefer their one unit screen CVA-1014R instead.

Trouble with the 1014r like I said in an earlier post is that it only has one AV input and the on screen gui is shite. I much prefer my 1005r with 2 inputs and a nice gui. I'll grab some pics tomorrow to show the difference.

Even 2 inputs isn't enough. I have a DVD on one and a tv tuner on the other. Luckily my tv tuner has 2 more inputs to play with for an xbox when I go on a long trip with the lad in the car and a soon to be purchased nightvision camera. I saw the new merc on top gear and thought that would be nice. Now to get the car braking for me too.

edit:
just checked the spec and it's only got one preout and a 2v one at that, again no good to expand your system at a later stage

[GhettoMoose]

Thats for that guys, I won't have any issues with any control box, as I have a lot of under sea space etc. So that should be no problems.

Ill wait for your pics mate, Mine has a double DIN, so may get a double DIN so I dont have to have a seperate box.

Ill keep you posted, this will be happening after me holidays in 2 months when I have some cash!

[beerman]

As promised some pics of my system.








Bonus points who can get better than a 7 letter word in pic 20

See what I mean about the gui, I've got a spectrum analyser and nice customisable backgrounds, there are another 6 backgrounds but I got bored of taking pics. The new 1014r you can only choose the text colour. You can see when closed that it just looks like an old knob job stereo to put off the chavs.

[GhettoMoose]

Cheersfor that mate,that looks nice.

Ill probably go for the Double din , save me installing an extra dvd box.

Thanks for the time and effort mate,