Buying stereo from eBay

cianclarke

Looking to buy a single DIN stereo from eBay to replace the crappy blaupunkt that the passat I bought came with.


The blaupunkt is an old tape deck, which is hooked up to a blaupunkt 10 CD changer in the boot. The CD changer has been giving a spot of bother, getting stuck and such but I won't use it much because I generally use my MP3 player.
I'm presuming the speakers in the car are also crap so I'll probably want to replace those too.

The blaupunkt CD changer is going in along with the speakers and power and so on through some wierd standard DIN looking connections detailed here:
http://fe0wap79.bosch.de/intershoproot/files/serviceDocuments/7641145510001_EA_GB.pdf


What I need is a stereo which has an MP3 player input either on the front or on the back and I can wire it to the dash, and is pretty decent quality that can also take the CD changer. I was thinking maybe a cheaper clarion or pioneer - can anybody recommend anything, as I honestly don't have a clue.
Thanks

rebel.ranter

What kind of MP3 player do you have? If it's an iPod Alpine & Pioneer do an iPod integration kit that allows you to control the iPod through the stereo & also the song name/artist etc. appear on the stereo screen.

iPod Integration
http://www.alpine-europe.com/driveyouripod/

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/product/details/0,,2076_310069910_307492523,00.html

MP3 on CD
All CD players now play MP3s burned onto CD, if thats what you are after.

USB connectivity
Or another alternative is to get a unit with a USB port:
http://www.justkenwood.co.uk/usb.asp

You can put all your songs on a memory stick & play them back through the stereo.

Adapter cables

If you just want a simple solution just buy an adapter cable like these that plug into the CD changer port of the stereo. You can play the iPod/MP3 player but not control it through the stereo. You should be able to get these cables for most models.

http://search.ebay.ie/pioneer-ipod-adapter_W0QQfromZR8QQssPageNameZRC0021

RF Transmitter

You can also buy an iTrip that will transmit your music on a freuency that your radio can pick up e.g 87.9FM
The draw back with this is there is a lot of interference in cities where there are lots of pirate radio stations. Also it is technically illegal to transmit FM frequencies.

Hope this helps you without confusing you!

cianclarke

Sorry, should have specified my MP3 player is not an Ipod. I definetly don't want a USB interface (got one from Aldi, takes too long to index 20GB of music). RF transmitters are pretty poor quality, and the adapter cable unfortunetly will use up my CD changer port.

I need the name of a stereo which either has a aux input on the front facia, or two aux inputs on the back so I can input my existing CD changer and also an MP3.

Looking at reviews online, buying a newer blaupunkt looks like a pretty good option as then I would'nt need any adapters, they haven't changed the ports. Any advice?
Thanks

ongarite

I would be careful buying a radio from eBay. I got stung when buying a Pioneer radio of eBay last year. They were selling American models, not advertised as such, so the tuner was virtually useless and didn't come with ISO connectors.
Just be careful and ask loads of questions.

I would highly recommend Car Audio Security or Car Audio Direct. Both are UK sites and will deliver to Ireland.

Here is a cracking deal from CAD:http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-cda9857r-ipod-pack-p-5598.html?cadid=532a86d3689d587383bd2e06a03cf304

cianclarke

A fair bit out of my price range alas, only got about £60 sterling, hence second hand off eBay!
I'll be sure to ask questions though, yeah - don't want to end up with a US tuner.
What should I look out for if I wanted to replace speakers? I really know nothing alas... Don't want anything full of bass, much prefer treble...

zilog_jones

rebel.ranter wrote:

The draw back with this is there is a lot of interference in cities where there are lots of pirate radio stations. Also it is technically illegal to transmit FM frequencies.

ComReg either have or are in the process of making these small low-power FM transmitters legal. However I agree that the sound quality they produce is generally shyte, and you have to put up with more batteries or a power supply.