Be careful choosing an automotive radio. Many nowadays don't have an
'OFF' switch and are intended to be on all the time the key is on. This
alone is very inconvenient. Also, some have incredibly offensive
self-promotion 'adds' touting the units salable abilities and
performance specs, which scroll across the display and cannot be turned
off, have displays which flash or pulse icons or digital graphic
equalizer displays to the music. Most have incomprehensible multi
function controls which are either not labeled, or you need a mag glass
to read microscopic icons. Several hours reading the poorly written
manual and several more practicing trying to adjust the controls from
memory while underway will tell you clearly how badly you ****ed up
choosing the model.
If you want cd/cassette function, and the ability to control a satellite
cd changer, I suggest sticking with a basic unit, forgoing the wiz-bang
Ipod thing, and getting this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-P...spagenameZWD1V

I have this unit in my boat, and also in a few cars. Really outstanding
performance specs and ease of use for a basic CD/Cassette radio, and
none of the bad stuff detailed above.
Here's some reviews on Epinions,:
http://www.epinions.com/Pyle_PLCDCS9...splay_~reviews
JR

Chuck Gould wrote:

Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this
year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop
several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost-
wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the
switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14
years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like
they used to. :-)

Speaking of not making them like they used to.........

Holy Smackaroons

Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts
in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy
"marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I
can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14
years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new
language.

Questions for the more techinally hip:

1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound
quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial?

2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds
like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at
first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's,
etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on
something much smaller). So:

3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers,
separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now
available.

4. Any general advice on this subject?



--
--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth

On Sep 10, 2:53?pm, JR North wrote:
Be careful choosing an automotive radio. Many nowadays don't have an
'OFF' switch and are intended to be on all the time the key is on. This
alone is very inconvenient. Also, some have incredibly offensive
self-promotion 'adds' touting the units salable abilities and
performance specs, which scroll across the display and cannot be turned
off, have displays which flash or pulse icons or digital graphic
equalizer displays to the music. Most have incomprehensible multi
function controls which are either not labeled, or you need a mag glass
to read microscopic icons. Several hours reading the poorly written
manual and several more practicing trying to adjust the controls from
memory while underway will tell you clearly how badly you ****ed up
choosing the model.
If you want cd/cassette function, and the ability to control a satellite
cd changer, I suggest sticking with a basic unit, forgoing the wiz-bang
Ipod thing, and getting this:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-P...Cassette-CD-Pl...

I have this unit in my boat, and also in a few cars. Really outstanding
performance specs and ease of use for a basic CD/Cassette radio, and
none of the bad stuff detailed above.
Here's some reviews on Epinions,:http://www.epinions.com/Pyle_PLCDCS9...d_CD_Player___...
JR





Chuck Gould wrote:
Each time I resolved to replace the stereo system on my boat this
year, it would start working properly again and the task would drop
several notches on the priority list. Saturday, it gave up the ghost-
wouldn't turn on until about 50 attempts had been mae pressing the
switch, and even then the digital display was kaput. Only about 14
years' service from that unit- I guess they just don't make them like
they used to. :-)

Speaking of not making them like they used to.........

Holy Smackaroons

Used to think I knew a few things about car stereo (my stereo mounts
in the cabin where it's pretty protected- and I don't need/won't buy
"marine" version). Looking at the specs for potential replacements, I
can see where the industry has evolved substantially in the last 14
years while my technical awareness has not. It's like learning a new
language.

Questions for the more techinally hip:

1. Anybody got "HD" FM radio? Would you rate the difference in sound
quality as indistinguishable, marginal, or substantial?

2. Anybody using "memory cards" for music storage? Actually sounds
like a better approach than hooking up an external iPod, at least at
first blush. (We've got an entire galley drawer filled with CD's,
etc....would be nice to free up that space and store the music data on
something much smaller). So:

3. What are the pros and cons of memory cards, mp3 CD's, CD changers,
separate iPod's etc? There's a real smorgasbord og choices now
available.

4. Any general advice on this subject?

--
--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page:http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the suggestion. Looks like a good, basic unit. I'm still
intrigued by the "memory card" option I saw on a couple of units on
the Crutchfield site, I'd like to just get the CD's off the boat
entirely.

Too bad about the brand name, "Pyle". I spent enough years in
automotive retail (but not stereos) to be sure the competitor's sales
force has a *lot* of fun with that one.