when a Computer cd or dvd drive ranges from £10 to £30, i dont see the reason for car cd players to be so exspensive. the cheapest 1 i found is at £70 in argos here
The previous poster has kind of touched on the reason for the higher cost of car CD stereos - you need mechanisms to counter the normal vibrations and shocks you get in a car whilst driving, so what you will find is most have an anti-shock mechanism backed up by a data buffering system - very similar to that you get on many portable CD players now.
If it wasn't for the buffering and anti-shock mechanisms, your CD would be barely listenable to in a car - it would just stop playing every few seconds due to the shocks or skip hidiously.
My old setup involved an undead 4-speed CD-ROM, with some extra electronics butchered on to give the right input voltage, with it's audio socket running into the line in socket on my tape deck. Worked quite well for 6 months until the drive died.
Originally posted by 3Faze My old setup involved an undead 4-speed CD-ROM, with some extra electronics butchered on to give the right input voltage, with it's audio socket running into the line in socket on my tape deck. Worked quite well for 6 months until the drive died.
LOL - that sounds like the sort of 'stereo system' a mate of mine at university had in his car - a walkman plugged into a set of 10w stereo PC speakers all running off AA batteries
Power output 4 x 16 watt RMS.
FM/MW/LW digital tuner.
24 pre-sets.
RDS/EON.
(PS) program service name.
TA (traffic announcement).
AF (auto frequency).
Single CD player with random/play mode.
CD-R compatible.
Bass and treble controls.
3 pre-set sounds.
Loudness control.
Removable faceplate.
Direct track access.
Line output.
Telephone mute.
Compu-play (single button power-up).
That price £70 sounds about right.
My old Pioneer 3400-r wasnt anywhere near top of the range but for £120 it was well worth it when i originally wanted the 6400-r model for £200 which was at top with the best of Pioneer - at the time.
That car cd player is good for just normal listening, nothing quality.
That list above is pretty much standard on all low-end head units.
The Pioneer 3400 had all that plus...
2 pre-outs
high volt out put
4 x 27W rms MOSFET
face off
and other stuff you might not understand
Comments
CD-rom is just the drive
Car CD players cd-rom, Amplifier, radio.
Also higher quality components
Not bad for 70 quid
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=651&productId=49422
You'd need an anti-shock personal CD player as well though...
If it wasn't for the buffering and anti-shock mechanisms, your CD would be barely listenable to in a car - it would just stop playing every few seconds due to the shocks or skip hidiously.
Don't forget that it's not just a CD rom in a different cover, it's a stereo amplier and 3 band radio, all fitted into a compact case.
My old Pioneer 3400-r wasnt anywhere near top of the range but for £120 it was well worth it when i originally wanted the 6400-r model for £200 which was at top with the best of Pioneer - at the time.
That car cd player is good for just normal listening, nothing quality.
That list above is pretty much standard on all low-end head units.
The Pioneer 3400 had all that plus...
2 pre-outs
high volt out put
4 x 27W rms MOSFET
face off
and other stuff you might not understand
Now these are quality...
http://www.newimagecarhifi.com/product_details.asp?company_name=Pioneer&product_id=PIODEHP9400MP
http://www.newimagecarhifi.com/product_details.asp?company_name=Pioneer&product_id=pioavhp6400cd
Incidentally, car CD players here in Austria where I live are not much cheaper than UK prices - check out the equiavlent of Currys here:
Mediamarkt.at