New stereo for S2 - recommend?

[L666]

Hi peeps

I'm after a new stereo setup for my S2, must have a line in for an MP3 player/iPod. Budget of about £3-500. Any recommendations? Speakers too, what's the best fit? TBH a CD player isn't even important if I can have good MP3 facilities. Bluetooth? I'm a stereo numpty so please answer in plain English

[300bhp/ton]

L666 said:

Hi peeps

I'm after a new stereo . Any recommendations?

I've always found this type of thing to be the best type of stereo for a sport car

[Fish]

Funnily enough I'm looking at an Exige at some point having had an Elise and I found this:

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/pioneer-mvh8200bt-... (Note other car audio sites exist)


MP3 nice colour screen and hands free phone(not that anyone would hear you)..

It is also black so it would fit in with the later American dash.

Hope that helps

[L666]

Looks good but I think a choice of 113 screen colours is a bit OTT

[otolith]

Does nobody make a really simple, elegant stereo for reasonable money? The standard one in mine looks like it was specified by a teenager.

[NJS25]

IMHO you don't need anything more complicated than this.

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3...

I have had the previous model fitted for a couple of years now, I only paid £30 and thought it can't be worse than trashing CD's over potholes during the previous 7 years or so!.

I was suitably impressed. Fitted with a 2GB SD card and compressed files (plenty good enough for an elise fitted with a Larini) the sound quality is fine with around 1000tracks available. Being cheap there's no fear of it being nicked with the roof off.

Bluetooth works surprisingly well if you keep the revs (noise levels) under control.

For greater flexibility you also have the Aux in and 4x40watts is plenty for the confines of an elise cabin.

The sound quality is much better than the OEM unit (Clarion) fitted in my 2001 S2. I am an audiophile, but can't really understand the desire to spend large sums of money on in-car hi-fi, as these two aspects seem pretty much mutually exclusive due to the compromises involved in the cars interior and the noise intrusion when driving. This issue is even more prevalent in a car like the elise. My advise would be keep it simple, give something cheap and functional a go and if you do feel the need to invest some more cash, spend it on some good quality speakers.

For £50 with bluetooth and SD card functionality, you could do alot worse than the headunit above.

Regards, Neil

[L666]

Have also had the JVC KD-R411 recommended to me too http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jvc-kdr411.html Does the Aldi head unit fit straight into existing S2 hole?

Also, wih the analogue signal being switched off soon, should I be looking at a digital radio......

Edited by L666 on Tuesday 23 November 23:37

[L666]

I think I may go for this one as it has bluetooth capabilities too:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-MEX-BT2700-CD-MP3-car-s...

[braddo]

otolith said:

Does nobody make a really simple, elegant stereo for reasonable money? The standard one in mine looks like it was specified by a teenager.

There's a thread in general gassing about non-gaudy head units and there is an impressively low key Nakamichi mentioned - around £250 retail and £120 online price (maybe caraudiodirect?).

[otolith]

braddo said:

otolith said:

Does nobody make a really simple, elegant stereo for reasonable money? The standard one in mine looks like it was specified by a teenager.

There's a thread in general gassing about non-gaudy head units and there is an impressively low key Nakamichi mentioned - around £250 retail and £120 online price (maybe caraudiodirect?).

Thank you, the chap starting that thread is asking exactly what I want to know

[junks]

L666 said:

I think I may go for this one as it has bluetooth capabilities too:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-MEX-BT2700-CD-MP3-car-s...

What no praise?? x

[GhostDriver]

I got a Kenwood, has a USB cable whick feeds nicely on to the glove tray, handy as there's not much space in the liz for CDs, theres this one:

http://www.justkenwood.co.uk/car-audio.aspx/kdc-bt...

Or have a look around the site, there are ones with phone preps and all sorts. Sounds amazing, menus can be a bit fidly.

But highly recommended

[simpo555]

Hi

Id go Alpine every time. I have an Alpine with MP3 connection on the rear of the unit via Ipod cable and additional audio jack for my sons archos on the facia. My alpine allows me to access the playlists, etc on my Ipod via the facia although its a bit fiddly. Dont see the point of cd players anymore. In truth whats needed now is just a radio with MP3 and good amplification. The rest is meaningless.

[L666]

junks said:

L666 said:

I think I may go for this one as it has bluetooth capabilities too:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-MEX-BT2700-CD-MP3-car-s...

What no praise?? x

Hahah might have known you'd be lurking.

Will look at Alpine ones too as lots of people give them the thumbs up. Won't be buying until nearer springtime now as my baby is hibernating in the garage from end Nov

<NUMPTIE>
If the line-in and USB is at the back of the unit, isn't that a bit of a pain in the butt when you want to plug and unplug stuff??
</NUMPTIE>

Edited by L666 on Thursday 25th November 13:29

[[k]arl]

simpo555 said:

Hi

Id go Alpine every time. I have an Alpine with MP3 connection on the rear of the unit via Ipod cable and additional audio jack for my sons archos on the facia. My alpine allows me to access the playlists, etc on my Ipod via the facia although its a bit fiddly. Dont see the point of cd players anymore. In truth whats needed now is just a radio with MP3 and good amplification. The rest is meaningless.

I agree - earlier this year, I ditched the factory Alpine head unit for their IDA-X305 model - IMHO it entirely eliminates the 'fiddliness' of the factory unit's iPod controls and it plugs straight into the existing power & speaker wiring for straightforward installation. I've been very happy with it for the most part, although some iOS updates have caused problems.

[k]

[junks]

L666 said:

junks said:

L666 said:

I think I may go for this one as it has bluetooth capabilities too:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-MEX-BT2700-CD-MP3-car-s...

What no praise?? x

Hahah might have known you'd be lurking.

Will look at Alpine ones too as lots of people give them the thumbs up. Won't be buying until nearer springtime now as my baby is hibernating in the garage from end Nov

<NUMPTIE>
If the line-in and USB is at the back of the unit, isn't that a bit of a pain in the butt when you want to plug and unplug stuff??
</NUMPTIE>

Edited by L666 on Thursday 25th November 13:29

No, you just use an extension