Just fitted a great inexpensive CD/tuner head unit

maglett · Post by **maglett** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:23 pm

investigated that route... decided against it - impulse bought the new head unit without thinking!

Wasn't keen on the other anyway (that's my new story!)

Plus I figured I'm always losing the FM signal around the welsh mountains, and in the scottish borders, so the same would happen to the FM transmitter.

If the aux lead will work then I'll be content with that!

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:31 pm

The FM transmitter is in your car!!

- what have mountains got to do with it??

maglett · Post by **maglett** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:36 pm

I don't know...

... I only pretend to know stuff and get found out when questioned

I thought I understood FM transmitters but obviously don't have a clue!

At the moment I'm taking the route of not wanting one, otherwise I've just wasted a load of dosh... internet shopping is too easy

maglett · Post by **maglett** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:09 pm

Aux lead works, though loses it if moved around ... sound gets distorted.

Sound quality is great compared with what I had.

Head unit much easier than my old one, and has nice blue and red lights !

I'm happy enough... think I should put my debit card under lock and key in the future!

Clive and Sarah · Post by **Clive and Sarah** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:50 am

Hi Maglett. Don't panic with your Ipod, their are options. Unfortunately, its Apple that only allow a PC to 'see' the contents of an Ipod hard disc via iTunes. You cannot, without paying a lot of money for a third party conversion, get the digital output straight from an Ipod. You can take the analogue output either via the headphone jack or the universal dock. Some (more expensive) headunits provide a facility for the later. Most non Ipod MP3 players allow you to use their hard drive as an external USB drive which will work fine. If you have a Sony Walkman then you can even access playlists via the headunit I think.

So, your options are;
1. Use the headphone jack straight into the Aux in on the front. Cannot then use the headunit to select tracks and some loss of quality. Least best option IMHO.

2. Buy this special Ipod interface for Sony headunits http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0101520489 or http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/produc ... /5535.html . Adds to price I'm afraid but still less overall than many Ipod enabled headunits. Can buy together as http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/produc ... /5938.html or http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/produc ... /5619.html . This is still not as good as the USB in because only analogue music is output via the universal connector, believe it or not. You cannot get digital Ipod music into a car unit to my knowledge. However, the interface enables you to select albums, tracks and even playlists (I think)via the headunit. Would need to double check compatibility with the CDXGT410 but think its OK 'cos uses the CD changer Unilink.

3. Just copy and paste the AAC files from your itunes music folder on your computer onto a USB stick (eg, 2GB for <£10 on Amazon or even 4GB for £19.99, not sure if later will work). 50 or more albums, digital quality into headunit which your can use to select tracks (not playlists), even with remote. No expensive Ipod in Bongo and more than enough songs for an average journey. Will not play copyrighted tracks, ie those downloaded from iTunes music store. Can also play WMA (best quality IMO), ATRAC (Sony) and MP3.

Gosh.... long answer. Hope it makes sense. I'll PM this for you as well.

parabat2 · Post by **parabat2** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:04 pm

You could always use RockBox instead of the normal iPod firmware.

http://www.rockbox.org/

Havn't tried it myself

- I use Aux In on the front of my radio.

maglett · Post by **maglett** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:37 pm

Thanks guys for info.

Might use USB stick, and burn the copyrighted tracks onto CD. Then wouldn't need to worry about keeping Ipod safe.
Always have the aux lead option if wanting to use ipod.

How many albums would you fit on a 2GB USB stick?

Clive and Sarah · Post by **Clive and Sarah** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:16 am

At 4-5MB per track at 128kbps compression that would be 40-50 albums with average of 10 tracks I reckon.

Bonza · Post by **Bonza** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:34 am

Got that Sony set from Amazon. Wonderful bit of kit and what a price.
Thanks for the info
Bonza

clogger · Post by **clogger** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:50 am

http://svp.co.uk:80/products-solo.php?pid=2301

this may be worth a dabble

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:24 pm

Wow clogger - you've come up trumps there!!! Under £50, all the features of the other offerings INCLUDING remote control. They are out of stock at present but seem to be sure they will have more.

Anyone going to try one of these? I'm tempted, but budget currently v. low

Clive and Sarah · Post by **Clive and Sarah** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:55 pm

Nice one Clogger. Similar spec to the Sony and about £25 cheaper. Its not clear whether it will play WMA and AAC files as well as MP3. AAC makes it easy to copy and paste your Ipod music and WMA is the best compression format IMHO.

PS...also like the rather 'retro' look....bit like the Bongo really.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:01 pm

Clive and Sarah wrote

PS...also like the rather 'retro' look....bit like the Bongo really.

I thought that too. Weird, cos we are talking 1995 retro and its only 12yrs ago. But it looks like it would 'fit' a Bongo doesnt it. Might be just what depresses its appeal (and price) in the rest of the market

clogger · Post by **clogger** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:30 pm

well i have a notification in so they`ll let me know when they are back in stock,

i have used this firm for years for computer type stuff and always have delivered .

will see how one of these goes in bongo number 2 when i get it

take it easy peeps

johnzbenson · Post by **johnzbenson** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:39 am

When I went for the new In car radio/CD/DVD player I thought why would anyone bother with just a CD player when you can have the whole shooting match for £120 or therabouts (see item) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-6-TFT-LCD-IN-DA ... dZViewItem
( I didn't buy from this seller but they all seem much of a muchness)

The purchase of this item while i believe a good choice its not perfect.
It does play DVDs well and the 3.6 inch screen is quite watchable.
Also you can plug in external screens to the Av output.
Or watch movies /dvds via the extra AV input
The analogue TV tuner works well with an extra tv aerial.
And you can put MP3 music onto a DVD so that essentially 1 DVD is equal to 50 Albums of music ( no clutter in the Bongo and no need to find space for the cd autochanger)
The negative points
when playing the MP3 DVD the windows explorer format of the contents of the DVD makes reading what tracks are available almost impossible (the writing is very small)- I just leave mine on random play because of this.
there is a small fan which energises upon use of the CD/DVD drive that has a slight high pitched humm- (not noticeable while driving)
The unit sits proud of the dashboard by around 12 mm or half inch also while it fits in a single DIN slot it would also overshadow the din slots above and below by about 6mm or quarter of an inch.
That been said i still think its a great unit- I dont know about reliability or whre I would get it repaired. but it also plays via USB and Sandisk memory card. all I really want now to make things complete is an extra screen (around 8-10 inch hopefuly with a built in Digital tuner for the when the analogue channels are switched off.) one other thing the bongo standard speakers may need upgraded.

Just fitted a great inexpensive CD/tuner head unit

In car DVD player a almost perfect success but not quite