The one where I complain…
Readers of my blog know that I really don’t complain too much. Even when I had my ipod, wallet, dvds, shoes, underwear, and other assorted items stolen or when I shamelessly asked for money I tried not to be too pessimistic or annoying. That being said, let me complain for a moment: I still don’t have an ipod and now my car CD player is busted (yeah, poor me, how will I survive? Who cares about those who are actually in need?). First the lights went out but everything still seemed to work okay. I can deal with that, I don’t need to know how many seconds of Come Sail Away have passed. And I don’t really need to listen to the radio, we pretty much just get Canadian stations anyway… No worries. At least the CDs play!
I pop in the second disc of Jason Harrod live at Zoka Coffee and start singing along. Two times through is enough for now so I hit the good ol’ eject button and the face plate thing moves down… no CD… then up… and then down… and then up… and then down… you get the idea… then it beeps. Now every time I turn on the car it goes through the same motions, the sound of the faceplate, Jason Harrod singing Kickin’ Mule, and then beeping. I love Jason Harrod, but after 38 times through, I am ready for something different. I might go insane. Luckily I didn’t have the soundtrack to Titanic in at the time…
So anyone have any suggestions? And keep in mind that I am quite broke… I don’t even know how much CD players cost!
There’s the tweezer assist method, the sharp whack method, the turn the volume all the way down method, or the pull it out of the dash, take the cover off and see if you can’t manually convince it to eject method. You’ll have to pull it out to replace it anyway. I recommend Crutchfield.
More importantly, all these years I thought Kansas did Come Sail Away. I learned something today.
I have tried the sharp whack a number of times… I will be pulling it out of the dash soon and see if I can poke buttons and/or cross wires to coax the CD out.
Oh you and your lack of Styx knowledge… ok, to be honest, the only think I know about Styx is that they sang Come Sail Away.
Thanks for the link to Cruchfield, I will check it out!
So these three look pretty sweet:
Pioneer DEH-P3800MP
Pioneer DEH-P4800MP
Kenwood KDC-MP4032
Eh?
The Kenwood has the best numbers of those three. Also, this Sony has the front aux input that I like, because I like the flexiblity. Plus it has pretty colors. Which is really the key to good sound.
I have noticed a direct relationship between sound quality and pretty colors…
That Sony is looking pretty good too, I do like the front input (assuming I am every able to get that new ipod!).
So being a sound person (not sure if that really translates to car audio, but still probably know more than me): The Sony has a 17 watt RMS vs the Kenwood’s 22 watt RMS. Is that difference crucial to the difference in sound output? Also, The Sony’s SNR is 120db vs. Kenwood’s 105db - would that be a noticeable difference?
It seems like the Sony will have less noise when listening to CDs, but the sound output wouldn’t be as strong and/or crisp and/or clear compared to the Kenwood? Is that about right? And even if that is right, would it be a noticeable difference for either?
In theory, yes. But it depends on the receiver’s electronics, your speakers, how noisy your car is, and what volume you listen to stuff at whether the numbers will matter practically. Numbers are a lot, but they aren’t everything. Usability matters. And the pretty colors (kidding, just kidding).
Go to Best Buy or whatever and give them or something comparable a listen.
Now I want to upgrade my car stereo. Stupid factory system. I miss my 6x9s.
Good advice. I should go listen to some, how novel! And check out the colors of course…
Sadly my car speakers aren’t the best either… when I win the lottery…
Hey Matt…hope you’re doing well. Just stopping by to say hi. Too bad about your bad luck with electronic devices
It would have been funny if it was stuck playing Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” at full volume.
Hey Jackie! Good to hear from you! I am doing well, hoping to get back in grad school in January (masters in teaching). How is Korea treating you?
Heh, Tony, if by “funny” you mean “make me go pull-my-hair-out-by-their-roots insane so I drive my car into a telephone pole”, then yes, it would have been hilarious!
Hey… that opera is a classic
Call me old school, but just put a boombox in your back seat.
Oh it is totally classic… but if it caused me to kill people it fall into disrepute.
Haha, I have actually done that before, but alas, I have no boombox.