Best car c/d player under $400

I would buy an OEM radio/cassette and equalizer, and get one of those adapters that plugs into the cassette tape slot which will allow you to play a portable CD through the current system.Those type setups were popular back before CD players were common options in cars. See www.epinions.com and type in cd cassette adapter in the search box.

 

Nakamichi CD 400. Has a built in 47 watt rms power. Sounds Great.

 

I need one in black. The guys where I bought my Ferrari put a way cool Sony Xplode F7005X in my machine. But it is the only bright AL thing on the dash. Need something dark.
http://members.cardomain.com/snapshot1

 

If you like XM radio. Alpine makes one that has evertyhing built into it. Most units need a seperate tuner but this one doesn't. I'm about to put one in my Jag. They are around $300 if you search froogle.

I wish Nakamichi made one with XM built in. I really hate the way the alpine looks. It will be out of place in my car but has the feature I want.

 

I am in the process of installing an Alpine CDM 9823, 72 watts RMS total. 200.00 .Plenty to run two 6" Coax speakers in your Boxer.
My brother gave one to me for my B'day because he was so impressed with how his sounded.

 

I spent $900 on an alpine double din unit at one point in my life.

CD Player skipped like mad over bumps, and the buttons "Click" Broke.
(Button worked, but didnt click back out properly)

I had it repaired, and the guy wanted $150 for it, I argued him down
to $35 in the end, but still, 150 bucks for a button click? The invoice
showed the part at like $4 something.

None the less, I wouldnt buy another alpine again. I would probably
just get a Sony and be done with it. Eclipse audio (Fujitsu10) is also
really nice. Honestly, what makes a cd player more then $100? There
is only so much you can do with a cd-player and radio you know..

 

Blaupunkt was the hot ticket item in it's day but my experience with them proved otherwise. At the time I found many failings. The one I pulled out of my 308 was pure junk.

I would peruse audiophile sites to get the skinny on current types and models. You may find that what once was crap has been greatly improved and vice versa.

BTW, I had one of those cassette adapter thingies and it sounded like crap.
I do have a cassette deck that I can plug a portable CD player into (the back) and sounds geat, not that I would ever buy a cassette anything again.

The nice thing about today's technology is most of the decks mount in the same dimension hole. Don't like what you have? Slide it out and slide in another.

I am running a small amp that will mount in the center of my spare tire so I'll have enough juice to run a small sub in the passeger footwell in addition to the Coax speakers in the doors. I am doing this without hacking anything up on the car. Just refabricating some key components and parts to accomodate the larger parts. Easily reversable to the outdated ancient 70's technology touted by pseudopurists.

 

I agree I have always been partial to Alpine, but the last I bought were junk. I had a Sony in my Mustang years ago and never had any problems.

 

The newer Alpines I have no love for them at all. But the old green chicklet style Alpine were awesome. I'm always on the lookout for the older style Alpine pullouts if anyone knows of any please shoot me a pm. It is hard to find a good deck these days. About a year or so ago I bought a JVC Kameleon (sp) which has proven to be a good basic deck and also some nice features (faceplate goes completely flat with no buttons or knobs and it came with a remote). I always used to buy Sony's but found that their sound was lacking. I also have had bad luck with the Blaupunkt (with the exception of one but it was made by Sony at the time). Eclipse are good decks and have always had a nice sound.