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[Jimbob]

Right
I want a MP3 playing CD Headunit, in black(ish to suit mv6), with not too garish illumination, pref yellowey
which uses steering controls AND MID display.
Also as cheap as possible (dont really want to spend more that £200)
Extras like aux input and bluetooth would be nice, but not essential.


My best attempt is a Kenwood W6534U and adaptor, all from caraudiodirect for £205.

[Admin]

I would go for the Pioneer DEH-P55BT for the extra £5.

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/pioneer-dehp55bt-p-4821.html?cadid=467589baeab65da176010ef6e77a888e

Better headunit, has bluetooth and ipod connectivity if you want it, and you can change the colour of the display to your taste.

[Marks DTM Calib]

But, it doesn't meet the criteria i.e. steering wheel and display support....

[Jimbob]

But, it doesn't meet the criteria i.e. steering wheel and display support....

To be fair, it does have sub display out, trouble is the adaptor is £70, and I aint paying that, but may get the HU 'knowing' I can get the MID working at a later date.

[Admin]

But, it doesn't meet the criteria i.e. steering wheel and display support....

From what I can tell it does have steering wheel support (almost all Pioneers of the last few years do.)

As for the display, as I have said before, you don't miss it, and the gain in sound quality (no audiophile comments please! ) makes it a more than worthwhile trade off... in my humble opinion anyway.

[Jimbob]

That pioneer ticks all the boxes, steering remote, and display out (35 for steering wheel, 70 for display)

I can get the HU and steering adaptor for £199.98 from caraudiosecurity mmmmmmmmm
may look at the display at a later date if it annoys me.

Or anyone got a better ideas?

edit:
the £70 adaptor does steering AND remote display mmmmm, i think we have a solution!
http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_product.php?partno=CADPI150
plus the £165 for the HU

[Admin]

Good news indeed.

[Hillper]

Don't forget the fascia adaptor



and you might need one of these adaptors.



though, I doubt it.

[Jimbob]

Its the prefacelift so not required,
Ive plenty of the aerial adaptors if I need one.
The Mazda has hit its reserve on ebay overnight (ends tomorrow night), so thats the go ahead to buy one.

Had a play with the pioneer in Halfords yesterday, I like it.

[Hillper]

Sorry.  Just re-read.  It's for the MV6.  You won't have to suffer the awful fascia adaptor then!

Good luck with the search.

[Jimbob]

Thanks all, esp Laidback66

Pioneer DEHP55BT and interface both ordered from Incarexpress.

Will update this with an opinion and photo of it all in once done.

Sounds like I should have a very nice MP3 playing stereo, with MID and Steering Intergration, with a built in bluetooth handsfree for about £230, not to bad at all, a little over my budget of 200, but I hadnt priced in a handsfree kit either, so I'm happy.

[Admin]

Thank me when you have fitted it and you like it!

I think you will pleased with the improvement though.

[Jimbob]

Certainly liked the one i had a poke of in halfords, and am a fan of pioneer generally.
My best ever ICE (a tape player, a few years ago) was pioneer, I hope it lives up to that.

[Jimbob]

The stereo is now in my grubby mits, after missing DHL in the 30 mins there was no-one in.
Still by chance I had to drive past the depot anyway today taking the Mrs for a midwife appointment.
Just desperately waiting for the adaptor now, so I can get it all going.

[Jimbob]

Well, its all installed and the sound quality blows me away!

Sounds excellent, Looks good, very happy  

except...

No display or steering controls
adaptor doesnt seem to work, in the literature it says only replacement for CDR500 stereo..
Now is there really something so different with the cars wiring if that is installed?
I think the adaptor may need to go back and I'll try a different one, there is a connects2 and autoleads, both only do steering controls though, looks like bye bye stereo info in MID

[Phil]

..
Now is there really something so different with the cars wiring if that is installed?

Yes there is.

Depending on the factory headunit the buttons on the wheel work differently

Also if you have the GID as opposed to a MID then you cant get a driver that works the display

[Hillper]

Glad it's in and sounding good!

But these adaptors seem a bit hit and miss.

Good luck!

[Marks DTM Calib]

It should work....the display interface and steering controls are the same for all models (unless you had a CCRT700 in which case the display interface is different),

I wouldn't worry about quality to much....its a car and your playing MP3's so the quality is already screwed before you start...just get the tonal balance to your liking.

[Jimbob]

It should work....the display interface and steering controls are the same for all models (unless you had a CCRT700 in which case the display interface is different),

I wouldn't worry about quality to much....its a car and your playing MP3's so the quality is already screwed before you start...just get the tonal balance to your liking.

Cheers for that, its what I thought too, will have another try before RMA
it was a CCR600 originally and normal MID

http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_product.php?partno=CADPI150
In the manual (http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/pdfs/cadpi150.pdf) , there is a reference to CDR500 CD5000 as exclusive models with CAN-BUS behind the radio, doesnt make sense to me.

As for the quality, think you misread, its fantastic, never had such good audio in a car!

[bestseany]

Make sure you keep the receipt for your Pioneer mate. Mine went back for repair under warranty 5 times in the first year of owning it! Each time with a different fault! I've had it nearly 3 years now though, and it's been ok since, although the face now refuses to stay up unless you play about with it.

The sound quality is excellent, but the build quality isn't. I was quite surprised to be honest.

I didn't bother keeping the MID information when I fitted my Pioneer into my Omega. I just cut a wire on the back of it so the MID still shows the date when the stereo is on.

[Jimbob]

Make sure you keep the receipt for your Pioneer mate. Mine went back for repair under warranty 5 times in the first year of owning it! Each time with a different fault! I've had it nearly 3 years now though, and it's been ok since, although the face now refuses to stay up unless you play about with it.

The sound quality is excellent, but the build quality isn't. I was quite surprised to be honest.

I didn't bother keeping the MID information when I fitted my Pioneer into my Omega. I just cut a wire on the back of it so the MID still shows the date when the stereo is on.

Cheers for the heads up,
Strangely my MID shows the date without tinkering.

[bestseany]

Cheers for the heads up,
Strangely my MID shows the date without tinkering.

I might have just had a bad one, but you never know. I'd probably buy an Alpine next if I had to replace it.

The wire I had to cut on the MID is the same one used for the electric aerial (or the aerial amplifier in the case of an Omega). So if that isn't connected then I guess you won't get that problem.

[Marks DTM Calib]

MP3 quality is pants unless you run minimal compression at which point you might as well of just used CD's hence the source quality is questionable....it looses a lot of top end detail and direction....fine for a noisey car environment with compromised amp design and noisey supplies but, not to be confused with HiFi quality which is a different league...

The Pioneer is 'tuned' to the average brits ear (as most are these days)...so will probabaly sound sharper and a bit tighter on the bass (I suspect) but, in reality its nothing more than an internal fiddle of the tone controls...it has a reasonable DAC (pointless given the poor source) and a better quality amp (still likely to be a compromised class D or B affair in bridge mode).

Bound to sound better then the factory unit coz that ones not fiddled with and most people dont like a flt response on the audio processing.....

[Jimbob]

MP3 quality is pants unless you run minimal compression at which point you might as well of just used CD's hence the source quality is questionable....it looses a lot of top end detail and direction....fine for a noisey car environment with compromised amp design and noisey supplies but, not to be confused with HiFi quality which is a different league...

The Pioneer is 'tuned' to the average brits ear (as most are these days)...so will probabaly sound sharper and a bit tighter on the bass (I suspect) but, in reality its nothing more than an internal fiddle of the tone controls...it has a reasonable DAC (pointless given the poor source) and a better quality amp (still likely to be a compromised class D or B affair in bridge mode).

Bound to sound better then the factory unit coz that ones not fiddled with and most people dont like a flt response on the audio processing.....

I'll happily grant you all that....

The fact remains this HU sounds better than any of my car audio ever, OEM, Pioneer, Sony, Panasonic, Kenwood,   Goodmans  regardless of source.  Only really used MP3(320kbps) so far, dont tend to put originals in the car.  When I do put a real CD in, I imagine it will be better still.
And I still need to set it up as I like it yet!

[Admin]

You have to understand Mark is a bit of an Audiophile, so his acceptable standards are totally different to the rest of us!

The car is not the best environment to listen to music from a purists view because you have strange shapes and obstacles that disturb the flow of the sound waves.
To this end, the manufacturers modify the way the sound is produced.

I have to be honest though, I am no audiophile so these things don't unduly worry me.

To you and I, it sounds great, and ultimately this is what matters.

[Jimbob]

Update:
All works fine, display & remote

Helps if you connect the cable labeled 'system remote control'  

 

Thanks again

[Admin]

  I think we have all done things like that!

[Jimbob]

Been using this a while now, and generally very happy
just fixed the last problem - since installing the adaptor, I lost on / off with ignition, and memory.
Assumed I had unplugged the switched live connector during install, took it out, was all fine, thought 'what if' and swapped the live / switched back to default in case the adaptor was that clever.....and it was, so all sorted, just need to fix my aerial connector I accidently pulled off now

So impressions.

CD / MP3 - sounds excellent, very happy
Tuner - sounded fine the brief time I used it, not really a radio person
Bluetooth - Excellent, my motorola (due for replacement next month) doesnt autoconnect, so 2 buttons to establish connection.  Nokia's however work fine.

Adaptor - Sorry to say a little poor.  The controls all work perfectly, but for some designers idea that the stereo must beep quietly whenever one is pressed, Why!!!
The display driver is what really lets it down, I hoped for track names to be relayed, but no, just get the timer for current song, and track number, a bit pointless really.
The radio does give station name though
Also expected the phone interface to show number calling, or at least 'phone', but nothing, just sits where the cd is paused.

So, would I buy it again, maybe, depends what else I could find
Love the stereo, but the interface lets it down, would prefer expanded display items and rid of that beep.  Doesnt do a lot for what it cost.
I would probaly buy the stereo again, but a cheaper autoleads adaptor and lose the display
(if you disconnect the blue wire (system remote) then you still get the date on the MID.)


At the End of the day, the £230 got me a good stereo, bluetooth hands free kit and steering contol  & display adaptor, I couldnt match that from other manufactures.

[bestseany]

Been using this a while now, and generally very happy
just fixed the last problem - since installing the adaptor, I lost on / off with ignition, and memory.
Assumed I had unplugged the switched live connector during install, took it out, was all fine, thought 'what if' and swapped the live / switched back to default in case the adaptor was that clever.....and it was, so all sorted, just need to fix my aerial connector I accidently pulled off now

So impressions.

CD / MP3 - sounds excellent, very happy
Tuner - sounded fine the brief time I used it, not really a radio person
Bluetooth - Excellent, my motorola (due for replacement next month) doesnt autoconnect, so 2 buttons to establish connection.  Nokia's however work fine.

Adaptor - Sorry to say a little poor.  The controls all work perfectly, but for some designers idea that the stereo must beep quietly whenever one is pressed, Why!!!
The display driver is what really lets it down, I hoped for track names to be relayed, but no, just get the timer for current song, and track number, a bit pointless really.
The radio does give station name though
Also expected the phone interface to show number calling, or at least 'phone', but nothing, just sits where the cd is paused.

So, would I buy it again, maybe, depends what else I could find
Love the stereo, but the interface lets it down, would prefer expanded display items and rid of that beep.  Doesnt do a lot for what it cost.
I would probaly buy the stereo again, but a cheaper autoleads adaptor and lose the display
(if you disconnect the blue wire (system remote) then you still get the date on the MID.)


At the End of the day, the £230 got me a good stereo, bluetooth hands free kit and steering contol  & display adaptor, I couldnt match that from other manufactures.

If you disconnect the system remote cable then you'll also lose the aerial amplifier mate. I cut the wire at the back of the MID instead.

Saying that though, my standard stereo is back in at the minute as my the earth cable is coming out of the loom for my Pioneer and keeps shorting out! Shame my standard CD changer doesn't work properly.

[Jimbob]

Cheers,
Wouldn't have noticed about the aerial due to having broken it....on the list for replacement  
Done yours yet?

Those CD changers are a right PIA, mine was driving me mad!
at the end, it would intermittantly eject the mag or not, lots of button jabbing needed.
When playing, loads of skipping, bit of interference, would only really play about the 1st few songs on a CD.

Very happy to be rid of it.

Does sounds like you have had very bad luck with yours

[bestseany]

Cheers,
Wouldn't have noticed about the aerial due to having broken it....on the list for replacement  
Done yours yet?

Those CD changers are a right PIA, mine was driving me mad!
at the end, it would intermittantly eject the mag or not, lots of button jabbing needed.
When playing, loads of skipping, bit of interference, would only really play about the 1st few songs on a CD.

Very happy to be rid of it.

Does sounds like you have had very bad luck with yours

Yeah, my car's not giving me the best impression of Omega ownership to be honest. Been thinking about getting rid but that won't be a bit yet.

It's the gearbox and LPG problems that are really doing my head in. Everything else is niggly.

I got the replacement aerial cable delivered today from a guy on ebay, plus a few other odds and sods. The radio reception was brilliant until I damaged the cable. Suppose it's my own fault really.

My CD changer has similar symptoms to yours then. Sometimes it will stop playing about halfway through a CD and take ages to start playing when I turn the stereo on. The Pioneer will be going back in when I get the loom sorted for it.