Buying a Car Stereo

[scfr]

We're going to make a splurge/luxury purchase and we're looking for advice.

We are going to upgrade the radio that's in our newer car (the one with only 60K miles) and get one with a CD player.

We are going to have it installed for us. (Our "car" friend told us to not even think about doing this ourselves, and we are taking his advice).

We will probably buy one with a CD changer where we can put in at least a few CDs at a time, since this will be mainly used during long drives (including a 3-day move to Texas in September).

We are NOT iPod people (and never will be) so we don't care about features like that.

We also are NOT "blast the hip-hop with the volume turned all the way up" people so our "car" friend told us we don't need to change the whole system, that the speakers we have now are just fine.

Beyond that, we need all the advice we can get, as we have never made this type of purchase before.

Should we buy from a big chain (Car Toys, Best Buy, etc), through a mid-size chain (here on the Left Coast we have Magnolia Audio & Video), or from a small mom & pop-type operation? [Our "car" friend says go to Car Toys, but he is not a frugal-minded person so we won't necessarily follow his advice on this one.]

Are there certain brands we should look at? Certain ones we should avoid?

It looks like HD radio is a growing trend, so should we look for a HD compatible radio receiver?

What's a reasonable amount to expect to spend?

Any other advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
TIA!

[zakity]

We bought the cheapest pioneer, partially because it has where you didn't have to fold down the face plate to put in a cd. We thought the fold down ones looked like they were going to break quickly.

DH is pretty handy and he put them in himself.

[tinapbeana]

My previous car had a CD player installed, an Aiwa I believe. It was installed by the original owner before I bought the car.... Regardless, I had no issues with the system, and it had a removeable faceplate in case I were the paranoid type. No CD changer, just a single CD player.

My current car came w/ a single CD as well. What I like is the CD player is also capable of playing MP3s burned to CD, so I can make my own mixed CDs for roadtrips. In this case, I don't really want the changer b/c I can burn more than the average 10-12 songs that are typically on a CD...

[MonkeyMama]

My dh is big on car stereos and we usually go to the stereo places that pretty much install for free. I am sure they mark up the prices accordingly, but the product was not that much more expensive for the installation than it would have been elsewhere. Seemed like the best deal at the time.

We have never had much luck finding a place that would install a stereo that we did not buy from them, on the other hand.

If I recall my dh also filed a complaint with the BBB for one of those places - I don't remember why but got into a big dispute with them over something.

Not much help, but just my experience. Those stock radios are always pretty crappy. I usually keep mine because I don't care but any car purchase for dh means new stereo, so we have done it a couple of times.

I don't think it is really that huge a deal to install yourself. If you think you can do it, I would. We're not handy so we don't bother - but my dad has installed all of his own stereos - never a problem. Just saying as it sounds like kind of a scare tactic or myth if you ask me, to not do it yourself if you were so inclined.

[Gruntina]

Just don't go crazy with buying extra stuff to go with the CD player like speakers or woofers and stuff unless it is absolutely needed. Remember it will never bring up the value of the car even if you added a very expensive system to it so keep that in mind and just only get what you need.

[autoxer]

I wouldn't get a CD changer. They are usually extra units that mount in the trunk & could add $150 - $250 to the price of the receiver. If you can burn your own CD's, then consider an MP3 capable CD receiver. Most of them are now MP3 capable, & you can expect to spend $100 - $250 for a half decent receiver. You can burn 6 - 8 albums worth of music onto a single disc in MP3 form. There are many good brands, and I tend to like the ones with easy to use controls, so you can hit the button you want without looking at it. Just go to the store & play around with a couple of them.

We are going to have it installed for us. (Our "car" friend told us to not even think about doing this ourselves, and we are taking his advice).

I have installed a dozen car stereo's for friends & family. If you order from a place like crutchfield, they provide the wiring harness & pretty decent instructions. Although some wiring ability is required.

[Gruntina]

I wouldn't get a CD changer. They are usually extra units that mount in the trunk & could add $150 - $250 to the price of the receiver. .

You can buy basic cd stero that holds up to 6 cds easily without needing a separate cd changer.

[autoxer]

You can buy basic cd stero that holds up to 6 cds easily without needing a separate cd changer.

Can you recommend one? I can't find any aftermarket CD receivers that hold more than one CD.

[Gruntina]

Can you recommend one? I can't find any aftermarket CD receivers that hold more than one CD.

I am at work so I could not a lot of time searching on the web for the basic one I seen before that was under the brand Alpine. I will search after I get off work.

However I did spot a pioneer that has a built in 6 disc player in the reciever but it is a whopping $999.99!!!!! But it includes the DVD and LCD screen with other luxuries.

Using your search engine, type : PIONEER AVHP6800DVD IN-Dash Double-DIN 6-Disc Receiver and it should come up.

[scfr]

Thanks guys for all your suggestions!

Gotta love SA - No shortage of opinions!
I'll let you all know what we go with.

[sakigt]

May I suggest a little word of advice.

Although the mom and pop stores are nice, I know a local one that takes the customer's info down and steals the system back at a later date using the home address you put down. Just skip that part. If they need it, make up everything except the zip code.

Im sure not all places are like this, but it never hurts to be careful!

[mom-from-missouri]

Guess I am getting old. In my younger days, I would have and did upgrade my car stereo.

Now, I go with whatever the car has, and the kids each have their own individual CD players with headphones that they take and listen to on long trips.

As long as I can get my AM station for Dave Ramsey, I'm fine.

[tabbycat31]

I upgraded my car stereo for my now dead car about 6 months after I got it. To this day it still baffles me that cars come with tape players considering tapes are all but dead.

I got the upgrade for Christmas that year and the deck had to be changed because it was an odd shape. I went to a local shop across the street from my then workplace

ETA car audio is a splurge for me. My next car will be ipod compatible

[smokey0066]

SCFR, What kind of car do you own?
Here is why i ask.
For the installation there are usually instructions online that can assist you with the dismanteling of the dash and removal of the OEM unit. I think you can even go to the library and pull up the shop manual for instructions on how to open up the dash. I was able to walk into the car dealer for assistance with one of my cars which really stumped me.

Car stereos usually come with a huge markup, 50% plus at retail outlets is not uncommon. If you are even the slightest bit handy, you can do the install. Installation is fairly simple once you get the dash apart. Items you will need in addition to your new stereo would be
wire harness adapter: this allows you to plug right into factory wiring and allows easy removal if you were to sell the car. you just twist wires or solder them to the new cd player and the other end plugs into the car. You can get harnesses for most makes
dash trim kit: some cars have oval stereos (ford taurus comes to mind) and standard stereos are rectangle so you will need some trim to cover up the open whole.
Both these items can be picked up online or locally (I have bought these at best buy before) Shop online for last year models and you will save a significant amount of money on an item that would have required top dollar last year.

Another option would be to purchase the stereo/changer online and bring it into a shop for install. They will usually charge alot when they install items not purchased with them but one of my friends went down this route and still saved from retail since he got such a good deal on the stereo from ebay.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me. I do not do this for a living but I've done quite a few full stereo installs (head unit, speakers, amps, subs, and wiring)

[CoryWM]

Heres what I recommend. Get an ipod, with FM transmitter, ipod + 50 dollars. You set the ipod to play over a radio station. Then any radio it is near, and on that station will play it.. SO you load all your music to ipod.. take it with you in anyone's car. Including your next car, your moving van, your moms van, your neighbor's house stereo etc.