car stereo recommendations?

I finally have to give up on the stock radio/cassette deck in my 94
Civic EX.* Any recommendations for a new car stereo system, or good
sites that review them? I don't need massive wattage or super bass, and
the ambient noise in a Civic is such that massive frequency range is
irrelevant. I hope to reuse the stock wiring and speakers, and keep
costs reasonable. Removable faceplate would be nice, and AUX input jack
is important. Cassette is not. I don't want a $13/month satellite
subscription. Thanks!

*[Long description:] Pulled the unit to see if I could trace a cracked
circuit board terminal that would have caused the dead display, and
locate the fault in the end-of-cassette detection mechanism that
triggers the auto reverse--it was stuck flopping back and forth--but the
mechanism doesn't lend itself to examination while running. Anyhow, I
managed to blow the unit completely in the course of testing, so I'm
spared more inefficient hours of troubleshooting. [Hint: don't
accidentally short terminals at the main-board/cassette mechanism
connector when you're looking for the power terminals!]

 

Abeness wrote:
Pulled the unit to see if I could trace a cracked

====================================

You "Let the smoke out".

Good reason to upgrade.

'Curly'

 

Crutchfield is your friend here.

 

crutchfield.com

 

Crutchfield.com. Look at the Alpines.

 

Thanks, guys. Haven't bought a car stereo in 20 years. Crutchfield is
exactly what I was looking for.

motsco--Alas, I didn't even have the satisfaction of smoke! Just a teeny
pop and all the lights went out. Bummer eh? ;-(()

 

Good start... also, try adding rec.audio.car to your subscriptions

 

better yet, use crutchfield to select a car stereo, and then buy it
using froogle.com, epinions.com, or shopping.com, etc. Crutchfield is
overpriced and you can save 30-50% of their price.

 

But their service can be invaluable, especially to someone that isn't
experienced...

The equipment will come with all necessary brackets and wiring harnesses,
specialized instructions for your car, and access to free
lifetime technical support. Most e-vendors do not offer anything close.

 

better yet, use crutchfield to select a car stereo, and then buy it
using froogle.com, epinions.com, or shopping.com, etc. Crutchfield is
overpriced and you can save 30-50% of their price.[/QUOTE]

That's good advice if all you're looking at is the price and not the
value.

Crutchfield, for their price, offers a COMPLETE solution--including the
unit itself, install instructions for YOUR vehicle, an installation kit
for YOUR vehicle, complete toll-free technical support on installing all
of this, and a very good return policy.

Yeah, you could pay half. And you'd get half (or less) for it.

Why do people focus on price, price, price to the exclusion of all else?
That's what's made Wal-Mart what it is today.

Only a true idiot would look at only the price and nothing else.

 

Correct. I bought from Crutchfield to learn how to properly install.
If you are learning, they are the people to go to.

I was able to "muddle through" for about $80 dollars less total output
on my last installation. But have to admit, I learned how from
Crutchfield.

 

I've used these guys on a number of occassions:
http://www.midwestelectronics.com/

for Blaupunkt equipment. Good prices on the clearance equipment, and
I'm running a head unit right now in my 90 Prelude that controls a 10
CD changer. Got the install adapter from Radio Shack. Very smooth, but
I have the Helm manual to get at the console.

If you do go Blaupunkt, be advised some of the aux stuff requires a
cable that you have to buy separately.

Cheers,
Mike Davis