Stereo For My Baby

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Baz666
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:39 pm

Looking to buy a stereo for my e30 but i dont know what to go for.
looking for something that will deliver a really good sound and bass line when needed.

got any ideas guys.

why do you show me yours, one thing it must be is black.
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Royalratch
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:15 pm

Alex
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:24 pm

Ive just bought a clarion FB289rbt

http://caraudiogiant.co.uk/shop/index.p ... oductId=19

Sq is very good, has no cd player but an sd card reader instead, has bluetoothe etc Bass is really good, i get subwoofer bass out of my nakamichi 6.5 speakers although i have an amp too. Will Sounds way better than any other HU ive had.

its not exactly black but very very dark brown
Baz666
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:57 pm

Alex wrote:Ive just bought a clarion FB289rbt

http://caraudiogiant.co.uk/shop/index.p ... oductId=19

Sq is very good, has no cd player but an sd card reader instead, has bluetoothe etc Bass is really good, i get subwoofer bass out of my nakamichi 6.5 speakers although i have an amp too. Will Sounds way better than any other HU ive had.

its not exactly black but very very dark brown
The idea of not having CD laying around the car is a dame good idea in my eyes, very good price aswell, also really like the look of it aswell or would it be a bit to moden looking for a e30 dash ??
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hazd31
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:01 pm

that looks good value, and its a proper brand, had a good clarion before in a fiat!
would be nice if somone could make a retro stereo that would actully sound good!
Alex
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:01 pm

doesnt look too bad to be honest :)
Baz666
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:03 pm

Alex does it have the same colour back lights as a e30
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Alex
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:05 pm

You can choose what colour you want, you can have over 2000 or something like that, but its only the small strips in between the buttons. i have got it the same as an e30, although the screen itself lights up white

only problem i find is that if your a short arse like me you cant see the screen that well as the seat is forward
Last edited by Alex on Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Alex
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:08 pm

hazd31 wrote:that looks good value, and its a proper brand, had a good clarion before in a fiat!
would be nice if somone could make a retro stereo that would actully sound good!
http://www.dvbcaraudio.co.uk/becker-mex ... -5543.html


just dont look at the price :cry:
Baz666
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:12 pm

Daaaame,, i do like that clarion
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Royalratch
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:54 pm

The Mexico is too old for BMW's - it's for old Porsche 356's and those kinds of cars.
Becker Cascade has the twin knob retro cool of the 80's but lots of modern tech.

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Last edited by Royalratch on Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Baz666
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:11 pm

well if no one has anything better then the clarion Alex came up with i think thats going to be the one
for me.

The becker is a really nice stereo but i have a sat nav already and also whats the piont of the sat nav if you have to look down at it all the while.
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Royalratch
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:20 pm

Do you drive staring at your TomTom all the while?

Alex's Clarion is 'alright' but the build and SQ won't be up there with a Becker/Alpine/Pioneer/Nakamichi.

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Alex
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:21 pm

Royalratch wrote:Do you drive staring at your TomTom all the while?

Alex's Clarion is 'alright' but the build and SQ won't be up there with a Becker/Alpine/Pioneer/Nakamichi.

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Its way way better than My Nak cd300 and an old school alpine i had in there
billgatese30
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:34 pm

I have a becker indianapolis pro in mine, excellent head unit :cool:
Baz666
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:38 pm

the thing i was getting at i would always be looking down but at least with a tom tom its more then less at eye level depending on where you fix it to your screen.
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bss325i
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:39 pm

Alex wrote:
Royalratch wrote:Do you drive staring at your TomTom all the while?

Alex's Clarion is 'alright' but the build and SQ won't be up there with a Becker/Alpine/Pioneer/Nakamichi.

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Its way way better than My Nak cd300 and an old school alpine i had in there
But not better than a CD400 or CD500!

The CD300 is lame though.
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

BMW and MINI specialist - Gatwick
Alex
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:40 pm

bss325i wrote:
Alex wrote:
Royalratch wrote:Do you drive staring at your TomTom all the while?

Alex's Clarion is 'alright' but the build and SQ won't be up there with a Becker/Alpine/Pioneer/Nakamichi.

Image
Its way way better than My Nak cd300 and an old school alpine i had in there
But not better than a CD400 or CD500!

The CD300 is lame though.
They are over £100+++ more than this Unit :?
bss325i
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:40 pm

I have never rated Clarions either and i've had a few.

Mainly found in french scrap and i'm sure their french to.
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

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bss325i
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:41 pm

Alex wrote:
bss325i wrote:
Alex wrote: Its way way better than My Nak cd300 and an old school alpine i had in there
But not better than a CD400 or CD500!

The CD300 is lame though.
They are over £100+++ more than this Unit :?
More than which unit? The clarion?

What do you expect, their better!
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

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Alex
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:44 pm

bss325i wrote:
Alex wrote:
bss325i wrote: But not better than a CD400 or CD500!

The CD300 is lame though.
They are over £100+++ more than this Unit :?
More than which unit? The clarion?

What do you expect, their better!
Yes they are better but they are more expensive so you cant compare them
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Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:55 pm

i like alpine units tbh

have you got an ipod baz? i've found the latest alpines with the full speed ipod link to be superb, if i was looking at spending up to £150 on a new headunit it would be one of these two...

this one if you're not bothered about having cd capabilities - http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine- ... 1rr-1.html

or this one if you want to play cds (you'll need to buy a cable too with this one for ipod control i think) - http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-cde-111r.html

i bought the mrs a cde 111r last year and it's superb, pretty sure they do the same one with amber illumination to match the e30 dash

alpine units have all looked pretty similar for the last 20 years, so although not a retro styled unit, they don't look as garish and flashy as a lot of modern ones do.
cheers,

harry
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:07 am

Royalratch wrote:Do you drive staring at your TomTom all the while?

Alex's Clarion is 'alright' but the build and SQ won't be up there with a Becker/Alpine/Pioneer/Nakamichi.

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Clarion is very much so up with Becker/Alpine/Nakamichi, not sure where you got Pioneer from though there units are very entry level.

Only Pioneer ICE that i rate are the subs you get really good bang for your buck from Pioneer sub woofers
Baz666
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:01 am

Thanks harry_p the Alpine iDA-X311RR is a very sexy stereo but i feel it wont look right in a 21 year old car, i`m sorta getting my head around these becker ones it gives the right look i wont but not really feeling the sat nav side of things so i`m still sort of heading for the clarion at the mo.

i like the idea of no CD`s in my car as i do do a lot of downloading of music and also i have a really good Hd sat nav which was £££ so i wouldnt use it on the becker, so other than that it still the clarion up front.

nice 1 Alex :cool:
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Blitz
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:05 am

You can get a becker without the sat nav.
Baz666
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:10 am

ok.....................now i have a headache. :mad:
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pac1982
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:18 am

Blitz wrote:You can get a becker without the sat nav.
But there still stupidly expensive, not knocking the quality mind just the brand induced high price tag
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:07 am

A quick search turned up this. Seems a good price no?

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electro ... av+Systems
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Royalratch
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 9:43 am

Alex, when you actually use/handle a Becker up close you will see the build quality is far better than Alpine and MUCH better than Clarion. Clarion are entry level Alex, they're no way near Becker etc.

Baz666 - external Sat Nav makes you look like a mini cab. They are good but I like my dash clean and clear and I don't want drunk skanks hailing me down for a ride back to Essex.
kieran325
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 10:08 am

Here's mine -

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Royalratch
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 10:10 am

Nice - looks right at home!
Baz666
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 10:53 am

Baz666 - external Sat Nav makes you look like a mini cab. They are good but I like my dash clean and clear and I don't want drunk skanks hailing me down for a ride back to Essex.
95% of the time my dash is clear it`s only out when i need it, and i would still rather have something on my dash and look like a taxi than have something that was belowe window screen level look down at it and mo some old person or child down because of looking down at my becker stereo :mad:
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Royalratch
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:48 pm

Dude - you glance at it as briefly as you would for any other function, besides you would have full voice direction.

Getting a dash mounted unit in and out everytime I need Nav and leaving the wiring all over the place in-between is unacceptable.
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:51 pm

You are looking at about £700 for what ratch has got. I think you need the one that Kieran got thats £250-300.
billgatese30
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Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:52 pm

I have the becker unit with the sat nav, and as ratch said, there's nothing wrong with listening to the voice. If you need to look at a screen to see which exit of a roundabout is the third exit, or know where 200yds is for a junction then you shouldn't be driving imo.

If a passenger is directing you, you don't lean over to look at the map for yourself do you?
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