Retro Stereo *Stereo came today!*

[Soupasam]

Right.....
I've finally found myself an MR2 and now I'm having a little trouble finding a nice stereo. All the ones i've seen look too modern for me. I really like the look of the older JDM stereos, but im not sure where to look for them.

Im really after something Metal fronted with a cd player and an aux/3.5mm input. I dont mind single or double din. I've been trying to find an importer of JDM stereos if there is such a thing

Also has anyone got some pics of nice stereos fitted in MK1's?

*See last page for pic*

[HT]

Just dusted off this old thread: http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic. ... nal+stereo

theres a great retro stereo in there (mart1975's I think)

I tried to source a period upgrade myself, and all I could find was nineties double-dins. In the end bought a topend kenwood with retractable front and an ipod interface. HTH

[Polypedates]

Metal fronted would look wrong IMO. You need something black with green lighting and display really.

But what do I know - I've got a modern Pioneer unit that lights up red, white and blue, is totally awkward to use and yes, looks just shocking in my Mk1

But it was reduced to clear, so I bought it

[HT]

Strangely thats why I bought a stereo with a retractable front!

Aluminum front looks fine against the all blue interior, and suits me as I like my mp3's, with a very simple display/controls (bit like some of the latest pioneers) - without being naff looking like most head units these days, and the best thing is its timed to hide away

[Soupasam]

Well the unit I really wanted was this one....



But missed out by a few days

According to the seller it went about £200 too cheap

[HT]

Well the unit I really wanted was this one....



But missed out by a few days

According to the seller it went about £200 too cheap

Very simple looking - is that just an amp??

[Soupasam]

Yeah just an amp. But has an Aux input on the front so you could connect an ipod which is what im really looking for.

[mart1975]

thats very nice

[Soupasam]

Where did you get your stereo from mart? I want one

[monkeymax]

Sam,
Mart says in that thread that he got his stereo off of ebay for £50...

There used to be a really nice retro looking pioneer headunit, but this was a year or two ago and I can't find it now - not even on ebay. Unfortunately Pioneer don't seem to make that one any more and the only one they do that isn't covered in flashy lights is this one:

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products/25 ... index.html
Unfortunately, at £700 it's probably a lot more than any of us want to spend on a H/U!!!

I think that you're going to have to trawl ebay. It could be worth it though - a quick search got me this:
Pioneer Carrozeria Stereo

There are others, but I'm planning on bidding on one, (pending further information from the seller) so (wasn't supposed to spend any more on toys this month - look what you got me doing!!! )

As for Aux input. From experience (from my own H/U in other car) the Aux inputs on the front are rubbish for iPod. I looked around a lot for a H/U with front Aux inputs then found that you really need the level (volume) to be boosted inside the H/U when using an iPod or similar device through the 3.5mm jack. At the time (2 1/2 years ago) JVC and Aiwa were really the only ones doing front Aux jacks. I ended up going for a JVC (just because I prefered it) as both had the level booster. Unfortunately it's still not enough and when using the iPod (or my old MP3 player) with my H/U I have to put the volume of the iPod and stereo right up. This means the iPod battery dies faster and you get more interference from surroundings through the stereo.
If you really want to use an iPod the best option is to use a H/U with a dedicated iPod connection (there was a post about these here).
Obviously you're unlikely to find an old headunit with one of these connections!
The alternative is to use one with a line in on the rear of the unit (separated left and right) as these may offer slightly better levels from within the Headunit, but this will definitely depend on the different headunits.

Basically if you're looking for a H/U to hook up to your iPod, don't get your hopes up too high, or budget for a decent amp as well...

Hope that helps a bit...

-Max

[HT]

Sam,
Mart says in that thread that he got his stereo off of ebay for £50...

There used to be a really nice retro looking pioneer headunit, but this was a year or two ago and I can't find it now - not even on ebay. Unfortunately Pioneer don't seem to make that one any more and the only one they do that isn't covered in flashy lights is this one:

http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products/25 ... index.html
Unfortunately, at £700 it's probably a lot more than any of us want to spend on a H/U!!!

I think that you're going to have to trawl ebay. It could be worth it though - a quick search got me this:
Pioneer Carrozeria Stereo

There are others, but I'm planning on bidding on one, (pending further information from the seller) so (wasn't supposed to spend any more on toys this month - look what you got me doing!!! )

As for Aux input. From experience (from my own H/U in other car) the Aux inputs on the front are rubbish for iPod. I looked around a lot for a H/U with front Aux inputs then found that you really need the level (volume) to be boosted inside the H/U when using an iPod or similar device through the 3.5mm jack. At the time (2 1/2 years ago) JVC and Aiwa were really the only ones doing front Aux jacks. I ended up going for a JVC (just because I prefered it) as both had the level booster. Unfortunately it's still not enough and when using the iPod (or my old MP3 player) with my H/U I have to put the volume of the iPod and stereo right up. This means the iPod battery dies faster and you get more interference from surroundings through the stereo.
If you really want to use an iPod the best option is to use a H/U with a dedicated iPod connection (there was a post about these here).
Obviously you're unlikely to find an old headunit with one of these connections!
The alternative is to use one with a line in on the rear of the unit (separated left and right) as these may offer slightly better levels from within the Headunit, but this will definitely depend on the different headunits.

Basically if you're looking for a H/U to hook up to your iPod, don't get your hopes up too high, or budget for a decent amp as well...

Hope that helps a bit...

-Max

Doesn't make sense - the more simpler, cleaner, and elegant costs ££££'s more!!

Regarding iPod connections, the dedicated interfaces available for most headunits provide virtually full control of ipod from the headunit itself via cd changer control jack at reverse of unit. Plug in your ipod (I've ran mine through to the glovebox) - and after that control is via headunit.

[monkeymax]

Doesn't make sense - the more simpler, cleaner, and elegant costs ££££'s more!!

I'm guessing you didn't look at the specs then?
But yeah, the simpler designs do seem to be more pricey...
It was the same with the other one I liked - same features as the £120 one I ended up buying, but it cost almost £200.

Regarding iPod connections, the dedicated interfaces available for most headunits provide virtually full control of ipod from the headunit itself via cd changer control jack at reverse of unit. Plug in your ipod (I've ran mine through to the glovebox) - and after that control is via headunit.

Yup, forgot to say that!
Somewhat easier than trying to control the iPod itself! Personally I just have a nice playlist that's set to shuffle and that works for me!

[OlberJ]

Why not get an FM Transmitter for your ipod and tune it in to whatever head uint you like?

[monkeymax]

Why not get an FM Transmitter for your ipod and tune it in to whatever head uint you like?

All I've heard about these is extremely bad. In fact I've not heard anything good from anyone that I know that's bought one. I even tried one before buying my headunit.
They are not strong enough (signal-wise), suffer from dreadful interferance, can drift a bit, you have to have the transmitter close to the radio antenna, short battery life, fiddly to operate and FM has a limited sound range so you loose sound quality as well...

Much better off using a physical connection (i.e. 3.5mm to 3.5mm wire even though that's not great as I said earlier) to hook the MP3 player up to the H/U thank one of these transmitters. Yes, it means a bit more hunting around for a decent H/U and it may mean a bit more money, but it'll be worth it in the end!

[OlberJ]

Hmmm, just thinking with your problems with volume. My dad uses his daily with no problems, it's a cradle, charger and fm transmitter in 1 so charges fine and keeps the signal.

Have heard bad reports on others tho, guess it's just a case of getting the right one.

[monkeymax]

Hmmm, just thinking with your problems with volume. My dad uses his daily with no problems, it's a cradle, charger and fm transmitter in 1 so charges fine and keeps the signal.

Have heard bad reports on others tho, guess it's just a case of getting the right one.

Yeah, I've read a couple of reviews of good ones. But as you say, it's very much a case of getting the right one...
I was thinking at one point of getting a small battery powered amp to go between the iPod headphone port and my aux in, but never did. I bought an external battery pack for the iPod in December (20 or so hours of video and music on 4 rechargeable AAs for £12; bought it for a 20 hour coach ride) and that's been useful on the longer journeys in the car as well where the iPod battery has run quite low...

[HT]

Hmmm, just thinking with your problems with volume. My dad uses his daily with no problems, it's a cradle, charger and fm transmitter in 1 so charges fine and keeps the signal.

Have heard bad reports on others tho, guess it's just a case of getting the right one.

Yeah, I've read a couple of reviews of good ones. But as you say, it's very much a case of getting the right one...
I was thinking at one point of getting a small battery powered amp to go between the iPod headphone port and my aux in, but never did. I bought an external battery pack for the iPod in December (20 or so hours of video and music on 4 rechargeable AAs for £12; bought it for a 20 hour coach ride) and that's been useful on the longer journeys in the car as well where the iPod battery has run quite low...

The ipod interface working off the cd changer control port also charges the ipod. HTH

[monkeymax]

The ipod interface working off the cd changer control port also charges the ipod. HTH

Again, I've read about this. And it depends on the Headunit.

[waynestoyotamr2]

that Japland Auctions site is selling some very nice, retro look ones via ebay - not cheap though!!

[HT]

Is this retro enough?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Toyota-MR2-Mk1-Ra ... dZViewItem