mp3 headunits

[jv]

Anyone give any feedback on mp3 headunits?

I want to get one soon but a couple of things put me off. Had a demo of a Kenwood and Clarion one, both low-end and the time to move between folders on a mp3 cd was really poor. A 300 quid Alpine one was almost instant in comparison.

Secondly, I want a head unit that can display id3 tags (mp3 title/artist names) properly and scroll them on the display without you having to mess about. A mate has a Pioneer 3500 that is super quick to move between files but you have to hold down a button to get titles. I want them displayed all the time, preferably more than 8 characters at a time!

Thinking of a Pioneer 5530MP or 77MP at the moment. Anyone got either?

Cheers,

jv

[AdamB]

Try looking at another Kenwood model, I know the CD has an auto title/track scroll option. Maybe if you check out a top of the range Kenwood system, it might be better.

[S11EPS]

Just taken a Kenwood PSW 9521 out of my MkIV, as I've just got a Pioneer screen to replace it.

This was the top of the range unit in 2002/03, with rotary control, d-mask, remote, 5volt pre-outs (x3) 3d dot matrix display etc. Retailed at ?499.

This does the auto scroll thingy you're looking for, and I found the time to change between folders perfectly acceptable.

Prett damn cool unit all in all.

[jedi16v]

yeah my mate got a kenwood mp3 in his MG (pah hiss!!!) seems pretty good not sure of model though will try and find out.

[DubFan]

I've got a Sony Xplod CDX MP40.
It's a nice little unit, costs about ?180. (I actually got mine at a discount for ?140)
Does all the usual radio/cd/mp3, displays ID3 tags as the mp3 starts, scrolls the title, then holds the first bit of the title on display.
It's pretty good at changing tracks quickly, when you first load an mp3 CD it's a little slow but that seems to allow it to index the disk enabling faster track and album switching.
IE, if you organise your mp3s on the cd by artist then by album in directories, it will allow you to flick from one album to the next with one button push.

Just need to move it from my Mk3 to the Mk2 now.

[Dizzie]

JV you should of had a play with mine yesterday!
I've got the kenwood PS9524.

[jv]

cheers for the feedback people

dizzie, oops, totally forgot! next time

[Bodhi]

I've just fitted a Kenwood KDC-M7024 to my mark 3 (kind of, theres too many wires at the back of it to seat the stereo properly, ideas anyone?). The stereo itself seems pretty awesome (then, I've always been a sucker for Kenwood MASK's), am just about to burn an mp3 CD to try that particular part of the unit out, will report back when its done.

But the best news? www.caraudiodirect.co.uk were doing them for 200 quid, 150 less than retail. And for 200 quid, it's a bargain.

[Diluxe]

I got an alpine 9815r it can play wma's aswell  as mp3, and has continous scrolling of the id3 tag on 2 lines of dotmatrix display, comparable to the kenwood but generally regarded as being just that tad better, get either you cant wrong

[Dizzie]

Bodhi, remove your glove box. it's only 5 screws. then you can see the back of the headunit. you need to get all of the wires out of the way so it can slot perfectly. the otherside can be seen if you remove that little cover that's 2 peices.

if the 7024 is like my 9524 then the RCA connections, ariel, changer and 'the other one' are on 3 inch wires. they need to be routed out the way.

www.cel-direct.com are doing 7024's for ?184.99