Head units

[Eric Kasir]

I need a new head unit / cd changer for my new motor. Been looking at the Sony XRM510 or CDX-M610. I'm not sure though if I am comfortable with these stereos that stay in the car, but the front panel is black (so it looks like you don't have a system in there).

Surely your average low life scumbag stereo thief knows what these are straight away, isn't it better to get the flip off front panel variety???

Also JB, I seem to remember you have one of these Sony units in your motor? How do you rate it?

Cheers
Eric

[Peter Howe]

I'd go with the flip off variety. I can't see how the black panel looks like it's not there. Okay, it's black, but wouldn't it be shiny as well. No pinny bits or recess indicating the absence of said tune machine?

Not that I've ever used one, so shoot me down with big bullets if I'm totally wrong :confused:

[Peter Howe]

Also, don't the black ones flip forward so you can get at all the buttons? Wouldn't that get annoying or can you do the basic ones from the black panel?

See, I really don't know what I'm talking about. Shoot me now.

[Branners]

I like the black face units, I have a JVC KDLX30 Kameleon which basically stays completely flat face unless you ask it to pop out the control panel which slides smoothly out or if you want to change CDs and the whole front drops down to reveal the CD slot.

I had a removable front stereo and I found I never ever removed the front so the benefit was totally lost on me, with the black face you really cannot tell the stereo is still there unless you really take a close look, and at night you just wouldnt know.

Leon has the Sony unit so you might want to ask him what he thinks of it. I personally like the JVC as it stays flat most of the time and you can just use the remote to control the features.

JB

[Peter Howe]

Yep, I was totally wrong! :biggrin:

For my next trick, I'll attempt to survive in a vacuum.

[Digsy]

Kenwood use a system called D-MASK (or D-MASK+) which allows you to either flip the facia over so that it appears completely black when not in use, OR remove it altogether. Best of both worlds!

[Syed Shah]

Go with the removeable face, they are much better.
And if u are like Branners and don't use it often: just lock it in the glovebox!

[Branners]

Unless you are going to take the removable front out of the car then theres very little point in having one. If they are willing to screwdriver the stereo out they are more than willing to rip the glovebox apart to see if the stereo front is in there. And if they find the glovebox locked they know theres something of value in there.

If they want the stereo they will take it no matter what is involved so go for the one you most like the look of and if it has a removable front make sure it goes everywhere with you.

http://kiki.tte.be/JvcCons/Products/images/kd-lx10r.jpg

JB

[Syed Shah]

Or if u dont want all that hassle get that thick sercurity film for the windows to stop people breaking the glass and getting in to nick the stereo.

[Branners]

then they just rip the door locks off. I had that done to one of my cars a while back, total bill to fix the damage was nearly £1000, if they smash the glass then its like £150 for a new window.

JB

[Flipfinger]

£50 windscreens excess.  I went through similar ideas myself with the security film, then also came to the conclusion that coming back to a shagged lock barrell and surrounding bodywork isn't as bad as a broken side window.

The old adage is, once bitten twice shy.  My MP3 CD player got pinched in April, ever since then I've been paranoid about security.  If you do have a car stereo with a removable fascia, for God's sake use it.  My car was broken into in a hotel car park in dirty Northern Leeds, but it could have happened here.

I left my BM with it's guts (wires) hanging out and centre air vent still visibly smashed in; since then I've come back to my car to find the car next to mine broken into but NOT MINE.

Sad world we live in, car crime should be abolished (to be fair, the cops did actually arrive at Leeds - I was amazed).

[Rolec]

This is why i got a Clifford Concept 600 - i know it can be a pain in the arse, but I always hope that the proximity would be a suitable deterent before they try knackering the lock or breaking a window.

Though i do always remove the face when i go somewhere


Dean..

[Syed Shah]

Well, the problem is for alot of people that commit car crime is the time they hav to break in. If u do hav security film, then they may think twice about choosing your car. Breaking in through the door takes TIME!!!!!
Which is somthing thieves do NOT always hav!!!!!!

[Flipfinger]

Absolutely, but most locks are bustable (by people who know) within a few moments.  Did you see the thing that Top Gear did on it a while ago (a few years maybe)?

They got in and the car started within a minute in all but a few cars - without breaking a window.

My car alarm went off when they smashed the window, and someone even went out to look at it, to see the car driving off.  It doesn't phase any of them, the insurance discounts you get are for the immobiliser generally!

[Paul Booth]

Quote: from Flipfinger on 1:03 pm on Aug. 29, 2001[br]... the insurance discounts you get are for the immobiliser generally!

Absolutely! In fact I had to send my installation certificate off to the insurance company, showing an immobiliser *not* an alarm.

[Syed Shah]

Well alarms are pretty useless these days as nobody actually bothers looking when a car alarm gos off!
10-15 years ago when alarms were very rare, people used to take notice, but now because so many are always going off in car parks ect, nobody bothers looking. So now the only way is an immobiliser. A alarm relies upon the fact that some good citizen will hear it and stop the thief, which very rarely happens these day. A immobiliser does not need anyones help in stopping an attack which is why it is so much more effective.

[Syed Shah]

One more thing.......

With my car i am not so worried about people stealing my Supe as i park it only in fairly safe places. What tends to be on my mind more is if some jealous B*****D is going to do something else to it ranging from keying it, to breaking a window or slashing a tyre out of sheer jealousy of your car.