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MAGNUM S/T
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2003
16:43:23
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 Subject: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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For all you audiophiles, I am an audio novice. What I have right now is a 99 SY CC Dakota with a tape deck...all stock. I've spent all my $$ on performance improvements and it's time to do something with this radio.
I am not an audiophile, but I commute at least 2 hours a day, so being able to listen to my homemade CDs is important. With that in mind, here's my question.
What CD deck should I get to replace my stock AM/FM/Tape deck, for under $350? Bear in mind it must play CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 with no probs. And I'm hoping if I spend $300, it won't skip :-) Other than that I don't need any extra bells and whistles unless they make sense.
That's all I want right now....no speakers, woofers, tweeters, amps....just the deck. I'm still dumping a wad of cash to upgrade my rear gears and differential, so I'll have to settle with just the deck for now.
I plan to find this thing on EBay in the hopes I can save some money. So I need make, model etc.
TIAA
Magnum S/T
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97dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2003
18:04:45
|  RE: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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I have an Alpine CDA-7995. Got it for $300 off of Ebay , retails for $500. However, it sounds like you dont need this if you dont want a fancy one. This has a motorized face which is detachable. I would definitely recommend a deck that has a detachable face though. Just look around and see what you like. Ebay has great prices.
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MAGNUM S/T
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2003
18:13:10
| RE: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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Why the detachable face.....for security?
I was actually looking at this one:
GHOST FACE RADIO
A bit more than I planned to pay...but when the display is off, it looks like I don't even have a radio...no buttons, no knobs...kinda cool
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97dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2003
19:03:07
| RE: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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The detachable face is for security, I have already had one deck stolen, so I'm kind of paranoid. Its really up to you. Thats one is pretty cool but I dont think it is worth the money.
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MAGNUM S/T
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2003
19:08:36
| ...now: Do Detachable faces deter?
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It does have a hefty price, I wish I knew more about what it does SOUND related...instead of all the hipe on graphics.
Does the detachable faces really keep em from breaking in though?
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97dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2003
20:18:37
| RE: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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So far so good. It also depends where you live. Some places are more likely to have a car broken into than others. Most cd players have detachable faces, so it shouldnt be that hard to find a good one. Alpine is very good. Pioneer has the OEL graphics.
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MAGNUM S/T
Dodge Dakota
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9/14/2003
20:26:13
| RE: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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OEL graphics?
I'm assuming that's cutting edge stuff. Remember your talking to a guy who still has the stock cassette player ;-)
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97dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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9/15/2003
21:05:52
| RE: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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Yeah, you probably dont need that moving picture stuff. Check out some Alpines or Kenwoods.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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1/01/2004
23:59:52
| RE: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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Does the detachable faces really keep em from breaking in though?
It's no guarentee, but it gives you a fighting chance. THink of it this way... most thieves are lazy mofos who would rather steal your sh!t than work hard and earn an honest living. So when they're looking for a stereo to grab their chosen target will be the one that involves the least work and effort that will allow them to get in, take it, and get out in the quickest time frame.
If your radio has the face plate taken off and is parked next to one where the owner didn't bother, if the thief looks at your car he's gotta ask several questions. If you took it off, did you leave it in the vehicle or take it with you? If you left it in the car, where in the car is it? Figuring these things out will take him extra time. And the more time you take, the more likely you are to get caught. Whereas the vehicle with the face plate still on is easy pickins.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2004
00:04:13
| RE: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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This by the way is why I love cassette deck/cd change combos. Not only does it let me play all the music I have in various formats, but it looks unattractive to a thief in a hurry. Who the hell wants to steal a tape deck when a CD player is the in thing? Sure, they could take the CD changer too, but to break in without knowing whether there even IS a changer is to waste your time and effort and risk getting caught for a payoff that isn't as definite as when you can see a CD player in the dask plain as day.
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MAGNUM S/T
Dodge Dakota
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1/02/2004
08:01:46
|  RE: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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I bought an Alpine 7897 with the motorized face. The extra large face is nice. I also got an alarm finally!
So far I like the Alpine. I got the 7897 cause the next more expensive one didn't have a built in amp...which I need since I didn't buy one. I don't think I'm getting the full benefit of this radio without an amp and component speakers...but for now it's alot better than the stock tape deck.
One thing about the alpine I don't like. Takes a long time to customize all the settings...then, if the battery is unplugged (for those of us doin a bunch of work on the truck)...you lose all your custom settings and have to start from scratch. I'm gonna see if there's a way to have a battery back-up that will retain the radio memory in the event of power failure (I have one for my alarm...so I have to imagine it can be done for a radio?)
Later
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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1/03/2004
02:16:21
| RE: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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I put a Pioneer DEH-P74DH head unit in my 00 CC Dak and love it. I like that it's a 1 1/2 DIN unit and fits in the dash without the use of those ugly adapter plates. I also liked that it was a removeable face instead of a flip face. When I was looking at stereos I saw 4 or 5 flip faces that were dead and would not flip anymore. Yeah flip face is a cool feature, but if it breaks your screwed.
Only down side to the P74DH deck is that it looks a bit older, think the deck came out in 2002. But, I wanted all of the features this deck had while keeping the truck as stock looking as possible. The deck also has a ton of bells and whistles, takes about a week to figure everything out with the EQ and crossover.
Picked it up at Etronics.com for something like $190-200 shipped. The Pioneer DEH-P74DH deck with a Pioneer P680 changer was $330 shipped.
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Critter
Dodge Dakota
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1/05/2004
16:57:41
|  RE: Need to identify best deck for <$350
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I got a sweet deck a while ago from Crutchfield.com. It is the Blaupunkt San Jose and it plays everything and has a Anti Skip protection on it. It has a detachable face and 3 sets of preamp RCA outs also on the back. It puts out 50W per channel and it is 25W RMS power which is more than most. It is only $179 at crutchfield.com Hasn't skipped in my Dak and didn't skip when I totalled my old Integra.
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