Merry Christmas everyone!

Does anyone know if it possible to fit a hard disk in place of a cd changer? My stereo is an aftermarket unit, Panasonic cd mp3 and does have a cd changer connection, but is now a fairly old unit so doesn't have bluetooth, usb, etc.

Failing that if anyone knows how to trick the head unit into thinking it has a cd changer attached so I could just connect my ipod via the aux in that would be great.

Cheers,

Matt

You can connect your ipod through the red and white aux but you will not be able to control it with your cd controls.

On some units it is possible to get a connector and brain which will achieve this, but it is usually not cheap. I have a pioneer which runs the Ip-bus arrangement, so I don't know the equivalent for the Panasonic.

Steve

I know I will not be able to control the ipod, but the problem is the head unit either needs a cd changer attached or a cd changer emulator to activate the aux in which is why I asked if it was possible to fit a hard disk setup instead of the disc changer. Seems like some of the requirements are there to complete this.

Does it not just have a red and a white aux jack on the back? Those should not require any sort of other equipment. Does it not just need you to set it up on the HU?

It does have the red and white aux connector but these are intended for use with the cd changer to carry the audio signal from the changer to the HU. As far as I can tell the cd changer needs to be present to generate a clock signal to activate the aux in. There is no setting to adjust on the HU with regards to aux in. Like I said, it's an old unit, I bought it several years ago when in car mp3 cd was still kind of new.

Bin it!, buy a Sony BT2600 off eBay, will do everything you ask for around £120 maybe less. Panasonic is hardly supported in this country due to bad relations.

Well if that's the case then you need to follow TAG's suggestion!

Not really the solution I was looking for . Plus I've never been all that impressed with the sound quality from Sony units. Does the Sony have support for a hard disk drive?

An ipod is effectively a HDD isn't it?

From that point of view what you want is a HU with USB support. Stick a giant USB memory solid state memory stick on the end of it and you are laughing.

If you take your ICE seriously then look away, seriously just click the close button and move on, if, however you want to upgrade your standard Stereo for not much outlay and IF the brand Rispspeed does not have bad connotations then read on:

Cost of headunit is £89.99 (Reserve online as in store prices is £99, original prices was £199)

I had a similar problem and this headunit was recommended as a great budget buy, it has a 3" colour LCD screen, comes with IR remote, DVD player, 2GB SD Slot and a USB interface, cost was £199, now a bargain at £89.99, easy to fit.

I bought a 32GB USB stick from Korea via ebay, (£19) and have 1,500 tracks and some movies on it, some more tracks on the SD card.

I found the sound quality a definite improvement on the original Clarion system.

There are two Video out leads for headrest mounted monitors should that be your intention and a video in lead, should you wish to fit a reversing camera! (There are some wireless ones on ebay that look interesting).

The fabled, switches display off when watching a video unless the handbrake is applied can be switched off in the menu options/

All in all I am very happy, only the omission of Bluetooth and a dedicated iPod interface stops this unit from being the bargain off the century.

Summary of Features:Audio Features:
DVD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/MP3/WMA/JPEG compatible
4x45W max power output
Electronic volume, bass, treble, balance, fader
9 selectable EQ curves
Video Features:
3" LCD widescreen
2 AV output for additional monitors
1 video input for rear view camera
Connectivity:
USB connectivity (via rear lead) (no maximum memory capacity, but limited to 1600 tracks)
SD card slot behind detachable front panel (reads up to 2GB)
5 channels line out: Front, Rear and Subwoofer
Radio:
RDS radio (TA/AF/PTY)
Seek / Scan / Auto Store / Preset Scan
18FM and 12AM Presents
Panel design:
Full detachable panel drops down for access to disc loading slot and SD Card Slot
What's in the box?
Headunit unit
ISO connector
Instruction booklet
Din mounting kit (cage)
Remote control

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_730003_langId_-1_categoryId_165743

http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=946896#Post946896

Effectively I want massive storage available, so yes some kind of usb interface would be great.

I'm not keen on ipod's as I can't stand any of the software that's available. But, for mass music storage at the moment I'm using the ipod and a fm modulator to connect to the HU, all though the sound quality isn't consistent.

Preferably I want the drag and drop functionality of a usb mass storage device that can also be connected and controlled via the HU. My initial thinking was that the cd changer control port on the back (the 8 pin DIN socket) should be able to provide the link for a HDD setup, all be it with a bit of electronic wizardry. Although now after learning that Panasonic isn't well supported in this country I suspect the best I'll be able to get is the aux connection to work if I can create a cd changer emulator for the cd changer port so at least the ipod sound quality is better.

As for the ripspeed head unit. It's definitely a good call for the price, but I don't want to change my head unit as it works well and gives good sound quality. I should have been clearer really, I only want to expand the functionality of my unit.

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions, I'll update if I manage to come up with something,

Matt

Sound quality ain't bad tbh. Ipod would be the hard disk

Then a parrot mki 9200 or mki 9100

Using the parrot is the only way your going to get all these funcions

Cheers, I'll have a look into it.