Fiat Coupe Club UK

Replacing radio

Posted By: Anonymous

Replacing radio - 16/12/2019 14:10

The original Clarion radio in my Coupe is dying a slow painful death, it was one of the items I was advised of when I purchased the car from Bill. So time to whip it out and have a nice shiny new one installed, but which should I go for?
I have read the last thread regarding same question but that is a two year old thread so maybe the some things may have changed.
I will definitely want a integrated CD player in my new unit and budget loosely around £110. + fitting.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Replacing radio - 17/12/2019 12:00

In reply to my own question, how sad! done some shopping and found the Sony offer what I would like within budget.That is until
I noticed their proud boast regarding how the radio front pixels ‘dance to the beat of the music’ ‘and light up the car interior’!!
No ta, I don’t want a mobile dance floor.
Continue looking and came across a JVC which I have high hopes for, finding a car radio with integral CD player is becoming increasingly a rare thing in this age of ‘high tech’ for oldies like me.
Posted By: 386ka

Re: Replacing radio - 17/12/2019 12:30

I don't know about the offer in the UK, but where I live, I have good experience with Alpine radios. I think they offer good sound quality, and can be made to look less colourfull, which is to my taste too. laugh
I have the CDE-193BT, which includes CD, USB and Bluetooth, plus it has FLAC support. It may be an older model, so see what's on offer now.
Posted By: DaveG

Re: Replacing radio - 17/12/2019 12:38

Do you *need* a CD player in the car? Given that they can get easily damaged, and the set up in the car is not so good that you're likely to notice the difference in sound quality between CDs and MP3s (cue abuse from Coupe audiophiles...)

I suggest you go for a simple "mech-less" head unit with Bluetooth and USB input for playing MP3s (or your favourite format) either streamed from your phone or from a USB stick. You could even live stream over the phone. DAB might be a nice addition, but you'd need to put in DAB aerial or put a DAB booster in place of the OE amplifier (see recent thread)

I have Kenwood KIV-700s in both my Coupes, but Bluetooth is an expensive add-on module in one, and the colour screen a rather unnecessary (but nice) feature, and I wish I had DAB now.

How about Pioneer MVH-S200DAB, or Sony DSX-A300DAB at the cheaper end, several more at your £110 limit, I just had a browse on caraudiodirect but there are plenty of other sellers
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Replacing radio - 17/12/2019 16:08

Thanks for replies guys, the Alpine range I will have a closer look so thanks for your comments.
The CD player is an absolute must for me, unfortunately I am a technophobe and find that most of the modern music on move
solutions wouldn’t work for me. Agree that it would make most sense to go the route you suggest but it’s not going to happen with me (blush with embarrassment ).
Having said all that I understand that the old BASF tapes are making a comeback, hope for me yet !
Posted By: Edinburgh

Re: Replacing radio - 17/12/2019 18:51

Originally Posted by bayliss
In reply to my own question, how sad! done some shopping and found the Sony offer what I would like within budget.That is until
I noticed their proud boast regarding how the radio front pixels ‘dance to the beat of the music’ ‘and light up the car interior’!!
No ta, I don’t want a mobile dance floor.
Continue looking and came across a JVC which I have high hopes for, finding a car radio with integral CD player is becoming increasingly a rare thing in this age of ‘high tech’ for oldies like me.


Agree, it's annoying - but on mine you can set that to "off" in the menu...
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Replacing radio - 18/12/2019 10:12

Originally Posted by Edinburgh
Originally Posted by bayliss
In reply to my own question, how sad! done some shopping and found the Sony offer what I would like within budget.That is until
I noticed their proud boast regarding how the radio front pixels ‘dance to the beat of the music’ ‘and light up the car interior’!!
No ta, I don’t want a mobile dance floor.
Continue looking and came across a JVC which I have high hopes for, finding a car radio with integral CD player is becoming increasingly a rare thing in this age of ‘high tech’ for oldies like me.


Agree, it's annoying - but on mine you can set that to "off" in the menu...


It’s one of three on my short list, the radio seems to offer all I want and more, I will ask them about those ‘dancing pixels’.
Posted By: Edinburgh

Re: Replacing radio - 18/12/2019 10:34

IIRC on my Sony DAB (can't remember the model no. as I don't have the coop with me atm) you access the "General" section of the menu in which you can turn the Beep on and off along with AutoScrolling etc.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Replacing radio - 18/12/2019 15:28

Thanks Edinburgh, perfect.

Thanks to all, I have decided to go for a JVC KD - R992BT.
Looking forward to it as the old clarion was not useable really, the on/off button was faulty, turning itself on and flattening the battery. No more of that nonsense.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Replacing radio - 31/12/2019 14:58

Expect delivery of my new radio this week, the JVC KD - R992 BT unit at £76 delivered. Now I will need to think about replacement speakers as I expect the originals are fairly well done for. Any recommendations to fit the original housings please?
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Replacing radio - 03/01/2020 17:15

I’ve looked back at some old threads of the same question, but things may well have changed. So hope for recommendations for speakers that will fit straight into the housings.
Thank you.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Replacing radio - 10/01/2020 17:08

New radio is now fitted (by my lad) and working as it should. Very pleased with the sound quality and may not concern myself for a few years regards replacement speakers.
Posted By: Master_Mariner

Re: Replacing radio - 16/01/2020 13:11

Well done Bayliss!

Are you able to post a picture showing the end result?

I think my learning re the speakers (I am on the original Coupe audio set up at present and am considering a small upgrade- maybe a satnav classic slimline radio) is that in general the speakers installed in the coop were pretty dismal. Again 25 years on and speaker tech has moved forward a great deal and you can get speakers that will fit without having to alter the housings -that are a lot better then the originals.

The thing that has held me back from doing any suitable upgrades - is that I find I like listening to the 5 pot of my coupe....paranoia?

Regards

MM
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Replacing radio - 17/01/2020 16:14

Thanks MM, although as I mention it was my lad who did the deed for me. Straightforward job with the JVC it simply slotted in we used the connector lead supplied with the radio which enabled simple plug in. I will think over the speakers, not in any hurry tbh.
One small issue that has arisen is that the new radio sits in standby mode with the ignition off. As I have read in other threads in here that is a common issue that could lead to battery drain. However, I use a battery conditioner when my coupe is not in use which deals with that. I don’t really want to start messing with the wiring.
I will see if I can get a picture up of the radio installed, I feel it does not look too modern for the coupe, which was important to me.
Posted By: Edinburgh

Re: Replacing radio - 17/01/2020 18:04

bayliss you might be able to scroll through the equivalent of "menu" or "general" and find a setting which switches the radio off after a given time, eg 30 seconds....
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Replacing radio - 17/01/2020 21:42

I will have a play with the radio this weekend, thanks for tip, fingers crossed.
Posted By: KevinW

Re: Replacing radio - 28/08/2020 09:39

Found it very easy to find a 12V switched supply. You need to test the fuse box for a fuse that is switched then use a piggy back fuse holder/fuse for the radio lead. Just run a wire from this - doddle!
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