My add on CD Changer
Written: Apr 26 '00 (Updated Apr 27 '00)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Crash proof; doesn't skip*
Cons: -
|
|
|
| marcus_peng's Full Review: Alpine CHM-S620 6-Disc CD Changer |
I bought my Alpine 6 CD Changer right after I got my new 1994 Honda Accord. I originally wanted to have a CD changer that played through the FM radio because I thought that was the cheapest way to add a CD changer. My Accord has a very decent Honda factory Alpine made head unit with radio and cassette tape with CD changer controls and I didn't want to buy another head unit to get a CD changer.
I went to the store and the salesperson asked my why I wanted to buy a changer that plays through the FM radio when I can get this "cheapie" $300 player that will interface directly their "low end" Alpine changer. He explained all the stuff I noted above. Plus the salesguy said that car stereo thieves might pass up my car because it would still have the factory radio. If my factory radio was stolen, I could still get an Alpine head unit to go with the CD changer (if it was still there).
It was about $100 less than I wanted to spend so I bought it. The factory head unit doesn't support a lot of features, but the CD changer plays CDs as billed*. I got it mounted in the trunk underneath the rear deck lid because I didn't know where else to put it. Although sometimes I wish I put it under either of the front seats.
The controls are pretty simple as are the functions which I think are a function of the head unit. There's shuffle and repeat track. Go to disc through the radio preset buttons. Skip track forward and back by tapping the tuner lever. Scan through a song by holding the tuner lever. That's all. Some head units support programming tracks, name CD's, more play features, time index, but I don't really need them so it doesn't bother me.
Anyways, I got into an accident in my car and 2-3 CDs got jammed into the player and the head unit didn't "see" the changer anymore. I couldn't get the magazine out either. So being out of warranty, I wrote it off and I was ready to get a new one. I still wanted to retrieve the jammed CD's (hey 6 CD's are $80 plus the magazine $15) so I removed the CD changer. I managed to take apart the changer and recover my CD's. The jolt from the accident disconnected a few internal wiring harnesses so I reattached them. I put it back together and plugged in the cable and it sprang back to life again! I don't think these things break; don't get the extended warranty.
In summary, I spent around $400 with installation and extended warranty. The unit plays through and is controlled by my factory head unit. I use it everyday. I dare say it is some of the BEST money I have ever spent. I currently spend about 2 hours a day in my car and I use it about 75% of the time. 20% for news and traffic & 5% for the cassette player (which I don't really need). I am going to keep that head unit as long as I can pull sound out of the changer. Even if the cassette player breaks and the radio didn't receive stations, it would be ok to just hum along to my CDs. I can't think of a lot of things I've bought that I use EVERY day. I've got 113k miles on my car and the changer makes crawling through rush hour more enjoyable.
THINK about where you want to put the changer. The trunk works for me because I tend to be messy and I've spilled a more than one can of soda in my car. But if you're the type where you have to change CD's from inside the car, maybe the glove box/arm rest/under the seat installation is better for you. It gets in the way sometimes when I stuff my trunk.
Interesting facts: Hey me and a friend swap CD magazines and he has a "Honda" branded CD changer in his 1998 Civic. My cousin has a 1994 Volvo 850 with a slightly different Alpine changer with good results as well. I don't remember what the exact model of mine is.
*Note: make sure the unit is mounted properly. There is a spring on the side of the unit that is set by the installer according to how the player is mounted: horizontally or vertically or something in between. It makes all the difference in the world. I noticed this setting when I took apart my changer after my accident. I set it accordingly and it has NEVER skipped since where as before it would skip maybe once a week.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
marcus_peng
|
|
Member: Marcus Peng
Location: Fullerton, California
Reviews written: 6
Trusted by: 1 member
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.