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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,789
I feel Guilty, Oh so guilty
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OP
I feel Guilty, Oh so guilty
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,789 |
Originally posted by brianl703:
I don't dispute that you've owned 7 Sony head units in 13 years without a problem. It doesn't mean anything if that means you buy a new Sony head unit about every two years. Pretty much ANY head unit will last two years.
Well, I still have a Sony XR-7070 tape deck from 1991. Dolby B (!) and it might even have Dolby C  . Right now, it is serving duty in my brothers old sunbird, after spending 6 years in a 82 Chevy LUV. It isn't a full logic deck, so i can't speak for how long those would have lasted. I also have a Sony RM-X2 remote system controller with seperate tuner and changer control mechanism. It was originally used in my 87 Omni, but is now serving as a stealth install in a '66 Caprice of my brothers.
There have been 2 sony's that I have used that have been sold before a likely defect could have happened.
The only one I had problems with was a Sony CDX-C910 that had the face ripped from the unit during my car accident 3 years ago.
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I don't dispute that you can make a Sony head unit sound good. In fact, I believe that you can make pretty much any head unit sound good. I have a Mazda CD player (pulled from a 2000 Protege) in my Mustang and it sounds good. That's because the Mustang has dash speakers which I replaced with aftermarket 3.5" two-way speakers and now it has very good high frequency response and good stereo imaging. That just goes to show that the speakers and speaker location are more important than the head unit.
Can't dispute anything you wrote. Any modern HU, and sometimes even stock HUs, are normally good enough to make a VERY good sounding system. Selection and implementation of any system are the keys to good sound.
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One thing I have seen that differs between head units is the FM sensitivity/selectivity performance, but if you mostly listen to CDs, do you care? Or in the case of tape head units, Dolby B or not. By the way, it's amazing just how much you have to pay for an aftermarket tape head unit to get one with Dolby B on it when I've never seen a single factory tape head unit that didn't come with Dolby B.
True, it got to a point where most of the middle to high end decks had Dolby B, (remember Dolby NR? haha) and high end almost all had Dolby C. Now, to find any deck with it is unusual.
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I don't dispute the fact that Sony head units aren't returned to Circuit City any more than other brands. I don't think this means anything because nobody is going to return their Sony to Circuit City if it's 3 years old when it breaks.
Also true. I don't even dispute that there are some problems with the their products, or that their aren't better options for the money. I just think they get an unfair rap overall.
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Well, one post said "So what if it breaks when it's 4 years old, by then you want something new anyway". I guess if that's what you want, why wouldn't you be happy with a Jensen? It'll last at least 4 years, probably. If not, it was only half the price of the Sony.
I have been extraordinarily lucky, I presume. My brothers and friends have been through a number of other brands (inclding sony) while all of mine seem to keep plugging along without issues.
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I want to get rid of my head unit because I'm sick of it, not because it broke. It might take longer than 4 years for me to get sick of it.
I fully agree, but most will upgrade more often than 4 years in the real world.
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I'd still be using the factory CD player in my Contour if it hadn't crapped out.
I have a great deal of sympathy for you.
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Can one expect that sort of reliability out of a Sony, if one doesn't want to replace their head unit every 4 years?
Hard to say. I guess I wouldn't expect that reliability from any brand HU now. If it happens, great! But it is not probable.
"If you are flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit"
-Mitch Hedberg
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 851
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 851 |
Pontifications about the factory CD player:
Had the factory CD player not crapped out, I likely would have upgraded the speakers and replaced the premium sound amp with an aftermarket one.
The factory CD player that goes into the Contour is the same factory CD player that goes into the Mach 460 sound system as found on the Mustang. Sound quality from the factory CD player is not an issue, but the premium sound amp is an issue.
It is very easy to connect the factory CD player to an aftermarket amp despite it being a balanced signal--you just ignore the negative output terminals and connect the positive output terminals to the center conductors of the RCAs, grounding the shields. Now you have an unbalanced signal which works fine with your amp. (Some people on the Mustang Corral audio forum suggest connecting the negative terminals to the shield, but this just shorts out the negative output and doesn't otherwise do anything).
You can even hook an EQ up to the factory CD player. Yep, that's what that mysterious jumper in the upper right-hand corner of the back panel is for. It completes the EQ/processor loop that runs through there. You can also use that as a line-input for your MP3 player or your XM/Sirius/whatever.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 851
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
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Posts: 851 |
For some reason I always thought that Dolby NR was the same as Dolby B. I have never seen anything other than component tape decks with Dolby C.
As far as keeping a head unit for 4 years, yes I guess most will upgrade more than that, but it's nice if the old head unit is still working so you can sell it or give it away or install it in a 2nd car.
I don't doubt that head units of today won't last much longer than 4 years. Disposable society and all of that. At least with a factory head unit you know it's usually designed to last at least 3 years.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,789
I feel Guilty, Oh so guilty
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OP
I feel Guilty, Oh so guilty
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,789 |
Originally posted by brianl703:
For some reason I always thought that Dolby NR was the same as Dolby B. I have never seen anything other than component tape decks with Dolby C.
You may be right, there. NR just stood for Noise reduction, which all of the Dolby B, C, S did. I had two old concorde's with Dolby C, and I am pretty sure the 7070 had it. Next time I am at my brothers, i will check it out.
"If you are flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit"
-Mitch Hedberg
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,279
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,279 |
The thing with Sony is they have (or had) different series. I am sure the IASCA car did not use the Xplod line. And when it really comes down to it, its all in the installtion that makes an IASCA winner, you can take the most expensive components and make them sound like ass, but not everyone can take average items and make them golden
Previous Owner of 00 SVT Contour #1077/2150 
95 Contour SE '01 3L
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 294
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 294 |
okay before i begin i'm not putting down anyone's equipment or trying to offend anyone. here's my opinion
yes you can get some sq w/sony. possibly @ their top of the line products. but when it comes down to it sony's best vs. the best of a company like jl, elemental designs, adire, oz, cdt, the list goes on and on... i would prefer any of those brands. IMO sony's entry level speakers don't have the same sq as entry level kickers(probably the same price range as sony, too). I've had 1 defective HU. i'll never buy their car audio again. as many people as i know who've had defective products, or crappy sq, and bad reviews i've read, there's just other products i'd rather have for the same price. now their home audio is another story. i currently own my 2nd home stereo reciever from sony and couldnt be happier(well i could be happier if i had $50,000 to blow on home recievers and speaker towers.) but i won't put their products in my vehicles.
blue 95 se MTX
alpine 9805
2 diamond 12" cm3's tuned to 38 hz
4 pioneer 3-ways(POS)
jbl bp1200.1
pimpin hoes, like the river flows..... constantly!
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
My SONY HU has worked flawlessly.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 321
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 321 |
All the words make my eyes bleed!!!!   All I have to say, I like Sony. I have had my head unit for 3 years I bleave. No problems at all. And the Amp is doing it's job just beautifully! No complaints here. Well, the old Xplod speakers just suck.
1999 Contour SE
Sony Xplod 50x4 cd player
Sony Xplod 1600 watt Class D amp
2 10" Flame-Q Audiobahns
35% tint done by Madavi's Motor Sports
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 851
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 851 |
Sony head units make my eyes bleed...
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,789
I feel Guilty, Oh so guilty
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OP
I feel Guilty, Oh so guilty
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,789 |
True, most of the new HUs by sony are horrible aesthetically.
"If you are flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit"
-Mitch Hedberg
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