Re: MD: Interfacing MD Walkmans to OEM stereos in the trendy VWs
On Tue, 19 Sep 2000 00:20:39 +1100, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From the tone of the list, I have heard many negative comments about vehicle builders like VW making it hard for us to hook up portable MD and MP3 players to newer factory-supplied car-audio setups. As I said before, this has caused fellow listmembers to downgrade to vehicle packages that don't match what they really want or stay away from certain desireable vehicles when the time comes around to change vehicles; just so they can have a cassette player to use with their cassette adaptor or a sound system that has a front-panel CD-IN socket. Does anyone know if there are any devices that allow an MD changer or MD Walkman to be hooked in to newer VW sound systems? I drive a current model VW Passat, which had the VW Gamma sound unit in (RDS receiver, full logic tape deck, with support for CD changer). I was always quite pleased with the sound from it, and the speakers installed as stock (4 front, 4 rear - 2 in each door). When I first bought an MD portable, I used a cassette adapter, which worked quite well - and I was happy with the results. Since, I've had a Sony Minidisc head unit fitted - by VW, and I'm happy enough with it, the sound is good enough, and it's easy to use. This supports a CD / MD changer, too. I understand the car is wired up, as standard, for a CD changer in the boot / trunk - whether this cabling would be OK for another vendor's changer, I don't know. However, there are some features from the stock stereo that I miss (GALA - the automatic adjustment of the volume, as road spead increases / decreases - stuff like that - I found it very useful), and the styling of the OEM unit looks considerably better in the car, than the Sony unit I have at present. So, silly 'though it may sound, I'm considering having the original head unit put back in, and using a cassette adapter with one of my portables again. But in reply to the general question over whether VW discourage owners from using MD - I'd say they make no particular effort either way - not tangibly different from any other manufacturer IMO. Neil ___ Say Bye to Slow Internet! http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Interfacing MD Walkmans to OEM stereos in the trendy VWs
1. Display - capital letters only (uses CD/calculator-like display rather than dot matrix, probably because the CD headunits use the same face) but a real shame when you use lower and upper case a lot, doesn't scroll and you can't get remaining time in a track. (minor gripes really) It will scroll, but Autoscroll is disabled by default - go through the menu items till you get to A.SCRL and turn it on. It then scrolls the track or disc name past once when it changes (then stops on the first 8 characters to stop it annoying you). Not having remaining time is annoying, but most of my discs are titled and I'd rather see them than the time. hth, -- Simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MD: Interfacing MD Walkmans to OEM stereos in the trendy VWs
Hi everyone! I have noticed that over the last few years, the new Volkswagen cars, especially the New Beetle and the Golf, have become very fashionable amongst the young well-to-do in Europe and Australia. The New Beetle would also be considered fashionable in North America as well. In a lot of these situations, the young people would either be buying the cars through the company that they own; or leasing it (perhaps for tax advantage and the ability to upgrade the vehicle when the lease terminates). In these situations, it may be desireable not to mess around with the sound system; and also the owner may not want to put in a new MD head unit because of security reasons or that it may look out of place in the VW's blue-illuminated dashboard. In the case of the New Beetle, there is a distinctive styling setup where the edges of the audio system are round, rather than square. In Australia, I have noticed that most of the current VW lineup, including the New Beetle, are equipped with single-CD head units that can work with a very costly dealer-installed optional six-stack CD changer. With these units, the CD stacker is accessed by one pressing a button labelled CD-C. Cassette-based head units aren't even offered as a "downgrade"; confined to the Transporter vans; or available only in less-desireable packages where you lose all the other desireable options. From the tone of the list, I have heard many negative comments about vehicle builders like VW making it hard for us to hook up portable MD and MP3 players to newer factory-supplied car-audio setups. As I said before, this has caused fellow listmembers to downgrade to vehicle packages that don't match what they really want or stay away from certain desireable vehicles when the time comes around to change vehicles; just so they can have a cassette player to use with their cassette adaptor or a sound system that has a front-panel CD-IN socket. Does anyone know if there are any devices that allow an MD changer or MD Walkman to be hooked in to newer VW sound systems? With regards, Simon Mackay - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: Interfacing MD Walkmans to OEM stereos in the trendy VWs
[sorry, can't help with the rest of the post] In these situations, it may be desireable not to mess around with the sound system; and also the owner may not want to put in a new MD head unit because of security reasons or that it may look out of place in the VW's blue-illuminated dashboard. Some of the newer Sony headunits have blue displays (as an option) that match VW dashboards. The model numbers usually have -RV on the end. (afaik) there are also facia panels available that allow you to put a standard DIN headunit in and have it match reasonably with the dash (similar materials, etc). After struggling with a portable and a tape adaptor for months, I just bought a MD headunit instead. Point taken about owners not wanting to affect their car's value - but surely they could just take out the standard one and leave it to one side until they sell/give the car back? -- Simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Interfacing MD Walkmans to OEM stereos in the trendy VWs
Simon wrote: After struggling with a portable and a tape adaptor for months, I just bought a MD headunit instead. Point taken about owners not wanting to affect their car's value - but surely they could just take out the standard one and leave it to one side until they sell/give the car back? Fully couldn't agree more. I used the tape adapter with my E25 for 18 months, better than sticking with tape but indded a struggle. I also got a Sony MDX-C6500R as soon as I could afford it, about 2 months ago, and driving my car hasn't been the same since! I still have the old factory headunit that I will stick back in when I sell the car but I suspect that the factory headunit (1989 double DIN tape deck that is temporamental at BEST) will be less of a concern to a potential purchaser than the rest of the car itself (1989 Toyota Celica). At least I hope that will be the case! The MD headunit was not cheap (NZ$800) but worth every cent. it sounds great and looks sexier than any headunit I've come across yet. And it's easy to use. For me MD is in it's element most in a portable context, so car MD just makes sense. The only things that make me a little dark about the unit are: 1. Display - capital letters only (uses CD/calculator-like display rather than dot matrix, probably because the CD headunits use the same face) but a real shame when you use lower and upper case a lot, doesn't scroll and you can't get remaining time in a track. (minor gripes really) 2. No MDLP, which despite the odd MD-L prophet of doom sounds like it will catch on. I'm interested in getting a Sony 640/940 home separate with MDLP, but then I think that the main place I'd like the ability to play back long capacity discs would be in my car on long trips [sigh]. Anyone else out there feeling a little cheated by MDLP? richard Richard Lang Solicitor Duncan Cotterill Christchurch, New Zealand email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] tel: (++64)-3-379-2430 fax: (++64)-3-379-7097 htttp://www.duncancotterill.com - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
