OT: Please recommend aftermarket stereo (for Primera 02)

[Previously posted on uk.rec.audio.car but that NG seems dead]

Hi all,

I know this is a very general and possibly emotive question, but I'll risk it.

I'm pulling the factory radio/cassette out of my 02 Primera (P11-144) and replacing with an after-market Radio/CD. (Nissan are gougers having raised the price from 15 to 43 pounds for the new hazard light switch that is required.)

Features required are:

  1. Excellent radio sensitivity performance
  2. At least 6 medium wave presets, at least 12 FM
  3. Ease of use (and intuitive without the instructions)
  4. MP3 play, USB-in, Aux-in

The following seems to fit the bill and are very similarly priced (JVC cheapest, Sony most expensive, but very little in it.)

  1. JVC KD-R401
  2. Pioneer DEH-2100UB or DEH-2120UB
  3. Kenwood KDC-W4044UA
  4. Sony CDX-GT430U

I would love to hear your opinions of the relative merits of these.

As an aside, the radio sensitivity both on AM and FM with the factory unit is very poor compared with my old 94 Primera. The old car had a longish vertical antenna on the rear wing, the new one has the roof mounted slant antenna. Do you think I have a problem (antenna or radio) or is this to be expected.

Thanks, Jack

Reply to
Jack Russell
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My Pioneer DEH-P4800MP-GB sounds much better than the Blaupunkt OEM that was in my 97 P11 and that was similar to my '94 P10 which was also Blaupunkt. No USB as I changed it 3 or 4 yrs ago, but MP3 CDRs sound good. Also it has good AM and FM reception and I have a slanted rear roof aerial. I can't see a newer model being worse.

I'm not familiar with aerial differences P11 to P11-144, but my P11 aerial has got a booster mounted inside its rubber base, and if the radio isn't wired up as if it had a motorised aerial (see Pioneer instructions), which it hasn't (P10s had), then the booster doesn't get a 12v feed and the end result is really poor AM reception and slightly reduced FM performance. If you get ignition interference or a sort of general white noise on AM despite all this then the usual reason is a poor earth connection to the roof at the aerial base, but if you can slightly drop the roof lining and give the base nut a sideways swipe with a hammer and suitable drift (I used an angled bar) then it will likely re-establish a good connection and restore good reception. Be careful you don't damage aerial leads.

Reply to
Steve

Roof is the best place for an aerial. It acts as a ground plain and improves reception. For FM a basic aerial would need to be approx 1 mtr long - 1/4 wave. Shorter ones will likely need an amplifier built into the base. I have a Blaupunkt DAB radio and use one of these:-

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sadly very expensive but works very well on all bands.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

I like Pioneers. Never really sat and listened to a JVC or a Kenwood, but every Sony I've heard has sounded terrible. I'd also look at Alpine. IMO the best bet is to go down to Halfords, go to the great wall of stereos and speakers, and select some speakers similar in size to the ones in your car and listen to a few radios. Then go home and order the headunit from a decent online firm...

Reply to
Doki

WRT poor reception you might find the aerial base is also an amplifier, I had a Calibra and poor radio reception, dealer replaced the aerial base and problem solved.

Reply to
Vernon

You want a Nakamichi, but I don't think they do aux or USB in.

JVCs tend to be a bit crap sounding. Pioneers can sound ok but tend to be a pain to operate. Kenwoods are a bit easier to operate and sound good. Sonys tend to be fiddly to operate and only sound any good if you spend a lot of money on 'em.

Just my opinion, not based on trying every type of Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood or JVC but I've tried a fair old few.

I can't comment on the squidginess of the buttons or the Little Chef Car Park Kudos of these head units, but I suspect someone will be along eventually to tell us how good the radios can be in Hybrid Toymotas.

Reply to
Pete M

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