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Thread ID: 131114	2013-04-26 10:30:00	Cheap car radios - Warehouse $80, Repco $70 (both mechless ie, no CD)	BBCmicro (15761)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1338445	2013-04-26 10:30:00	I bought the $80 Warehouse American Hifi AHF-520 and paid $90 for installation at my home (2001 Corolla - required disassembly of the dash). Very happy with USB, SDcard and Bluetooth, which paired immediately with my Android 2.3 phone (but I didn't have any music on my phone to test it). Didn't test aux-in. Amplifiers seemed reasonably OK The remote was palm-size and full featured eg numeric keypad. But it didn't work from the driver's seat when a USB stick was installed (even a 'Firefly'). The stick obscured the sensor (but it would be OK in LHD cars). The lack of manual tuning was also annoying. However the tuner was very insensitive. It would not pickup Kaukau properly in Oriental Parade. I felt it was faulty but didn't want to risk getting another unit the same. (Asking the installers to visit 3 times for the original payment would be a bit cheeky). So I took it back to the Warehouse for a no-questions refund. I then got a JVC KD-X100 from Repco, Easter special at $70, and paid the guys another $90 to install it. This time the tuner was quite good (but not as good as the factory-fitted Fujitsu of 1995 vintage). USB worked OK but the stick had to be free of folders. Plays mp3, wav and I think wma. Remembers where you are up to if change source or turn the car off. Has manual tuning. Can change the display or dim it. The JVC remote is thumb-size and disappointing. Doesn't have a keypad and doesn't do FFD, REW. Basically mute, vol, equaliser-step-thru, and a scroll to step through tracks. Sensor doesn't get blocked by USB stick The most disappointing thing is that it has no Bluetooth, in spite of the box trumpeting this feature and promoting JVC apps for Android and Blackberry. The small print says that the Bluetooth is an optional extra. The extra unit costs $130 and connects to the aux-in. It also requires connection to the rear connector, so that means another $50 installer cost. I think this is false advertising. It's like advertising a home-for-sale as having 5 bedrooms and sea views, but the small print says the 5th bedroom is an optional extra and you find out that the sea views are only visible from the 5th bedroom! A good feature is the ease of switching between FM and USB (one press of the 'source' button) and vice-versa (two presses of the 'source' button as it goes via Aux). It's also good to mute or pause by hitting the centre of the Vol knob. I also like the ability to change and dim the display Overall the JVC unit isn't too bad and I have decided to stick with it	BBCmicro (15761)
1338446	2013-04-26 10:51:00	Pay more and get a Sony.	prefect (6291)
1338447	2013-04-26 12:18:00	You get what you pay for at the end of the day.	Alex B (15479)
1338448	2013-04-26 20:25:00	And isn't a remote in a car just a bit crazy, I mean you can actually reach the thing from the driving position	gary67 (56)
1338449	2013-04-26 20:47:00	And isn't a remote in a car just a bit crazy, I mean you can actually reach the thing from the driving position The remote is probably for the backseat driver !	Terry Porritt (14)
1338450	2013-04-26 21:00:00	The remote is probably for the backseat driver ! Must be, it would be the first thing I would lose and really is totally pointless	gary67 (56)
1338451	2013-04-26 22:51:00	I use mine in the truck easier to change radio stations push buttons 1 to 6 just by feel. Its velcroed into the centre of the steering wheel. Battery went flat on a few weeks ago life was hell kept pushing the wrong buttons on the radio and getting no radio. I love my Sony stereo remote. The amp in my service truck is worth more than the truck.	prefect (6291)
1338452	2013-04-27 03:42:00	Correction to my OP - the remote does do folders. My problem was that a particular folder ("wd" written to my USB sticks by my WD media player) was causing the USB stick to bomb. The front panel also allows folder selection. And the remote does do FFD and REW. I've discovered that the "joystick" actually has 5 buttons - the 4 outside ones being folder and track manipulation incl FFD and REW, the centre one doing Source selection (eg USB, FM). I still haven't figured out the track order that it plays As for getting what you pay for, the $70 radio turns out to be better than the $80 one... ;) I tend to agree that getting a more reputable (higher priced) radio is the way to go but the idea of a media player in the car is relatively new and I wanted some experience with a cheap unit first	BBCmicro (15761)
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