MP3 player for '89 Bose system?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: The Motor City
MP3 player for '89 Bose system?
Hey guys,
I've been avoiding upgrading the Delco/Bose system in my '89, 'cause it seems a shame to rip it out. The head unit works fine, and it hasn't given me any problems; the same can be said for the speakers. But being a cassette deck unit, I'm obviously limited to playing cassettes only. I toyed with the idea of installing a CD changer, but with such little storage space in the rear hatch area, the changer would just take away from what little is there.
I've recently seen these MP3 players that look like cassettes. These look intriguing, but I don't know if they would work with the Delco Bose head unit. My big concern is the wire running off the cassette-shaped MP3 player itself - the Delco Bose head unit's cassette mechanicals has ALOT of moving parts. The last thing I need is to get the wire tangled and jammed up inside the head unit!!!
Has anyone tried one of these in their own Corvette? If so, any problems? What manufacturer/model did you try?
Thanks for any help at all.
I've been avoiding upgrading the Delco/Bose system in my '89, 'cause it seems a shame to rip it out. The head unit works fine, and it hasn't given me any problems; the same can be said for the speakers. But being a cassette deck unit, I'm obviously limited to playing cassettes only. I toyed with the idea of installing a CD changer, but with such little storage space in the rear hatch area, the changer would just take away from what little is there.
I've recently seen these MP3 players that look like cassettes. These look intriguing, but I don't know if they would work with the Delco Bose head unit. My big concern is the wire running off the cassette-shaped MP3 player itself - the Delco Bose head unit's cassette mechanicals has ALOT of moving parts. The last thing I need is to get the wire tangled and jammed up inside the head unit!!!
Has anyone tried one of these in their own Corvette? If so, any problems? What manufacturer/model did you try?
Thanks for any help at all.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Sumter South Carolina
Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (TheCorvetteKid)
I don't know much about the Bose system, but from what I've heard the speakers are not compatible with aftermarket head units because of the internal amps inside the speakers. If it is interchangable, then check out the JVC MP3 unit since you can play CDs, CD-R/W, and you can put about 250-300 songs on one CD in MP3 format. Blaupunkt and Kenwood also make good MP3 players. I love my JVC in my Vette, but it's a totally custom sound system. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: The Motor City
Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (Irishpilot03)
Hi Irishpilot03,
Thanks for the post. I'm not looking to change the head unit. Like I said, it works fine and I'd hate to just rip it out for no reason. Besides, because it's DIN and half sized, any regular DIN sized units don't look right in it's spot and the current batch of DIN and a half sized units don't look good in my '89s interior.
The MP3 player I'm talking about is like one of those personal MP3 player units. But, instead of being shaped like a little box, it's shaped like a cassette.
Check this link out to give you an idea of what I'm talking about:
http://www.digisette.com/en/main.asp
There are other MP3 players like this on the market - all with varying features. It looks good on paper, but I've just never seen one used on a Corvette before, so I don't know how well it works (if at all).
Thanks for the post. I'm not looking to change the head unit. Like I said, it works fine and I'd hate to just rip it out for no reason. Besides, because it's DIN and half sized, any regular DIN sized units don't look right in it's spot and the current batch of DIN and a half sized units don't look good in my '89s interior.
The MP3 player I'm talking about is like one of those personal MP3 player units. But, instead of being shaped like a little box, it's shaped like a cassette.
Check this link out to give you an idea of what I'm talking about:
http://www.digisette.com/en/main.asp
There are other MP3 players like this on the market - all with varying features. It looks good on paper, but I've just never seen one used on a Corvette before, so I don't know how well it works (if at all).
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Sumter South Carolina
Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (TheCorvetteKid)
The Corvette Kid,
I get it now...It looks like a pretty good idea. It has dual uses so I think that would be the way to go since you don't want to tear out anything. I know what you mean about the CD players not being double-din. My car had to have a custom plate built so it would look right. If you want to check out a great place for audio and accessories check this out. They are the cheapest on the internet since they'll beat any other advertised price by 5% or so. Happy hunting!
http://www.sounddomain.com/shop
I get it now...It looks like a pretty good idea. It has dual uses so I think that would be the way to go since you don't want to tear out anything. I know what you mean about the CD players not being double-din. My car had to have a custom plate built so it would look right. If you want to check out a great place for audio and accessories check this out. They are the cheapest on the internet since they'll beat any other advertised price by 5% or so. Happy hunting!
http://www.sounddomain.com/shop
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: The Motor City
Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (Irishpilot03)
Thanks IrishPilot03!
That website is pretty good. Now you've got me thinking about a new head unit! Maybe an JVC ElKameleon ;) ?
Look at what you've done...
That website is pretty good. Now you've got me thinking about a new head unit! Maybe an JVC ElKameleon ;) ?
Look at what you've done...
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Iowa Colony TX
Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (TheCorvetteKid)
I use a Sony Minidisk and the cassette adapter for my unit. It has no problems. I also have the CD, but I don't like carrying arount all those CD's.
Mine is a 96 and I assume the cassette unit is the same.
Ron
Mine is a 96 and I assume the cassette unit is the same.
Ron
Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: Everett WA
Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (TheCorvetteKid)
what i think your talking about is a car kit. you get a personal cdplayer that can also play mp3's for like $50 and a car kit (just headphones that fits into the casset deck) and the casset deck thinks theres a tape in there and reads the fake tape as it would noramly would. thoes work fine. before i went for a deck i spent $85 about 4 years ago and the tape adapter is just wearing out now. lots of times these days carkits come with walkmans.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,413
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From: NJ
St. Jude Contributor
Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (TheCorvetteKid)
Here comes my RadioShack Experiance....
The MP3 Cassete looks like and intrigue design and will work in any cassete player.
Though an option that i use is called the iRock car kit. This device (29.99) will broadcast over the FM band (88.1 88.3 88.5 88.7). It works great. U need to get a stand alon MP3 then. Something with mass storage (iPOD or Archos Multimedia Juker box) with over 10 gigs of space. you got questions....I got answers!
-Will
The MP3 Cassete looks like and intrigue design and will work in any cassete player.
Though an option that i use is called the iRock car kit. This device (29.99) will broadcast over the FM band (88.1 88.3 88.5 88.7). It works great. U need to get a stand alon MP3 then. Something with mass storage (iPOD or Archos Multimedia Juker box) with over 10 gigs of space. you got questions....I got answers!
-Will
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: The Motor City
Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (flyinace2000)
Hi NightRyder,
I thought about the car kit for a standard CD player, but the wire that runs out of the cassette adapter is what bothers me with it. Like I said earlier, the deck has alot of moving parts when it loads and unloads a cassette - I don't want to see this wire get pulled into the mechanicals and stuck somewhere.
Besides, an MP3 player does away with the CDs entirely and stores the music internally.
But thanks for the post.
I thought about the car kit for a standard CD player, but the wire that runs out of the cassette adapter is what bothers me with it. Like I said earlier, the deck has alot of moving parts when it loads and unloads a cassette - I don't want to see this wire get pulled into the mechanicals and stuck somewhere.
Besides, an MP3 player does away with the CDs entirely and stores the music internally.
But thanks for the post.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: The Motor City
Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (flyinace2000)
Hi flyinace2000,
That iRock kit sounds like a pretty good idea. And the price can't be beat!
I've actually got a Mac and I'd love to get an iPod so the iRock would give me a good excuse :yesnod: ! The problem is, I've found in the past that Radio Shacks here in Canada don't always sell the same stuff as the Radio Shacks in the US :rolleyes: .
I'll check out my local Radio Shack and see if they have the iRock.
Thanks for the info!
That iRock kit sounds like a pretty good idea. And the price can't be beat!
I've actually got a Mac and I'd love to get an iPod so the iRock would give me a good excuse :yesnod: ! The problem is, I've found in the past that Radio Shacks here in Canada don't always sell the same stuff as the Radio Shacks in the US :rolleyes: .
I'll check out my local Radio Shack and see if they have the iRock.
Thanks for the info!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 4
From: Cairns Australia
Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (marlon88)
Hi The CorvetteKid, I get to reply to you instead of the other way !
I have used a personal Cd player with a wire to a fake cassette that went in the cassette player. The sound quality was not good because tape players can put out a bit of hum which raises the Signal to Noise ratio. The MP3s are not at CD quality and once you're used to CD quality which has a very low S/N ratio you can hear the hum. Now you know what to look for if you give the system a test.
Just my 2cents,
Rob
I have used a personal Cd player with a wire to a fake cassette that went in the cassette player. The sound quality was not good because tape players can put out a bit of hum which raises the Signal to Noise ratio. The MP3s are not at CD quality and once you're used to CD quality which has a very low S/N ratio you can hear the hum. Now you know what to look for if you give the system a test.
Just my 2cents,
Rob
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,199
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From: Cairns Australia
Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (Rob Healey)
Doh.......I just realised I'm raving about signal to noise with a Chevy V8 burblin/roarin in the background to a chorus of squeaks rattles and groans from a fibreglass body.......maybe if you wear headphones you'll notice the difference !
Rob
Rob
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Re: MP3 player for '89 Bose system? (TheCorvetteKid)
moving to "AUDIO"
