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 Anyone have experience with the 7

 Created by: 6464s
Orig. Posting Date User Name Edit Date
Jan 7, 2023 09:36AM QuickSilver  
Jan 6, 2023 05:10AM 6464s Edited: Jan 6, 2023 05:29AM 
Jan 2, 2023 05:23AM 6464s Edited: Jan 2, 2023 07:04AM 
Dec 31, 2022 03:59PM theminimark  
Dec 29, 2022 10:04AM 6464s  
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 Posted: Jan 7, 2023 09:36AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6464s
I finally emerged from hours and hours of research from YouTube and came out with a winner. I am going to go with the Kenwood Bluetooth amplifier only. KAC M5024BT, it has No head unit. Nothing to steal in this open mini. I will hide the BT amp behind the custom dash shroud I'm making and will only show the volume knob control, a component Alpine tweeter, and a foldable hidden stainless drink/cup holder. Looking to achieve a clean look with functionality. This unit is made for marine, motorcycle and atv applications which is IP rated. I found one YouTube video where the guy put the amp and the remote in a sink full of water and then played music thru it.

I haven't made the purchase yet as I just made this decision, but I think I will go with Crutchfield. There is an online seller named Trail Star Audio  that is selling this unit for $70 less, but has no street address. Does anyone know this seller? In my research, I've found that prices are set acrossed the board by authorized sellers.

A big thank you to theminimark for pointing me in a direction.
You really can't go wrong with Crutchfield. I've had nothing but great success with them over the decades in the USA.

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 Posted: Jan 6, 2023 05:10AM
 Edited:  Jan 6, 2023 05:29AM
Total posts: 493
Last post: Mar 26, 2024
Member since:Jan 25, 2017
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I finally emerged from hours and hours of research from YouTube and came out with a winner. I am going to go with the Kenwood Bluetooth amplifier only. KAC M5024BT, it has No head unit. Nothing to steal in this open mini. I will hide the BT amp behind the custom dash shroud I'm making and will only show the volume knob control, a component Alpine tweeter, and a foldable hidden stainless drink/cup holder. Looking to achieve a clean look with functionality. This unit is made for marine, motorcycle and atv applications which is IP rated. I found one YouTube video where the guy put the amp and the remote in a sink full of water and then played music thru it.

I haven't made the purchase yet as I just made this decision, but I think I will go with Crutchfield. There is an online seller named Trail Star Audio  that is selling this unit for $70 less, but has no street address. Does anyone know this seller? In my research, I've found that prices are set acrossed the board by authorized sellers.

A big thank you to theminimark for pointing me in a direction.

 Posted: Jan 2, 2023 05:23AM
 Edited:  Jan 2, 2023 07:04AM
Total posts: 493
Last post: Mar 26, 2024
Member since:Jan 25, 2017
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Thank you for your input theminimark. Since I know nothing about these units, any comment is appreciated. On eBay I noticed the big range in prices. Also the name brands tend to be around the $400 to $600 range. Since everything is made in China these days, I just thought the cheap stuff was as good as the name brand stuff, but with your comment, I will look at it differently now. I just went to a little independent local guy who has been installing custom electronics for many many years. He was telling me he current recommend is the Nakamichi 7". He barely gave me his time, so I went to my PC Richard's store that sells TV's and stuff. Well they no longer sell car radios but said to go to their store that does installs about an hour away. The local guy had a price of $425 and on eBay that same Nak sells between $200 to $400. I'm not sure if the local guy's price included install. 

Bottom line is I will make the trip to the PC Richards' place an hour away and talk to the install guys and try to touch and feel. BTW this radio is for my mini beach car build. Even though I believe in Issigonis' philosophy of no radio, I feel in this day and age, a car without tunes will be a hard sell. Plus I don't want some hack ruining my build.

 Posted: Dec 31, 2022 03:59PM
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Hi, I've now had 5 different double DIN units. I hope that it is to be mounted in a "Brand X" car. If in a classic Mini, then all bets are off. My comments: If you can, test out the touchscreen functionality (and even the screen layouts) at the stereo shop type of setting as the cheapo units aren't very responsive(or pleasing to the eye ).

Find out what you really need. If you won't play any CD or disc loaded media, especially video, then get the newest ones that don't even have the slot. And if you know you'll only play digital files you own, then adjust.

If all you'll do is stream whatever you are "playing" on your phone, look carefully at the quality of data transfer over blue tooth.

Finally, if you are using carpl#y, or Andro#d Auto, determine whether a USB C, Aux cord, or App#e specific wire will be the best connection to the head unit.

Pay more for a brand name, especially if you can test what you like in a shop setting, then, if you install it yourself, buy from a Crutchfield type of OnLine marketplace seller.

Determine whether you're going to want the back up camera and it's required interconnectivity to a reverse switch connection. Long ago, the best OTA / satellite based radio units were Pioneer and Jensen. YMMV.

And that, as they say, is all I have to say about that.

I'd be interested to hear back which brand you buy, and which vehicle it was mounted into. Best, Mark

All Together Now.... Everybody......
 Posted: Dec 29, 2022 10:04AM
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Anyone have experience with the 7inch Double DIN or 2 DIN touch screen radio? Price wise, there is a wide range from under $100 to $600.