Mazda's In-Dash 6 CD Changer - Any Good?
 

As many of you know from my other posts, I'm in the midst of getting a brand new Protege 2002 ES GT and I was looking at upgrading the deck with possibly a cd changer.

Is Mazda's In-Dash 6 CD Changer any good? I'm really new to car audio and I'm assuming "In-Dash" means that you have a cd changer right below or above your deck...

Also, is the car deck that comes with this changer any good? Any advice would be appreciated, I want to keep my costs down and I live in Toronto so if you have any audio places you'd recommend I visit or any specific deck or changer models, by all means, fire away. I am on a tight budget though....

PJStyles

I believeThe factory changer is the factory HU with a changer add-on. So, the question is, what do you think of the factory HU? Everyone will agree that it's underpowered, but you're going to find some variance in opinion on what to do about that.

Some will suggest that you don't bother with the factory HU and just go aftermarket all the way. Others will say keeping the factory HU is fine as long as you add an amp. Depends on what you think will work for you.

PJ, i have the factory changer in my car...as sunbyrne said....and is the opinion of others...it lacks power...HOWEVER, I have no problem cranking the unit up to nearly full power and getting NO DISTORTION at all....I guess it all boils down to your listening habits.....

as far as the changer is concerned..its truely IN DASH...you do not see it at all...you load all six discs into the changer through the head unit....in fact to look at the exterior of the normal head unit and the changer equiped one...you have to look close for the ONE additional button....

Personally I like it....beats having to haul around a bunch of CD's in a case or whatever to have a varrity of music.

:{D

Sir Nuke,

My only reference point when it comes to sound power is the 6 speaker cd deck/changer I have in my '97 VW Jetta. It's the factory deck and changer so I'm assuming it would have the same amount of power? The only thing I would upgrade on the protege are the speakers if need be....

So you're generally happy with the factory stuff?

PJStyles

For the money you might be able to get anew H/U and changer if need be.

for the most part yes...but being a performance nut....and that isn't restricted to the performance of the car on the road....I would really like my system to make the power I need at half volume where the unit really isn't pushing itself...as it is now....If i roll the windows down on a nice day...and really want to crank it us if driving alone.....well the stock unit is at least at 3/4 volume if not a little more....

go to a dealer....tell then you want to TEST DRIVE one again...then give it a try...the stereo that is....CRANK IT...and just see how you like it.

:D

My personal suspicion is that the actual HU is OK, just underpowered. I believe that replacing the stock speakers and adding an amp should solve it without having to replace the HU. But I could be wrong--several people here have maintained that the factory HU is the weak link.

We'll see. My new speakers and amp are supposed to arrive Wednesday, but of course I'll be out of town when they come and I'll have to wait until the weekend. Speakers in first...

Sunbyrne,

Let me know what kind of results you get... Anxious to find out...

PJStyles

Sunbyrne is right on the money- sort of. The headunit is a fine source unit, but it does not have enough amp to it to stand by itself. Most head units, even expensive aftermarket units, don't have fantastic amplification on the inboard.
Think of it like this, if they were using the same topology as an out board amp, then they would be the size of an out board amp!
You can either choose a line level in amp, many low life brands, but some really nice ones too, xtant comes to mind. Or you can use Line Out Converters (LOC) units that will "step down" the speaker level outs to a more RCA friendly power level.
With either of these paths, you can easily get sound as good as any aftermarket unit in a proper install.
He is also right on the speakers, can em and replace them with something better. It is a disgrace not only in Mazdas, but in most all factory setups as to what they use as stock speakers.
As for the six changer vs. a single- the spec numbers like Signal to Noise and Channel seperation might be a little lower on a in dash changer, but they are on all changers except of a very few really expensive units.
The unit Mazda sells uses designes that were first done by Nakamichi, and then Pioneer/Premier. They are as good a design at there is for the dash, the question is always the quality of the parts, tolerences and assembly. Overall, unless you build a fairly good overall all signal path, most folks would not be able to tell the difference in the sound at all between the single and the six disc.
Hope this helps!

Does anyone have pictures of what this in-dash cd changer and deck look like installed? I'd be interested to see it...

PJStyles

The stereo for our cars is a modular type thing - I believe the faceplate is the same for the single CD deck as for the CD changer (I can't tell when I'm at the dealer), so if you've been in one already and seen the stereo with the single CD slot, that's what it will look like. I went with the in dash changer and I like it (convenience plus clean factory look), and I will be adding line out converters and an amp, plus a small powered sub soon.

Dale.

Honestly, I can't even remember what it looks like - been a while since I've been in the Protege...

PJStyles

like I mentioned earlier....whether you have the standard deck or the 6 disc changer...they look the same with the exception of ONE button on the face.

They want 500 bucks for that thing. You could get a better deal and better sound if you do it yourself

You could get an aftermarket deck, changer and a set of speakers for $500-600.
$150-200 for a deck, $150-200 for a 6-12 disc changer, and $200-250 for speakers. That is a whole new setup for $500-650. You decide the better value. The aftermarket setup will sound ten times as good. I replaced my stuff the second day I had the car. Thats how bad I thought the stuff was. Its personnal opinion. The best thing to do would be to go listen to the stock radio and then go listen to some friends cars, or goto a shop. Ocasionaly Circuit City will have a buy one get free deal on speakers. You could get two sets of Infinity references or Polk for about $100. Also, if you go with the aftermarket deck, get better speakers as you will more than likely blow the stock ones with a more powerful head unit.