Mazda's In-Dash 6 CD Changer - Any Good?
May-20th-2002, 10:41 AM
#1
Protege Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 126
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
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
May-20th-2002, 11:42 AM
#2
...and loving it!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Texas, US
Posts: 286
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.
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.
May-20th-2002, 11:57 AM
#3
Master of All Things :{D
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: southeast texas, near houston
Posts: 4,118
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
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
May-20th-2002, 09:51 PM
#4
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Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 126
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
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
May-21st-2002, 12:12 AM
#6
Master of All Things :{D
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: southeast texas, near houston
Posts: 4,118
Originally posted by PJStyles
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
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
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.
May-21st-2002, 02:12 AM
#7
...and loving it!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Texas, US
Posts: 286
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...
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...
May-21st-2002, 09:30 AM
#9
Protege Owner
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Oklahoma City OK- where it is flat
Posts: 487
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!
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!
May-21st-2002, 06:02 PM
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Atlanta, formerly Calgary
Posts: 363
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.
Dale.
May-22nd-2002, 11:44 AM
#15
Patriotic Protege5
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Hampton, VA
Posts: 908
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.
$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.