I have a 99 F-150 w/ Factory installed Double DIN CD Player.

I want to have a setup that allows me to listen to Cassette tapes, CDs, play MP3s and to install Satalite Radio (doesn't matter which one).

I am currently looking at the Kenwood DPX-MP4030. This is a Double DIN unit.

But I am open to suggestions... I am open to using a Single DIN unit and adding a Changer with MP3 Capabilities.

I am not adverse to cutting into some of the dash as long as I can re-mount the original Stereo (If and when I sell it).

Can anyone give any guidance to this challenge?

 

It really all depends upon what you prefer. If you want a single CD then go with the double din HU. If you don't mind having to deal with a changer to swap out discs and like the fact that you can load several CD's in and get random play then go that route. I personally would prefer the single CD/tape HU since for the most part if I wanted to listen to random music I want a wider variety than just 6 or 12 CD's and would instead be listening to the Sirius or XM to satisfy my random needs. Another factor would be cost. Which would give you what you want and still fit comfortably within your budget? I would think again that the double din HU would be the ticket here. Not to metnion that if you get the Kenwood they have the special going where you can buy the HU and antenna and get the Sirius tuner free. At least I think they still do, but at least check into it anyway. To my knowledge the Kenwood DPX-MP4030 will satisfy your tape/cd/mp3 needs but not sure if it accepts the Sirius tuner, probably does but check it out first.

 

Cgorris... Thanks for the input.

I am leaning towards the Double DIN Solution myself since it seems to be the most compact solution.

Do you or anyone else know of another manufacturer that either makes a player or has one in the works that will handle my needs for Tape/CD/MP3/Satalite?

I was not able to lookup if the Kenwood DPX-MP4030 player was able to handle Satalite. Does anyone have any experience or information on this unit?

Thanks again.

 

I can't think of any other manufacturer that makes the setup that you are looking for. I am sure there are others but I just can't think of any right off the top of my head. I suggest that you search around though. You can add the satellite radio to just about any HU you want though so your main concern would be the MP3/CD/Tape configuration. Maybe one of the other guys on here can point you to another line. Keep in mind that if you do choose to go with a HU that is not sat radio ready you will need to get the FM modulator and controller/tuner and if you do go this route you will lose some (not much but some) of the sound quality that one of the other XM/Sirius ready units would provide. Just something else for you to keep in mind.

Most importantly something else that you need to keep in mind is that our HU's are not full double din. They are actually din and 1/2. You can modify the dash to make it fit but it will take extra work on the installers part to make it fit and look right.

Another thing you may want to consider is just dropping the tape option all together and going with just a good MP3/CD/Sat Radio HU instead since it will open you up to alot wider unit selection. Besides you could always burn your tapes over to CD anyway converted into and MP3 format so that you could store probably 2 tapes on 1 CD. Just a thought!

 

I thought the stereo opening in our dash was DIN & 1/2, not double-DIN??

Anyway -

Even if you ripped the tapes to MP3 at 320Kbps, you could put a lot more than 2 tapes on a CD.

I ripped all of my CD's at the highest rate possible (for my software, 320Kbps) and all 440 of them fit on a 40GB hard drive.

That equates to roughly 57 - 80 minute (700MB) CD's, if you could evenly distribute all the music across them all.

Tape is dead - they just haven't buried it yet.

 

B-Man... Yes, the F-150 has a DIN & 1/2 Configuration but you can do some cut away under the dash and get a Double DIN to fit nicely.

Yea, I know tapes are dead. I stopped buying them over 5 years ago. But I have hundreds of Books on tape that I would like to re-listen to... I don't know if I want to take the time to burn all those tapes to MP3/CDs (I spend large amouts of time on the road).

If I do go that route and decide to rip the Tapes, what software do you suggest for ease of conversion?

Thanks for all the info guys. If anyone knows of another manufacturer that has the Tape/CD/MP3/Satalite setup, please chime in. I would love to have more than one choice.

 

Buy a headunit with Aux input and just use a "walkman" to play cassettes. This is by far the best solution in my opinion.

-Mark

 

St Louis Lightning

Thanks for the idea. That might actually work to my satisfaction. Just run the aux into the console with a power adapter for the walkman... voila... cassette issue solved.

If I decided to go this direction... what head unit would you all suggest. I know there are multiple units... just want some feedback on what you are using and how you like the units.

So the criteria would be a player with CD/MP3/Satalite & an Aux Port.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

I have been using MusicMatch for quite some time now. Rips CDs nicely, but I have never tried to rip anything via a RCA level input. I'm sure it can be done, but I've never tried it.

BTW, I wasn't being nasty when I said tape was dead. Just tryin' to be a little humerous...

I am using an Alpine 9813 HU with XM tuner and Aux adapter for MP3 player connection. The Aux adapter is only $15 and gives you 2 RCA inputs into the HU. It would work nicely for your cassette scenario.

If you consider the Alpine, go 1 step better than I did and get the 9815. Better display for the XM satellite stuff. Both HUs have decent amps built in, so you could add amplifiers later at your leisure.

Sub outputs, front and rear outputs, built in crossover, built in EQ, etc. Lots of tuning abilities for the $. You can also turn the internal amp off if you are using outboard amps.

You can download EQ and time EQ info for your vehicle from Alpine's web site, burn them to a CD and use it to load that config into your HU. VERY handy for tuning a system.

You can also play around and get your optimum settings and then burn those to a CD. If you ever lose power to the HU (battery change, chip re-burn, etc.) you can get your custom sound back in a jiffy !!

I see the 9815 HU on eBay all the time for $350 or so... Good deal IMHO. I bought my XM tuner off eBay for $150 shipped.

Anyway, good luck and post what you do.

 

If all of your tapes are just Books on Tape.. there's absolutely no reason for you to rip your tapes at 320 kb/s. I would probably rip the tapes at 128 K and save a HUGE amount of space... and the sound quality wouldn't be any worse than cassette sound quality anyway.

I use the PhatNoise Music Manager software.. its a free download (30 day trial $14.95 to buy... I have it cuz it came with my Kenwood Music Keg) and has a ripper that rips MP3's at any bitrate you want including VARIABLE BIT RATE. www.phatnoise.com

My personal choice would be
1) lose the idea of needing to play tapes
2) get a Kenwood head unit with CD Changer controls and CD Text capability
3) get the Kenwood Music Keg
4) get the Sirius Satellite Radio hook up

Then, rip your tapes to MP3.. load all tapes AND CD's (if you want to) to the Kenwood Music Keg. I promise you... once you get used to the Kenwood Music Keg... you wont ever need to play a tape or even a CD in your vehicle again. Don't buy anymore Books on Tape.. just download them from Audible.com (an audible.com interface is built into the PhatNoise Music Manager)

That's what I would do in your situation.

 

Well Guys I made the plunge tonight.

I decided to go with the suggestion of a single DIN HU and get an Aux jack for a walkman for the cassettes.

Here is the setup:

Kenwood KDC-X869 (CD/MP3 w/Aux) - $400
KTC-SR902 (Sirius Tuner) - Free
CX-SR20 (Kenwood Antenna for Sirius) - $50
Kenwood HU Installation - Free
Ford Double DIN Plate - $20
Wiring Harness adapter - $15
Installation of Sirius Unit - $40
Installation of Sirius Antenna - $50

Total - $575

Just to let you know, I decided to go with a factory authorized retailer instead of an internet seller to obtain a full warranty. I found the HU cheaper on the Internet, but after calling Kenwood they informed me that if I purchase equipment from a non-authorized Internet seller (of which there are only 5 for car audio), that I would not recieve any Factory warranty. The unit I selected comes with a 3 year factory warranty... I felt that this was significant enought for me to stick with a factory authorized dealer. After checking the prices on the "authorized" list, none of their prices were any better than what I could get locally. So I took my information to the local shop and talked with a manager about what I was finding on the internet. He said that he would work with me to "get my business". Which meant coming down from the original price of the HU of $480 down to $400 and instead of $70 for the antenna he matched a price from cruthcfield for $50 (every little bit helps).

Sirius is having a special until October 11th, in which they are giving away a free satalitte tuner when you purchase a qualified satalitte tuner, an antenna and sign up for a year of service. How could I pass up this deal?!?!?! And if I did purchase the tuner they would reimburse the shop for installation of the tuner. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

If I were to get this same setup with install in 3 more days without haggleing it would have run me $905.

So not too bad overall.

The only drawback to this little endeavor was that they were able to install the HU today, but because of the promotion they were back ordered on the Satalite reciever and it will be instock in 10 days... I am on a waiting list behind 13 other customers... hehehe.

Just can't wait to start playing with the unit and finally get the Sirius working.

Thanks all for your input and if you want other details just post and I will clarify what I can.

 

Congrats. Those are nice choices. You should be very happy with those components.

 

You can still elect to go with the Kenwood Music Keg down the line sometime.

I've got the KDC-X859 (2002 year model of the X869 you bought).

LOL I know I sound like a Kenwood Music Keg salesman but I am just very happy with the convenience and functionality of mine...so thats why i dont mind suggesting it.

Good luck with everything. Let us know if you have anymore questions.

 

Tek2000... I purchased the HU with the Keg in mind as a future upgrade.

Thank you all for your wonderful advice... It made my stereo purchase more informed and now all I have to do is enjoy the music until I decide to upgrade the speakers <grin>.