Multi-color CD unit

tacblu · 01-29-2002, 11:13 AM

I am considering replacing my factory radio (non-Bose) in my 1986 with a unit made by Jensen. It's model #CM7015K. It's a din and a half in size. It's both CD and cassette (behind a flip down panel). And, it has a multi-color display, which compliments the cars gauges very nicely. Anybody had any experience with this unit? How does it look and sound? Is the installation pretty straight forward? Thanks for your comments.

tacblu · 01-30-2002, 11:19 AM

Isn't ANYBODY familiar with this unit??

92TripleBlack · 01-30-2002, 06:59 PM

Stay away from jensen. Also, you have a double din I believe, not din and a half like the c5s do. My 92 is a double din. I would also flee as fast as possible from anything except din as they loose alot of features for the same money and you can't sell them or put them in a new car later as they don't fit most cars. Get a Din CD or tape player and a kit. You can get a din tape with cd changer controllers if you look hard but most makers are phasing out the tape deck. Kinda like getting an 8 track in the early 80s. I would seriously look at a pioneer 4300. You can get them online for $200 and they will smoke any jensen for sound, durability, and lack of skipping. Hope this helps.

BTW, if you saw the Jensen unit in a Crutchfield catalog, you might as well leave it in the bathroom. At least there it would serve a useful function when the TP runs out instead of ripping you off and providing grey market or bad installation information and biased opinions on products.

[Modified by 92TripleBlack, 5:01 PM 1/30/2002]

tacblu · 01-31-2002, 10:46 AM

92TripleBlack - Thanks for your input. I'll have to check out the size. I had been led to believe that 84-89 used a din and a half, while 90-96 used the double din. I appreciate your comments on Jensen. I used Jensen YEARS ago and they worked out great, but perhaps their quality has gone downhill. Have you had bad experiences with Crutchfield?

92TripleBlack · 02-01-2002, 12:33 PM

Crutchfield is kinda like sharper image. They make the stuff they have to be this great thing at a great price when next door they sell the same thing for half or something better for less. They also don't carry much in the way of good quality items. They would be akin to a mail order Best buy. Good for mass market but nothing high end. Check out a few good sterio shops in your area and see if there is anything you like. Some of the better items out there head unit wise are Alpine, Pioneer, Nakamichi and Eclypse. Stay away from units like sony, blau, bose, panisonic, clarion, JVC, Jenson, etc. Not worth your time for the money.

tacblu · 02-01-2002, 04:23 PM

92TripleBlack - Thanks for the additional feedback. I'll look around at some local shops. Did I have the correct information regarding size. The 84-89 uses a din and a half size? Anyone?

92TripleBlack · 02-01-2002, 05:13 PM

Single din is about 2". So double is about 4" and 1.5 is 3". Late C4s have double and C5s have 1.5. Hope this will help you find out. I forgot.

tacblu · 02-01-2002, 05:17 PM

92TripleBlack = Thank you very much.

92TripleBlack · 02-01-2002, 05:19 PM

Let me know how it turns out.

Al '92 · 02-01-2002, 05:57 PM

If it helps in anyone's search for a good deal, I bought an Alpine cd hu at http://www.carmedia1.com, price was good and so was the service. You might check it out. And be sure to look at their car accessories. Lot's of cool ricer stuff to laugh at.

tacblu · 02-01-2002, 06:54 PM

Al'92 - Are you sure that's the correct address? It comes up as a bad link when I try to access it. Thanks.

jp7g · 02-01-2002, 08:37 PM

That link has a comma thrown in so it doesn't work.

BTW, I just got an amp and a pair of 6x9s from http://www.carmedia1.com also.
(Pioneer GM-X564 and TS-6995). Several places around the web had similar prices (one had the speakers for like $73) but this one had both the amp and speakers so I just saved myself a little hassle and bought both.

My 1987 Vette has the 1.5 DIN. I pretty much agree with 92TripleBlack about the brands and getting a regular din size (you can get a 1.5>1 faceplate-convertor--or whatever they are called).

I got one of the ones with the little "cubby hole" below from Circuit City--you have to ask them to go back and get it. I think they're $12.99. This will help me since the head unit I have is a pull out (http://www.sonicblue.com/audio/rio/riocar.asp) so it won't hit the gearshift when pulling it out (hopefully).

Now if I could just figure out how to:
1) get the Bose speakers out of the door
2) figure out this "common ground" thing
3) fit the 6x9s in the rear and use the factory grill (maybe requires making my own mounts, etc?)
4) maybe i'll just put the 5.25s in the dash and avoid the whole door thing?
5) get the power wire through the firewall.
etc etc

What a pain!