Head unit

[alinnes]

Advice and pics please.

New '05 Cooper arriving late July and want to have MP3 compatible head unit. Must be a good erognomic / colour match. Any thoughts between:

Panasonic CQ-1110AN (amber display & very cheap)
Clarion 748
Becker Monza (which colour is best match)

..or should I go for '05 Single CD which I believe is now MP3 compatible - but will it display ID tags ??

[S33BBY]

Also consider the Alpine CDA-9813R, which can change to amber illumination. I have this unit and it's a great match for the MINI's interior lighting, as well as being excellent functionality wise. I've been meaning to get a night-time picture as it happens. I'll post one as soon as I take it!

[Ibb]

Alpine would be a very good choice.

Their new range has a multi colour feature to match almost any car's illumumination, IIRC 500 different combos can be had.

Worth a look

But like you said if the new MINI HUs are MP3 compatible then cool, if you don't want the fuss of installing a new HU or are happy with the sound in the car then by all means stick to the original.

I've been using MP3 for the last 2 yrs and can say that I'd never go back to a 6\10 CD changer, its just so more practical IMHO.

I'd just wait till your car arrives, test the current system, if you like it, job done.
Its best to not rush into things (from past experiance). If it doesn't give yo uteh desired output then you have scope to upgrade.

[mikeythemini]

Panasonic 1110 isn't mp3, 1300 is
Clarion 748 is excellent as is clarion 648

[alinnes]

Is the Panasonic 1300 any good as I can get one for £80 - and does the amber illumination match the mini ?

[alinnes]

..and what's the difference between the clarion 648 and 748 ?

[Bonnie Scotland]

Go here http://www.clarion-eu.com/uk/ for a detailed comparison, there are a few differences, the 748 is better specced, but maybe not for you.
Things like the 748 having 728 colour display, 24 bit DAC, 4 x 53 watt (648 = 4 x 51 watt)