Hi,
> Is there a good review site or page somewhere that I can preview
> a comparitive review, or do I have to "chase down" reviews on each
> model? It would be a great help to see a review of a handful of
> decks, rated by some means. Has any audiophile or magazine
> done a comparitive review?
I bought an in-dash car MD player last year and also went through the
process of trying to find reviews. I didn't manage to find any
comparative reviews, so yes you may have to chase some down - there are
quite a few at www.minidisc.org but there seem to be less reviews for
car MD units than for, say portables or home decks.
> Sony: Good sound. I've heard good things about the MDX-65 changer.
>
> Are different brand decks and changers interconnectable?
In general, a given MD/CD car changer can't be connected to in dash
decks of a different brand, so no (at least I'm not aware of any brands
that are interchangeable with other brands - Sony definitely aren't).
Generally, the bus connecting the changer to the head unit is different
for each brand.
For what it's worth I bought a Sony MDX-6500 (see
http://www.minidisc.org/part_Sony_MDX-C6500X.html - although the NZ
model looks different to the US model shown - I think the silver and
gun-metal colours used on the unit are reversed). I have a friend who
has the Sony 7900. Both are non-MDLP units (If I want MDLP I think I
will wait until they bring out an MDLP MD changer). Both of us bought
Sony more for availability than anything.
I *can* strongly recommend the 6500. The 6500 is relatively powerful (4
x 50w as opposed to 4 x 35w as was previously standard with Sony head
units), which is useful for me because I don't have a separate amp, and
the result is (IMHO of course) really good sound, even through my
Celica's factory speakers. It's a nice strong sound, but still
detailed, and the first 2 of the three D-bass steps are good without
being too boomy.
The 6500's head-unit style is a flip-down detachable face, you have to
flip down the face to insert the MD - when you do so there's an
illuminated eject button and slot guide. On the 7900 the MD is inserted
through the face. Because the 6500's face is flip down, the display is
nice and big, and the track/disc/preset number/name is illuminated by
white LEDs which look good and are easy to read day or night. I find it
an easy unit to operate on the road by feel - the main control is a bit
like a Playstation control pad - a central button (for source -
MD/FM/changer) with the volume control surrounded by 4 square buttons in
a cross pattern (for FM presets, disc changer for the changer and <<
>>).
So far (just over a year), both my 6500 and my friend's head unit have
been totally reliable. Fingers crossed.
My only gripes about the 6500 are that the track/disc names are always
in capitals since the display is not the dot matrix style used in home
decks - not a big point but I think dot matrix looks better and are
slightly easier to read. Also, the "off" button is this smallish button
on the bottom left corner of the unit (why didn't they just make one of
the "Source" functions "off" ?) and the paint seems to have rubbed off
easily on the off button on my unit - which is actually ok because now
the whole button illuminates red at night and is easy to find!
Hope this helps a bit.
Richard Lang
Senior Solicitor
Duncan Cotterill
Christchurch, New Zealand
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
tel: (++64)-3-379-2430 fax: (++64)-3-379-7097
http://www.duncancotterill.com
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