abbas
Junior Member
hello everyone. new to this forum & site. looks like a more down to earth site where it isn't despicable to consider buying average consumer gear from the likes of best buy and friends. before asking my question, here's some background research...
i have been looking to minimally upgrade my stock system finally and want to keep a tape player. the ONLY cd/cassette head unit that will fit my jeep is a $250 unit by jensen, and i didn't like the sound much. next solution is keep using my discman w/a cassette head unit, except get one with aux input, cause i figure the sound will otherwise still be limited by the tape adapter i use now. this brought me to a number of decks by sony, pioneer, jvc, etc, all within the $120 range. i'm also set on a pair of Sony VS1630 (front) and VS1620 (rear) speakers which will run about $180 total, and i have an old alpine 30x4 amp. total cost: $300.
i was pretty ready to go with this setup when i discovered a "Road Gear" tape deck by Jensen hanging on the shelf in a plastic package (at best buy). It costs $30, looks like a tonka toy mid 1970's or 80's stock unit with 2 large knobs, one for volume, one to control the analog tuner, has a pre amp output and an aux input right next to the tape input. Considering I hardly listen to radio (NPR if anything), this thing seems to fulfill all my original needs with very little financial commitment. I am almost ready to buy it, along with two pair of Pioneer TS-G1647 speakers for $50 a pair (rated 30 W), putting me at a total of $130 instead of $300 above.
My only question is will this unit give me outright dreadful performance even if hooked up to an external amp and completely waste the $30, or does this $30 in fact cover the basic essentials quite well? the unit isn't detachable of course, but that wouldn't worry me much.
I know it's probably a lot more bother than worth with these figures in mind, but I am guessing even the $130 upgrade is better than the stock system. A guy at Tweeter Audio offered me the Sony tape/CD changer/discman package for $220 as they're trying to get rid of them, but I have never liked CD changers. if i was going to sink real money into this, i'd be looking at navigation systems, satellite radio, a way to attach my PC to head unit LCD screens and voice activated input so i could do homework more easily on the way to school.
thanks for reading and any suggestions!
Abbas
i have been looking to minimally upgrade my stock system finally and want to keep a tape player. the ONLY cd/cassette head unit that will fit my jeep is a $250 unit by jensen, and i didn't like the sound much. next solution is keep using my discman w/a cassette head unit, except get one with aux input, cause i figure the sound will otherwise still be limited by the tape adapter i use now. this brought me to a number of decks by sony, pioneer, jvc, etc, all within the $120 range. i'm also set on a pair of Sony VS1630 (front) and VS1620 (rear) speakers which will run about $180 total, and i have an old alpine 30x4 amp. total cost: $300.
i was pretty ready to go with this setup when i discovered a "Road Gear" tape deck by Jensen hanging on the shelf in a plastic package (at best buy). It costs $30, looks like a tonka toy mid 1970's or 80's stock unit with 2 large knobs, one for volume, one to control the analog tuner, has a pre amp output and an aux input right next to the tape input. Considering I hardly listen to radio (NPR if anything), this thing seems to fulfill all my original needs with very little financial commitment. I am almost ready to buy it, along with two pair of Pioneer TS-G1647 speakers for $50 a pair (rated 30 W), putting me at a total of $130 instead of $300 above.
My only question is will this unit give me outright dreadful performance even if hooked up to an external amp and completely waste the $30, or does this $30 in fact cover the basic essentials quite well? the unit isn't detachable of course, but that wouldn't worry me much.
I know it's probably a lot more bother than worth with these figures in mind, but I am guessing even the $130 upgrade is better than the stock system. A guy at Tweeter Audio offered me the Sony tape/CD changer/discman package for $220 as they're trying to get rid of them, but I have never liked CD changers. if i was going to sink real money into this, i'd be looking at navigation systems, satellite radio, a way to attach my PC to head unit LCD screens and voice activated input so i could do homework more easily on the way to school.
thanks for reading and any suggestions!
Abbas