My instincts tell me to go with a Nak CD45z, but the only dealers in a 35 mile area are all PITAs (Won't sell it unless we install it at extra cost. we don't install in OLD cars. Won't hook it up to your speakers if you didn't buy them here, etc.) I could get the Nak from Soundhabit.com, but have heard they can be a little flakey. The Clarion is available from Crutchfield for about the same price, but I don't know much about Clarion products. The auto audio reviews don't have a lot to say on either - claim the Nak has a so-so radio but great CD, but not much on Clarions. Anyone have any ideas?

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

My advice is to go with almost anything but the Clarion. This is only based upon 15 years in the business. Also, do not get a Sony unless it is a very high end piece, and then be prepared to have it serviced soon. Again based upon 15 years in the business.
Nak is good, but just make sure that down the road you can find someone to service it. This is not to say they aren't realiable, but sometimes on the smaller name brands it can be tough to get things fixed if need be.

Trent:
Thank you!!! I will forget the Clarion, and look further into the Naks from somewhere else. I really don't like the juke box look of most of the radios out there, which is one of the things that appeals to me about the Nak, aside from the great sound. Thanks for your advice!

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

trent, what is wrong with Clarion???

I have a Clarion head unit, 18 CD-changer and amplifier...I own this radio and changer for nearly 6 years and 400.000km now and haven't even changed a bulb in the unit yet. The sound (3 amps./16 speakers) is great and although the head unit is 6 years old now I don't even want to change it for something newer. I like Clarion...

greetingz,

__________________
1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

i think both companies make quality products, however i think the 45z will fit your MB perfectly. Think about this, both the 45z and the MB have outstanding quality, are simple to use, and dont have useless features or things intended just to be eye candy. The 45z is what the MB is: The combination of performance and simplicity.

Check out these two sites:
http://www.digitalwavez.com/CD_PlayersNakamichiSingle_Din.html

http://www.theautophile.com/flash/products/CD45z.html

Digital wavez offers a long extended warranty while the autophile is the place for high end gear(A/D/S,Brax,etc.). Plus at the autophile i believe he has it worked out so that if you want a nak. and dont have a dealer close to you then he can get your product with all factory warranties etc.

I have heard great things about both companies.

When i finally get some more money the 45z is the source unit im buying.


[Edited by dug on 04-02-2001 at 05:13 PM]

MBenz,

No offense intended, I just tried to relay some insight based on my many years of experience in the field. I am glad to hear that you have had good luck with your units.
I am going on my experience and inside type information, and I will say again: avoid Clarion and Sony (unless it is a very high end unit, and even then be prepared for service issues).
It is not that Clarion is not reliable, I am sure many are, but more that they are not generally user friendly, you really do overpay (they have a strange cost structure)and only in the last year or so that they have cought up in some measure ergonomically. That plus the fact that when a salesman tells you how great a Clarion product is, more often than not he is getting a little something extra from Clarion to say that (ask a Clarion salesman about "scratch tickets") This is known as bribing or buying the salesman and Clarion is one of the worst offenders.
Keep this in mind if you think you are getting the straight goods on the brands at your favorite stereo shop.

Well, I do agree with you that Clarion normally is rather expensive, but since I got a 40% discount from my brother in law (who worked in the car shop of his brothers who sold Clarion), I didn't have to pay that much.
I have seen some cheaper Clarion models that had a lot of problems with the display illumination, but in general the radios play fairly well and the CD changers are just plain good.

greetingz,

__________________
1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

While I have no direct experience with Clarion HU's I have recently installed a Nak CD45z. The first one I purchased was dead on arrival. It refused to read ANY CD. From discussions with different dealers as well as comments from http://www.sounddomain.com it appears that Nak also has reliability problems.

Now that I have a working 45z it sounds great. The resolution and stereo separation is outstanding.

Hope this helps.

Allister

Trent,
I understand that you have experience in the field. Were you a reseller of car audio?
What do you know about the Sony CDX C910? It used to be Sony's premier unit, retailing for about $1000? I picked one up for $200 (refurbished) from Sony's outlet store. Havnt installed it yet and am not sure if there is any statistical evidence to suggest that a refurbished item has a higher failure rate than one which is not refurbished.
I would be interested to know what you think of this unit. Certainly do not want to go to the effort of installign this if it has a history of high failure.
Thanks
farrukh

No I wasn't a reseller, I was actually a lot deeper than that
The CDXC910 is extremely good sonically. The 4v outputs are very clean and the Burr Brown d/a's are quite lovely sounding. Copper plated chassis to resist em noise, power folding faceplate, etc, etc, I have had several of these units. A refurb is the only way to go on this unit. There were several factory runs that had some bad components and would blow up right out of the box. The refurb should have the updated parts.
Just be gentle with it and it will serve you well. IF it is prone to problems right away, then you are S.O.L.
No way to know until you have it installed and use it for awhile
$200 is a pretty good deal.
If you are interested I think I may have a brand new wireless remote around somewhere for cheap. I will look if you like.