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Re: Volkswagon CD changer
- Subject: Re: Volkswagon CD changer
- From: TFP <tfp@tsil.net>
- Date: Sun, 07 Sep 1997 17:43:30 -0400
Khan,
I am having the Clarion 6 CD changer put in my car this week. I was
DEFINITIVELY told that the factory unit WILL NOT control the 12 CD changer!
This information is via a Clarion sales rep, a local Clarion dealer and was
confirmed by a Crutchfield Audio technician.
You can update your data with this information per your request.
Thom
At 01:30 PM 9/7/97 -0800, you wrote:
>At 2:32 PM -0400 9/3/97, Stephen Saulnier wrote:
>>A short while ago someone posted a message concerning the CD changer
>>available from Volkswagon for the standard GLX sound system (the "premium",
>>not the BOSE) and mentioned that there was an identical aftermarket one for
>>about half the price. I think the manufacturer was Clarion, and it
>>supposedly installs in the trunk with the existing wiring harness and
>>connectors. If anyone remembers or knows which model I am trying to
>>describe, could you pass on the model number to me? The mrs. would greatly
>>appreciate being able to play her CD's.
>>
>>Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Steve Saulnier
>> ssaulnier@camber.com
>
>Here's a little (or not so little) article I wrote on the topic directly
>after I got mine... The URL links may be out of date by now, but try them
>out... ;)
>
>After a couple of months of operation, the Clarion changer works just fine,
>although I think the 6 CD cartridge is a little flimsy.
>
>-Khan
>
>---
>
>If you're a Jetta driver with the stock stereo installed, you might be
>considering adding a 6 CD changer to your car. I did some reasearch and
>with the help of a friend (thanks to Patrick Collins
><patrickc@pacificrim.net>), everything is working great. What follows is a
>little article I wrote up in the hopes that it'd help some of you out there
>facing the same options as I did.
>
>DOES THIS STUFF EVEN APPLY TO ME?
>
>Well, I really don't know. I'm not a VW nor a car audio expert, but perhaps
>my experience can give you a clue about what to do. Your car may be
>European made, or a different model, and things can certainly be different
>on your car. I have a North American made (Puebla, Mexico) 1997 Jetta GLX.
>My GLX did NOT come with the Bose audio system installed. IT came with the
>premium audio system (VW) instead. Apparently, these Jettas are installed
>with a VW tape deck that is essentially an OEM'ed version of a Clarion tape
>deck. If you have a Euro-made, GLS, GL, or stock Jetta, your mileage may
>vary (no pun intended).
>
>My Jetta GLX was completely wired for the CD changer in the trunk, so if
>you like keeping your Jetta pristine, your only option is to have it
>installed in the trunk.
>
>WHAT KIND OF TAPE DECK DO YOU HAVE?
>
>If you have an older model or a European Jetta, you might have a Panasonic
>tape deck, which may or may not make the remainder of this article apply to
>your stock tape deck. You can check to see if you have a Clarion tape deck
>by checking to see if it has "Premium Audio" emblazoned on the front of the
>deck, *AND* if the flap that covers the tape mechanism has a little
>vertical tab that extends out about 2mm on the far left hand side of the
>tape flap.
>
>This is the tape deck that I have, and the path of least resistance will
>lead you down the Clarion CD changer path. From research Patrick and I did
>on the 'net (thanks to the administrators of
>http://www.gti-club.org/gti-vr6/problem/index.html) the CDC605 model was
>the recommended model.
>
>When we got into the store, however, the CDC605 model was not available,
>nor was it listed on the Crutchfield (http://www.crutchfield.com) nor
>Clarion (http://www.clarionmultimedia.com) websites. We figured "what the
>hey, this is probably the same thing with a newer model, the old one is
>obsolete." Our bet paid off, and the Clarion CDC635 works like a charm. All
>of the controls on the tape deck operate the CD changer. There is some
>noise from the changer that is audible when switching from one CD to
>another, but that's certainly normal.
>
>If you want to see stats about this changer, just go to their home page
>(URL below).
>
>Note: I do NOT know about the 12 CD changer, but the price ($350 retail)
>and not knowing whether I could even use the CD slots 7-12 (there's only
>radio-station select/CD disk select bottons 1-6 on the stock deck) scared
>me away from that model. If anyone has a definitive answer on the 12 CD
>changer, let me know and I'll update this article.
>
>PERFORMANCE AND MOUNTING
>
>I drove it along cobblestone, and across railroad tracks at 20mph, and it
>didn't skip at all. I chose to have it installed in the trunk, right under
>the rear window shelf, to the far left as possible (while facing towards
>the front of the car).
>
>My reasons for mounting it off the shelf is that it saves floor space in
>the trunk, and won't get beat around if you have a suitcase moving around
>in the trunk when you take that corner at 40mph, and if you have to put a
>huge box like a 30" TV box or something, it'll fit nicely to the right of
>the CD changer hanging off the shelf.
>
>I chose to have it installed to the far left because if you ever need a
>tall, wide, and long item put into your trunk, you can bring down the right
>rear passenger seat (the 60% foldable seat) down, without having the CD
>changer be in the way. Or if you've got something a little thinner and not
>so tall, you can throw down the left rear seat (the 40% foldable seat), and
>the CD changer only takes about two inches away from storing "tall" items.
>
>The guy who was installing it also said that mounting it directly on the
>frame might help things as far as vibration goes, because the shocks are
>literally on the same frame, rather than having to mount onto the floor.
>
>WHAT DID IT COST?
>
>Total cost was about $360, (compare to at least $500 + installation on the
>VW changer) $270 for the changer, $20 for the adaptor (the VW (OEM Clarion)
>unit has a different pinout than the standard Clarions), $60 for the
>install, and $10 in tax (all rough figures). You might want to spend
>another $20 to buy and preload an additional 6 CD cartridge just so you
>have some more tunes to toss in when you want it. I don't know if the
>retail cartridges are any good, but the cartridge that comes with the unit
>feels "flimsy" compared to standard home CD changer cartridges. An
>aftermarket cartridge may be a little more sturdy (I don't know, I didn't
>bother to pick one up).
>
>WHAT ABOUT INSTALLATION?
>
>I'm sure the install isn't that complicated, and you could do it yourself,
>but it'd take you a little longer to do than a "pro". If you've got a
>car-audio buddy, you might consider doing the install with your buddy for a
>meal, but I just didn't want to spend the time, and had the techs install
>it where I bought the changer. Installation time shouldn't take any more
>than 15 minutes, since the car is all wired up anyway.
>
>The salespeople didn't really know much about VW GLX's, so if they try to
>tell you it might take an hour, convince them it's already wired, all it
>takes is mounting, plugging, and testing to make sure it's all happy.
>
>HOW ABOUT UPGRADES?
>
>I can't speak from experience here, but your options are certainly open.
>The easiest upgrade path looks like upgrading the stock tape deck to a
>Clarion model. If you go for a high end deck (recommended -- otherwise,
>replacing your current deck is pointless) such as the Clarion ARX7370,
>you'll get about 35W per channel, plenty of power for the stock speakers in
>your car. If you want to add a subwoofer to round out the frequency range,
>then you'll want a separate power amplifier.
>
>One such amp is the Clarion APA4101 with 40W per channel. Going much higher
>than that power rating will probably blow out the stock speakers. I'm not a
>car audio expert, nor do I have any of this equipment, so caveat emptor!
>
>The point is, if you have a limited budget, buy the changer first. Your VW
>tape deck will run it fine. When you're ready to take the next step,
>install a better Clarion tape deck with more power. The final step to round
>out your stereo is to buy an amp and subwoofer. Of course, if you're
>financially prepared to do all of this (or more than one portion) at once,
>you're not limited to the Clarion line.
>
>CLOSING NOTES
>
>It's clear that adding a CDC635 is by no means going to win you any car
>audio awards, but it's the easiest way to add a CD changer to your car. If
>you want to add subwoofers, or get more power to your speakers, you'll need
>a power amp, and perhaps a different tape deck. In that case, you're
>certainly not limited to the Clarion line of CD changers, and your options
>are certainly open.
>
>Note-- you may very well have other options than a Clarion CDC635 that will
>work with your stock tape deck, with different adaptors and so on, but the
>Clarion CDC635 is apparently identical to the VW changer, and I didn't want
>to be on the bleeding edge.
>
>I have *NO* affiliation with Clarion. Their products are listed here
>because they are the "path of least resistance" with the stock VW tape deck
>that I have, and I have had no problems with their product (admittedly
>having owned it less than 24 hours at the writing of this article). This is
>intended to be a journal of my results which may or may not help you make
>your own decisions.
>
>Happy listening!
>
>URLS:
>
>Clarion ARX7370 tape deck: (approx. $450)
>http://www.clarionmultimedia.com/Clarion/prodcat.nsf/c1c99155372c8e84872564
8a006
>55e02/e1bd679ca42a13408825648200642e9a?OpenDocument
>
>Clarion CDC635 CD changer: (approx. $280)
>http://www.clarionmultimedia.com/Clarion/prodcat.nsf/76f667d50d7dc945872564
8a006
>588fe/94d62059eda3669b8825648200638f9f?OpenDocument
>
>Clarion CDC1235 CD changer: (approx. $330)
>http://www.clarionmultimedia.com/Clarion/prodcat.nsf/76f667d50d7dc945872564
8a006
>588fe/4937cd71e220d72d8825648200628fdb?OpenDocument
>
>Clarion APA4101 Amplifier: (approx. $250)
>http://www.clarionmultimedia.com/Clarion/prodcat.nsf/21a4ae9ea86ce645872564
8a006
>5b785/6cbdb33c4e272c148825648200677062?OpenDocument
>
>(Information in this article is public domain, feel free to forward, post,
>copy, redistribute, and publish, all info, just keep my address on it so
>people can write me back if they have questions)
>
>Khan Klatt khan@pacificrim.net
>Pacific Rim Network, Inc. (360) 650-0442 x13
>http://www.khan.org http://www.pacificrim.net
>
> A member of the VERIO group of Internet Service Providers
>
>
>
>
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