Re: CD Changers for 98 Jettas

[John Kiekhaefer <jonnk@execpc.com>]

Technical Support at PIE (VWPAN97 suppier) told me that Panasonic has
re-introduced the CDXP601 after they realized that the 801 didn't work with
VW.  By the way, you can also get the CDXP601 at a place called Sound
Conceptions at www.autotoys.com.  They offered it at $239.00.  I did not buy it
from them however, because they gave me incorrect information on the interface.

John Kiekhaefer

Bruce Stapley wrote:

> Attention David Andrew Robertson:  I just went through the CD changer thing
> with my 3-week-old GLX, and here's what I have learned:
>
> I don't know how much this applies to previous years for you older Jetta
> owners, but for '98, the only audio system that appears to come in any GLX
> is a Panasonic head unit with the Bose 10-speaker setup.  For this head
> unit, the Panasonic CDXP601 mentioned by several others is definitely the
> right changer, and you do need the Panasonic/VW adapter.  Both are
> available from Crutchfield, as John Kiekhaefer and others wrote.  Be
> advised, however, that the CDXP601 has already been discontinued and
> replaced by the 801 (an 8-disc unit), which Panasonic *claims* is
> controlled by their VW head unit, but one shop I went to (which had no more
> 601s) actually hooked one up and tried it, and it didn't work.  (Since this
> shop was selling changers to local VW dealers for far less than VW's price
> of $450, and the dealers were then selling them to the public for the MSRP
> of $508 w/o installation, they were pretty bummed that their cash cow had
> dried up!)  Crutchfield does have 601s in stock (and *not* listed on their
> website, as John Kiekhaefer also wrote), but for how long?  It seems to be
> the only aftermarket changer option available for the stock head unit.
>
> I personally blew the whole changer thing off and went for CD in-dash,
> which is what I really wanted anyway.  I got a Sony refurbed Mobile ES unit
> (And please, no elitist Blaupunkt/Alpine flames for that, Ok?  For sticking
> with the stock amps/speakers, the Sony does pretty well.) for about $50
> more than it would've cost me for the changer setup, and not only do I have
> better security and in-dash convenience, I also have immeasurably superior
> sound versus the original head unit -- and that's all I replaced.  And I
> can always add a changer later if I want to.
>
> Bruce Stapley
> Chicago
> Blk 98 GLX
> no mods yet