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Dual XFMC6000 6-Disc Vehicle CD Changer/FM Modulator
See it at Amazon.com for $139.00Average Customer Rating
(4.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First | + Share8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
good value overcomes other reservations
(4 out of 5) by Lisa D. Yablonski on Aug 12, 2005 (South-Eatern PA)I've got competition systems in two of my cars, my third has a stock system with 4 8" AR subs. This unit replaced a busted RF CD changer in my Mom's car, so it had a much less stringent set of requirements to meet than what I personaly would have gone for. I don't have the luxury of being an audiophile anymore with 5 kids (and their still-too-dimunuitive college funds), but I'm much more demanding than an average user. I expect this Dual is more in line with an average user's needs.
It was $94 the week prior to purchase, I ended up buying for $99 - but that's still reasonable.
OK perf through a stock system, but S/N ratio is noticably degraded compared to a changer designed to hook directly into an aftermarket head unit. Effective S/N of this unit in the Camry's stock system is maybe 75 dB, due both to the "economy" components in the Dual as well as the Camry's limited-quality radio section. You would get effective S/N's in the mid-90's with an aftermarket head unit designed specifically to accept a changer at line-level. (I know some advertise 100+ dB S/N, but even RF interference from OTHER cars affects your perf in practice - I have owned those changers and even without "golden ears", I can hear the hiss on my competition test disks.)
No significant skipping when the unit is mounted to the underside of the rear deck in the trunk. Only multiple railroad tracks upset it a bit. Picks right back up. Not the best, but not the worst.
Heat doesn't seem to be an issue in spite of 90+ degree days. No opportunity to evaluate with cold temp extremes.
Doesn't scratch disks. Some changer's I've had in the past did.
Be careful not to break the plastic tabs that mount the unit to a secure surface. They're more delicate than the typical metal brackets.
Be careful pulling the control cables - kinks seemed ok, but I did get what felt like a small snag against something metal that wound up penetrating the cord's jacket on the pull from behind the dash to the contoller module in the center console. Fixed with electrical tape - also, I used a couple layers of elect tape to make a "grommet" to pass the wire through a hole in the plastic at the bottom of the console. That was what brought down the previous changer's cable (Sony) over 5 years of chafing and necessitated buying the Dual. I know I could have been more rigorous but this ain't for IASCA.
Allow an hour to install. Make it a whole day if this is the first time you've done an install and have no clue about how to pull out the dash/console/etc - use online resources to research/plan the activity before unscrewing anything or popping out tabs. Google "dashboard install Honda Accord" or something.
Expect this unit to be functionally equivalent to other RF-add-on units costing 10% to 70% more. I didn't find ANY cheaper RF CD changers, and I looked for a solid hour. It does the job ok. Considering the price, I'm very happy with the results - my Mom's elated.
If you want better sound or features, reco upgrading to a head unit with built-in CD changer controlling capability and buy it's changer. Before you do any of that though, do yourself a favor and upgrade the stock speakers. The ones that come with the car (even the "Bose/JBL/Infinity" systems) wholesale for $1-$10 each - awfully good for the price, but no comparison to a genuine pair of Kappa's. Maybe you'll end up as crazy about car systems as me.
It was $94 the week prior to purchase, I ended up buying for $99 - but that's still reasonable.
OK perf through a stock system, but S/N ratio is noticably degraded compared to a changer designed to hook directly into an aftermarket head unit. Effective S/N of this unit in the Camry's stock system is maybe 75 dB, due both to the "economy" components in the Dual as well as the Camry's limited-quality radio section. You would get effective S/N's in the mid-90's with an aftermarket head unit designed specifically to accept a changer at line-level. (I know some advertise 100+ dB S/N, but even RF interference from OTHER cars affects your perf in practice - I have owned those changers and even without "golden ears", I can hear the hiss on my competition test disks.)
No significant skipping when the unit is mounted to the underside of the rear deck in the trunk. Only multiple railroad tracks upset it a bit. Picks right back up. Not the best, but not the worst.
Heat doesn't seem to be an issue in spite of 90+ degree days. No opportunity to evaluate with cold temp extremes.
Doesn't scratch disks. Some changer's I've had in the past did.
Be careful not to break the plastic tabs that mount the unit to a secure surface. They're more delicate than the typical metal brackets.
Be careful pulling the control cables - kinks seemed ok, but I did get what felt like a small snag against something metal that wound up penetrating the cord's jacket on the pull from behind the dash to the contoller module in the center console. Fixed with electrical tape - also, I used a couple layers of elect tape to make a "grommet" to pass the wire through a hole in the plastic at the bottom of the console. That was what brought down the previous changer's cable (Sony) over 5 years of chafing and necessitated buying the Dual. I know I could have been more rigorous but this ain't for IASCA.
Allow an hour to install. Make it a whole day if this is the first time you've done an install and have no clue about how to pull out the dash/console/etc - use online resources to research/plan the activity before unscrewing anything or popping out tabs. Google "dashboard install Honda Accord" or something.
Expect this unit to be functionally equivalent to other RF-add-on units costing 10% to 70% more. I didn't find ANY cheaper RF CD changers, and I looked for a solid hour. It does the job ok. Considering the price, I'm very happy with the results - my Mom's elated.
If you want better sound or features, reco upgrading to a head unit with built-in CD changer controlling capability and buy it's changer. Before you do any of that though, do yourself a favor and upgrade the stock speakers. The ones that come with the car (even the "Bose/JBL/Infinity" systems) wholesale for $1-$10 each - awfully good for the price, but no comparison to a genuine pair of Kappa's. Maybe you'll end up as crazy about car systems as me.