Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Posted ImageWelcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are features you can't use and images you can't see. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Join our community!




Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Crutchfield.com
Topic Started: Dec 26 2014, 03:23 PM (1,653 Views)
t3ragtop
Member Avatar
Turbo3 and Twincam Tweaker

i just finished up with the head unit installation in my 98 mercedes slk230. i bought the sony hd radio head unit with bluetooth from crutchfield.com.

along with free shipping they sent everything needed for the installation, a wiring harness adapter so i didn't have to cut up the factory wiring, a european antenna to motorola adapter, and the factory head unit release keys. by email they sent the wiring adapter schematic and a really nice illustrated guide on how to remove the factory head unit and instructions for the installation of the new radio.

after my initial installation i experienced a "thump" or "pop" whenever i switched the ignition on or changed a setting on the radio. i contacted crutchfield and spoke with a technician who described a mismatch between the head unit's rca outputs and the bose system's outboard amp. he arranged to send out 2 ground loop filters free of charge to take care of the issue.

those 2 ground loop filters worth about $30 arrived a couple of days ago but with christmas obligations i had to put working on my car on a back burner. i had time today so i pulled the head unit and plugged the new bits in. that took all of about 10 minutes. it also took care of the issue i had with the turn on thump.

it's not the first time i have used crutchfield. i could have bought the radio a little cheaper on line but with crutchfield's free shipping and the installation parts this turned out to be considerably cheaper in the long run. the additional installation parts came to about $60 that i would have had spend had i just gone for the cheapest price for the same radio on line. in the end the cheaper radio would have cost me about $40 more by the time it was installed.

anyway, i recommend crutchfield. they have great service and a handy tech line phone number. ;)

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
myredvert
Member Avatar
myredvert

There's something to be said for a company with good technical support and folks that really want to make sure their products they sold you work well. And funny how sometimes "cheaper" isn't cheaper when it's all said and done.

Thanks for the tip. when it's time to get a stereo to replace my really sad OEM AC/Delco I hope I'm smart enough to buy from them. :thumb
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cobb
BANNED

You can afford an slk, but not a smart phone? :hmm

Yeah, crutchfield is great when you buy an expensive enough radio or package.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
myredvert
Member Avatar
myredvert

Quote:
 
Yeah, crutchfield is great when you buy an expensive enough radio or package.
I just saw dozens of name brand models on their site for under $100. Pioneer, JVC, Blaupunkt, Kenwood, etc...

As far as finding a "cheap" car stereo (which is all I want/need), I would rather spend $70-$100 on one of those brands from a company with the kind of customer service Richard described, than take my chances with a no-name $50 unit from a box store or discount online site. :dunno
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Car Nut
Member Avatar


Been using them since the 70's? So long I can't really remember. Lol. Great VA company.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
t3ragtop
Member Avatar
Turbo3 and Twincam Tweaker

at the bottom of the invoice for the rca adapter/ ground loop isolators it had the total, $29.96 and balance zero/ customer good will. ;)

that's a company i can do business with. ;)

and cobb, i have twice as much money as that slk cost in my red vert. :P the mercedes was dirt cheap, cheap enough that i could afford to drive 800+ miles round trip to pick it up. :D
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cobb
BANNED

You got twice the cost of the slk in a geo vert? :drool
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
perfesser
Member Avatar
Elite Member - Former Metro owner

Car Nut
Dec 26 2014, 09:37 PM
Been using them since the 70's? So long I can't really remember. Lol. Great VA company.
I started using them in the '80s. Best darned mail order / online company I can think of!! I don't always buy car stereos, but when I do, I prefer Crutchfield!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
banginmetro64
Member Avatar


T3 if you use the speaker wire inputs and not the rca inputs you will get an overall louder stereo and will not have the turn on pop. Used to have the same car with the same issue. Its a Mercedes thing...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
t3ragtop
Member Avatar
Turbo3 and Twincam Tweaker

the speaker outputs can overload the bose amp's inputs. the head unit has to have a minimum 4 volt level, this sony radio has 5 volt rca outputs.

it is enough of an issue on mercedes, audi, and porsche cars that the crutchfield techs know about it. what they sent worked like a charm. ;)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
68custom


I just finished installing a Alpine cd player with most of the bell and whistles including bluetooth and Ipod control paid $130 for it with the harness, dash kit and antenna adapter hard to do much better than Crutchfield! tomorrow I will finish the install with a small Kicker amp and a single JL sub in a ported box and a set of Boston pro 5.2s in the front doors. in my Toyota Matrix! heck the dash kit, harness and antenna adapter would cost $40 at wally world!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ranger88den
Elite Member
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
I have used Crutchfield as well; always had great customer support.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Audio Section · Next Topic »
Add Reply