Great CD radio for the price - great sound, and great fun for people who like projects
This is a great CD radio with good features and sound quality. The electrical installation is straight forward and requires no special skill. The wire color code conforms to the standard across the industry. The detachable front panel comes in a protective plastic case, which can be removed from the vehicle or locked separately from the radio to deter theft.
The unit has drawbacks and limitations. First, the front panel is at risk for detachment and breakage from lateral impact. Second, the remote has a poor battery-installation design and a weak housing. It still does not work. Third, the installation instructions are incomplete. Some items are omitted from the panel diagrams and procedures, but these can be identified and clarified through trial and error.
The mechanical installation was more challenging than the electrical, but not too difficult for anyone with extensive background in metal, plastic, and wood fabrication. Some of the unit's vulnerabilities can be overcome by building a protective housing to prevent damage. Complete installation instructions are not necessary for skilled mechanics. For example, part number 1 in the diagram is a mounting bracket, which needs to be attached by outside adhesives, or by fitting it into a slot specially designed in the vehicle for that purpose. I used JB-Weld to attach the new mounting bracket to a modified custom bracket that I constructed to support the old, now dysfunctional, stereo.
The inadequacies of the instructions provided a fun puzzle for me to solve. Part of that solution was to determine that the bracket-release keys, part number 2 on the diagram, should be applied perpendicular to the plane of the radio, and not via the slots on each side of the front panel. Simply leave enough room to approach the side of the mounting bracket, insert the keys from the top, pry outward to release the radio from the housing, and push the end of the keys down below the bracket keepers so that they rest on the lower part of the bracket's sides. Now, the user will have hands free to slide out the radio of the mounting bracket.
All in all, I recommend this unit. It is a great value, good sound, and the remote really is not necessary.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: New