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Re: CD Player....

Dan Masi wrote:
> 
> On Mar 7,  2:53pm, Joseph Curtis wrote:
> > Subject: CD Player....
> > Personally, I believe the 6 Disc Changer for $550 (approx) dollars that the
> > dealers sell as the Audi A4 cd player is a rip..
> >... Does anyone know of a converter available to plug
> > straight into another non audi/alpine  cd changer  that will allow me to use
> > the wiring available in my Quattro and not go through the fm so I can listen to
> > CD's on the whole bandwidth rather than fm bandwidth??
> 
> Joseph,
> 
> Precision Interface Electronics has a product that's "on the bench",
> i.e. in development.  They told me that product would be available
> "around Summer of this year".  It's a CD changer converter for
> the A4; they didn't want to commit to the CD changer brand they
> were developing for, but they said "it's likely to be Alpine".
> 
> I have no idea what the converter will cost, but I know you can
> get the 6-disc basic Alpine changer for about $350.
> 
> I'm waiting until summer.
> 
> Dan Masi
> (who is *still* waiting for his A4Q, so is in no particular hurry
>  to get a CD changer yet!)

The changer is an Alpine changer.  

I have an audio review coming up in the Autotronics section of Motor Trend (June) on an Audi A4.

As for the dealer price being a rip, consider this.
1. If the unit fails, it is covered under the vehicle warranty
2. The PIE device, when available, will eat up a good portion of the difference between the cost of the Alpine changer 
and the Audi/Alpine unit
3. The time waiting for the PIE device to appear, you could be enjoying a CD player in your car.
4. If you have a malfunction with the radio, we all know what will happen.  Is the hassle worth it?

As a point of comparison, the CD changer add on, on a C-Class MB is $1058.  I have a much harder time justifying that 
differential.

Hope this adds a little insight into this issue.

Rich Truesdell
autotronic@aol.com
Mobile Electronics Editor, Motor Trend
Owner, 1986 Audi 4000CS Quattro