Re: Bose Radio

[Bryan Kamerer <kamerer@concentric.net>]

At 02:09 AM 11/11/97 -0800, you wrote:
>quinn@hns.com wrote:
>> 
>> OK, call me shallow (faint chorus of "You're shallow" can be heard) BUT
>> I'm interested in replacing the Delta radio (etc) in my Audi for something
>> better except I have not found anything that lights up in red to match the
>> dash (as does the factory radio).  You hardly even find aftermarket amber
>> setups (or dual illumination) any more - whereas a few years ago everything
>> was dual illum.!
>> 
>> So anyone know of decent head unit manufacturers who make radio/CD/cassette
>> units that glow RED?
>
>Denon. Has excellent quality too. Right, Eric? :)
>
>Also, some radios include tiny multicolour Si *condoms*, that allow the end
user to 
>alter the illumination in order to match the dash lights.
>
>-- 
>Igor Kessel


        This is exactly right.  Only problem with Denon is that, as Igor has
alluded, the reliability is not very high.  I was insistent about amber
illum. for another German car besides my Audi when changing stereos about 18
months ago.  Bought Denon's 950DCT (or some such alpha string - a top-end CD
head unit with changer controls and dual preamps for outboard amps - also
necessary for Audi/Bose replacement).  Sounded great, but one channel failed
after one week.  Local shop who sold it (and who had warned me about the
spotty quality), much to their credit upgraded me to a slightly more
expensive Alpine unit for free.  The match was still perfect color wise, but
this year's line of Alpine is dual illum. only on the *very* top of the
line, and then its multi colored instead of pure amber.

        If you can find an Alpine 7823 from a dealer's old inventory, that
would be a perfect solution.  It will control a remote CD payer and you'll
have switchable illum., plus it wouldn't be too expensive.  The local dealer
is very disappointed Alpine has discontinued that unit's feature mix (high
power, dual pre-outs, cd controller, etc.).  It was one of the most flexible
units out there.

        I am now trying to replace the Audi/Bose junk in my V8, and the only
reasonable looking alternative so as not to get that "Tokyo by night" look
in the cockpit was the Kenwood eXcelon 907.  It is a groovy unit, and uses
other colors besides amber, though.  It is a tuner/CD, so you need outboard
amps.  Perhaps a very skilled tech. could wire it into the Bozo speakers
direct; I don't know.  Henry Harper and I discussed options over the past
few weeks and this was the best either of us could find.  I haven't bought
it yet - Henry did so and installed his last weekend in his 91 200tq and
posted about it.  He didn't mention how well it matched the interior illum.,
though.  Henry?

        Bryan Kamerer