12v Car type radio for boat

[oldfatgit]

Achates has a good oldish Kenwood car radio which no longer fits our requirements. So I thought I'd ask the forum for recommendations of reasonable car radios to replace it with. We would like it to fit into the standard sized slot, have the ability to take the input from an iPod or other MP3 via an analogue 3mm stereo jack, have remote control (not needed for a car but great on a boat). It doesn't need to be able to play CDs but would like to pick up FM, MW, LW and possibly DAB (notwithstanding current doubts about the format) and finally overseas digital broadcasts (European waters) if possible.

Please can you help?

 

[charles_reed]

Quite a lot accept input using an USB A. Clarion do in fact a "Marine" radio which does all you require except digital reception.

I know of no radio which combines digital and analogue reception.

 

[Searush]

As digital radio is still pretty poor & anaologue is on a limited lifespan, why not try one fom a scrap yard - but make sure you have the code for it.

 

[maxi77]

Our two cheapo Aldi radioas are doing great and were at least cheap enough to be disposable if the digital radio revolution ever realy happens. Based on their performance in UK French and Spanish ports so far I suspect they will do fine in Portugal next week. Our cheapo digital TV also does well on local TV stations too.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have two Sony radios, one in the boat, one in the camper. Both have everything you want, plus CD/mp3 disc player but no DAB. Both of them came from Halfords, where you will usually find a good range at competitive prices.

The one on the boat has been there for a good few years now and has resisted corrosion well. The same is not quite true of the front panel, whose contacts seem to tarnish somewhat, sometimes requiring a jiggle to re-display all the information on the screen. I now leave it connected all the time and never put it away in its little box.

 

[Rowana]

I have a Kenwood on the boat which came from my Daughter's car when she got a new radio from her boyfriend.

FM/LW/MW and single CD slot. I also have a gadget which I plug a i-player into, then plug it into the cig lighter socket. This gadget then transmits the i-player music to the radio. When I'm on the way to/from the boat, I can plug it into the car.

I also have a Roberts FM/LW/MW radio with a casette recorder which I can set to get the early morning shipping forecast from 198 LW when I'm still in my bunk!

 

[FullCircle]

I bought a JVC with USB slot and a 3mm jack, becuase the iPod recharges from the USB, which it doesn't from the 3mm.
It also has a little remote control with simple functions.
All the usual CD/FM/AM/LW functions and graphic equaliser, 4 channel output and fade front to back (for cockpit speaker control)


£99.

Total bargain.

 

[MoodySabre]

Jim - that's on my list for next year's revamp of the switch panel - where did you get that from?

 

[AOWYN]

Aldi radio

Another vote for the £50 Aldi radio, hard to beat and my iPhone plays music through it via Bluetooth which is more convenient than plugging with wire connection

But remote control is less useful than I expected. I had thought that the remote would let me control the radio from the cockpit but it needs line of sight to the radio in order to work so is rather less useful than hoped. I suppose this applies to most remotes but being so used to Bose remote working differently at home that I was disappointed with the remote on the Aldi, but otherwise very impressed with the unit.

 

[AOWYN]

Aldi radio

Another vote for the £50 Aldi radio, hard to beat and my iPhone plays music through it via Bluetooth which is more convenient than plugging with wire connection

But remote control is less useful than I expected. I had thought that the remote would let me control the radio from the cockpit but it needs line of sight to the radio in order to work so is rather less useful than hoped. I suppose this applies to most remotes but being so used to Bose remote working differently at home that I was disappointed with the remote on the Aldi, but otherwise very impressed with the unit.

 

[FullCircle]

Jim - that's on my list for next year's revamp of the switch panel - where did you get that from?

Can't remember Roger, but I have the invoice somewhere, so will let you know.

 

[thalassa]

We've got a Sony CDX-GT434U on board since two years. Very reasonably priced, CD playing MP3 discs, USB port, and MP3 player input jack. Good reception and sound quality.
It replaced a then new ALDI Medion one, with the same characteristics. Unfotunately, it picked up interference from (presumably) the adjacent NAVTEX screen. In the car however it is (still) fine.
The DAB radio I bought this summer in Dover gave rather patchy reception on most of the South Coast, but is doing well now on the Belgian and Dutch side.

 

[ProDave]

This whole radio issue is a concern, not just for boats, but of course for cars.

I heard recently that the plan to turn of analogue VHF FM radio in 2015 had been delayed. Well that's pretty good of them to delay it, seeing as they had never even published the plan properly, so people had not even begun to prepare for it.

Recently the CD player in my car broke, so I looked for a new radio. Knowing VHF FM will be turned off some time soon, I tried to find one with DAB as well. They are few and far between, and VERY expensive, which is not right as you can now buy a DAB portable radio for £25, so why are the car ones so expensive?

But given the uncertainties over DAB (DAB II?) it doesn't seem wise to spend much on any set right now.

So I just bought a very cheap Tevion radio / cd player second hand and it works fine, plays mp3's, has aux input, USB input etc.

So that's my advice, given the uncertainty over the future standards of radio broadcasting, just buy something cheap now to tide you over until someone sorts out the analogue radio switchoff and DAB / DAB II mess.

 

[RivalRedwing]

Do try and get some data on power consumption (if that is of concern), the unit I installed had a decent sized heat sink on it and needed it. The average car unit seems to be quite wasteful of electrical power, presumably because it is freely available in a car. I've settled on a portable radio, much more power frugal.

 

[misterg]

Sony car radios...

Those with Sony CD/Radios...


Have you ever checked the current consumption?

The Sony car radio / MP3CD player (CDX A360) I fitted to our boat draws almost 2 amps whenever there is a disc in the drive! That's without anything playing, and even when apparently "off" (although there are several levels of "off").

Further, it draws most of this from the 'permanent 12V' lead, rather than the switched one - yes they are the right way round.

I wish I knew this before I bought and installed it

Just something else to check.

Andy

 

[oldfatgit]

Thanks all, in the light of your useful information I have ordered this http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/prod...0i_p-23029.htm which, given the apparent reduction and the fact that I does not have DAB (I'll wait until we get decent information on that before purchasing one) I think fits the bill.

 

[billmacfarlane]

I've a cheapish Sony which I paid Halfords about £60.00 for. It works a treat, is only analogue and has a 3mm jack on the front to plug my ipod into. It's now 6 years old and hasn't missed a beat. It feeds 2 pairs of speakers and if I'm watching a movie I plug my lap top into the jack to get better sound quality.

 

[DavidGrieves]

Aldi

CD, Mp3, 3mm jack, Blue Tooth, SD card slot and a USB slot. Also has remote control. Needs permenant live to remember settings.

£50ish

 

[vyv_cox]

Those with Sony CD/Radios...


Have you ever checked the current consumption?

Yes. Can't remember the model number but it's a Sony with CD/mp3 disc player, front minijack input and an Ipod input via an external box and cable, as supplied by Halfords about 2 years ago. It takes 0.6 amps on radio and adds about 0.1 amp when the disc drive is running. With the unit switched off the permanent 12 v supply takes nearly nothing, about 0.1 A AFAIR.

Sounds like there could be a fault on yours?

 

[gjgm]

Achates has a good oldish Kenwood car radio which no longer fits our requirements. So I thought I'd ask the forum for recommendations of reasonable car radios to replace it with. We would like it to fit into the standard sized slot, have the ability to take the input from an iPod or other MP3 via an analogue 3mm stereo jack, have remote control (not needed for a car but great on a boat). It doesn't need to be able to play CDs but would like to pick up FM, MW, LW and possibly DAB (notwithstanding current doubts about the format) and finally overseas digital broadcasts (European waters) if possible.

Please can you help?

If you get one with Bluetooth streaming (I think I paid about £100 for a Sony), you can stream your music from your phone, or mp3 -assuming it also BT streams.
No need for any USB,CDs etc etc. And the phone also works as the remote too.