Car audio/DAB radio advice

[stinkwheel]

I'm looking to get the wife a DAB car radio for her birthday.

She's just had her car uber serviced and detailed as it was getting a lot of miles on and it's come back looking and driving great. The radio install it came from the dealers with is horrible so it would be good to hoy it out and fit something smart.

It's a "normal" (?1 DIN?) head unit a couple of inches high and she absolutely wouldn't want anything with a big, flashy screen. Minimalist would be best. It's got a red leather interior so blue/green back lights would look weird.

She does listen to CDs still, she doesn't have an MP3 player or smart phone so that kind of connectivity isn't essential

Any recommendations as to makes to go for/avoid?

Are halfords any good in this respect (supply? fitting? they always seem to have loads of car radios) or would I be better getting something online and getting a local auto-electrical place to fit it? I'm reluctant to have a go myself as I'd get my arse kicked if i damage her car.

What about an antenna? I see various types. Are the stick-on ones ok? Or would it be better to get something to hook into the existing bee-sting one?

Basically this interior but without the red rings round the knobs and farbon. The radio in hers is even worse, a poverty spec clarion unit which sticks out and had way too many tiny buttons on it. I'll need to wait until she's out on her bike some time to get a picture of her actual dash or I'll give the game away.
https://i1056.photobucket.com/albums/t376/trustafox2/Daihatsu%20Copen/2013-04-17191340_zps3cab19ff.jpg
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[chris-red]

I don't know about DAB but fitting a stereo is easy, it's plug and play if you get the right bits. You can get fitting kits for specific Cars this includes a surround to match the trim.

Unfortunately Car Stereos are still VERY 90's Vauxhall Nova in the looks department.

Also RE the Phone thing, the stereo I got included handsfree, it was a simple case of running the mic cable now whenever I get in the car my phone auto connects I can make and receive calls from it no bother. It's worth going for.

To fit it You'll need...

Fascia Plate - ~£10
Loom (between car and new stereo) ~£10
Aerial adaptor (Possibly) ~£2
Hand Control adaptor (if the car has steering column/wheel buttons) ~£20.
Keys to remove the old stereo ~£2?

If you get all the above fitting it should take 20 minutes, most of that would be working out how to set her presets. It's all toolless plug and clip. I did my sisters KA in less than 5 minutes I think, it's easier that changing a bulb in my TDM.

I wouldn't let a Halfords monkey touch it TBH. They are pretty cheap for stereos, but the Accessories are a bit of a rip off.

What car is it?
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[stinkwheel]

[chris-red]

You'll want one of these to connect the new unit.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PC2-36-4-DAIHATSU-COPEN-2004-ONWARDS-ISO-STEREO-HEAD-UNIT-HARNESS-ADAPTOR-LEAD-/400398300363


You may need an aerial adapter too for AM/FM I don't know if DAB uses a different aerial, there are some convertors out there such as...*
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Autoleads-PC6-536-Splitter-Headunits-Blaupunkt/dp/B00FRGBLIW

*nb not shopped around could be a rip off.

According to this...
https://www.copenworld.com/community/threads/stereo-replacement-a-walk-through.135/ It doesn't look like you need a fascia adapter.

You could also get a double din unit and ditch the shelf if you wished some are quite neat.

This is mine
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1006251_10151693719028476_2009666527_n.jpg?oh=50dc6b8615b84d56e5a6adb7864d92ba&oe=5899619E

TL;DR piece of piddle to do except for maybe the dab aerial.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[UncleFester]

Only thing with DoubleDin to watch for is that you have to hack some of the back dash away to get some units in ( my Aygo needed that doing) turned the install time from 20 minutes to about 2 hours. Still not difficult, just time consuming. As far as makes / models go ... search Android Appradio or AppleCarPlay and watch out that the DD units are fascia removable, quite a lot are not.

I would also look at upgraded door speakers, throw a couple of dynamat type pads into the door skins behind the speakers - it does make a difference, i did this in my S2000 and it really does help.

And if you can get the space, a small under seat sub works a treat in a small cabin.
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2017 Z1000SX

[bugeye_bob]

Or this and you can move it car to car.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pure-Highway-300Di-In-Car-DAB-Digital-Radio-Audio-Adaptor-Kit-VL-61945-/111946376262?hash=item1a10862446:g:3f4AAOSwZ8ZW88bO

[grr666]

My Swift has DAB+ as standard. Certain things make it cut out though. Emergency services vehicles, some trucks,
buses, tall buildings and its a bit patchy in remote areas. That car is crying out for a double din h/u though.
Its so much easier having integrated nav, and most units will have USB and card slots too. I've become quite
attached to listening to planet rock (where rock lives) while I'm on the move, it does bug me that I don't have
DAB in the van now.

I would also say that cars with canbus systems can be a shit to wire stereos in to. I had to run a new switched live
cable and a permanent live from the fusebox in order to replace the oem cd player in my Sprinter with my Kenwood. I have
fitted dozens of radios in my time and a good few Parrot kits. As Chris says it's usually pretty easy plug and play job.
My 2009 Sprinter was a nightmare though. Luckily a Copen should be pre canbus so relatively straight forward.
Most supplied wiring harnesses will have swappable bullet connectors to switch the perm+ and switched+ around
as thats usually the only difference between manufacurers as to which pin in the connector plug corresponds to the
cars own wiring.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Itchy]

[fatjames]

Looks like there is already a sin DIN adapter in the car, will most likely have the required leads already there.

I have a DAB unit in my focus, took about an hour to ft including the handsfree mic and DAB aerial.

The aerial is the type that sticks to the window, the cable goes behind the A pillar trim and there is a sticky contact that went onto the frame (removing paint isn't required, although I did)

The hardest part for me was getting the aerial cable from the back of the radio, passed the back of the glove box and up into the A pillar. It was a bit fiddly, but perfectly manageable. I had to replace the screen and as such had to replace the aerial. The second time, I took me about 5 minutes.

The stereo I went for is linked below. Has CD and USB on the front and USB on the back. It came with a USB extension, which I have coming out of the dash for my phone. I tend to use my phone (downloads and spotify) more than DAB and only rarely use CDs any more. For longer journeys I used to make up a playlist and put it on a USB stick, but I've never updated it / added new music!

Handsfree is ok, you can adjust the distance/echo etc, but I rarely use it.

(my criteria was CD & DAB & USB)

The colour of the screen / illumination is changeable / dimmable.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-KDC-BT73DAB-Stereo-USB-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00C0Z0VQG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1477405271&sr=8-3&keywords=dab+car+radio+kenwood

[stinkwheel]

[stinkwheel]

Ordered the one fatjames recommended. Looks quite minimal and should be able to get a decent colour match on the display.

I'm not sure if the standard antenna is amplified or not so I've ordered a windscreen mounted one.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[fatjames]