No CD Player

[tomtommy]

Hello: I recently bought an 04 GLS convertible with the Monsoon casette radio. There is no CD player in the car. I remember those simple adapters which are inserted into the casette deck and then connected to a simple portable CD player. Do those work (I never had one)? Also, will those work with the Monsoon system in the car, or will there be issues? Thank you.

[Duffy]

There was a couple of the 6 CD changers on eBay last week. Do a search there. It fits in the center console.

[Fl_bug]

Yes those casette adapters will work. Most people, however, just change out the casette player for a CD unit for not too much money. One can be had for under $100. Check out crutchfield.com for some ideas.

That can technically be your first mod . I recommend that if you do change it out, try to change it for one with at least an AUX jack or USB port in the front so you can plug a thumbdrive or mp3 player to it in addition to a CD player. Good luck and be creative!!

[tomtommy]

Thanks for your help.
I checked ebay and they have reasonable trunk mounted CD changers but I don't think they are suitable for convertibles. Right???
There were two center-console-mounts listed. The less expensive one was open to bidding but was a private-party sale with a buy-it-now of $399. So that's probably the rserve. But buying that one sounds risky to me. Its supposed to be new-in-the-box, but who knows how true that is.
The other was a new unit only offered as a buy-it-now for $595. Way too expensive.
So, as also suggested, I investigated Crutchfield. They offer reasonable replacement radios and universal CD changers (which wirelessly operate by sending a radio signal to the FM receiver in the Monsoon). The universal changers sound like an easy fix to the problem: simple to install, etc. But I wonder how well they actually work. (None of the hard-wired CD changes Crutchfield offered were compatible with the Monsoon.)
Any thoughts?
P.S. The selection of replacement radios at Crutchfield is mind-boggling. Which to choose ???
Thanks again.

[Fl_bug]

Well, just plug in your make and model and go from there.

It all depends on what you want. Do you want a basic cd player? Do you want bluetooth so you can hear callers through the speakers? Do you want/need an in dash GPS navigation system? Do you need one that you can connect your iPod to to charge it and control it from the headunit?

Insert car, sort by price, then work your way up. Its literally a matter of what you can afford.

[tomtommy]

Yes I'd want all the features you mentioned. So guess I'll start there. There will still probably be (too) many to choose from (for me). I have no idea what make or brand is preferable. But I'll see how it goes.
Thanks again.

[sean_fabanich]

kenwood kdc hd942u.

best radio for the dollar...can be had for just over 150....althou i unfortunetly paid a good bit more.

plays cd/mp3 cd

has usb connector that runs out the back and can be run to the center console or glove box...i use it to run my ipod touch,(however it can read music files off a thumbdrive too) it both charges and plays the touch...u can control the ipod traditionally or use the radio controls to easily search the ipod...it has a five line display to make searching quicker. i also have a 3.5 jack run to the glove box...so i can plug in my laptop when the passengers wanna watcha movie.

it has an hd radio...so you pick up additional stations,

has a remote...althou thats not very needed in the beetle.

it also has a built in 3 bang equalizer...so you can adjust bass mid and highs...as well as there q points

it has built in hpf (high pass filter) and lpf(low pass filter) so you can further tune your system...this will help reduce risk of blowing stock speakers by eliminating the extrememly low bass freq that theyll struggle to play.

has 3 sets of 4 volt preouts if you ever decide to add a mono amp for a sub and 4 channel amp for the highs.

it also has time correction. which i find to be amazingly useful. it allow you to adjust when each speaker plays the notes....therefore aligning the sound much better...since our rear speakers are much closer to our ears than the front speakers its very useful...youd be surprised (and its the only radio that i know of that offers this feature without spending extra money on modules like alpine) and its very easy to use.

it illuminates blue...i actually put pictures of it on another post...one that the title actually asks for aftermarket radio pictures...its quite symetrical and looks good in the car.

it also has a sound restorer which you can turn on or off...i dont remember the feature name...but it basically takes mp3s that have been compressed or recorded at lower bit rates and digitally restores them...really helps if you dont have all your recordings at 192kb.

only issue i can speak of is how it can be difficult to use the two control knows....after an hour of playing around youll understand the menu and navigation...but the knobs are a bit of a pain...but you get used to it...and i wouldnt trade it for anything ive seen for under 400 bucks.


heres a link...check it out...

this site will give you lots of info...pics...reviews..

Kenwood KDC-HD942U (kdchd942u) All In-Dash Car Stereo Receivers Car Stereo Receivers and Head Units Car Audio Car Audio, Video, & GPS Navigation - Sonic Electronix

good luck!!!

[ernperkins]

If you have a Monsoon system it can take additional work to mate it with an after market head unit. I don't have a Monsoon system, but understand the built in amplifier expects input levels somewhere between full speaker outputs and pre-amp levels. I'd ask around to find someone has done this type of install. Who knows, maybe the extra "strong" pre-outs of the recommended deck will work.

Another approach is to add ipod cabability instead of a CD player. You can find many adapters that plug directly into the CD changer pins on the back of your deck. The cheaper adapters make you use the ipod controls while the more expensive ones use your deck's CD changer controls so you can keep the ipod in the glove compartment. I have a USA-SPEC PA11-VW6 adapter that works either way. It's about $100 to $150 depending where you buy it.

Good Luck!

[sean_fabanich]

u wont use the rca preouts to attach to the monsoon amp which i think is located in the rear bumper...that amp actually expects a traditional high level input...i once questioned this as well...but a few guys chimed in and verified it. you can probably find the links if you look...but basically the monsoon amp expects normal high level inputs...so youll just wire up the radio like you dont have an amp...and away you go...the only thing that maybe someone can verify is if youll have to worry about the k line...or if youll have to hook up the amp turn on lead from the new radio.

hopefully someone else will verify this for you...but you can look thru some old links and look up the answer if you take the time...

again. good luck

[TampaDub]

Originally Posted by tomtommy

Hello: I recently bought an 04 GLS convertible with the Monsoon casette radio. There is no CD player in the car. I remember those simple adapters which are inserted into the casette deck and then connected to a simple portable CD player. Do those work (I never had one)? Also, will those work with the Monsoon system in the car, or will there be issues? Thank you.

I just pulled mine. Works perfect! My cd's are still in it too. Forgot to unload it. $300 with the velvet insert that goes next to it if you want it.

[HarlequinPixie]

Originally Posted by tomtommy

So, as also suggested, I investigated Crutchfield. They offer reasonable replacement radios and universal CD changers (which wirelessly operate by sending a radio signal to the FM receiver in the Monsoon). The universal changers sound like an easy fix to the problem: simple to install, etc. But I wonder how well they actually work. (None of the hard-wired CD changes Crutchfield offered were compatible with the Monsoon.)
Any thoughts?

oof. it it requires you to tune to a radio station I'd avoid it like the plague. especially if you're in a populated area with a lot of radio stations, it's hard to get it to hold stations, and if you're on a road trip you have to keep changing it.. it's a giant pain. if it had something that plugged into the changer controls that received the signal from the changer unit, that might be better, but it doesn't sound like that's the case

[gt4494]

Originally Posted by TampaDub

I just pulled mine. Works perfect! My cd's are still in it too. Forgot to unload it. $300 with the velvet insert that goes next to it if you want it.

Do you need the storage compartment? I swapped a cd player in and have it just laying around.

[TampaDub]

Originally Posted by tomtommy

Thanks for your help.
I checked ebay and they have reasonable trunk mounted CD changers but I don't think they are suitable for convertibles. Right???
There were two center-console-mounts listed. The less expensive one was open to bidding but was a private-party sale with a buy-it-now of $399. So that's probably the rserve. But buying that one sounds risky to me. Its supposed to be new-in-the-box, but who knows how true that is.
The other was a new unit only offered as a buy-it-now for $595. Way too expensive.
So, as also suggested, I investigated Crutchfield. They offer reasonable replacement radios and universal CD changers (which wirelessly operate by sending a radio signal to the FM receiver in the Monsoon). The universal changers sound like an easy fix to the problem: simple to install, etc. But I wonder how well they actually work. (None of the hard-wired CD changes Crutchfield offered were compatible with the Monsoon.)
Any thoughts?
P.S. The selection of replacement radios at Crutchfield is mind-boggling. Which to choose ???
Thanks again.

you can have mine for $250.00

[mloeks76]

Someone else had a CD changer listed in the classified sectin of this forum within the last week. I recall because it was a center mount...which I couldn't do cuz of my parking brake etc.
Until we make a decision about replacing our stereo we are using an FM tuner for my iPod player. I am just a little leary about having an aftermarket stereo put in...

[Love~My~Beetle~So~Much]

I bought the cassette tape that has the wire you put into an ipod for $9.99 at Kmart. Works and sounds EXCELLENT!

[ECS Tuning]

We have OEM CD changes at blowout pricing available:

Volkswagen New Beetle 1.8T > Interior > Stereo