xb70fan
08-21-2006, 12:27 PM
Had it installed last Thursday. I had considered ordering from Crutchfield but my local dealer (Mississauga, Ontario) gave me a good price so I let them do it. Took less than 30 minutes.
So far I'm really liking this. I am not a car stereophile (or whatever the term for it is). I bought the 9857 based on reviews I've read. I didn't have any other equipment installed and am just using the stock speakers in my Focus ZX-5.
As others have mentioned, using the search functions does take a few days to get used to. Quite a few times I thought I had a bum unit but it was just me forgetting to use the controls properly. It is quite speedy but then again I've never used another unit so have nothing to compare to.
If I had any complaints (and they are minor) it would be this:
1. The display is a bit small for me. I really liked the 9856 (I think that was the unit) that had the BIG display. But I'm glad I didn't as I heard the slide thingy really sucked. But I don't have any trouble reading it (except the SMALL time display on the bottom line).
2. It takes about 5 seconds for the song info to appear.
3. I thought that I could get the radio call letters to appear but it seems I need an HD unit. That suprised me as my wife's bare-bones Saturn head unit will do this.
4. Regular audio CDs (not MP3s) I've burned through iTunes sound very flat.
5. Now have the added burden of the removable face plate. I just leave the darn thing on most of the time. I'll take the iPod out of the glove box, though.
6. The display on the unit is too bright at night. I think there's an option to change this. Still need to play with it a bit more.
The funny thing is that after it was installed I thought "Oh. I guess I don't have a CD player anymore". Dumb me never really looked behind the face plate.
So far I'm really liking this. I am not a car stereophile (or whatever the term for it is). I bought the 9857 based on reviews I've read. I didn't have any other equipment installed and am just using the stock speakers in my Focus ZX-5.
As others have mentioned, using the search functions does take a few days to get used to. Quite a few times I thought I had a bum unit but it was just me forgetting to use the controls properly. It is quite speedy but then again I've never used another unit so have nothing to compare to.
If I had any complaints (and they are minor) it would be this:
1. The display is a bit small for me. I really liked the 9856 (I think that was the unit) that had the BIG display. But I'm glad I didn't as I heard the slide thingy really sucked. But I don't have any trouble reading it (except the SMALL time display on the bottom line).
2. It takes about 5 seconds for the song info to appear.
3. I thought that I could get the radio call letters to appear but it seems I need an HD unit. That suprised me as my wife's bare-bones Saturn head unit will do this.
4. Regular audio CDs (not MP3s) I've burned through iTunes sound very flat.
5. Now have the added burden of the removable face plate. I just leave the darn thing on most of the time. I'll take the iPod out of the glove box, though.
6. The display on the unit is too bright at night. I think there's an option to change this. Still need to play with it a bit more.
The funny thing is that after it was installed I thought "Oh. I guess I don't have a CD player anymore". Dumb me never really looked behind the face plate.