ONIX Car Radio $89 @ Aldi
Available from 27th August 2009.
FEATURES:
It depends on the car/make/model. I had a 1990 Toyota Camry which was relatively easy to replace the head unit. Had a 2000 Nissan Pulsar which was a breeze to replace - the panels unclip and you just screw on the new HU (and use wire harnesses to connect them). The worse I've had to do is a Hyundai Excel 99 - you need to practically take apart the whole front dash to replace the damn thing!
Thanks mate. I've got a Toyoya Corolla early 2001 model (so it is effectively year 2000 model I reckon).
Do you know anything about that one.
Bought one this morning and had it working after an hour or so in my Mecedes Benz Sprinter.
Some notes.
1. The DIN mounting bracket supplied was NOT compatible with the DIN mounting bracket that belonged to the existing Kenwood radio, so change it over.
The big, 16 pin ISO connectors is the same that Mercedes used.
I just made some checks that the wiring looked right compared to
the existing radio, it did, so I plugged it all in , turned keys to ACC and it sprang into life. You can get the ISO connector pin-outs from www.uncletony.co.uk
After programming the memories on the radio, I found out that I promptly lost them once I turned the ignition switch to OFF and back to ON. So it was not remembering the sattion set-up.
This meant the Merceds Benz have the RED(power from ACC) & YELLOW(back-up power direct from battery) reversed. I disconnect the ISO cable, cut the RED & YELLOW connector & terminated them transposed via a two way terminal strip(available from Jaycar CAT. NO. HM3194)
IE. RED-YELLOW & YELLOW to RED This keeps the Mercedes wiring standard.
I guess you may(?) loose your warranty if you cut the existing harness, but I expect to install these radios, this is probably required in 90% of cases.
You can buy a a terminal strip CAT. Jaycar NO. HM3202 and rearrange all the wires if you have to, without having to buy "the correct" harness.
I was a litte disappointed about the light gauge wire used for the RED wire(main power) compared to the really thick YELLOW backup wire which only needs to be thin. Also, the cover over the USB slot is pretty flimsy.
When replacing the front trim plate, make sure that you engage the bottom lugs first before engaging the top. One of my top lugs snapped off
when I did them simultaneously.
Rest of radio & CD player seems to work fine. Have not tested USB/SD cards, MP3 etc.
For $89 , you can't complain. So, have a go!
I am also wondering the same thing…. please someone come along and put me out of my misery.
I bought a radio from Aldi about three years ago to fit into a new car. It had standard plug in connectors so I just unplugged my old one and plugged in the new one. Still using it and have had no problems
If you have a relatively new car the installation should be straight forward, otherwise you need to wire in the connectors (included with mine) and then install it.
well you have 60days to figure it out how to install it :)
I had to do a kenwood one for my car recently, had to buy a connector that fitted the car and cut that along with the kenwood cables than solder them together, this had to be done for warranty purposes for the car but it was fairly straight-forward, the cables are colour coded. the extra connecter was from a repco for about $5 and the soldering cover crimp things do not hold so don't waste money on them. never cut the car cables, you can find an assortment of connectors that you can cut up at any auto store.
if not it is around $60 to get someone to do it for you. but I don't think $60 is worth it for a cheap player.
AUX in and USB/SD Card.. great deal.
Not bad, better value than my Kenwood one which was $179 ish.
But still.
However, I have a Ministry of Sound full car audio package lying around, never opened, as I bought it for like $15 but couldn't be bothered using it.
15$? Where from?
is this a CD Player? CD-R/RW compatible?
Yes, it's a CD player. CD-R/RW means it can play burnt CDs as well as bought CDs.
actually RW means re-writable which are cds that you can burn delete and then burn again (usually for around 1000 uses), CD-r are the ones that you can burn yourself or bought ones.
to everyone wondering how hard installation will be just go buy one, see if you can get them to demo one first though. I love my el-cheapo kenwood (no MP3, overlooked that when I thought it did do MP3 cds, so it was more expensive than I originally though.) that being said I love it sound quality is way better than OEM.
anyway, it is an expeience, you may need to have access to a soldering iron, but it is something you have to learn to do and it is easy enough to do without experience.
Okay, I got one of these exact ones from Aldi last time around when they had 'em for $79 under a different name: http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/6233
http://www.aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_5736.htm
I am amazed they're not cheaper this time around. Anyho, feedback on mine for your benefit.
Negatives:
The USB port is very temperamental. SD slot is stable enough though.
The disc drive is also temperamental sometimes on an mp3 disc. Oh, its ever more temperamental on a cold morning.
The sound quality is tinny. Why? Because 200W is PMPO, not RMS.
Positives:
Price
Fairly easy to install. Comes with the ISO harness.
Basically, you get what you pay for. I strongly recommend you spend another $60 and pick up the Pioneer model from the Pioneer Clearance website. Also JB or Supercheap has a good deal on the USB models too at the moment.
http://www.pioneer.com.au/Products/Archive/Car%20Entertainme… - $149 (USB and AUX input) - 3 available
http://www.pioneer.com.au/Products/Archive/Car%20Entertainme… - $109 (with front AUX input) - 1 available
http://www.pioneer.com.sg/storefront/ProductDetail/default.a… - $79 (Scratch & Dent, AUX input for mp3 players, no mp3 or USB)- 3 available
http://www.pioneer.com.au/Products/Archive/Car%20Entertainme… - $149 - (Scratch & Dent, AUX input for mp3 players, DIRECT iPOD CONTROL) - 4 available
You do get what you pay for…
Also, a newer car does not necessarily mean it will be easier to install. For example, if memory serves correctly, modern Corollas have a double-DIN head unit. Then you have cars like the RX-8 (and maybe the Mazda 3 - not sure) which conform to no standard whatsoever.
My '02 Commodore has a double DIN slot. The commodore's are very easy to remove, you simply cut up an old metal coat hanger, and bend two straight lengths into a U shape. The two prongs then insert vertically into the two holes on either side of the face of the head unit. Once the ends of the prongs cannot go in any further (don't force them), pull the 'handles' made by the U shaped metal to pull the head unit out. You can replace the head unit with a single DIN model by purchasing a plastic single din compartment, that will take up the empty above or below the single DIN head unit. These compartments are easy enough to find on ebay, or maybe purchased at a car audio shop.
Subaru cars use Clarion head units.
You can get a harness adapter to suit your car from your local car supply shop like Super Cheap, Repco, Autobahn or Ryda. If you do not wish to cut the existing bus connector plug in your car. This making it much easier to work on and join to the wires supplied with this head unit.
"AERPRO" is the company that makes these Harness Adapter converters. And are sold by most car parts stores.
http://www.aerpro.com/list.php?cat_name=harnesses&cat_no=10&…
anyone got this yet? just checking :P
Please can someone assist me…Am trying to install Onix car stereo to 1988 Toyota Coaster Motorhome that supply 24 volt….Bought a converter that transforms from 24 volts to 12 volts….Have identified all wires to fit except 'yellow' wire (memory)….The converter has 3 wires 24V input (red +, black - and white acc..And 13.8V output orange +, black - and white fusible acc)….Which of these wires do I hook up yellow memory wire from stereo????
Please urgent….Thanks for assistance….
Chuck
Mod - corrected all caps.
Sorry Chuck, I am only able to assist your broken caps lock. Good luck with the radio.
I am wondering is it really difficult to get it installed in a car (I've got a car radio but it does not playback mp3s) or do i need to get someone with corresponding qualification.
So, the question is if it is easy enough to install it.