Panasonic CQ-DP383U Car CD / MP3 Player
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Similar in In Dash Receivers
- MP3 / WMA Playback: MP3 Playback
- Player Type: CD
- Controlled Devices: CD Changer Sirius Ready
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love it so far
Pros
Inexpensive, all the right features, clean overall design
Cons
display is too bright at night.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
inexpensive, looks good, works good, sounds good.
I bought this model because it has a relatively clean, uncomplicated design and because it plays mp3s (why anyone would make a car CD stereo without mp3 capability in this day and age is beyond me). The fact that it will play mp3s in random mode sealed the deal for me. And the price was reasonable. So far, I have had no problems with the unit. It does not skip on bumpy roads. It has had difficulty reading one of my older mp3 discs that has noticeable scratches. I can't comment on the sound quality, since I am still using the OEM speakers, but it's a six-speaker system in a Chevy Silverado which, besides a lack of bass, is not horrible.
The display is really cool looking, and scrolls the names of the mp3 files. I need the novelty of this feature to wear off before I cause a wreck! The functionality is totally logical and intuitive. The buttons are laid out well and are easy to press. My only gripe about the display is that it is pretty bright at night. It would be cool if it were tied into the dimmer switch, or featured a photocell for automatic dimming. On a rainy road at night with no streetlights and not much headlamp reflection, it can be downright distracting.
Installation in my pickup required that I purchase an additional bracket and wiring harness, since the OEM stereo unit was huge. I had the stereo installed, and they followed the recommended procedure, but it didn't look natural in my dash, so I re-installed it by fabricating a custom plastic surround plate and doing a lot of tricky maneuvers to alter the mounting offset. This was not easy and it took me a couple days to figure out. The brackets you get with the unit do not lend themselves easily to sandwiching a surround plate between the bezel and the mounting collar. But you can do it if you take the time and are clever enough.
The display is really cool looking, and scrolls the names of the mp3 files. I need the novelty of this feature to wear off before I cause a wreck! The functionality is totally logical and intuitive. The buttons are laid out well and are easy to press. My only gripe about the display is that it is pretty bright at night. It would be cool if it were tied into the dimmer switch, or featured a photocell for automatic dimming. On a rainy road at night with no streetlights and not much headlamp reflection, it can be downright distracting.
Installation in my pickup required that I purchase an additional bracket and wiring harness, since the OEM stereo unit was huge. I had the stereo installed, and they followed the recommended procedure, but it didn't look natural in my dash, so I re-installed it by fabricating a custom plastic surround plate and doing a lot of tricky maneuvers to alter the mounting offset. This was not easy and it took me a couple days to figure out. The brackets you get with the unit do not lend themselves easily to sandwiching a surround plate between the bezel and the mounting collar. But you can do it if you take the time and are clever enough.
