Panasonic CQ-C9700U Car CD / MP3 Player

I recently purchased this beautiful unit from Best Buy, and had them install it in my pickup truck. The radio/cd player that came factory installed was pretty good, but it did not provide the power that I was looking for. Now I have the power with this beautiful Panasonic CD player, and this is a totally rocking sytem. It is well worth the $399.99 pricetag, even though it does not come with the satellite radio capability like a lot of the newest models.

The main reason I like this stereo, is the 60 watts x 4 power that it provides through my speakers.(It is amplifier driven, with JBL's installed by Best Buy as well.) The display is simply beautiful, and I have kept the pre installed tropical theme with trees on the blue coloration. There are a couple of other displays and color schemes that you can choose from, and I have yet to download extra ones.(Its possible, according to the owners manual.) The display is 3D dot matrix, with text messages on the face. I have my stations listed on there by category:Pop, Rock, Jazz, Vocal, Metal, Country. All I have to do is go by category to get to my kind of music when using the radio. The radio feature has 18 FM and 6 AM presets, and I just love naming the station on the display panel. (For an example: I have the one metal station listed as A** Kicking Music) This is a fun feature, and fairly easy to use after going through the owners manual. It is one big book, but it is written in a manner that even a novice like myself had no problem understanding.

This unit can play MP3's, CD's, CD-R's, and CD-RW's, and all types have worked well for me. My factory installed CD player supposedly was able to play these, but had many problmes with a lot of the discs. There is a included remote control that utilizes AAA batteries, and I haven't used it except for once when setting it up. Its credit card sized, and although its good for driving situations, I prefer to dance with my fingers on the CD player. There is random play, but there is no bass boost on this unit. That is because there is no need-if you turn the bass all the way up your speakers will be hurting! (And your ears and fellow people on the road) I like the controls, as they are very easy to use. On the left side there is a knob to control volume/channel features, and on the right is the CD controls:play, forward/rewind, stop, pause. Its very easy to manipulate the controls in traffic situations, and the illumination at night is just right.(Not too bright or dim, and fully adjustable if you don't like the factory settings) My only real complaint is that after extensive use it gets a little warm.

The main thing is the sound, and this unit cranks out more power than any stereo I've had in a car. As long as you adjust your treble/bass controls accordingly, you will have symphony perfect sound with an extra kick. All styles of music from rap, classical, jazz, metal, country, and pop will sound outstanding. For security purposes this stereo is detachable face style, and Panasonic offers a 12 month warranty standard for parts and labor. You can also purchase an extended warranty at most major electronics retailers. However, Panasonic has always been a reliable manufacturer and they are an established brand with a positive track record. Just make sure you mail in your warranty/purchase phone to them right after you buy this outstanding stereo. I totally recommend this stereo, and am glad I made this purchase as it has great sound that knocks me over while driving.