Tell me about your 2nd gen double-din experince

tixer

tixer

Lincoln Evangelist
Staff member
Paid Member
Hey everyone. I'm just exploring my options here.

CD Changer #4 died toward the end of last season. And although I've always liked the sound, layout, and integration of the factory solution on my '97, I'm contemplating an upgrade.

I know many members have installed double-DIN units without much difficulty. Consider this your "user satisfaction" survey. Here's what I'm curious about:

What stereo did you select?
how was the install?
Are you happy with the appearance/operation/sound?
Did you get one with navigation?

I'm curious about things like "boot time" and latency on both the screen, or button presses as well. I'd like it to be "fast."

Photos are great of course, if you have them.
Will I regret going down this path? I'm likely asking for the world.

A "clean" install is critical for me, which is why I have stuck with the factory unit thus far. In general, I'm not a fan of compressed audio, (mp3, aac) or wires/devices sticking out of my dash. For example, an after market unit with USB on the back for a hard drive full of uncompressed files would be great, whereas an iPod on the passenger seat would be undesirable. Part of this is simply due the knack I have for not charging mp3 players..

Thanks in advance for your input, (no pun intended) and advice.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.2.1; en-us; SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 Build/FROYO) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)

If you get one with a front usb port you can charge and play the mp3 player with it, and in a lot of cases interface the player w the head unit controls. Most mp3 players support flac nowadays ( not sure about I pods there)
 
Hopefully Hubby sees this and can report on mine. I am happy with it, although I miss my casette player (shut up Steve).

Now, I have a fairly new non-stock CD changer that was put in the car before one of the Carlisles but before I got the new system. Mine has a GPS which I actually do love having.

I wouldn't let Hubby do the install and made him take it to ABT, and they did a great job, they even downloaded the Lincoln thingie to show up when I turn it on.
 
Wirelessly posted (motorola droid: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.2.2; en-us; Droid Build/FRG83G) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)

I too would like a nice double din, with bluetooth, nav, and rds mp3 and aux input, but id like it to sit flush, with very clean install and the ipod jack in the glove box. So I look forward to seeing the responses here
 
Last edited:
I will say, I love the setup in the Tan car. In-dash DVD player, iPod/iPhone hook up (long cable into glove box or console) with on screen iPod controls, also USB port on back for other options.

There is no latency on the screen, boot up is probably 2 seconds when first starting the car, and most of that time is reading the CD that's in there.

Sound quality is great as well. Only downfall (which I did not experience) is that there is not enough room for the "can" to fit inside the dash, therefore my stereo does not have the security cage installed, instead (as bad as this sounds) its just wedged in place and then secured by the large radio/climate control wood grain bezel.
 

Attachments

  • 2011-01-15_14-47-34_267.jpg
    2011-01-15_14-47-34_267.jpg
    56.5 KB · Views: 1
Thank you for the replies.

J, the Pioneer was one of the ones I was eyeing up, so thanks for posting that. it is good to hear that the screen is responsive, and I like the ipod-where-i'll-never-have-to-see-it idea. I'm a big fan of the knob, too. I prefer that over buttons for volume.

It might be the photo, but I'm not so sure I like the gap around the face? Perhaps a different "kit" would address that? I don't remember seeing those on Sharon's, but I might have been drunk. I am actually relieved to see that the dash opening is *larger* than the double-din form factor. I really wasn't sure that it was.

Sharon, if memory serves, the install on your unit really was super-clean. Your opinions on the unit are just as important to me as Mike's. I was hoping on a usability review from you, and a discussion of impedance matching and total harmonic distortion from him. :) Is it easy to use? do you still hate "the lady in the dash?"

My concerns about "speed" stem from a Sony touchscreen DVD unit I helped a friend install recently. everything about it was sloooooow.. I won't be getting that one.

In a perfect world, mine would be bluetooth/dvd/nav also, but I suppose any of those would be optional. I know I am *not* interested in satellite radio.

of course, this is all assuming that nobody jumps in here to say "no! keep the stock unit!" which is discussion I am also interested in.
 
Well, I do feel it takes a long time to start. I don't use it a lot, so it's hard to say. I don't like that there aren't choices on the nav unit to turn the volume of the voice up or down, so the lady (well, I switched to a guy voice) gets yelled at a lot to shut up. It also will interrupt the radio/cd which sometimes is good and sometimes is bad.

I do think it's a very clean install, and was very relieved to see what a nice job they did. Personally, I have some probs, but that's cause I keep forgetting how to set things, so I find myself randomly pushing buttons, although I've gotten better. It also has bluetooth hookup or something, although -- guess what -- it's set so Hubby can talk hands free, not me and I haven't figured that one out yet to change it.
 
Sharon's was installed by a great retailer and install shop in our area, ABT. It looks almost like it was factory installed. They do some major custom audio builds. Many of the cars in their portfolio belong to some very famous people...MJ level fame. He said he has a variety of filler material to make it look nice. At only $150 for the install including the blue tooth, IPOD, etc it was a no brainer.

Mike, they sell double DINs with chennel selector buttons, but teh screen will be smaller. The installer also said the sheet metal needed a little modification. It is a tight fit and depends on the stereo. It is not a true double DIN, but they squeeze in there.
 
I wondered about the sheet metal. I noticed when I pulled the factory unit once, that most of the "depth" is on the bottom half of the unit, where most double-dins I've seen are more "cube" shaped.

good information. Thank you both.
 
beerdog said:
Sharon's was installed by a great retailer and install shop in our area, ABT. It looks almost like it was factory installed. They do some major custom audio builds. Many of the cars in their portfolio belong to some very famous people...MJ level fame. He said he has a variety of filler material to make it look nice. At only $150 for the install including the blue tooth, IPOD, etc it was a no brainer.

Mike, they sell double DINs with chennel selector buttons, but teh screen will be smaller. The installer also said the sheet metal needed a little modification. It is a tight fit and depends on the stereo. It is not a true double DIN, but they squeeze in there.
Click to expand...
any picture of her setup?


tixer said:
I wondered about the sheet metal. I noticed when I pulled the factory unit once, that most of the "depth" is on the bottom half of the unit, where most double-dins I've seen are more "cube" shaped.

good information. Thank you both.
Click to expand...



maybe a 1 1/2 DIN would be a better fit?
 
Trixie said:
I have some probs, but that's cause I keep forgetting how to set things, so I find myself randomly pushing buttons, although I've gotten better
Click to expand...

So THAT'S where you get it from? :p Just kidding Sharon! I find myself getting lost in the options too.

Mike, the install kit would have fit better but the back of the dash (support bracket) would have to be cut in order for the whole kit to fit deep enough. There are gaps on the sides of the stereo but these can be filled with some felt, some plastic or whatever.
 
I'm getting a Pioneer avh-p3200dvd next paycheck..It has all the inputs(usb,sd,aux) on the front and no nav so you prob wouldnt like it. But it does have a great 8band eq, reaction time and 4v out if you decide to run amps. It runs from around 250 for a reman(heard there New) to 300 for a new one. The add on nav system runs about 250. So if you have the money i'd just get a all in one unit.

And i'm going to follow these directions vvvv

http://lincolnsofdistinction.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=30782

The biggest problem i had was finding out what the best fitting trim bezel/ring was. Our unique opening was the challenge. Nobody ever gave me a def answer..And i too am VERY anal that it looks like it belongs in there.
 
Last edited:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_0_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8A306 Safari/6531.22.7)

Trixie said:
Was hoping you'd pick up on that Jesse. ;)
Click to expand...

Hehe I'm here just to push your buttons. :) I'm hoping that the toilet downstairs will help relieve some of the household stress (no more hubby/kid smells). Lol!
 
I like how that one in that link turned out, its kind of how I'd like mine to look too
 
See...his is installed just like mine.

Its not mounted down hard. It is a tight fight around the wood like bezel so its not moving and I used the tab that slides on the metal rail in the back. I could probably tighten it down further but so far its good.
Click to expand...
 
lol, The kit he used is only 12-13 on ebay. For the cost you'd be silly not to fix it..
I just bought everything i need for my install minus the 3200 i'll get next paycheck..Got the bypass, dd kit, harness, 8gb sdhc card and sdhc/usb reader thingy..I wont be having any thumb drives,aux cables or ipod cords hanging around mine. O' and 2 sets of components and new batt terminals so i can finally do the b3.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top