Where to Start? 1996 Mark Radio Upgrade

M

MindyMark

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I almost feel ashamed for having to ask but the Mark seems to be a more difficult car then most to upgrade the radio in with it being a 1.5 DIN.

Anywho, I was hoping someone could point me to a website or a store that would have some options for the 1996 Mark VIII. I normally start at Crutchfield to compare most of the radios but they say they don't have anything that fits the Mark.

If there aren't any good places to start, maybe someone can recommend a head unit and kit that would meet my needs. So here are a couple requirements I had in mind:

  • MP3 Player
  • Aux Input
  • Built In Bluetooth
  • Prefer 1.5 DIN if possible but I'm sure that's not going to happen
  • Any Brand but Sony

Another route I may go would be to replace the failed CD changer. Anywhere I can shop those?
 
OK you need to get some information straightened out... this is NOT a 1 1/2 din. This is pretty darn close to a double din unit...

Din 1 1/2 is Chrysler and GM. Ford is more like 1 9/10 Din... haha Anyways thankfully since it is a ford you can get plenty of plastic face plate adapters to make it into a 1 din which is pretty much what 99% of us are doing.

Wal-Mart Carries both the plastic adapter and the wiring harness that you need.

Now about the headunit... why do you need bluetooth? Just curious...

I have had really good luck with some sonys so I wouldn't completely discount them...

I am currently using alpine, they are good but they unfortunatly have button texts that wear of quickly, prematurely aging the system.
 
I don't "need" bluetooth but I really enjoy my hands free calling with my wireless headset that I currently have. But since I have 4 cars and I have to keep it charged and with me. It would be nice to have bluetooth built into the radio so I can have the phone calls on there. So basically it would be convenience plus a bit of a safety feature.

I have no beef with Sony's head units, it is just merely a brand preference.
 
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About the bluetooth is that you need a really good mic to go along with your headunit.... Most that have it don't use it because ppl have a tough time hearing you when you're far away from it...
 
I was wondering how well they worked, and thought perhaps some might come with the mic. Maybe I'm just dreaming that it would be nice. Why do ya got to burst my bubble! :p
 
:p hey you said "where to start"? lol I was just trying to help you out, and prevent you from spending money on something that you may not like.
 
Well thanks for the thought and saving me some money for more important upgrades on the Mark.

Although I got the boyfriend excited on the thought of built in bluetooth. Good thing he is reasonable. :)
 
after you deside on the head unit befor you start geting anything instaled make sure you tell the instaler you DO NOT WANT THE Factory WIRES CUT you want the correct adapter plugs for your car. If you don't tell them thay will take out the factorey head unit and cut off and trash the plugs that go the the head unit. you may some day want to place the factory head unit back in and if you get the adaptor plugs and install corectly you are less likly to get short and other problms that come with splicing wires. it is work the $10-$30. they also have a jumper that will bypass the factory amp in the trunk so if you are running a good quolity head unit with high outputs.
PS i alway recomend Eclips first, Alpine and Kenwood for Quolity. I hate Sony
spend the money on something you will love.
http://www.eclipse-web.com/us-index.html
http://www.alpine.com/e/index.html
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entertainment
 
I personally have always owned Kenwood head units and I have been pleased (except for one infraction where I bought a Panasonic....it was, um ok).

Alpine has always been a second choice of mine too but I have never pulled the trigger on one.

Once I sell my Mazda I can start shopping around for a good head unit.
 
My choices are alpine and Kenwood for grate day to day average persons use but if you want to do any car audio competition or really have an ear for quality sound the eclipse has the lowest distortion ratio and clarity out of the head units and the eclipse with built in amps have more power than anything on the marked if you want to bypass the ford amps and use the head unit to power the speakers with out a bass unit but I love the quality of the alpine amps. The best sounding unit I built had an eclipse head unit, Kenwood 11 band EQ, 1 4chanel alpine amp for hi and meds powering Polk Audio 6.5in+1in tweet, 1. 2 channels alpine bridged to 1 channel to power 1 kicker 10-inch sub and an audio control crossover.
If you upgrade amps and get more that one amp stick with the same brand and series so they all increase volume together
There are other head units out there but iv never had any problems out of Eclipse, Alpine or Kenwood, I hate Sony, JVC are ok if you dont have a lot of money and Pioneer are JUNK. If you want quality if you see it at Wal-Mart DON’T GET IT.
Go to a pro shop and ask questions, the guys at pro audio shops love to educat people about sound and car audio.
 
Well I was able to pick up a Alpine CDA-9886 for $249 ($50 below retail).

Just waiting on the wiring adapter kit so I don't have to modify the factory wiring and can continue to use the factory amp. That is until the factory amp takes a dump like a lot of them do eventually.
 
Be careful with the alpine units... they have very powerful built in amps that tend to fry the factory amplifiers. So don't turn it up too much :D
 
Good choice you will notice a considerable better sound from the factory JBL speakers and the head unit will allow you to upgrade amps. There’s a reason a lot of hand made exotic cars such a Lotus come with Alpine.
 
maxmk8 said:
Be careful with the alpine units... they have very powerful built in amps that tend to fry the factory amplifiers. So don't turn it up too much :D
Click to expand...

Yeah I have noticed. Sounds great for now. However I didn't get the right wiring adapter but made it work anyway.

The right adapter is supposed to provide pre amp output from the Alpine unit to the factory amp rather then the Alpines internal amp's output to the factory amp like I have it wired now.

I intend on putting in an aftermarket amp at sometime, so I may just leave it alone until the factory amp gets fired. :(
 
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