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Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 16:08:54 -0400
From: Hans Lellelid <hplnospam>
Subject: Re: cd player for '91 900S


Hi - I ended up taking Walt's advice and getting a system from Crutchfield. I actually just drove down to the Charlottesville retail store (I'm in N. VA so it was a couple hours of great drive in a fun car on a beautiful day). I ended up getting the Blaupunkt Indianapolis. It met my basic functionality requirements (i.e. play CDs), met my much more demanding aesthetic requirements (i.e. black, low-profile), and cost around $100 which was what I wanted to spend. I did the installation in the parking lot in about 30 minutes. It was easy & painless (except for cutting my finger while removing the DIN casing). The Saab adapter Crutfield provided was great: all wires clearly lableed -- and the colors matched the Blaupunkt harness colors, so the labeling wasn't even necessary -- but was re-assuring. I considered the FM-transponder (iTrip+iPod) idea, but 1) my antenna is broken & reception is thus horrible and 2) the quality of the built-in system was pretty poor even on high-quality stations. I was using a tape adapter w/ a portable CD player, but the wire kept dangling in front of the gear shift, etc. Thanks everyone for the advice. My sound system is nothing other than new versions of the head unit & stock speakers, but I'm very happy with it now. Hans ma_twain wrote: > There are two other options, both less expensive and much easier to > install. The $70 solution is to buy an FM transponder from Radio Shack > and a small Walkman style CD player. The FM transponder transmits one > of four frequencies (88.1, 88.3, 88.5, 88,7). You plug the miniature > headset plug of the transponder into anything with a headset plug: small > MP3 player, laptop, or CD player. Tune the FM radio to a frequency to > match the one chosen on the transponder and you are in business. This > allows you to use an MP3 or CD player anywhere there is a FM radio. > > The second option is about $200, but works on the same principle. The > Sony unit holds 10 or 12 CDs and is installed in the trunk. It is > connected inline with the radio antennae. You set a station to match > the frequency picked on the CD unit and you use a remote control device > to control the CD unit. > > Whatever you chose, think about a unit that can play MP3 as well as CD > formatted discs. Burning MP3 format on a CD disc gives you 6 to 8 hours > of music verus 80 minutes in CD format. I want to find a MP3 player > without moving parts - just like the "stick" style portable ones that > consist primarily of memory chips. Some people have installed a laptop > in the car - much more memory plus a full sized usable GPS system. If > you add a wireless modem, you have the internet in the car. Most police > cars and real estate agents already have this set up. > > Walt Kienzle wrote: > >> "Hans Lellelid" <hplnospam> wrote in message >> news:Khlfc.1556$2e6.80nospamread01... >> >>> Hi, >>> >>> I've searched in vain for an answer to this in the archives or on the >>> web (but I may have missed something, so I apologize if this has been >>> answered elsewhere). >>> >>> I'd really like to replace my AM/FM Cassette player in my '91 900S with >>> a simple (single disc) CD player. -- like one of the less expensive JVC >>> or Pioneer -- or perhaps even Clarion (I really don't want some red & >>> silver thing in my dash) -- head units. BTW - I'm in the USA, which >>> probably makes some things different, I don't know. I also don't know a >>> lot about CD player installation. What I'm wondering is: what do I >>> need to do this right? A few people mentioned an ISO adapter plug; is >>> this something that adapts ISO to a Saab-specific wiring setup? If so, >>> is that something I have to find at a Saab store/dealer? Do I need any >>> special face plate "adapters" to make sure the unit fits correctly in >>> the dash? I'm planning on putting it in the top single DIN space >>> (where the Clarion tape deck is now). >>> >>> Relatedly, does the single-disc Clarion CD player that came with some of >>> the 9000 models work in the 900? I've seen one or two of those on eBay, >>> but generally they've been selling for the price it would cost for me to >>> just get a new (non-Clarion) head unit. >>> >>> Thanks in advance! >>> Hans >>> >> >> The quick and easy answer is to go to www.crutchfield.com and their >> system >> will display the radios (and speakers) that will fit your car. For a '91 >> they will even provide the wiring harness adapter so you don't have to >> cut >> any wires. This isn't the same as an ISO to Saab adapter, but 1) not all >> brands of radios use the ISO connector and 2) they provide this at no >> additional charge when you buy the radio. You will have to splice the >> wires, but that should not be a problem as they are labeled and the color >> code often matches the wiring harness that comes with most radios. I >> bought >> a Blaupunkt radio from them and put an in-dash CD changer in the >> second DIN >> slot of my '91 9000. The service from Crutchfield and the radio >> turned out >> rather well, so I can recommend them from personal experience. One >> note: if >> you are looking for the best price, Crutchfield isn't necessarily the >> best >> place to shop. If you decide to shop there, I have a "Referred by a >> Friend" >> discount code, pccxb-gv0iw-4s3i8, that you can use on the payment page to >> get a $20 discount on purchases over $200. >> >> It is my understanding that there were a couple of different models of >> radios for Saabs in 1991, but the same set of models were used in both >> the >> 900's and 9000's. If your radio came with a graphic equalizer, then you >> should be able to easily connect the 9000 CD player to your radio. If >> you >> don't have the equalizer, then you will have to remove the radio and the >> cage to see if there is a cable with an unconnected/capped DIN connector. >> The cap has some loopback pins, but the connector is to attach an >> equalizer >> or CD player. I agree that it is probably better to replace >> everything with >> something new that has a warranty. These CD players are over 10 years >> old >> and might not be in the best working condition. >> >> Walt Kienzle >> 1991 9000T >> >> >> >

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