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Strengths: Sharp sound, useful features, mp3, simple layout
Weaknesses: Display, Display, Display
Summary: 2006-01-13 18:01:55 The main reason why I bought this head unit was to avoid having to reload CDs in the trunk. MP3 discs hold about 12 hours of music, which is 4 hours more than what my 6 CD changer would allow me - but on one disc. Plus I can organize my files into folders and have randomized play.
Like everyone has said, don't be fooled by the 18x4W output. I was looking for something that would be loud but not too loud, and I got it. I kept my stock speakers in my 1999 C230 MB and this radio is louder than the factory one at 3/4 volume. Half volume is the setting I enjoy for my music (i.e. Rage, Nirvana, Chevelle, Papa Roach) - loud but not painfully loud. It is not hooked up to any amps, and it powers 8 speakers. I was leery to have this installed in a Mercedes, but my installers did a good job.
CDs are easy to insert without a flip-screen. Accepts CD-Rs and RWs. If you are in to overburning, this player will accept overburnt 700mb CDs. Don't overburn CD-RWs though b/c they can't be overburned when rewritten and erasing them scratches em up.
I was severely undecided between this and the Pioneer DEH-P470MP (Premier) but I chose this one for one main reason: mute button. No more rotating the volume knob when the cell phone rings. Just push the button and the music goes down to level 1. When you press it again, the volume gradually elevates back to the level you had it at. This is a great feature too because when you turn on the car it does the same and doesn't blast you out at 7am with loud music you were listening to last night. You can stop it as it climbs to save yourself a headache.
Display - not the best. I didn't buy this HU for the display. I just wanted something that would work. Scrolling is shaky, not very smooth at all...the letters disappear and reappear in the next square quickly. But I don't mind. I already know the names of my songs and I have better things to do than watch a race car or spaceship or whatever is on those pricey, high-tech displays.
Radio functions - I don't have Serius/XM and I didn't listen to much radio before I got it, so I have no input for it.
****EDIT 1/13/06****
Bad news...I had this one replaced. The display was getting worse and worse. It seemed like the colder it got, the blurrier the display got. From 25-40 degrees it was unacceptable. They first replaced it with a comprable Eclipse model. I have learned one thing from that experience:
ECLIPSE HEAD UNITS ARE CR@P!!!!!!!!!!
DO NOT I repeat DO NOT BUY AN ECLIPSE HEAD UNIT!
Sounds horrible compared to the 9847, not nearly as many options...I felt spoiled with my old one and knew I'd made a terrible mistake. That HU stayed in my car for 16 hours and was replaced by an Alpine CDA-9851. This HU is the best. Still has push buttons - no slider thing. Dot matrix display. See my review of it later.
Overall, this player is still highly recommended in my book. I'll give it a minus two stars for the display (it got annoying), but a plus one for sound quality. I'd give it a 4 1/2 if I could.
Oh yea, be a little wary if you own a Mercedes. The Eclipse had display problems too.
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