I've just been looking at this headunit and it looks very interesting. I was wondering if anyone had any experience of the sound quality, and usability of the unit.

What is it like for security - will somebody be able to steal the hard disk if you remove the front panel, for example? How does it all fit together? Is the 35w x 4 rating sufficient when other head units are boasting 50-60 w per channel (I know that some of the ratings are obviously ramped up to make them look more impressive). In real terms (RMS) is its output good enough? Will I be able to hook my active subwoofer to it?

Is it easy to install?

http://www.dension.com/main.php?pageid=49&topid=42

Ta

The Dension is a good unit, and the last one I heard sounded okay on it's inbuilt amps. The main reason that the amps are lower powered in down to space constraints inside the unit. If you need more power, then it has 4 pre-amp outputs for externals amps, so no problems there.

As for security, the hard drive caddy is removable, so just take it out if you are worried about theft.

Personally, I would attempt to find a used Empeg, as this is a far more versatile (and hackable) unit. The Empeg is running Linux and has a thriving enthusiast hacking community.

Check out the for sale section on http://empegbbs.com

Alternatively, look at http://www.riocar.org for more information and an FAQ.

I've got an Empeg with 160GB disk in my Superb, which is more than enough space for a whole lifetime of music. The other benefit is that the Empeg is a completely removable unit, so is easy to protect from theft.

If you are anywhere near North Dorset, or Camberley, Surrey, I'd be happy to give you a demo of the Empeg.

Bagpuss.

I have A Dension DMP3A HDD fitted to the Multi change socket in the Std Furby headunit.

You can put any size hdd up to 130Gb. I have a 40 Gb HDD have over 3000 tracks and only used approx 12GB.

Was considering the DH101 head unit you have piccys of. But reviews i read were inconclusive. about 50 / 50, good / bad reviews as far as sound quality output was concerned.

Bagpuss: Is this system Linux based, as you have TUX logo on the display ?

Steve

Hi Steve,

The Empeg (or RioCar as it was later called) is indeed Linux based. It runs a customised Debian distribution with StrongARM optimisations.

I have a complete cross compiling toolchain built for my desktop Linux PC, and it's pretty much a portable Linux computer. It has a web server, ftp, telnet, etc. and more importantly ethernet to connect it to the real world.

When the unit it not in the car, it's plugged into my home network, so that I can stream music from it, all via a nice web interface.

Frankly, I believe it is still the best DIN sized MP3 player out there. It's just a shame that it hit the market before the real MP3 boom, and that economies of scale kept it expensive (around 800 quid for a 12GB unit). Nowadays, the technology and the demand would be such that the price would fall into the

Pretty sure Tavia4x4 has one as well.

they look very good, I think I'll stick with my ipod though just need to get rid of the transpod horrible looking thing.

I was using my iPod in the car up until recently, as my old Passat had the VW dual DIN satnav, and hence no room for the Empeg.

The iPod is great as a portable player, but the UI just doesn't cut it in the car environment (even with the new Alpine iPod link). I also don't like the limited functionality of the iTunes/iPod playlists. I really like being able to create nested playlists, but simply can't do it with the iPod.

Bagpuss.

Alternative solution is to just use a CD changer mini-iso to 3.5mm jack connector (easily botched and i have pinouts of you can get the ISO end with cables ) and connect that to a removable MP3 player - a 20gb one from www.novatech.com works perfectly, and i am currently looking for a ciggy lighter adaptor to charge whilst on the move. The halfords phone holder arm holds it perfectly and you have a sticky pad and suction pad. Mstation is another solution, loads on ebay

I am considering a change of plan now. Fancy the Pioneer DEH-80MP......

I dont really want to get into having to add external amps if I can avoid it. Its a pity it doesnt do DVD+-R support.

how much is the Pioneer DEH-80M?

I have A Dension DMP3A HDD fitted to the Multi change socket in the Std Furby headunit.

You can put any size hdd up to 130Gb. I have a 40 Gb HDD have over 3000 tracks and only used approx 12GB.

Was considering the DH101 head unit you have piccys of. But reviews i read were inconclusive. about 50 / 50' date=' good / bad reviews as far as sound quality output was concerned.

Bagpuss: Is this system Linux based, as you have TUX logo on the display ?

Steve[/quote']

Can you give more details about this please?..

could be useful

Posting on my phone, so this will be brief...

Dont bother with Mstation (v1 or 2) Dension or any of the hobbyist mp3 setups, if the big players (alpine / pioneer etc) dont yet offer what you want just wait...

Will post more tomorrow..

how much is the Pioneer DEH-80M?

hi,

just been reading this thread with interest, as i'm thinking of getting the denison unit. Anyone here have one? recommended or not?... the empeg option is a bit of a non starter, as they seem to be changing hands for

any one want more info on Dension DMP3's drop me a line, to correct an earlier comment, you can run a 250Gb HDD or larger if properly partitioned, some are running 300Gb.....what for I will never know but I can knock these out BRAND New for

any one want more info on Dension DMP3's drop me a line, to correct an earlier comment, you can run a 250Gb HDD or larger if properly partitioned, some are running 300Gb.....what for I will never know but I can knock these out BRAND New for

Without reading the whole thread (I'm busy, shoot me ), can you point me to some relevant links for this? Sounds like it is right up my street

Q, you can check out the full specs on the following weblink

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=177

Dave

Has someone tried the DMP3 with a harddisk larger than 160GB? If yes, can you tell me which HD it was?

Greg

I got a dh100ix a week or two back and it came with a dmp3a. They’re now cabled together and I’ve got a 128GB MSATA SSD in the dmp3a which sends the music and metadata to the dh100ix

It sounds really really good.

My only sadness is that I don’t have the dmp3c (compact) that you can slide into the dh100ix behind the flip down front. If anyone has one lying around I have pennies…

I wonder if anyone from this thread is still on the forum