Sound quality. Simple, clean, black design.

A little slow and noisy (only because it is in-dash not hidden in the boot). A little expensive, but worth it.

When I bought my VW Jetta, I was not very happy with the radio/tape player installed. It was only stereo and the VW CD shuttle is very expensive. I decided to buy a new CD/Radio unit to replace the factory unit. I looked at front load CD units, but most look like they came out of the disco era with flasing lights and silver finish. I decided on the Nakamichi because of its clean design and the good reputation of Nakamichi amps. So far I am very happy with the unit. It has all the features you need, plenty room for expansion (plenty inputs) plus superb sound quality. The only draw back was that the backlights (green) did not match my car dashboard lights (red&blue), but I replaced the backlight LEDs. The buttons now have a red colour and the LCD display a light blue.

Similar Products Used:

Alpine Radio/Tape with CD Shuttle (Excellent - Alpine shuttle NEVER skipped in five years) VW Beta Radio/Tape (Disapointing - only stereo, expensive to add CD shuttle)

Super sound, classy look, in unit changer, super idea.

Noisy slow cd changer. Not the most reliable also. Knobs tiny hard to find.

I have two of these animals in two VW's. Both have superb sound quality, classy very underdtated appearence, which I personaly like, without all current fireworks and jumping fishes you find in other systems. CD player has super sound quality, though cd changing mechanism is both noisy and slow. I also had bad reliability history with the older unit which is made in Japan while the newer one is made in China. Contrlos are rather small and volume control should have been a large rotary knob and not those tiny bars, hardly found. Remote is also useless being funny in shape and cannot be attached to steering.

Six disc changer in dash is very useful. Sound quality is superb.

Has trouble with long discs, both units I've had will read them intermittently, and seem most happy to read these discs when the unit is warm. Making a CD-R of the same disc but deleting some of the tracks seems to solve the problem. No dimmer control on the display.

Sound quality on this unit is excellent. Like many other reviewers I have had to have a second unit installed after issues with the first unit. Hooked up to two amps and a sub it really pumps. It plays CD-R okay from my experience but seems to have issues with long CD's (those over 70 mins). If you are looking for a good unit that will give you great sound reproduction in your vehicle then this would have to be one of the best. Having the 6 disc changer in the dash is really handy, and though it is slow to change discs, it is not unbearable. This unit is designed for people who want sound, not a light show on the dash.

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Kenwood, Sony, Alpine

FM sensitivity (One of the main reasons I bought it)
6 disc capacity
Sleek appearance
Sound quality
Doesn't skip, even with CD-R's. You'd have to give it a Bruce Lee kick to get it to skip.
Plays CD-R's. The manual says it won't but it does. Wouldn't have bought it if it wouldn't. A Nak rep recommended recording at 1x speed but I play CD-R's recorded at 4x.

Can't random play with one disc.
Kinda slow in changing disc's.
Volume controls are buttons instead of a knob
It'd be nice to tone down the brightness of the display

As others have described, this unit is very sensitive to how it is installed. If not done correctly it WILL jam up. I had to go back to the installer twice before they got it in right and even then they had to stick in a new unit 'cause they couldn't get my CD's out. It is an awesome unit though. The ability to load 6 discs in the unit is better than sliced bread. Sleek, no frills. I want to listen to music not watch a side-show. It's got plenty of power for 4 speakers though I am putting in an amp to power a sub. If you're looking for flash and a cheap unit don't even consider this one.

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Was an MD freak before so nothing compares to CD quality.

6-disc in-dash is cool!
Near-OEM look to it.
Lots of nice features, like the remote
Plays CD-Rs fine, I don't know why others don't!

Slow to change discs
Doesn't seem to dim

I'd buy one again! The remote is great and I like the fact that I can play 6 discs. I'll eventually upgrade the speakers, but the improvement over stock is dramatic. It's expensive, but not much more than a remote mounted CD changer of similar quality.

Similar Products Used:

Factory Toyota 4Runner AM/FM/CD/Cass system. Better sound now out of factory speakers, looks similar

2 Aux Inputs
6 CDs in Single DIN size
Display visible in dark or direct sun
Plays CD-Rs perfectly

CAnnot play CD-RW or MP3
FM Sensitivity not as good as Kenwood 515S
CD Change time is slow (15-17 sec)

I am very happy with this unit. It has never skipped a CD-R or Audio CD. The display and controls are very simple and intuitive. It has just enough features without Dolphins or overloaded control buttons. I like having two Aux inputs. I use 1 for a mini stereo jack to attach to my MP3 player and the 2nd one can be used to ad a CD changer or other device in the future. The display will not dimm and is brighter than other dash displays at night, but is not too bright. It has radio preset auto program and preset scan which is nice when traveling to different locations.

The main concern I have with the unit, is it won't play CD-RW and the CD change time is too long making random play a bit to slow. Random play only switches between CDs rather than using single disk random.

Similar Products Used:

Alpine, Kenwood, Stock Radio

Cant beat 6 discs in dash

Cannot play CD-Rs. It played them fine while sitting still but skips out of control while moving. Not recommended for CD-R users

This unit doesn't play CD-Rs which are my main form of CD. So this unit was of no use to me. Nakamichi support provided me with no help and doesn't take the time to inform their customers about the limits of their units.
Other than that, I guess it would be a good unit.

Similar Products Used:

None

Nice Layout, amber illumination matched BMW's, 6 discs in dash, excellent sound quality, 6 discs in dash!

skips occasionally (in my 1988 BMW M3 with sport shocks and lowering springs, for what its worth)

I've had this unit for about 8 months and love it. The sound quality is excellent, even from the stock components (BMW premium audio sys. c.1988). I do have a problem with the unit skipping, although I believe any unit would be skipping with my current suspension. From what I am told, Nak's generally skip a little for than most. It really hasn't been a problem though. Unlike past CD players, where it would skip seven songs away, the nak a least picks up right where it left off. I am going to try and pull out the head unit and see if I can make some sort of shock mount, although it is bolted right to the firewall (i think).

I've had no problem playing my many CDRs in it. the disc change is somewhat longer than an alpine changer I had in the past, but the convience of not having to get out og the car to change CDs is definately worth it. No problems with too little power either.

Nice layout of controls...not the glitzy crap that you see on a lot of new units...retains a very stock appearance. Also comes with a remote...it works. I've never really seen the use of a remote in the car. Takes just as long to find where I put the remote as it does to reach down and push the button.

I would definately buy again...maybe even go for the MB100 since it has better A/D and outboard amp.

Similar Products Used:

Alpine

6 Disc indash changer, Remote, No Need for external amplifier

Must be installed with care

I installed this unit in A jeep Wrangeler. I cannot hear the quality when the soft top is on. I drive with the hard top when I need to experince the music. I can hear no flaws in the music. I have not had problems with skipping in my rough ridding jeep. I rate this a high value due to the fact you don't need an external amplifier nor an external cd changer.

I Hate having all the external exquipment because you look like a punk with all that crap in your car. I have a sleeper system. It rocks with out looking like it :) Also it has less steal appeal.

Similar Products Used:

Alpine CD, Sony CD

Convenient, no going to trunk. GREAT sound quality, handy remote. Overall, very good head unit~!

Expensive~!

Unlike many of the reviews below, I have had no problem with the unit. I did have an E-Mechan error once though, but that was because someone forced a CD into a full slot, but I took care of that myself. As for the problems with the CD-Rs, I use a crappy burner and all kinds of CDs, from cheap to high-quality, and it has no problem reading them. The unit rarely ever skips, but it sucks that it can't read CD-RW discs. Then again, most things can't. As for the slow change time, well, just about all changers are slow. It really doesn't matter though after you consider the sound quality, which is pretty much crystal-clear (use good speakers!). Instead of a mute button, Nak should have made it an attenuate button like the Alpines, because then why do you need both mute and pause? Overall a great unit, better than the otherz i've used or seen.

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None