Old headunit versus New Headunit

[SVZ_MY06]

Hey all,

I've had a top of the range (at the time) Concord HPL550 head unit under my bed for well over 10 years. I recently scored good quality amp and good qualty speakers with no idea I came to Just Commodores and after a fair bit of time on here (thanks guys) !!!!!

I managed to install only the Concord headunit in my V6 VR 94 Berlina. It worked well with the Holden amp and speakers. 2 weeks later before i could install anything amp or speakers the Concord headunit blew-up. I took the concord headunit out and fitted the original holden one back in and all works fine.

Now that old Concord with the two knobs sticking out of the face produced sound I couldn't believe back in the days of the 5.0ltr VB. I dont know if I should find someone to fix the concord or will a new headunit with a $300-400prolly pioneer headunit with todays technology produce the same awesome sound ? Any suggestions on getting the Concord fixed anyways ? Strathfied whom I brought the Deck from in 1987 for $1500 wouldnt help me out ???

[sidwayz]

I suggest going back to Strathfied and testing out what they have to offer. To get a headunit fixed it will probably cost you as much as a new headunit. Remember technology has gone a long way in the past few years.

Strathfied also gives you the option to check sound quality by testing different h/u with different speakers.

[garfa]

the way i would decide on which hu is which has the better S:N ratio. and of course the concord doesnt have a cd player.

[TehFastyOne]

Well... what can you do?

You've sat on the HU for over 10 years... you realise it's become a WOFTAM now.

Kind of like leaving $1500 under your bed and letting the mould over the years deterriorate it.

Mate it's not worth fixing and the only use it has now like other really old HU's, is become the ubiquous paper weight.

[Stretchomatic]

yeah i agree with the others, just get a newy, only make sure its good like pioneer or kenwood etc...

oh and mr fastyone said WOFTAM before...WTF does that mean?... aside from meaning outdated peice of equipment...

[TehFastyOne]

WOFTAM - Waste Of F..king Time And Money

[gemini]

10 years ? damn ?

The Capacitors probabaly dried out or something.

[SVZ_MY06]

Hey ppl thanks for your replies - taking all this info into consideration, I will see if I can get a cheap fix and take it from there.....listening to it with different speakers at Strathfield sounds good. It does have an AUX button to attach a CD stacker... I never used it so im not sure.

I dont want to carry on but about the Concord, but I recently had a listen to a friends SONY Explode system and i wasn't impressed. The valve electric gituar amplifier's are old but they still produce better sound than todays amplifiers and I am dying to see if this old deck might fit into that category ............

I DUNNO but i reckon todays technology is geared at allowing you to play MP3files (apparently loosing some sound quality) and DVD files etc. The big flashy LCD faces on the head units these days are cool but dont affect the sound !

This is prolly gonna be labelled WOFTAM but it anit the first and wont be the last WOFTAM

P.S Keep you posted ....

[Stupa]

its a good idea to stay well away from sony at any level for cars, best value I found for cheaper stuff is pioneer with alpine or clarion for more than a coupla hundred for the deck.

[garfa]

yeah probably not too great to use a sony system as a refrence.
as for the flashy faces and that yes they are geared to look better but also sound better. sound is still the number 1 priority in any good manufactures product. some brands seem to forget this though: sony, among others.

[semi]

You know, valve amps arent 'old,' heaps of manufacturers still make them, like mesa, marshall, peavey to name a few. Still regarded as a better sound.

Its kinda strange how often guitar amps come up in this forum.

[Tasmaniak]

Concorde....wow....blast from the past.