Panasonic CQ-DPX35

Price Paid:  $130.00

Summary:
Panasonic is THE brand to buy. If you have any doubts just take a look at this and all the other reviews. Sony is crap. Don't buy Sony. Sony spends too much time signing recording deals with artists that have no potential. Sony doesn't put enough effort it the development of high quality audio equipment. If you want an OK TV... yeah you can check out Sony but Panasonic is still the best.

Back to the CQ-DPX35

I picked this baby up from Crutchfield as a photo shoot demo.
I own the one they used for the photo on their web site!

If you want to see MY CD player go to Crutchfield and check it out!
(I'm so proud)
Anyway, if you have the chance to pick one of these up JUMP ON IT!!!
You will not be sorry!

Keep Rockin'

Dave

Strengths:
2 stereo output channels
1 mono sub output channel

Aux. input hole. (for minidisk/casette/MP3)

Nice color display.
This baby is a blast to watch at night, cruising the beaches of lake MI!

It just plain doesn't skip! (Ok if you vert off a big drop off rallying, yes you might miss part of the song. Or it was just brain lapse.)

I've had it skip going over this really rough section of train tracks.
It doesn't have and problems with reading scratched disks though.

High Definition Bass System
It makes a world of difference.

I've got my system running like this:

CQ-DPX35 to
Profile California 3 channel amp (350 rms)
It's a 2 channel stereo amp & a 1 channel mono amp built in the same housing.
I'm running 2 8" bazooka tubes of the sub channel.
And Panasonic's 6 1/2" + 1 1/4" component system off the stereo channels.
(woofers and tweeters)

I'll have a hard time adjusting to the lack of EQ presets if I ever need to get rid of this one. :(

Weaknesses:
Well yes the buttons are a little hard to find because they're a bit an the small side, and yes you cant see the display in bright sunlight.

Similar Products Used:
Stock car radios
Sony crap
JVC (not to bad)
Pioneer (ehh... it's OK)
Kenwood (My 2nd choice)

Price Paid:  $189.00

Summary:
Overall, I really like this system. Installation was fairly easy with all the equipment that came along with it from Crutchfield. About 3 months after getting the head unit, I got a sub amp and sub, and installing and controlling that from the head unit was a snapp. The RCA cables plug right in. At night, the display looks awesome compared to others at its price. But it's very hard to see in daylight, let alone direct sunlight. That's really my only gripe. You get a lot for what you pay for, this is a nice system.

Strengths:
I like the multi-colored display, better than the all green or all blue displays some of them have. The 3 preamp outputs too; especially the sub output. I control that quite a bit now.

Weaknesses:
Very hard to read in bright sunlight. Buttons are a little too small and close together. For instance I many times try to turn down the volume, but hit power instead.

Similar Products Used:
Some Sony xPlod systems, older Kenwood.

Summary:
I paid $219 from crutchfield, I would definately recommend it, it has alot of features and is a great value. It has alot of power, almost never skips even on scratched cds. The pre-amp outputs are very convenient, especially the sub-output. The aux input is great too and is one of the reasons I bought it. It also came with a 2 year warranty.

Strengths:
Alot of features for the money, 3 pre-amp outputs, great sound

Weaknesses:
the display could be a little brighter

Similar Products Used:
jvc, clarion, its better

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000

Summary:
Got it mail order for 219, istallation in my 87 suburban was simple enough. Very high RMS/peak power makes for easy listening in an otherwise noisy vehicle. Nice display, logical arrangement of controls, aux in is very nice as i've a substantial tape collection. 3 Preouts of high voltage will be nice for amps later-as for now the built in ampo is sufficient to drive a pair of pioneer 6x9's and 3.5's to painful volume. the SHDB feature is not as nice as sony's D-Bass, but i find boosting the bass to +12 dB is more than one rally needs from a set of 6x9's; usually plays at +6 to +12 dB. best value you're liable to find, in my estimation, also mas an excellent transport which handles scratched CD's very well. rarely skips, even on mountain dirt roads. only reservation is the small buttons but in a DIN size it's to be expected.

Strengths:
6 eq memories, AUX IN is crucial

Weaknesses:
small buttons make for difficult manipulation with big hands

Similar Products Used:
Older alpine, clarion, kenwood, panasonic and blaupunkt tape decks-sony, pioneer CD decks