Not The Newest, But Alpine Is One Of The Best Changers I've Seen
Written: Dec 11 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Sound Quality: |
 |
|
| Ease of Use: |
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Simple to use, easy access to CD cassette.
Cons: None Yet
The Bottom Line: The combination of Alpine receiver and CD Changer are the perfect addition to any auto or truck.
|
|
|
| rfish's Full Review: Alpine CHM-S620 6-Disc CD Changer |
After the purchase of my Alpine Cassette Receiver, I found that there was one thing that would help make my truck sound system much more enjoyable. I needed a CD changer. Actually I purchased both units in the same visit to the same store but the receiver was first, followed within minutes by the changer. The reason I picked the receiver that I did was because I knew I was getting the changer. They were recommended as a complete system by the sales clerk.
What I was Looking For
I don't know much about electronic devices. I got confused when I had to setup my TV, surround-sound, DVD, VHS, and cable converter. It took me a couple of weeks to get it all working and then it wasn't perfect. When I started shopping around, I was determined to find something simple to operate or to get nothing at all. After a couple of stores I was lucky enough to find a salesperson that didn't try and snow me. He gave me the facts and let me come to the decision he knew I was going to make. I was going to purchase an Alpine CHM-S620 Compact Disk Remote Changer to go along with the Alpine FM/AM Cassette Receiver.
Specifications
One of the first things I noticed was the ease that I could read the manual provided with the changer. It gave me all the information I would need to operate my changer.
Sampling Rate: 44.1 kHz
System: Optical
Number of Channels: 2 stereo
Power Requirement: 14.4V DC
Output Voltage: 850 mV into 10 kohms
Weight: 1.7 kg (3 lbs. 11 oz)
Dimensions:10" width 6-3/8" depth 2-1/2" height
Signal to Noise Ratio: 102 dBA
Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.004% (at 1 kHz)
Advice
If you are planning on installing this unit yourself, make sure you read the entire installation guide. There a lot of parts and each has a purpose depending on the type of
installation you decide you are going to do. I decided not to attempt this myself. At the store where I purchased the unit they charged $50 for installation and it took them 2 hours. I'm glad that I didn't have to route the wires from where they mounted the changer (under the drivers seat) to the receiver. I watched them do it and I would have really been in trouble. They even told me that they would remove it when my lease of the truck was over at no cost to me. How could I refuse. I actually went in the store and bought a couple of CD's for my new changer while I waited.
My Overall Opinion
First of all this changer IS easy to use. A touch of a button and the removable CD magazine comes right out. The magazine has 6 removable trays which each hole 1 CD. You can load from 1 u to 6 CD's in any order you want (CD 6 is at the top and 1 at the bottom). When loaded you place it back in the unit and the tray is accepted into the unit. Then shut the door and you're ready to play great sounding music as you ride the highways. I recommend purchasing a second CD tray so you can have another set of 6 CD;s ready to go so you can make a quick change. I load the trays at home leaving the CD cases there and not littering the truck seat or floor. When I tire of a given group of CD's I bring the tray in the house, remove the old CD's and load with a new batch. It's really that simple.
If you're in the market for a CD changer I recommend Alpine as one of the best made on the market. Every store I went in that had Alpine on the shelf said it was one of the best and they had higher prices models everywhere. Several of the clerks actually had Alpine changers in their own cars and that speaks highly of the brand.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 169.95
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
rfish
|
 in Magazine Subscriptions, Home and Garden |
 - Top 200 |
|
Location: East Hartford, Connecticut
Reviews written: 341
Trusted by: 581 members
About Me:
Enjoys Star Trek, Science Fiction conventions/collecting, gardening(flowers and vegetable), working with the Boy Scouts.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.