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Dension MP3

160GB? Man, that's a LOT of tunes! :eek: I can't find any pics of the unit turned on. I'd like to see what the interface looks like. You'll also need to post pics of your install when you get it all tucked in.

Anyone looking at these units may also want to check out the Kenwood Music Keg or Phatbox (same thing, basically). While there's no 160gb cartridge yet, you can go up to 60gb I believe.

Basically, the box plugs into your CD-Changer port. The head unit doesn't know the difference. You get all the track and playlist info on yout head unit, and the CD-Changer controls are used to control all playback functions. It's really seamless, and a really clean install. Oh, and it talks to you as well. ;)

Music Keg (two versions)
Phatbox (the original designers)
 
So how much $ did that run ya?

So is it "plug & play" - Will you move it from pc to Av & back?

It talks about storing any type of media - like movies. So do you suppose this could store dvds/movies & output them to a monitor?
 
ZimmsAv said:
So how much $ did that run ya?

So is it "plug & play" - Will you move it from pc to Av & back?

It talks about storing any type of media - like movies. ?So do you suppose this could store dvds/movies & output them to a monitor?
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I got it for about $350. I have about 25G worth of MP3s on my server at home already so I'll probably only put this into my pc when I need to add to it and use it as a backup just in case the worst happens to my home hard drive. I had an unfortunate incident with Microsoft RAID and ended up having to re-rip all my CDs. :D: As for the other files, it just stores them. There is no provision to do video out so no movies. This does however have a USB unterface so with a laptop you could play them. If I can find a good deal on an older laptop, I might tear it apart and finally make a car computer.
 
This thing Rocks! Check out the logo I made above. I'll get some more pics when it's installed. It may be a while as my new HU still hasn't arrived.

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ZimmsAv said:
Nice logo Lanman! (y)

Did you just get that design off the net, and then transfer it?

Where are you installing this?
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I was gonna put it in the upper cubbyhole in the concole above the CD holder but I'm really inclined to make a whole new center piece with a little more efficient use of space. We'll see how tough it is when I get the dash apart. My new Hu should be in early next week so I'll probably start then. For now, this thing has tons of config options to keep me busy.



SoCalCindy said:
lanman1...That is Cool! (y)
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Thanks!
 
I had been looking for an MP3 player, and had been considering an iPOD, NEO Jukebox, or a music keg. But then after reading about lanman1's Dension DMP3 unit, which I had never heard about before, I did some research, and made my choice. Thank's for the lead, lanman1! (y)

I took advantage of their Easter sale, where they offered a 40 GB unit for $399, which is a $60 savings. They also offered free shipping. In addition to the main unit, I also got one of the satellite units. The main unit is installed in my center console:

SS_DensionConsole.jpg

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In this picture, you can see the custom logo I made, based on spork_av's stylized truck outline drawing, and the stock Avalanche logo. Many thanks go out to spork_av for permission to use his artwork. (y)

I tied it into the stock radio system using the PIE GM9-AUX auxiliary input selector. At the same time, I also did the '02 stock amplifier bypass. The combination works well, and doing the bypass has really helped clean up the sound. While I can still see the need for new speakers down the road, the bypass has bought me some time, as I can actually live with the sound for now.

It took me a while, but I ripped about 215 CDs onto the hard drive, and I have used much less than half of the disk space. I had considered putting in a CD changer, because I get tired of listening to the same few disks over and over. With the changer, I would have increased that to only 6 disks, which is not much of an improvement. But with this unit, I essentially have all 215 disks in the truck, and I am loving the variety. ;D

-- SS
 

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Here is where I mounted the satellite unit:

SS_DensionOverhead.jpg

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There is much more information on the install, including many more pictures of the unit, on my modifications page of my web site. Click on my signature, then on "Modifications" and near the bottom of the page there is a link to the Dension installation pictures and description. Or, you can save time and just click here to go straight to that page.

-- SS
 

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SS,

You have to get the award for the best instructions yet :cool:

The page you set up is great.
 
Well, I lived with the system for a couple of months, and I'm still very happy with it. Since the last update, there were a couple of changes. To combat some engine whine noise, I added a power filter inline with the battery voltage to the main unit.

Also, while in the overhead console is a great looking place for the remote unit, I had a little bit of trouble reading it at times. Glare from bright sun outside the windshield would be a bit of a problem at times, but the biggest problem was with my bifocals: being up there I was looking out the wrong part of my glasses and I couldn't really focus on it. (I just couldn't tilt my head back far enough -- those of you with bifocals probably know what I'm saying.) :rolleyes:

SS_ConsoleELectronics.jpg

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So I moved it down on the center console with the other stuff. I mounted the display on the 45 degree bracket that came with it, and originally had stuck it down with some velcro. I had found just the perfect spot for it where I could just get the door for the power plugs open. But the problem with the velcro is that it had too much give: every time I went to push a button, the unit would rock. That got annoying.

I tried using double stick foam tape, but that had its own problems: To put it in the position where I could open the power door meant that it had to be up on the raised lip of the console, so the foam tape wasn't on a flat surface, and didn't stick too well. If I moved it over so it was on a flat surface, then I couldn't open the door to the power plugs.

Finally, I stumbled across the magnetic mounting plate for my GPS antenna. This is a plate that screws to the bottom of the antenna and lets you stick the antenna on anything metal. Well, the antenna is on my dash, held down with foam tape, so I wasn't using the mount. I ended up using foam tape to stick the mount on the flat part on top of the console, with the magnet up. Now, I just set the metal mounting bracket of the display on top and snug it up against the power port door.

It fits nice and snugly, and doesn't move when I drive or press buttons. But if I need to plug in a power adapter, I can just lift the display off of the magnet and get to the door. (y)

-- SS
 

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WOW!!! I'm glad someone finally did this, I've been looking for an mp3 player for the AV and this caught my eye the other month. I've held off because of the cost but I'm thinking its about time.
I do have a question though - I have a bench seat across the front. Any thoughts on where to put the harddrive and the satellite unit? I was thinking the harddrive might fit under one of the rear seats since it looks so thin. But the satellite display is a concern for me because I don't have 100% secure parking (I live in an apt. and its one garage for all). You said that the satellite display would fit in the cubby hole above the front window, it was just difficult to view.
Any ideas on where the satellite display could go that would be hidden or at least out-of-sight, out-of-mind? The only other spot I can think of is inside the storage on the back of the middle seat (of the front bench seat, since it folds up/down). Thoughts?
 
If you put if under the rear seats just be careful if the rear window ever leaks, mine began leaking and shorted out an amp
 
saintkamots said:
I do have a question though - I have a bench seat across the front. Any thoughts on where to put the harddrive and the satellite unit?
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Putting the hard drive under the rear seat should work, just keep it dry like suthrncop66 warns. Do you think there might be room to mount it under the center (non-moving) front seat? If you have power adjustable driver or passenger front seats, there probably won't be room under there. Other than that, I don't have too many ideas. You know, for such a big truck, there really isn't much room for mounting auxiliary equipment!

If you have ever seen a 5 1/4 inch drive removed from a computer (like a CD-ROM drive) that is esentially the size of the hard drive unit. That might give you some ideas. The big problem with mounting this unit is that it needs to be acessible to get the unit in and out of the carrier. That means you have to have a fair amount of free room in front of the unit. Acessability limits your choices.

As for the satellite unit, after living with it down by the console, I must say it can still be a bit hard to read in bright sun because the backlight is not that bright. (But it looks great when the sun is shining directly on it!) So, in the end, if I didn't have the bifocal issue (needing to tip my head way back so I'm looking out the right part of my glasses) the overhead console is really not a bad place.

But, to look for the perfect place, you can do what I did when I was trying to decide if I was going to buy it: I cut out a paper model of it, and tried it in a few places. The attached file is the graphic I used. Open it up in something like Paint, and print it out. (Select landscape page orientation so it doesn't get part of it clipped off.) Then verify the size by measuring the blue ruler at the top: it should be six inches long. If that is the case, cut it out along the black outline, fold it on the red lines, and tape it together. You should end up with an accurately sized, albeit somewhat fragile, 3-D model of the satellite display. You can then try placing it in various locations and see how they work for you.

Good luck, and let me know if you have any other questions.

-- SS
 

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Thank you!! Great info. and glad to hear that the satellite display fits up above. I "pretended" to use it today, I think it will do fine up there for me - heck its gotta be better than the radio regardless!!!
Thanks again!! You were a huge help!!
 
saintkamots said:
I "pretended" to use it today, I think it will do fine up there for me - heck its gotta be better than the radio regardless!!!
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If you don't have to deal with the bifocals, it should be much less of a problem than it was for me.

BTW, they have a discussion forum with some reasonbly good information: Dension Forums. I have never registered or posted there, but I do lurk from time to time, and have picked up some good advice.

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out. I'd love to see where you end up mounting the main unit. You're very welcome, I'm glad I could help out in some small way.

-- SS
 
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