I need a new radio

[somewhereinusa]

My old Pioneer just isn't doing the job anymore. It's a double din cassette,cd,am/fm. I have a lot of books that are aiff format. i can convert to MP3 but it won't play them either. It's also getting so it don't want to spit out a cd. It did serve me faithfully for over a million miles in the semi. I can still use it to convert all of those cassette tapes to MP3.

I want something that has a USB port on the front so I can load books onto a stick and just plug it in. I also want a aux jack at least on the front, one on the back would be nice too, to plug in my XM receiver. Is there anything that will play aiff files without a conversion? Something with front and rear speakers so I can use the speakers outside that are built into my awning arms.

Single din is fine. I'm not looking to build the worlds finest audio system and don't want to spend much. Something under $100. Pioneer tends to play book chapters in the wrong order. You have to run them through another process which just tends to add more time at the computer. Don't know about other brands.

Any suggestions?

[Dave5Cs]

I can't remember the model number but we have a Pioneer w/ radio, and one with a cord and the other with a slot in it that you can put a stick in. My wife got a 32 gig stick at staples and she put a boat load of songs on it. You just put it in your computer in a USB port and stick your CD in the drive and copy to the stick. We just drag and drop into the stick from CD's, DVD's, get songs off of internet etc. Then just plug it in to the USB on the Pioneer and off it goes. They also come with a remote. Has AM and FM also. Under 90.00 here is a link to it.

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-DEH-S4000BT-Single-Din-Bluetooth-Connection/dp/B00MRL30KM/ref=sr_1_6/145-0119387-6185631?s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1521175282&sr=1-6&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_three_browse-bin%3A6145554011

[chessie4905]

Check Crutchfield. I think you can call them for recommendations.

[richard5933]

So many options out there now, many that didn't exist (or weren't even thought of) when you installed your last one.

We went with a Kenwood unit for a few reasons. They have a few models that are under $100 but still provide great sound with many formats. The one we have also has a remote, which is really nice since it's hard to reach the head unit from the driver's seat. I just used Velcro to attach the remote where I can easily reach it.

The other thing that the Kenwood offered was a pretty seamless interaction with smartphones. I sync using a Samsung, but my other half does so with an iPhone. Either way, once synced we can answer the phone through the radio and never have to touch the phone. We also keep all the media (books, music, etc) on our smartphones and not on the radio. The phone syncs every time we start the bus and the media is instantly available. The great part is that when we go home the media is still with us, in our pockets, and can be synced to our home system just as easily.

There is also a USB port on the Kenwood for times we need to charge the phone and connect directly.

Like I said, there many, many options out there now. I'd suggest doing some research if you haven't shopped for a car stereo since cassettes were used.

[somewhereinusa]

So many options out there now, many that didn't exist (or weren't even thought of) when you installed your last one.

I'd suggest doing some research if you haven't shopped for a car stereo since cassettes were used.

So true, I was hoping to narrow my choices a bit from members experiences.

Dave5Cs:
Do you ever listen to books? Pioneer doesn't read the track number when playing. They for some reason look at the date the track was produced. Track 9 might have been produced before track two.  That's ok when the disc number is stated for each track but, some just keep reading and there is no way to tell what chapter you are on. There is an app for Pioneer to produce a playlist to put them in the right order.

[RJ]

NAME?? -

We have a Kenwood Excelon KDC-X798 in our coach.  It has a CD player, is set up for Pandora, SiriusXM, plain old AM/FM, has USB ports front and rear.  Just about everything you're looking for, but I do not know if it will play aiff files.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[belfert]

I like Pioneer, but I paid a bit more than $100.  I don't do audio books so that isn't an issue for me.  I don't know which model I have off hand, but it is a few years old and almost certainly replaced by a newer model by now.

[bigred]

All I want for Christmas is a radio with BUTTONS I CAN ACTUALLY SEE!!!! lol

[DoubleEagle]

All I want for Christmas is a radio with BUTTONS I CAN ACTUALLY SEE!!!! lol

I have the opinion that the people who design these radios have small fingers, and no need for reading glasses! 

[Geoff]

My radio cassette player gave up the ghost after many years and way after the digital display couldn't be seen anymore.  I bought a low end Pioneer with CD but what I really like is the earphone jack on the front.  I can plug my Xmas, etc, into it.  Works for me.  Just haven't figured out all the buttons...

[richard5933]

Our Kenwood has mostly small buttons, but the important ones are large enough to get your fingers on. The remote is also nice since it's easy to bring it right in front of you when using it.

[belfert]

My Pioneer I mostly use the remote as the buttons are hard to figure out on the front of the unit.

[Dave5Cs]

Dick (somewhere in the USA)
We do not do books on ours. We have 10 speakers through out the coach and play lots of music, we answer the phone through our smart phones and through the Bluetooth on the radio. We can control it though the phones or the remote or on the radio itself. You could do like Richard said and have it on your smart phone if you have one and run it through the radio from it for the books. Just some thoughts. Most are set up these days also for XM radio or plug in type
Dave5Cs

[Lifes2short4nofun]

I just ordered a new radio and speakers for my bus.  I went with Crutchfield.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_158GS810BH/Sony-MEX-GS810BH.html?tp=5684&awcp=1t1&awcr=225613546278&awdv=c&awkw=sony+mex+gs810bh&awmt=p&awnw=g&awug=9013908&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv73VBRCdARIsAOnG8u0TcPwShzh_HEOmiDnWBfJ7k4rTac7rn1zhrTWk0FmSzjo4_BUYeCgaAphEEALw_wcB

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_108P6500CS/Infinity-Primus-PR6500cs.html?tp=106&awcp=1t1&awcr=196703294060&awdv=c&awkw=%2binfinity+%2bprimus+%2bpr6500cs&awmt=b&awnw=g&awug=9013908&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv73VBRCdARIsAOnG8u2VyROXqUvdM4JReYTdkCQYoxr4_us_bpArcSSzQ7_kNOORAAnSmh8aAjdMEALw_wcB