Club 80-90 Forums

Hi, I'm planning on replacing the head unit with a 'Halfords special' Sony DAB, MP3, Cd player with bluetooth (about £100). I'm also going to replace the front speakers and cables. The back speakers seem ok. Halfords have quoted £180 all in (including wiring loom, aerial and fitting etc).

Does anyone have any thoughts on the likely results, or any tips or alterntive approaches? Nothing is ever as it seems with T25s so just thought I would 'sense check' it before committing! Cheers

If you're about to spend £180 on one, you probably don't need any thoughts/advice. Most of us have fitted the ALDI one because its such a great unit:

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I have fitted the Aldi stereo, it's made by a company called Maxtek, it allows you to play music via Bluetooth from your phone, you can make calls through it, connect up your iPod - it does everything. It's really easy to fit, comes with everything you need and it only cost me £20 - I cannot recommend it enough!

I had to ring around a couple of stores to find one in stock, but I am very pleased I went to the effort, I really wouldn't spend £180, even if you bought the stereo and took it to a local car audio specialist to have fitted it would be significantly less.

The one thing where the sony stereo trumps the maxtek stereo will be the DAB radio, which would be nice, but I'm not sure it warrants the extra cash

I like the Sony head units as they provide a good full sound. However, I would advise fitting it yourself rather than getting halfords to do it. It is simple and avoids having halfords' monkeys messing with your van.

Radio may be an important factor with some. I've got a portable DAB for when I'm parked (although I've never had occasion to really use it) but DAB radios use a lot more power that a simple FM circuit - something they don't tell you in all their literature/marketing.

Can I ask all here who have to he Aldi unit how hands free works?

Are there separate mics to install?

I'm curious as at the moment I use the earphones on my IPhone, but would rather have the ability to use a more conventional hands free option - especially as the Bluetooth would enable me to play music from iTunes too...!!!

Works like this.

Phone gets 'tied' to stereo via bluetooth. That means they recognise each other and remain 'friends'.

You jump in camper, put the stereo on, listen to whatever you fancy.

Phone call comes in. Stereo suddenly mutes and you hear ring tone. Press green button on stereo, chat away, press red button to end call. No mic required - its all built in to ALDI unit including mic. Despite the interior of a T25 not being as quiet as most modern vehicles, it works great. I have a group of 80/90 mates on '3' so it costs us nothing to ring each other.

Spot on - Thanks CovKid.

No worries. What I like about it is you don't even have to hunt for phone. Could be in the glovebox. Doesn't matter as long as its actually switched on. Mic works fine if you're leant back in driving seat or even sat in the back. I've got one already but I always buy one when they come into ALDI and get reduced as someone always wants one. Shallow stereo so easily goes into stereo slot and as the music side is all memory cards, you can load it up with three days of music if you wanted to. CD players never reliable in a T25 due to damp and vibrations, so card-driven ideal.

Aux in, USB & flash card slots. When they first come in I think they're £39 but even then, its cheap for a great sounding unit with those facilities. If you ask store manager at your local ALDI, they may even have one out the back.

Fitted mine this weekend and are great for the price (got for £19.99 when they were reduced).

Certainly not up to the standard of the Sony in my car, but it's ok for the van and does what I need.

Time will tell what the reliability / build quality is like, but looks decent enough and what can you ask for twenty quid

Speakers used make a huge difference. But the T25 is not 'good stereo' friendly without a lot of work.

DAB radio all the way. Radio 6 music is brilliant as is The World Service. Cash in on you licence fee....
The sound is much better too.

aruntaylor wrote:DAB radio all the way. Radio 6 music is brilliant as is The World Service. Cash in on you licence fee....
The sound is much better too.

I would consider one of these as long as it has the blue tooth phone facility and SD card reader built in, but they cost a HECK of a lot more

Is yours in the van?
If "yes" how good is the reception in weak signal areas (like out in the sticks)?

Contacted Aldi customer services today about these stereos.

There's none available in England, Scotland or Wales, some available in NI.

They are going to be coming back on sale 10th of May apparently (the voicemail they left was a bit ropey).

Also re DAB........couldn't you just connect your phone via Bluetooth and listen to the radio via your phone? (TuneIn app is a good one) Obviously data charges would have to be considered, but if you have an all you can surf type deal, it could be an idea. (its what I plan on doing........all I need is a van to put it in now! )