I have the 7977 and love it! Sounds amazing with looks to match!
I had it trimmed with a piece of brushed aluminum to match. Looks pretty cool

One word of caution! The main function (blue) buttons are painted on. So if you drive with your hand leaning on the search button the graphic will rub off.

Here are some pics! (warning it is a long thread!)

DVD/NAV thread

 

Excellent work!

 

Way to go on choosing the 7977! I've had mine for quite a few months now and glad
I went with the pre-amped only model... Great sound, along with great features...
MP3 would be nice but not high on my list... Have fun... CL

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by matrix
[B]

 

Unfortunately I don't know of any pre-amp only head units that will play mp3s.

Going out on a limb here as I install my flame retardant suit.

MP3s are ripped from CDs...ripping means compressing. Some take compressing as loss of sound information. We went through the same thing when CD players came out, most high end audiophiles said they hated them because they were "missing" some of the sounds that were in records.

Same thing is probably happening here with MP3s. I think it is only a matter of time before a pre-out only model comes out.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by matrix
[B]Unfortunately I don't know of any pre-amp only head units that will play mp3s.

Going out on a limb here as I install my flame retardant suit.

MP3s are ripped from CDs...ripping means compressing.

 

This is an old arguement, remember when CDs first came out, people were saying that they were not as warm as records because of the sampling rate the CD were at 44Khz. Audiophiles were always saying that some of the harmonics were missing. Same thing can be said about MP3s. I am not saying that you are wrong, I believe MP3s ripped at 256K are very good. The arguement is that compression losses some of the harmonic information in the music. My arguement was always, well listen to your record once and hope it doesn't get scratch.

 

Oh yeah, I wasn't disagreeing with you at all. I've spent a bit of time in the sort of high-end stereo shops that insist on using record players, tube amplifiers, where the cost is $2500 and up for the speaker wire! Don't ask what the speakers cost...

But once it's digital and on a CD, going to a high-bitrate mp3 (I prefer the variable bitrate stuff myself) can be done without further perceptible change...

 

Uh, I consider myself a borderline audiophile, but aren't we talking about listening to music in a car? A convertible car?

Sorry, I'll shut up now.

Ted

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by matrix
[B]Unfortunately I don't know of any pre-amp only head units that will play mp3s.

Going out on a limb here as I install my flame retardant suit.

MP3s are ripped from CDs...ripping means compressing.