Audio system - The Joyful Journey with My Alfa Romeo 156

CD500 head unit upgrade/fixing

On June 12, 2022

I am so happy with the Nakamichi CD500 head unit, the look, the sound quality, etc. But these units are also fragile. The head unit started not to read CDs. Yeah, I can easily replace it with a newer, cheaper one but they won’t match the interior that well and this is why I paid the high price for this used CD500. So choices that I had:

Fix it
Get another CD500 or CD700 head unit
Upgrade it

Upgrading the speaker set

By 156 Addict

On March 4, 2022

In Audio system

Since I replaced the head unit with a really nice one, I have been thinking of upgrading the speaker set to match it. Though the factory-fit speaker set is made in Italy, the magnet is really small.

Comparison of factory-fit speaker and new speaker — Left: New speaker Right: Factory-fit speaker

Upgrading the head unit

By 156 Addict

On October 16, 2021

In Audio system

The previous owner has replaced the factory-fitted Alfa 156 head unit with an after-market one, it sounds fine and functions well. Anyway, I have it replaced recently for only 2 reasons:

Its panel colour and silver appearance don’t blend in well with the amber backlit instruments
I always fancy to have an old Nakamichi unit because of all the hypes of the vintage Nakamichi🙄. I know Macintosh is even better but…..you know

Pioneer head unit in the Alfa 156 cabin — The Pioneer head unit with blue backlit display

The Log of maintenance, modification and ownership

Category: Audio system

CD500 head unit upgrade/fixing

Upgrading the speaker set

Upgrading the head unit

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