I wound with the single CD Bose system, and would really like to have a changer. I understand Mazda sells one for around $425 which plugs into the factory stereo and uses all the existing buttons to control it - something that is REALLY important to me. I'd hate to have an extra head unit.

I'd buy the Mazda changer, but I believe that the Mazda/Bose stuff is all made by Clarion, and it chaps my hide to pay $400 plus dollars for a freakin CLARION product. This is the stuff you can find at Pep Boys for around $100. Now maybe Clarion has gotten a lot better than it was when I was a kid and really into car stereos, but I doubt it. Geesh, $400+ for a Clarion?!!

Anyway, does anyone know of a decent aftermarket CD changer that would plug into the factory stereo and be controlled by it? Even a Clarion would be ok in my book, as I bet if they sell one under their own name it'd cost less than $200.

Thanks....

First, Clarion has a whole range of equipment.

Second, the head equipment in the Mazda 6 and RX-8 is Pioneer (which is also known for mid-range equipment, but has some high-end stuff).

Third, the changer for the RX8 is not a separate unit that plugs in, but rather a slot-loaded (yech!) 6-disc changer that physically replaces the single CD player mechanism in the head unit.

---jps

is there any stereo shops you trust in your area?
I'm sure you could work out something for cheapier

Pioneer? Are you sure? Where did you get that information? If it really is Pioneer, I'd feel much better about it.

However, I beg to differ about the changer. While there definitely is an in-dash changer available as you mention, there is ALSO an external unit available from Mazda. I believe it is designed for people who have the Nav system, and possibly for those like me who got the car with the standard single disk in-dash unit, then decide later they want a disk changer. Check it out at
http://www.trussvillemazda.com/partsstore/index.cfm/results

It's about 3/4 of the way down the RX-8 parts page, and costs $411.60

Thanks for the input anyway. I'm really interested in where you found out that the head unit is Pioneer, too. If I can find out the real manufacturer for sure, I can contact them and ask them about which other changers they sell (under their own brand name, presumably) that'll work with the 8's head unit.

Mike, I have checked with local shops, and all of them sell "trunk mount changers" that'll work with aftermarket head units they also sell, or with a separate head unit. However, none of them sell a unit so far that the Mazda head unit will control.

Originally posted by Omicron
[B]Check it out at
http://www.trussvillemazda.com/partsstore/index.cfm/results

That's the in-dash 6-disc CD changer, not a seperate (as in trunk mounted) CD changer. You get either that or the single CD player.

Ok, you're right. I just spoke with Trussville parts department, and they say the part I'm seeing on their website is actually the in-dash changer unit. Apparently the face plate of the factory stereo comes off, the single CD player unplugs and pulls out, and the 6 disk changer plugs in in place of it. Not bad, as I'd rather have the in dash anyway.

But the wierd thing is that I've seen what I was told was a separate cd changer, mounted in the back seat center console storage bin. I didn't look at it closely, but that's what it looked like, and the sales guy said that's where the CD changer had to be mounted in a car with the NAV system. Ok, so this sounds like BS now that I know more, but what then was that unit? Maybe the "brains" of the Nav system?

Thanks...

Correct, that's the DVD player for the Nav system....