I have one,(a 10 cd remote unit)and seem to remember in the instructions that it would work vertically. How's that for a definitive answer. BTW, don't you know those things have gone the way of the 8-track? Where's your iPod? Before mine died, Iplayed it thru one of those c***ettes that plugged into the player. That's how up to date I am!
Most indash units need to be flat,cd changers like you can put in the trunk will usually work flat or standing on the end.
I have an Alpine CD changer mounted vertically - been there for more than ten years and no problems. Not sure about head units though.
I have been looking for a definitive answer to this question for years too. I think a better question that might answer it is; are car CD players' tracking/mechanics designed any different from a "Walkman" style CD player, which we know will work in about any position except under water?
My 2 cents... Short answer: YES. Done it many times. Long answer: Some units won't work at all. Some skip like crazy. Some have no issues. Some wear out a lot faster. Sorry can't be more specific but my experiences have been that way. Try it on one with a decent warranty. They are USUALLY built a little better. I would also consider the mounting of the thing for anti-shock as much as possible. Rubber/neoprene washers between the unit and the mounting brackets. And cooling is a concern too. Some car CD players get really hot. Most folks want to hide them well. That usually means heat build up. Leave some air holes if yo uare putting it in a "box". And.. .maybe a little computer fan IF you think it gets too hot. Again.. my 2 cents. (c***ette not cool? Sure it is but it's not as cool as an 8-track!)
Or you can get a head unit that has an Ipod interface and skip the CD's completely. I haven't used my CD player more than 10 times in the last 4 years. My little ipod holds like 1000 or so songs. There's also a neat post on here about running an Ipod without a head unit http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243821&highlight=ipod
Im getting ready to put in a Gibbs Stereo 8, 8track player, in my 63 impala. I got it new in box, circa 1971, off of ebay. I cant wait to fire it up. I want to bring back that early 70s feel I guess.
You may already know this, but be careful with old 8 track tapes as the adhesive that holds the tape to the reels sometimes dries out and falls off thereby allowing the tape to wrap itself around all the heads and rollers, etc. inside the deck. Sometimes it just pulls the tape all the way back into the cartridge. Ask me how I know.
I'm considering an CD deck in my Caddy...but my son tells me to go with an I-pod...problem is the way I understand it, you cannot get speaker separation out of an I-Pod...meaning no fade front to rear and left to right...is this correct..??? I have great speakers in my Caddy...and I want to hear all of them... R-
What kind of head unit do you have? If its a newer model you probably can but might run into problems with the disc skipping. It depends on your head unit and how you're connecting it. I suggest get an ipod connector that connects directly from the auxilirary connection in your headunit to the usb connection of the ipod. In my 2002 Dodge ram I have an Alpine CDA-9886 with the Alpine Ipod connector and I can adjust the audio anyway I want. I can also control and look for any song from the head unit. Also, there's new head units that have internal hard drives that stores your music. I, myself, would not trust it because if it gets stolen so does all of your music in it.
What about the sweet sound of a rumbling V8, thats all the sound I need...Oh yea, I forgot, the occasional sound of burnning rubber!! AXE THE CD PLAYER IN ANY OLD CAR...my 2cent!
Hook it up to a extra battery in your garage and find out. The answer depends on the design of the unit. Its the only way to be sure.
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