just would like to know how many cars in 1992 had a cd player option...

 

I don't think that information was ever recorded for all 3rd gens.. I tracked one down for my cassette player equipped GTA so I could have a CD player that was a factory option for 1990.. (You lose points in some car shows for not having original factory equipment).



It was VERY hard to find.. I looked for years to find one at the right price in good condition.. I'm guessing the total number of cars that came with CD players in 1992 was only a few thousand..

Compact discs were introduced in 1982-1983 and from what I've managed to dig up so far, it appears that CD players only became available as an option for 3rd gens in 1989.. They were pretty rare as cassettes still held most of the music market..

 

They are very rare... cassettes were still huge, and most likely cheaper in the day and the cd player wasnt available until 1989... so we are dealing with only 3 years of production for the cd players that will match our interior. GTA Jim's cd player is 1990+ model as identified by the 5 band equalizer, while 1989 simply had treble and bass buttons. The eq version sounds much better. I also happen to be looking for one as well- one that is in good shape and the correct color for my interior (grey). So far i have only seen one, surprisingly it was in a local junk yard, the car was a 1990 'vert bird. i offered 100 bucks plus an eq tape player to fill the would be empty hole, retard said he wanted to sell whole car. Car was gutted- steering wheel and column gone and the rear seat was missing but he wanted to sell the thing as whole - now i see why he works in a scrap yard...

 

From what I understand, many of these units developed problems and that probably led to many being replaced in the few cars that had them originally. Had mine repaired a few months ago, and it works fine now. They are very user friendly, nice size buttons and controls for us old fogeys.

 

Rare! I had one in the 1989 Iroc, not sure if it was original or not (seems like only the 'birds got them!) and I tossed it when it ate my cd and wouldn't give it back

 

According to the Camaro White Book:

1992: 6,264 CD players
1991: 8,208 CD players
1990: 3 CD players
1989: 2,597 CD players

Except in 1990, a fairly common option. I saw a 1990 vert for sale, had a chance to buy it, had a CD player in it. Hard to believe it might have been one of the three.

 

I was at an auto parts yard asking about one they had as well... $179 bucks. It was the older 90s model (in other words it was early 1990s vs the newer larger Delcos I mentioned previously (thread on the RDS unit I was trying out)

They claim the CD lasers can be problematic and that unit (above) had been repaired with a new one.
They are also expensive because there is a supposed demand for exact fit units not needing a kit. At the same time this seems true on eBay, Car Audio & Electronics magazine sticks by the creedo of OEM Sucks.
I tend to disagree but no to the extent of negating the virtues of aftermarket. Clearly there is no DVD OEM until recently and that is a nifty option along with multichannel in car audio

Bill

 

i have one of those pontiac cd decks sitting around, ans when it works, it sounds amaseing however mine refuses to read burned cds and it won't work unless its really hot out or has had sufficent time to warm up.

 

FWIW, most of the early car CD players choke on home recorded disks..

 

Recordable CD technology didn't happen overnight and though the CD was introduced in 82/3 as mentioned, prices weren't drastically different in the late 80s then some stores now. I think CD prices actually moved up again after better times dired up due to the free downloading and recording industry tackling music online in unfriendly ways while not giving the product that was lacking and needed attention.

The recording CD surface IIRC, reflects the laser with it's collected info from the burned pits (causes reflecting triggering the information flow representing the music in electrical pulses...been awhile I may have the tech watered down here) The different surfaces affect the reflectability of the laser diode. Like I mentioned about the laser being replaced, that may not directly help read a homemade disc, but it's worthy of noting in a search for a used deck.

Alot of DVD players also handled only specific formats early on, some imploring more then one laser for double duty
Bill

 

does anybody have the production numbers on cd players for 'birds?