I need opinions on a Rowe Saturn II (CD100J)

[wolfpack1298]

Hi everyone,

I've been collecting and restoring pinball machines for a few years now and I've always wanted to add a Jukebox to my gameroom.  I decided to take the plunge and I started looking at a few different Jukeboxes locally.  I found a nice Rowe Saturn II for $1200.  It's very clean and works 100%.  I also found a nice CD100-C that I can probably get for around $900.

The CD100-C was made in 93/94 from what I've read online and the Saturn II was made in the 2000 to 2001 timeframe.  I like the looks of the Saturn II much better than the CD100-C and its also a much new unit.

I would like to mod the Jukebox to play MP3's if possible and adding a touch screen interface would be cool upgrade as well.  I checked out the CDAdapter site and it looks like I can get an MP3 conversion kit for the CD100-C.  I've also seen touchscreen upgrade kits for the CD100-C as well. 

If I go with the Saturn II, what options will I have to add MP3 support or add touchscreen support?  Are there any mods or upgrade kits available for the Saturn II?

Also, is $1200 a good price for a Saturn II?  They seem to sell in the 2K range from what I've seen, so $1200 seems to be a really good deal.

Thanks for your help!       

[Ken Layton]

The CD Adapter kits are only for jukes up through the "E" model so you'd be out of luck if you want MP3 for the "J" model. Remember these kits are not licensed for commercial use only for home use.

I have talked to the Rowe factory tech support before about using MP3's with their CD jukes. Official Rowe factory policy is that they do NOT support MP3 players and do NOT authorize or endorse their use with Rowe jukeboxes.

[wolfpack1298]

This would definitely be home use in my home gameroom.  I found another post that stated that the CD100J would read MP3's from a CD.  Is that true?

[Ken Layton]

I found another post that stated that the CD100J would read MP3's from a CD.  Is that true?

Sorry, I don't know the answer to that one.

[reversesrever]

wolfpack,
    I just purchased my first Jukebox  (thanks Ken Layton)! I bought the Saturn 2 for $2,095 and got free shipping on it and free 100 cd pack!  So your $1200 is probably a fair price and all the research I have done tells me it is a good quality machine and a good earner.     

keep me updated on what mods you can do with your saturn!

-Jeff