2000 MPV Radio

Ok heres whats happening.
Its my dads but he cant drive anymore.
So its mine now and has been since June.
The radio with 6-CD changer doesn't work--at all
No power-no light -nothing
So today I decide I'm taking it out to see whats up.
Comes out so easy but wait -all the plugs are not in --
WHY ??? So plug them in and poof room fuse blows.
So try again being very careful and poof-blown.
Ok dad musta had a bum radio and disconnected it-
That answer will never be known.
My choices

1) have the old one fixed for $165 by a company here in the NE
2) get a new replacement with a harness to match the old
3)Now this radio is huge as in tall due to the 6-CDs it can carry and it has the supreme system -at least it looks like there is a speaker every 2 feet.

Now I'd love to hear how the original sounded but can't

Here's what on the radio tag

July 1999
Model #LC72 66 9RXB
Matsushita
Ref # CQ-JM8811A
Serial # 25054

Also there is a black marker number --7027
Now what should I do ??
Thanks for reading BTW my dad has AD--

16 looksees and not 1 opinion ?? Guess Mazda MPVs suk.

$170 to fix the old and 170 to put a new one in. had 1 installed and all is well. Thank you.