Suggestions on buying a new headunit

[generaltaco]

Ok so just purchased my old mans car from him so he can buy a truck and the 1st thing I'm doing is replacing the headunit because when I hit a bump or anything it just randomly adjust the volume. Along with the volume knob has never worked since we've owned the car..

I have a budget of $300
it has to be a single din

I'm looking at a few on crutchfield but their selections not much
I'd like to have a DVD headunit so i can burn music DVDs for long trips want something that will let me expand and last awhile I've never used one.
if anyone has suggestions thanks in advance

[generaltaco]

http://www.electronicexpress.com/product?prod_id=15303#features

this has everything I want but does brand name really matter??

[Ashby]

Crutchfields a ripoff.
Me and my buddies always buy from sonicelectronix.com with good results.
If you want expandability, get one that is IPOD and USB compatible and ready..
As far as brands I can't help you there, I'm not as big into car audio as I used to be, so I don't know how the new stuff is. But I've always like Pioneer head units, they have always been great.

[Ashby]

Just read the other post. YES, brand name matters a lot when it comes to head units. It's kinda like buying an off brand computer, sure it will work, but not good and will have glitches.

I've had a few cars that came with rota knockoff head units and they suck ass after a while.. Buttons will stop working, functions go crazy..

[satalac]

Go Pioneer Premier and thank me later. They are quality units and you can really fine tune them to your listening preferences. I used to sell car audio and the Premier line was what I always went back to.

[5series_4_Me]

Just read the other post. YES, brand name matters a lot when it comes to head units. It's kinda like buying an off brand computer, sure it will work, but not good and will have glitches.

I've had a few cars that came with rota knockoff head units and they suck ass after a while.. Buttons will stop working, functions go crazy..


I kinda agree with this. I bought a Pyle once and it was great at the beggining but then it just started to do whay ashby said above...

[Ashby]

Go Pioneer Premier and thank me later. They are quality units and you can really fine tune them to your listening preferences. I used to sell car audio and the Premier line was what I always went back to.
This.

I would go with one of these.. The higher end ones have huge equalizers and audio adjustments.. For the price there isn't much that can hang with them.

[generaltaco]

Is boss a good brand? I'm on a smaller budget and Ive gotta replace one speaker

[generaltaco]

This one looks good

http://nashville.craigslist.org/ele/1663030016.html

I emailed him and it's a brand I trust. Not my favorite brand but better than what's currently in it (jensen)

[YellaMach]

Pioneer is pretty much all I buy. It's never failed me, and when I upgrade, I usually get a decent price for it when selling. I currently have Pioneer Premier, because that's one of the best lines in my opinion.

[satalac]

I'd stay away from the flip up screens. Are you really going to need that function? In my opinion it's just another thing that can break (and they do). If you're going to use it mostly for sound, stick with a tried and true audio headunit. For $350 you can get a very nice new headunit like this (http://www.electronicexpress.com/product?prod_id=14488) with money to spare.

[Roman]

Another Pioneer Premier user here. I've got an older model, and it's still working great. Lots of features and stuff you can change around on it.

[Milon]

I put a Pioneer double din in the IS300 for my girlfriend... That head unit is just amazing... I've always had either Pioneer or Alpine, can't go wrong with either of those...

[nismojunkie]

Alpine. Best out there. Go talk to the people at electronic express...talk to installers that have been there a while...always tell me alpine is their best seller with no problems.

[bsholt21]

http://rover.ebay.com/ar/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?mpt=406339970&adtype=1&size=1x1&type=3&campid=5336121753&toolid=10001 http://www.amazon.com/JVC-KD-AVX40-Kameleon-Proximity-Bluetooth/dp/B001PLDZHI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=car&qid=1270735292&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FJVC-KD-AVX40-Kameleon-Proximity-Bluetooth%2Fdp%2FB001PLDZHI%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fie%3D UTF8%26s%3Dcar%26qid%3D1270735292%26sr%3D1-1&tag=5336121753-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325)

Almost identical to mine...I highly recommend it. :D F-n' cheap too!

[satalac]

Alpine. Best out there. Go talk to the people at electronic express...talk to installers that have been there a while...always tell me alpine is their best seller with no problems.

I used to work there....

[generaltaco]

I just got off the phone with the guy on craigslist I talked him down quite a bit. Im going to pick it up sometime next week.
If I end up not liking it I can just flip it later.. Im getting the gps/bluetooth addon with the money I saved..

[rudedawwg]

I just got off the phone with the guy on craigslist I talked him down quite a bit. Im going to pick it up sometime next week.
If I end up not liking it I can just flip it later.. Im getting the gps/bluetooth addon with the money I saved..


the gps add on piece is about 350 brand new give or take depending on where you shop. that particular kenwood is a great unit although the interface on it sucks. i sell and install car audio for a living and i still have trouble adjusting my kenwood double din which has the same interface as that flip out.

the cool thing is the add on nav piece has a garmin interface... in my opinion the best in dash navigation money can buy. even pioneers top of the line z series navigation sucks in comparison to kenwoods.

[satalac]

the cool thing is the add on nav piece has a garmin interface... in my opinion the best in dash navigation money can buy. even pioneers top of the line z series navigation sucks in comparison to kenwoods.

Have to agree on this. I've always disliked the nav on Pioneers.

[Mitch Detailed]

personally, alpine headunits are what im sold on.

alpines navigation is much easier than a pioneer premier.

pioneers headunits and features are spot on, but the navigation is where i had to let them stay on the shelf.

my alpine cda-9885 is the best bang for the buck. you can adjust high pass and low pass and adjust bass and treble just fine.

if you can find a cda-9887 for 300$, i'd jump on it. it has a time correction feature that not many units have. you can adjust the delay in the speakers to the millisecond so the sound hits your ears at the same time. (dynamically changing the listening position from the center of the car to the drivers seat)

[deadhorse66]

Good thread. I've been looking for a double to stick in my car, but have been really disappointed so far when guaging price. I've loved my pioneer that I've had for the past 5 years, but I wanted something that actually fits the din for the car. Any suggestions? All I really need beyond a basic CD player is an iPod interface...

[deadhorse66]

Im kind of liking this one. Anyone have any experience with it?

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-AVH-P3200DVD-Double-DIN-Multimedia-Receiver/dp/B00385H7RS

[satalac]

Or you could get one of these....

http://www.nakamichi.co.jp/mss/CD-7002img.gif

Throw in some of these while you're at it....

http://www.morelhifi.com/products/images/3way_elate1.jpg




























































:biggrin:

[deadhorse66]

I don't understand the humor other than that shit is obviously from 1932... I just want a decent double din with some other media capability. You know anything about the one I posted the link to?

[jabboss1]

find an avic d-3 from pioneer

[M-Technic owner]

jvc arsenal, or kenwood excellon,.. prefereably the excellon

[rudedawwg]

find an avic d-3 from pioneer
yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[satalac]

I don't understand the humor other than that shit is obviously from 1932... I just want a decent double din with some other media capability. You know anything about the one I posted the link to?

Actually that headunit used to be like 2 grand brand new. It doesn't look like much but it's awesome. The one you posted is really nice. I've never had a Pioneer headunit I didn't like.

[deadhorse66]

Excellent, thats all I needed to hear. Thanks for the input!